Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee

Led destroyers through snow to strike a defended enemy port.

Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee was born at Broad Oak, Redbrook Maelor, on 13 September 1895. He trained at Osborne and Dartmouth and served in destroyers during the First World War. He entered the Royal Navy in 1908 and served in HMS Hyacinth off East Africa during the search for the German cruiser Königsberg in 1915. Later destroyer service earned a mention in despatches in 1918. Between the wars he commanded several destroyers and undertook staff training. He married Elizabeth Campbell-Swinton in 1924. A captain from 1936, he commanded HMS Hardy and the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla. On 10 April 1940, he led five ships through snow to surprise German forces at Narvik. After repeated attacks, the withdrawing flotilla fought stronger enemy destroyers. Mortally wounded on Hardy’s bridge, he signalled to continue the engagement. He died that day and was buried at Ballangen, Norway. There was no later career after the action. King George VI presented his posthumous Victoria Cross to his widow and son on 2 July 1940; Norway awarded him its War Cross with Sword on 21 August 1942.

Victoria Cross citation: For gallantry, enterprise and daring in command of the Force engaged in the first Battle of Narvik, on the 10th of April, 1940. On being ordered to carry out an attack on Narvik, he learned from Tranoy that the enemy held the place in much greater force than had been thought. He signalled to the Admiralty that the enemy were reported to be holding Narvik in force, that six Destroyers and one Submarine were there, that the channel might be mined, and that he intended to attack at dawn, high water. The Admiralty replied that two Norwegian Coast Defence Ships might be in German hands, that he alone could judge whether to attack, and that whatever decision he made would have full support. Captain Warburton-Lee gave out the plan for his attack and led his Flotilla of five Destroyers up the Fjord in heavy snowstorms, 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. The last attack was made only after anxious debate. On the Flotilla withdrawing, five enemy Destroyers of superior gun-power were encountered and engaged. The Captain was mortally wounded by a shell which hit "Hardy's" bridge. His last signal was "Continue to engage the enemy."