22
Narvik
[s>4tk April, 1940}
W
E were in the mess at about nine in the
evening when the B.B.C announced:
'An important news bulletin will be
issued at about 10.15.' But when 10.15 amved, all
we heard was an orchestra and we were asked to
wait a little.  The military marches the orchestra
was playing sharpened our impatience. At last the
English voice came through.
"The following communique has been issued by
the Admiralty. H.M.S. Wanpite and the Second
Destroyer Flotilla have penetrated Narvik fjord and
completely destroyed the German naval forces there.
Seven German destroyers have been sunk....'
A quite extraordinary feeling of joy came over me.
It was a long time since I had known happiness so
real. I saw the faces of my friends around me trans-
figured. Their elation was mine and together "we
savoured to the full this first victory of the war.
The beast has been struck at last.   The first
trickle of blood to stain the scales of the dragon... /
'Fafher will react. He'll fill the four corners of the
earth with his smoke and bellowing.*