22 September 1942 Part 2

22 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west, fresh breeze to near gale, backing to south-west in the morning with strong to near-gale wind; cloudy to overcast with moderate precipitation; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; rather rough to moderate sea; high, medium-length west-south-westerly swell.

0600: I postpone the 0700 combined convoy Malo–Jersey because of the weather. 0645, Malo: V 707/05 sailed for Guernsey to shadow hospital ship Hüxter. 0720, Malo: V 209/07 arrived; taking the seriously ill patient aboard at Alderney had been impossible because of the weather.

Remark: This was only established when the boats entered Malo. V 209’s commanding officer reports that V 207 had suffered steering damage, both boats laboured heavily in the sea, and entering Alderney was, in his correct assessment, dangerous in the prevailing weather. After repairing V 207’s steering damage, they continued to Malo. Repeated attempts to transmit a radio report failed because of atmospheric interference. After their arrival I therefore had Harbour Commandant Alderney informed through the Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg that the boats had not called.

Requests for 22 September: (1) shadow hospital ship Hüxter, which is to call at Guernsey and Jersey to clear the island hospitals; (2) combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (3) daylight convoy Jersey–Guernsey, then Guernsey–Malo; (4) night evacuee convoy La France, Robert Müller 8, RO 8 and RO 21, Guernsey–Malo; (5) Krupp bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. As the weather remains bad, I initially allow only Hüxter’s passage with V 707/05. 1145, Jersey: M 4605/04 sailed alone for Malo.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 21 September: No convoys because of the weather; V 209/07 made the evening passage Cherbourg–Malo; no tonnage on 21 September.

Situation for 22 September: (1) V 713/24/02/10/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 209/07 completed Cherbourg–Malo, ready; (3) V 707/05 shadow Hüxter Malo–Guernsey–Jersey; (4) V 212/08 and M 4611 ready at Guernsey; (5) M 4605/04 independently Jersey–Malo; (6) M 4602/01 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 1,000 GRT.

Intentions for 23 September, if the weather improves: (1) V 713/02/10/24/UJ 1407/01 evening bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 209/07 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Jersey–Guernsey; (3) V 212/08 and M 4611 night evacuee convoy of 23/24 September Guernsey–Malo; (4) V 707/05 shadow Hüxter Jersey–Malo; (5) M 4602/01 combined convoy Malo–Jersey, then return to Malo; (6) M 4605/04 ready at Malo.

1630, Guernsey: V 707/05 arrived with Hüxter from Malo. 1815, Malo: M 4605/04 arrived from Jersey. 2130, Guernsey: V 212/08 sailed with Hüxter for Malo. V 707 had suffered sea damage on the Malo–Guernsey passage, so V 707/05 could not continue shadowing Hüxter. Because a very seriously ill patient required the hospital ship’s immediate transfer to Malo, I ordered V 212/08 to undertake the escort.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0519–0520, original pages 12–14. Page 13 bears the handwritten note that it was accidentally skipped; reverse-side show-through is not an additional diary entry.