Seconds after the attack on BRITOMART the Typhoons descended on HUSSAR. Her commander was Lieutenant‑Commander John Nash, MBE, RNR. 

'The first thing we saw was BRITOMART being attacked and badly hit, then it was our turn. On seeing they were RAF planes we tried to fire the recognition signal but the Very pistol jammed. Rockets hit us just forward of the wardroom and after end of the engine‑room and we lost communication with the engine‑room.' 

Then more Typhoons swept in, cannon fire raking the bridge and the main deck. The navigating officer was killed instantly by a shell through the chest as he stood alongside the bridge compass. Commander Nash was wounded in both legs and severely in the right arm, the elbow joint being blown off. 

'We could not stop the engines and we could not steer. There was an emergency engine stop lever in the cross alleyway forward of the wardroom and a torpedo rating, wounded in one foot, left the bridge to try to pull it over. He must have succeeded as we lost way and came to a stop. The ship immediately started to list and men jumped into the water.' 

Leading‑Stoker Hal Booth and his shipmate 'Nobby' Clarke had been up on deck sunbathing when the attack came: 

'We were stretched out under the four‑inch gun forward, Port side. I had dozed off but woke up suddenly at a strange noise and saw the sweeper ahead of us (BRITOMART) surrounded by a mass of little waterspouts with a plane diving on her. We jumped up and ran ‑ there were men running on all sides. As we dashed down the ladder to the messdeck the action bells sounded and I ran to my action station in the engine room, but before I could get there the whole engine room area was aflame after being hit by rockets and in the passage outside a lot of washing hung up to dry was burning fiercely. Grabbing an extinguisher I sprayed the washing and put out the flames, then tried to get into the engine room. Inside all was utter chaos with men lying dead and others terribly injured, one man with both legs smashed. In the acrid fumes and a horrible stench I helped to carry casualties to the messdeck.'

Coder Stan Timothy had also been sunbathing when the planes swooped. 

'There was a roar and a loud crash. I jumped up and saw the after deck smoking, then with a terrific roar one Typhoon after another attacked from aft almost mast high. My telegraphist was hit in the foot and I tried to bandage up the wound with my vest. I saw Leading Seaman Tommy Merrigan run up to the bridge deck to try to open up with an Oerlikon, but he was killed along with others. I got down to the wireless cabin to report. The PO telegraphist made a rapid signal that we were being attacked by friendly aircraft. Just afterwards HUSSAR gave a tremendous shudder and started to heel over to port. The degaussing and electrical systems were damaged and I  think we had now been hit by a magnetic mine. We ‑ the wireless staff ‑ managed to get up to the upper deck which was now at an angle of forty five degrees and as some of the upper superstructure was breaking away I made for the starboard rail. Climbing up the sloping deck I noticed that a hatch cover was moving and was able to help those inside by loosening a spring wire which was fouling it. A head appeared and a voice said, "About time too!" I slid down the starboard side and swam away with others of the crew.' 

After the explosion from the mine Stoker Booth left the carnage of the engine‑room.

'Nobby and I climbed the ladder on the port side and with difficulty went up a swinging ladder to the four inch gun deck, from where Nobby wanted to jump into the sea, but it was the side nearest the water and I told him not to as the ship would capsize on top of him. We ran up the sloping deck to the other side. The ship was listing so far over that I was afraid we would hit the side instead of the sea, but we had to do it and just made the water. I went down, down, then swam back to the surface with lungs bursting, to find Nobby close to me. Remembering all we had heard about the suction of sinking ships we swam desperately away.' 

Commander Nash was one of the last, if not the last, to leave the doomed ship.

'Because of my wounds I was not feeling too good. When the planes attacked I was not wearing a lifebelt, so now I took a self‑inflatable one from a dead officer and when the bridge rail was level with the sea, stepped into it, but at that very moment HUSSAR decided to turn turtle and part of the rigging caught me across the back and took me down with it. Luckily, somehow or other I got free and kicked my way to the surface. My lifebelt failed to inflate itself but I managed to keep afloat.' 

Petty Officer Dennis (Red) Morriss...

... was one of the survivors of the Hussar after the friendly fire incident. He had previously served on HMS Onslow and was on board during the 'Hipper' attack. He didn't speak about the horror of the war much - and my mother is adamant he had been sunk once before being on Hussar (which he never told me about) though I have not been able to check out the details of which ship.  He served mainly on the Atlantic and Russian convoys after joining up in 1941 aged 18. 

