A MIDSHIPMAN’S WAR
A young man in the Mediterranean Naval War 1941 - 1943

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The Loss of HMS Neptune and its Captain Rory O’Conor
Revised August 2002

An excellent biography of Captain Rory O’Conor has recently been written by his stepdaughter Nixie Tavener. It is called “A Torch Among Tapers, The Life and Career of Captain Rory O’Conor,” Bernard Durnford Publishing, Bramber West Sussex, BN44 3WE, UK.

O’Conor was the captain of the ill-fated HMS Neptune when she was sunk by mines off Tripoli, Libya on the night of 19th December 1941. All the crew of 750 inluding 150 officers and men of the Royal New Zealand Navy were lost save one, an English Leading Seaman Norman Walton.

The captain was born on 23 September 1898. He served in a mixture of ships until his untimely death. He was a cadet in Osborne and Dartmouth Naval Colleges from 1911 to 1914, he was a midshipman in the Battleship HMS Prince of Wales from 1914 to 1917. The ship did not take part in the Battle of Jutland (31 May 1916) but served in the Dardenelles, Turkey. He was a sub-lieutenant in the Destroyer HMS Walpole from 1917 to 1918. Then in the Battleship HMS Barham from 1920 to 1921as a Lieutenant. Then in the Shore Establishment HMS Excellent for a long gunnery course from 1922 to 1924. Then in the Light cruiser HMS Emerald from 1925 &1927 in the Far East Station on the Yangtze River. At Nanking in 1926, the timely gun action taken by Emerald saved the lives of thousands of people, to the credit of gunnery officer Lt.Cdr.O’Conor. Then back to HMS Excellent for further gunnery training and providing instruction from 1927 to 1929. To the Battleship HMS Royal Sovereign from 1929 to 1930 as Gunnery Officer.From 1930 to 1933 in HMS Excellent on staff . In 1933 he was promoted as commander - second in command- of the famous Battlecruiser HMS Hood. She toured the world “showing the flag.” In 1936 to the Imperial Defense College for a year. Then promoted to captain and appointed as Assistant Director of Plans at the Admiralty before becoming the comanding officer of Neptune in May 1940.He was promoted to captain after 22 years, being the youngest captain in the service at that time and slated for big things.

Captain Rory O’Conor

He became better known after he left Hood, as he had written a book called “Running a Big Ship on the Ten Commandments.” The book was very timely as the country had just suffered a dreadful experience when a major mutiny had taken place at the Invergordon anchorage in northwest Scotland in September 1931. A Depression was then raging, and the government decided to cut the pay of the officers and men. This caused hardship for the lower deck sailors. O’Conor had always had a reputation for being attentive to the needs of his sailors.

The book was packed with hints and suggestions. That the commander should always keep his cabin door open, indicating that he was always approachable. Punctuality was very important to him. He was very interested in sports -- he was captain of the Navy rugger team. He felt that competitive sports were good for the physical fitness of the ships’ company as well as boosting morale. Hood was always Cock-of-the-Fleet at regattas and the ship’s company were proud of this. He was talked about in the fleet which was something unique. I first heard his name in the gunroom of Queen Elizabeth and tried to find out more about him. Being a Canadian, I had never heard of him.

It was most unfortunate that one of England’s great sea captains was lost on that fatal night. The ship was hit several times. He ordered the ships in company “to stay away and go back to Malta.” It was too dangerous for them to enter the minefield, so they couldn’t go back to the aid of their senior officer. The cruiser Aurora signalled “I cannot help, God be with you.” Neptune sank within the hour. Some men tried to swim to a destroyer but were drowned. We do know that O’conor was in a carley float with 15 men and the only man that survived.

Leading Seaman Norman Walton

Leading Seaman Walton was picked up by an Italian destroyer on Christmas Eve.The captain had died on the previous day. What his condition was and how he died is not known. It is thought that it was due to exhaustion and thirst. Everyone who was left in the ship downed in her. Of all the dreadful sinkings that occurred in the Mediterranean this was the most tragic. There was only one survivor and he would not talk for years.The story of the loss of Neptune and the death of its famous captain should be better remembered in England. In New Zealand there is a church service every year in Auckland. on the date of the sinking, like the one held in Westminster Abbey for the sinking of the battleship HMS Barham.

Many thanks to Nixie Taverner and Lt. Cdr. Keith Wade, RANVR

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