Remembering the Hunter

The location of HMS Hunter had remained a mystery until a minehunter found her at the bottom of a Norwegian fjord during a training operation earlier this week.

She was found lying 1,000ft under the scene of the Battle of Narvik, when she was attacked by a German destroyer and sank on April 10, 1940.

Today, ships from the Royal Navy, the Netherlands Maritime Force and the Norwegian Navy, who are participating in this week's exercise, will hold a wreath-laying ceremony above the site of the wreck.

Fred Ward, one of the survivors of the battle, said yesterday: "I would like to thank the Norwegian people and the Royal Navy for their very kind tributes following the discovery of my old ship.

"I have mixed emotions about the events from 68 years ago and the loss of so many of my fine friends. I now have a great sense of relief knowing the final resting place of my comrades and our ship.

"My only sadness is that I cannot attend the ceremony to pay my own personal tribute." The Norwegian minehunter HNOMS TYR was participating in the multi-national exercise when its echo sounder revealed the sunken vessel.

The Battle of Narvik

British ships were sent to the remote port of Narvik during the German invasion of Norway with orders to prevent enemy forces from landing.

The British entered the harbour early on the morning of April 10 and sank two German destroyers and six merchant ships.

However, another five German destroyers were at anchor in other fjords and attacked the British flotilla, killing Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee, destroying his flagship, sinking HMS Hunter and damaging two other ships.

HMS Hunter, an 1,880 tonne H-Class Destroyer, sank at 5.30am. Of the estimated 145 crew on board, 110 lost their lives.

The battle resulted in the first Victoria Cross of the war being awarded posthumously to Capt Warburton-Lee.

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