Comments by "doveton sturdee" (@dovetonsturdee7033) on "HMS Warspite - Guide 008 - Part 3 - Special (Human Voiced)" video.
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There is a marvellous scene in Tarrant's book about her. In late June, 1944, she had been badly damaged by a mine off Normandy, and was sent to Rosyth for repair. By the time she arrived, at 2130 on 14 June, she was down to ten knots, and drawing 42 feet aft. As she dragged herself under the Forth Bridge, the whole of the Home Fleet, including two battleships, manned ship to cheer as she passed by.
Even then, after two months in dock, down to 15 knots, on three shafts and with one turret out of action, the Old Lady was back in action off the French and later Dutch coasts.
If ever a British battleship from the 20th century deserved preservation, it was Warspite.
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The following tribute was written by a former member of Warspite's crew, who saw the Old Lady in Prussia Cove, Marazion, after she had broken away from her tow en route to the Breakers. I defy anyone not to be moved by his words:-
"The Subject"
You say you have no subject
And your brushes all have dried;
But come to Marazion
At the ebbing of the tide.
And look you out to seaward,
Where my Lady, battle scarred
Hugs the rock that is more welcome,
Than the shameful breakers yard.
Paint her there upon the sunset
In her glory and despair,
With the diadem of victory
Still in flower upon her hair.
Let her whisper as she settles
Of her blooding long ago,
In the mist that mingles Jutland
With the might of Scapa Flow.
Let her tell you, too, of Narvik
With its snowy hills, and then
Of Matapan, Salerno
And the shoals of Walcheren;
And finally of Malta,
When along the purple street
Came in trail the Roman Navy
To surrender at her feet.
Of all these honours conscious,
How could she bear to be
Delivered to the spoiler
Or severed from the sea ?
So hasten then and paint her
In the last flush of her pride
On the rocks of Marazion,
At the ebbing of the tide.
Lt-Cmdr R A B Mitchell.
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