After the Hussar was sunk I do know that he held up his best friend in the water for a long time only to find out that he had been killed by the shrapnel when the rescue boat arrived.  He himself suffered all the rest of his life from cramps caused by shrapnel in his legs. Like the other survivors he was told to shut up and was quickly transferred to Australia travelling there on HMS Ranee, one of the MAC carriers.  He spend the rest of the war there, was offered a commission in the RAN but turned it down and returned home. (Source: Richard K Morriss - son)

 

Don Rogers

I was on watch in the wireless office when we were attacked. Without any warning we heard gunfire, and shells (rockets) hitting the ship. We could not communicate with the bridge, which was a shambles and the Skipper badly wounded. Within minutes we began listing and our Chief E.R.A. burst into the office telling us to get out, "the bastard's going down.” 

I scrambled up to boat deck, saw I was on the wrong side (the side she was listing to) and jumped over the side and swam like hell to get clear of the mast and rigging. We had no orders to abandon ship. 

I saw the trawler Colsay, stationary, about half a mileaway. Being a reasonably strong swimmer I was able to reach her. I then discovered why she was not under way. In taking evasive action, she had wrapped her sweeps around her rudder. The crew were cutting away the sweeps, but had enough sense to broach a cask of rum. 

During this operation, the German shore batteries opened up. They had left us alone during the previous days sweeping. Fortunately, they scored no hits. We were landed on Mulberry harbour at Arromanches and taken to a Royal Marine camp in an army truck. While passing through the village we had abuse shouted at us by the locals. They thought we were German survivors. (Source: Letter from Don Rogers April 1993).
 

HUSSAR sank by the stern with her bows remaining above water. It had all happened in twelve minutes.

 

Sketch made by divers of HUSSAR on the sea bed in 2002

Position 49°40’ 857 N, 00°05'960 W  www.grieme.org 

 

