1 January 1943 Part 2

1 January 1943 Third Security Division review of the late-November St Malo diary

One copy of the St Malo Convoy Control Office diary for 15–30 November 1942 is submitted.

Regarding pages 9–10, 19 November, 1830–2126: This regrettable incident again shows that every office concerned must exercise meticulous care in ship reporting. The diary indicates that the two cutters proceeded Granville–Jersey on Harbour Commandant Granville’s orders; they received no order from him to continue to Guernsey. He evidently considered further passage possible, perhaps because of customary Channel Islands traffic arrangements, and therefore reported Jersey–Guernsey departure “as a precaution”. Convoy Control Office understood it as a precautionary report requiring further information. Such reports should be used only when the movement cannot be foreseen and there is no opportunity to supplement the report later. Here supplementation at Jersey would have been possible.

The boats subsequently received orders from a third party, apparently Harbour Commandant Jersey, to continue to Guernsey. No departure report followed, although their arrival had been reported to Convoy Control Office. Whether Jersey considered a fresh report unnecessary because of Granville’s precautionary report, or simply forgot to report renewed departure, remains unresolved. In the reviewer’s opinion, a report of renewed departure had to follow the arrival report.

As no departure report came from Jersey, Convoy Control Office believed the boats’ passage had ended there. It would have been correct to obtain telephone confirmation. Despite the ship-reporting mistakes, the torpedo boats would not have attacked their own cutters if the latter had carried the prescribed valid letter recognition signals for naval forces. Convoy Control Office used the incident to remind the offices concerned of the indispensable care required in ship reporting.

Regarding page 26, 28 November, 2300: Commanding officers still find it difficult to appreciate ship-reporting requirements. This example will be used in a secret order of 3rd Security Division. Close cooperation between Cherbourg radar and St Malo Convoy Control Office as the collecting station for ship reports proved effective here and must always be assured. Cherbourg radar will therefore be approached. Signed by order [signature not securely read].

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0639–0640. 3rd Security Division, G 8317 AII, Secret, 1 January 1943; to Commander Security West, two copies, information copy to St Malo Convoy Control Office. One enclosure; no previous correspondence. Subject and text state 15–30 November 1942, although the enclosed diary begins 16 November.