Memorial

HMS Sikh

Source: Copyright Mark Newton

1/1

Current Location

TS Sikh Sea Cadet Hut, TS Sikh Sea Cadet Unit, 290 Kent House Road, Beckenham, Bromley, Greater London, BR3 1JG, England

TQ 35890 70150

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Type of Memorial: Board / Plaque / Tablet
WMR Reference Number: 40793
Description: Rectangular metal plaque mounted on a black coloured backboard. Inscription in relief.
Inscription: IN TRIBUTE/ TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER,/ OFFICERS AND SHIPS COMPANY OF/ H.M.S. SIKH/ A DESTROYER OF THE TRIBAL CLASS ADOPTED/ BY THE BOROUGH OF BECKENHAM/ WHICH FOUGHT ITS LAST AND VERY GALLANT/ ACTION OFF TOBRUK ON THE NIGHT OF 13/14TH SEPTEMBER 1942; AND IN PROUD MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THAT ACTION./ OF HER LAST GLORIOUS MOMENTS IT IS WRITTEN;/ "THE SIKH CONTINUED TO FIGHT ALTHOUGH SHE WAS/ UNDER DIRECT FIRE OF THE SHORE BATTERIES ONLY/ A MILE AWAY. AS WE STEAMED AWAY FROM BATTERED / TOBRUK A TALL COLUMN OF SMOKE RISING FROM/ THE SEA WAS OUR LAST SIGHT OF THE DESTROYER/ HIT AND DISABLED BY SHORE BATTERIES HER CREW/ WERE STILL AT THE GUNS BLAZING BACK AT THE/ ENEMY. A GREAT FIRE RAGED ON BOARD HER AS/ SHELL AFTER SHELL TORE INTO HER SIDE. BUT HER/ COMMANDING OFFICER STILL REFUSED TO ABANDON/ SHIP. AS THE COLUMN OF SMOKE FADED FROM VIEW/ THE FLASH OF HER GUNS AND SPURTS OF/ FLAMES FROM THE SHORE BATTERIES COULD STILL BE/ SEEN. IT WAS AN HOUR AND A HALF SINCE SHE/ WAS FIRST HIT BUT SHE WOULD NOT GIVE IN"/ "SICUT LEONES."

Plaque

Made from: Metal

Condition: Good

BROMLEY WAR MEMORIALS VOLUME TWO by RASON, PAUL 99-110 Source: Image Library NIWM Published:LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY NOV 1999 BROMLEY