HMS HUSSAR 56 Officers and men killed on 27th August 1944 (39 wounded)
LAST NAME	FIRST NAMES	RANK	SERVICE NUMBER	AGE	FAMILY DETAILS
ANTHONY	Raymond Joseph	Stoker 1st Class DSM	D/KX 133001	32
BUTCHER	Roland	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 527071	18	Son of Harry Butcher, and of Ada Butcher, of Highcliffe, Christchurch, Hampshire
CAWKER	Robert Richard	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 524390
CHALMERS	William Wilson	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 559243
CLARKE	James Frederick	Able Seaman	D/SSX 27247	23	Son of Frederick and Elsie Clarke, of Manchester; nephew of Miss A Maguire, of Manchester
COATES	Robert	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 607673	37	Son of Robert and Norah Coates; husband of Evelyn Coates, of Marton, Blackpool, Lancashire
CONEY	William Harold	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 179080	19	Son of Albert and Betsy Ann Coney, of Southport, Lancashire
CONWAY	Cornelius	Stoker 2nd Class	D/KX 663962	19	Son of Michael and Sarah Conway of Liverpool
COUNSELL	Stanley Seward	Able Seaman	D/JX 421782	18	Son of Seward Stanley Counsell and Alice M Counsell, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
CROSS	Hedley	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 707881	18	Son of Edward Cross, and of Olive A E Cross, of Withernsea, Yorkshire
CULLETON	William Charles	Ordinary Signalman	D/JX 612079	19	Son of Elizabeth Culleton, of Liverpool
CUSHION	Patrick	Steward	D/LX 576162	18	Son of Patrick and Mary Ann Cushion, of Liverpool
DARE	Kenneth Stanley	Leading Supply Assistant	D/MX 64714	27	Son of Robert John and Mabel Dare; husband of Doris Vera Dare, of Brucefield Dunfermline, Fife
DAVIES	Trevor James	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 107333
DENHAM	Douglas James	Steward	D/LX 24988	27
DIXON	Arthur Edward	Stoker 2nd Class	D/KX 598449	33
DIXON	Geoffrey Francis	Able Seaman	D/JX 419894	19	Son of Harold and Renee Nancy Dixon, of Sheffield
DODWELL	Thomas	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 649965	29	Son of William John and Jane Dodwell; husband of Margaret Elizabeth Dodwell (nee Pollard), of Bomere Heath, Shropshire
EATON	Leslie	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 649587	18	Son of Lillian Eaton, of Harpurhey, Lancashire
EDWARDS	Arthur	Petty Officer Stoker	D/KX 77218	36	Son of Robert and Elizabeth Edwards; husband of Ann Allan Edwards, of Rosyth, Fife
EDWARDS	George	Leading Stoker	D/KX 96319	29
GREY	Oliver	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 165535	38	Son of George and Olive Grey
GRIFFITHS	Daniel	Assistant Steward	D/LX 614673
HAGGER	Howard Brian	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 649583	17	Son of Arthur Frederick and May Beatrice Hagger, of Broughton, Salford, Lancashire
HAND	Frederick Leonard	Petty Officer  Mentioned in Despatches	D/JX 187648	23	Son of Mr and Mrs Herbert Leonard Hand; husband of B Anne Hand, of Acomb, Yorkshire
HIBBERT	Roy	Able Seaman	D/JX 553951	19	Son of Herbert Hibbert, and of Martha Hibbert, of Harpurhey, Lancashire
HILLS	Charles	Stoker 2nd Class	D/KX 598469	19	Son of Alfred and Ada Hills, of Brasted, Kent
HOWARD	Joseph Leslie	Able Seaman  Mentioned in Despatches	D/JX 256404	33	Son of Joseph Howard, and of Olive Gertrude Howard, of Grimsby, Lincolnshire
JOLLIFFE	George Henry	Leading Stoker	D/KX 93520	29	Son of Thomas Henry and Annie Jolliffe; husband of Winifred Jolliffe, of Heavitree, Exeter
KENNEDY	John	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 649525	19	Son of George and Robina Kennedy, of Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire
LATHAM	Stanley Herbert Charles	Able Seaman	D/JX 182621	26	Son of Henry George and Rebecca Florence Latham, of Stratford, Essex
LIND	William Fenny Hird	Shipwright 2nd Class	D/MX 54511	31	Son of John and Jane Lind; husband of Irene Hilda Gertrude Lind, of Hull
LOWDEN	Alfred Reginald	Petty Officer Stoker	D/KX 85165	28	Husband of Dorothy May Lowden, of Ivybridge, Devon
MADDEN	Dominic	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 525986	41	Son of John and Kate Madden; husband of Jessie Madden, of Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire
MASSEY-MOBBERLEY	Jack	Petty Officer Motor Mechanic	P/M 99019	21	Son of George and Hannah Massey-Mobberley, of Brereton, Staffordshire
MERRIGAN	William Joseph	Leading Seaman	D/JX 285658
MOORE	Horace	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 525369	19	Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Moore, of Great Wyrley, Staffordshire
MORRIS	Frank	Petty Officer Stoker	D/KX 89560	36	Son of William and Margaret Ann Morris; husband of Rose Irene Morris, of Ernesettle, Plymouth
MURPHY	Thomas Patrick	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 161119
O'BRIEN	Jeremiah	Chief Stoker DSM	D/K 65710	37	Son of James and Mary O'Brien; husband of Anne O'Brien, of Heston, Middlesex
OLIVER	Robert Nutter	Stoker 2nd Class	D/KX 564600	20	Son of John George and Jane Oliver, of Meadowfield, Co.Durham
PALMER	Andrew	Able Seaman	D/JX 284770
PATEY	Sydney Tuckerman	Petty Officer Stoker	D/KX 88010	27	Son of John and Rosetta Patey; husband of Lillian Violet Patey, of Enfield, Middlesex
PLUMBLEY	Ronald	Leading Cook (S)	D/MX 94262
RAMSEY	James Carrie	Leading Wireman	C/KX 97991		Son of James Carrie and Margaret Ramsey; husband of Irene Dorothy Ramsey
RENTELL	Donald Alec James	Leading Steward	D/LX 24228	24	Son of Frederick Charles and Bertha Rentell, of Walworth, London
ROBERTS	Harold	Lieutenant		41	Son of J B Roberts, and of Elizabeth Roberts, of Withington, Manchester.  B.Sc.
SANDELL	William George Frederick	Able Seaman	D/JX 207129	42	Son of William George and Agnes Melita Sandell; husband of Helen Lydia Sandell, of Dagenham, Essex
SPEIGHT	William	Able Seaman	D/JX 565496	26	Son of William and Florence Speight, of Swinton, Yorkshire
TALBOT	Jack	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 671790	18	Son of Edith Talbot, of Radcliffe, Lancashire
VOWDEN	Gerald Bertram	Ordinary Signalman	D/JX 424271	19	Son of Joseph William and Alice May Vowden, of Shirley, Southampton
WALKER	Frank (Mick)	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 570763	19	Son of Arnold and Edith Walker, of Rotherham, Yorkshire
WOOD	Albert John Edward	Petty Officer Stoker  Mentioned in Despatches	D/KX 79665	35	Son of Albert and Frances Alice Wood; husband of Dorothy Freda Wood, of Ipplepen, Devon
WYND	David Lornie	Able Seaman	D/JX 395374	20	Son of John and Agnes Lornie Wynd, of Auchenblae, Kincardineshire
BEECHING	Norman Matthew	Lieutenant (E)		40	Son of Capt. John William Beeching and Jane Isabella Beeching; husband of Catherine Alderdice Beeching of Woolton, Liverpool.
COX	Robert Arthur Neville	Lieutenant DSC		27	Son of Dr. Arthur Neville Cox M.D. and Winifred Alice Neville Cox of Brighton, Sussex. Awarded the King's Gold Medal, H.M.S. Worcester 1935.