Mackenzie Gregory's Recollections

A few extracts from my journal at the time I first went to Scapa in HMAS Australia as an 18 year old Midshipman.

Friday 19 July 1940.
About 2200 (10 PM) we weighed anchor and proceeded out of the Clyde, paravanes were streamed and all hands went to Action Stations on clearing the River.

Saturday 20 July.
We proceeded north at 23.5 knots and continued to zig zag. A converted yacht was seen escorting a Thames Class Submarine,and a Town Class Cruiser and 2 Destroyers were passed. Paravanes were recovered, and we passed through the outer and inner booms at Scapa Flow, and came to the starboard anchor with 7 shackles in 17 fathoms. There is a significent force anchored here in the Flow, it includes 3 Battleships, 2 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 1 Aircraft Carrier, a host of Destroyers and smaller craft. This base for the British Home Fleet is steeped in Naval History, on the 21st. of June in 1919, the High Seas Fleet of the German Imperial Navy was scuttled here by its own crews and before the startled eyes of British Naval Officers, an event quite unique in Naval affairs. Then only in last September Gunter Prien in U-47, had penetrated this anchorage and daringly sunk the Battleship Royal Oak, with a large loss of life.

Sunday 21 July.
During the middle watch, two aircraft alarms were given, Repel Aircraft was sounded, and the ships' company closed up at action stations. Eventually the green warning was given and hands fell out, but close range weapons remained closed up.

Tuesday 23 July.
During the afternoon we weighed anchor and proceeded out into Pentland Firth for a high angle shoot at an aircraft towed target. The starboard 4 inch guns scored hits on the target, and then the port 4 inch guns shot down the sleeve. Hopefully a good sign if and when we come into direct contact with the Luftwaffe!

Saturday 27 July.
About 1640 ( 4.40pm ) orders to raise steam with all despatch were received, and the ship was secured for sea. At 1830 ( 6.30 pm ) we joined the Battlecruisers, 3 other Cruisers and a Flotilla of Destroyers and left Scapa Flow to proceed north east. During today and Sunday we continued a sweep across the North Sea, sighting the coast of Norway for some time on Sunday. Nothing eventuated and we returned to Scapa on Monday 29 July.

Sunday 4 August.
This morning the Commander in Chief of the Home Fleet, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Charles Forbes came aboard to inspect us, and also to welcome us to his command.

Sunday 11 August.
Today I was able to visit Kirkwall for the first time, and was most impressed with its old Cathedral. ( this is not from my journal, but I vividly remember buying a silk handkerchief in Kirkwall, it was embroidered with the Cathedral in one corner, and was a small gift for my Australian girlfriend Gladys.)

I recall that Scapa was often shrouded in fog, and high winds were common, as a Midshipman operating one of our Cruiser's power boats, the weather made coming alogside quite hazardous, and it was always a relief to finish one's watch with your boat intact, having not been on the blunt end of the Commander's wrath for smashing up one of his precious boats. For me Scapa always seemed to evoke a mystery, as if there were secrets around, and you were never going to find out what they were. I enjoyed the rugged terrain, and the wildness that obtained, and can still cast my mind back to those momentous days of 1940.

Mackenzie Gregory
Mount Eliza Victoria Australia.