The Admiralty Regrets

Sailing through a sunlit sea
On a mission of war,
She was a ship at half past three
A wreck at half past four.

No warning as to tragedy
No chance to be prepared
The ship in all her majesty
Unwittingly was snared.

A great explosion rent the air
As four tinfish struck home,
Succeeded by a brilliant glare
And sea churned into foam.

Four minutes it was till she went down,
Her white Ensign still flying,
But many a man was left to drown
Who'd had no thought of dying.

It happened in nineteen forty one
The twenty fifth of November,
But though the years have passed and gone
I for one, remember.

At the going down of the sun
When the sea is calm and still,
It seems they haven't gone
Or if they ever will.

For though they lie beneath the sea,
No spot to mark their grave,
Their names live on in memory
Their souls lie with the brave.

Ernie Jones B/Tel D/JX162202

His daughter Carol wrote the following when she sent it in..

"The poem "The Admiralty Regrets" was written by my dad, and was his account of the sinking of "Barham". Dad was the second to youngest survivor - I have also enclosed his account (again in poetry) of being picked up by the "Hotspur." Both poems are treasured by us - they are very special and a HUGE part of our past and my dad. As I told you before "The Admiralty Regrets" was included in the "service" booklet in a number of the memorial services held at "The Abbey" - dad was unaware, although he would never have minded , I really wish his name could have been put to his work at the time. Mum and I would love you to post his poems on the site - dad would have been so thrilled!