Ivor Alexander was the son of Mr & Mrs SC Alexander of Selston.  An old friend of the family has informed us that the Alexander family lived at The Crescent, Selston.  Alexander had a brother Clarence and sisters Margaret, Doris and Biddy.

The H.M. Trawler Juniper was sunk on the 8th June 1940 by the German heaver cruiser 'Admiral Hipper'. ( Hipper was the ship responsible for the sinking of the H.M.S. Glowworm in April 1940.  Glowworm and Hipper had rammed each other during which the Glowworm sank with heavy loss of life and the Hipper was damaged but declared seaworthy again in May 1940 after repairs.) 

In early June 1940, the British position in Norway had become very dangerous and it was decided to evacuate all of the British forces there. On 5th June 1940 two convoys of troopships set sail and by 8th June 1940, all of the British and Allied troops had embarked.  The convoys were to be escorted by HMS Ark Royal and HMS Glorious.  Glorious was carrying some 20 fighter aircraft and 5 Fleet Air Arm torpedo bombers.   For some much debated reason, Glorious and her two escorting destroyers asked permission to proceed to Scarpa independently and permission was granted.  Meanwhile German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the heavy cruiser Hipper and four destroyers had sailed from Kiel on 4th June.

 On the 7th June the Germans became aware of the escaping British convoy and gave the order to attack the Southernmost part of the convoy.  On 8th June 1940, the German force encountered HM Trawler Juniper, the oil tanker 'Oil Pioneer', the hospital ship 'Atlantis' and an empty troopship 'Orama'.  Trawler Juniper, Oil Pioneer and Orama were destroyed but the Atlantis was spared.  Hipper returned to Trondheim to refuel while Scharnhorst and Gneisenau stalked the fleeing British convoy.  Later in the day at about 4.30pm they fired on the Glorious hitting the upper flight deck and upper hangar causing a fire which prevented attempts to get any of the aircraft airborne.  A further hit killed most of the bridge crew.  Distress signals were radioed to the convoy, but the only ship who heard the Glorious's pleas for assistance was the HMS Devonshire, some 100 miles away.  Devonshire was carrying the King of Norway and his ministers so could not reply as they were not permitted to break radio silence to give away their  whereabouts due to their Royal passengers.  The 8th of June was a fateful day as the HMS Ardent was sank by 5.25pm, the HMS Arcasta at 6.10pm and HMS Glorious at 6.10pm. No attempts were made to pick up the survivors. 

Last Updated 16th October 2003