James Walker

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 65 Column 1

HMS Lively

HMS Lively was an L-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1941, she was briefly active in home waters, sailing in the North Sea, but was soon reassigned to the Mediterranean, where she was active as part of the Mediterranean Fleet, and Force K, based at Malta. Lively took part in escorting several convoys to and from the island, as well as intercepting enemy supply convoys to North Africa. She took part in the First and Second Battles of Sirte, and was damaged on a number of occasions in air and surface attacks.

On 10 May 1942 Lively sailed from Alexandria with Jervis, Jackal and Kipling to transport supplies to Malta. The force was ordered to return if spotted by enemy aircraft, as there was only limited allied air cover available from a Bristol Beaufort. On 11 May the British force came under heavy air attack, with Lively being dive-bombed by a squadron of German Junkers Ju 88s armed with 1,100lbs and 550lbs bombs. The first attack pass took out her bridge, leading to a hull breach and the death of her skipper. The dive bombers then came round for a second strafe pass. The order was soon given to abandon ship.

Lively sank 100 miles (160 km) north east of Tobruk, with the loss of 77 of her crew including Able Seaman Douglas Brooks from Thorneywood, Nottingham. Jervis and Jackal were both damaged in these attacks, with Jackal having to be scuttled by Jervis after attempts to tow her failed. Jervis took on board survivors from both Lively and Jackal, and returned them to Alexandria. Despite a wartime career lasting less than a year since her commissioning, Lively won five battle honours: Atlantic 1941, Mediterranean 1941, Malta Convoys 1941-2, Libya 1942, and Sirte 1942. (Wikipedia)

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