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Warburton-Lee, Bernard Armitage

Date of birth:
September 13th, 1895 (Broad Oak, Redbrook, Wales, Great Britain)
Date of death:
April 10th, 1940 (Ofot Fjord, Narvik, Norway)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Andalsnes Ballangen New Cemetery
Plot: IV. Row: B. Grave: 9.
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
HMS Hardy (1936), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
July 2nd, 1940
Citation:
"For gallantry, enterprise and daring in command of the force engaged in the First Battle of Narvik, on 10th April, 1940. On being ordered to carry out an attack on Narvik, Captain Warburton-Lee learned that the enemy was holding the place in much greater force than had been thought. He signalled to the Admiralty that six German destroyers and one submarine were there, that the channel might be mined, and that he intended to attack at dawn. The Admiralty replied that he alone could judge whether to attack, and that whatever decision he made would have full support. Captain Warburton-Lee led his flotilla of five destroyers up the fjord in heavy snow-storms, arriving off Narvik just after daybreak. He took the enemy completely by surprise and made three successful attacks on warships and merchantmen in the harbour. As the flotilla withdrew, five enemy destroyers of superior gunpower were encountered and engaged. The Captain was mortally wounded by a shell which hit the bridge of H.M.S. Hardy. His last signal was "Continue to engage the enemy"."

Posthumously awarded
Victoria Cross (VC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
HMS Hardy (1936), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
October 13th, 1942
Krigskorset

Posthumously awarded with Sword.

Sources

Photo