- Contributed byÌý
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning Centre Gloucester
- People in story:Ìý
- Harry Wright
- Location of story:Ìý
- Arctic
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8003431
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 23 December 2005
Smokescreen hiding the wake of HMS Kent while it was under attack
This picture has been contributed to the People’s War by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning Centre on behalf of Harry Wright’s son John, with his permission.
Harry Wright was a petty officer on HMS Kent, a county class cruiser in the Russian convoys. HMS Kent joined the Fleet in Scapa in October 1943. From then until 1944 she patrolled the Northern approaches to the Atlantic and escorted more than 18 convoys to Russia.
This picture is from Harry Wright’s personal collection taken while he was on board HMS Kent.
His son John says: "This is a smokescreen to hide the convoy, I think they poured oil into the engine to create black smoke from the smokestacks.
"The convoy was under attack here so they put up the smokescreen to hide it from the enemy.
"It’s funny that smokescreen is a word a lot of people use today meaning to hide something without knowing its real original meaning."
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Story with photo