HMS
Diadem
the diary of signalman John Emrys Williams
CPO
William Arthur Baker and the Kreigsmarine Flag
I've
been corresponding recently with Tony Baker, who said:
"My
late father, William Arthur Baker, was a CPO on HMS Diadem, He was
onboard at Biscay, D-Day, convoy escorts and the visit to Copenhagen.
I have a large Kreigsmarine Nazi flag, which he brought back. He
said it flew over a German naval base in Norway. Would you have
an idea which base this would have been from HMS Diadems ports
of call after Copenhagen? I intend to give the flag to a museum.
"I
have attached a picture. It measures 65 x 35. My late
father was a shipwright and kept it in his toolbox until he retired
in 1974! He joined up in 1940 and would have stayed on for longer
if let be. He wrote a daily diary but some of the war years are
missing, possible embargo? I think a lot of the sailors had love
affairs with the girls at Copenhagen from some letters I found!!!
"I
also attach a copy of my fathers R.N. records. He was a Joiner
3rd Class, whilst serving on HMS Diadem. He was onboard for
just over 2 years. I wrote to U-Boat story about the flag but did
not even have an acknowledgement! I will try a museum in Norway.
There is of course a big Naval Museum in Portsmouth Dockyard. The
records show he received a share of The Naval Prize Fund
in August 1945. I presume this was from captured enemy vessels?"
- Tony
Baker 2011
Here
are the two photos Tony sent, reproduced with his permission:
Footnote:
I did
some digging for Tony re the movements of Diadem after Copenhagen.
I think the ship berthed there twice and went to Oslo in between:
23 June 1945 Copenhagen > on to Oslo
28 June 1945 Copenhagen longer term, deployed as guard ship
Here's a photo of one German flag flying over a naval base in Oslo:
Source:
http://www.rememberingscotlandatwar.org.uk/Accessible/Image/GetImage/360/-/6f7eac8c-a4ee-4007-be8e-ab9e2fed084d.jpg
I wonder if this is the same one that Tony's father brought
home?
Update
November 2011:
Tony's
written back since this article was published to ask whether or
not HMS Diadem's and HMS Belladonna's crew took part in the actual
Victory parade in Oslo in June 1945. He's trying to put together
some information to go with the flag which he has kindly donated
to the The Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo.
Research sources:
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-HF1945.htm
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Diadem.htm
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