80th anniversary of New Zealand’s worst naval tragedy, the HMS Neptune – RNZ

Sunday marks the 80th anniversary of New Zealand's worst naval tragedy, the sinking of HMS Neptune during the World War II.

The HMS Neptune. Photo: Supplied / National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Of the 764 men who lost their lives on 19 December 1941, 150 were New Zealanders.

The ship went down after sailing into an uncharted deep-water enemy minefield in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya.

Some of the New Zealand crew sent Christmas messages home which were recorded by Arch Curry for the NZBS just a month before the sinking.

The light-cruiser HMS Neptune was part of a group of seven allied warships that headed out from Malta to intercept an Italian supply convoy.

In the early hours of the morning Neptune struck the first of four mines that would lead to its loss.

National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy researcher Michael Wynd said the ship, on realising it was in a minefield, tried to manoeuvre its way out.

''She was trying to go ahead and try and work her way out of this minefield but she then detonated two more mines which blew off her stern.''

Some of the other Royal Navy ships came to her aid but they were also damaged and had to try and return to Malta.

''With all three cruisers damaged and one destroyer with out a stern and the risk of enemy air attacks they had to basically try and get back to Malta as fast as they could. However, about 4am Neptune struck a fourth mine.''

Wynd said that put the ship into its final death-throes.

''She was seen to slowly roll over and sink at about 4.05am. Nothing further was seen of the ship and it was not known where she actually exactly had sank.''

The light-cruiser HMS Neptune was part of a group of seven allied warships that headed out from Malta to intercept an Italian supply convoy. Photo: Supplied / National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Out of the crew of 764, 16 survived including the captain, but all but one succumbed to exposure, starvation and dehydration.

The one able seaman who survived was rescued by the Italian Navy and taken as a prisoner of war.

''I would suspect that the majority of the losses occurred probably during the second and third mines detonated. Obviously that would have killed a lot of men in the engine room, in the rear part of the ship. The fourth mine then would have accounted for casualties and of course they were also busy at the time trying to save the ship as well.

''By the time it rolled over they wouldn't have had a chance to get out.''

John Campbell's uncle, Vern Campbell, was 21 and from Dunedin, and served on the Neptune.

''The news didn't come back that quick. Reading between the lines in some of the letters it was obviously a lot of correspondence with the Defence Force to find out the actual where did it go and what happened to it. I don't think the word got out that quick which for a parent would have been really tough.''

An exhibition planned at the Navy Museum at Devonport on HMS Neptune, due to open this weekend, has been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions until later in January.

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80th anniversary of New Zealand's worst naval tragedy, the HMS Neptune - RNZ