HMS Jervis Bay TAKES ON Admiral Scheer in EPIC Showdown

In this gripping tale of heroism during World War II, we uncover the extraordinary story of Captain Edward Fegen VC and the HMS Jervis Bay. On November 5, 1940, while escorting Convoy HX 84 across the perilous waters of the Atlantic, the Jervis Bay came face-to-face with the heavily armed German pocket battleship, Admiral Scheer. Despite being hopelessly outgunned, Captain Fegen made the ultimate sacrifice, steering his ship into harm’s way to buy precious time for 38 merchant vessels to scatter and escape.

This video dives into the courageous actions of Edward Fegen and his crew, the terrifying encounter with the Admiral Scheer, and the enduring legacy of the HMS Jervis Bay’s final stand. Learn how their bravery earned Edward Fegen the Victoria Cross and helped change the course of the Atlantic War.

If you’re fascinated by WWII naval battles, acts of valor, and untold stories of sacrifice at sea, this is a story you won’t want to miss. Subscribe for more historical insights, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
#militaryhistory #worldwar2 #navalwarfare
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Credits & Attributions

[TheNorthernHistorian]

This video came as a result of a suggestion in a comment on a previous video. Please feel free to leave a comment on this video and any other suggestions for future videos. I hope you enjoyed it. If so, please leave a Like and consider subscribing to help support and grow my channel. Thanks.

[howardjolley]

Very well done. Capt. Fegen and his gallant knew they had no choice but to attack. It's a legacy that will endure. God Bless the Royal Navy, the Merchant Marine and the Royal Canadian Navy. They fought long and hard in the Atlantic to get those ships and their cargos to Britain and back. The sea bed is littered with their sacrifice.

[fredericksaxton]

Excellent video.
My father did his WW2 service on board a "Armed Merchant Cruiser", HMS Asturious.
He said they took a cargo liner and stuck a 4" gun on the stern and called it a warship.
Luckily he did not go into combat, but an Italian sub found them in the South Atlantic and stuck it's last torpedo into them and killed 50 crew, but did not sink her.
They bounced about the ocean for several days with no power until an ocean tug came from South Africa and towed them (in reverse) to safety and repairs.
RIP Dad.

[MichaelCampin]

My great uncle was killed on HMS Rawlpundi, he was a pompom gunner and lost his life on HMS Rawalpindi but another uncle was awarded the CBE for designing the interior of the Royal Yacht Britannia

[rob]

I hesitated to watch this as the recounting of this story literally brought me to tears, as such things always do.

[gordonfrickers]

Thank you for this post. I first heard of this story some 65 years astern when I was little more than a nipper. My Father, a sensible man, took me to the Imperial War Museum, London and himself a veteran, together with my Mother, explained to me many of the exhibits. This was one of the stories that stayed with me. It's right up there with the Thermopylae, siege of Masada, Spartacus & others of that caliber. I'm fairly sure it was in the Imperial War Museum I saw the awesome painting of Jervis Bay by Montague Dawson. A painting I've never forgotten despite myself working for 40 plus years as a maritime artist.

[maxsmith]

It’s one of the things that happen in war. To me, saving all those sailors was a very special and brave act.

[russellnixon]

Thank you for bringing to our attention this forgotten act of heroic bravery by this captain and his crew, one of so many that has become over looked.

[clivedavies]

What a wonderfuI tribute to the captain and crew of HMS Jervis Bay. Courage beyond beIief.

[mikesummers-smith]

I remember an "X Years Ago Today" article in the Guardian. A journalist had interviewed sailors from the first ships of the convoy as it straggled into Liverpool. It was clear that none of them had yet come to grips with what they'd witnessed a few days earlier.

Two more for you -
Campbell Howard Buchanan of HMNZS Kiwi
Teddy Sheean of HMAS Armidale

[MarshFlyFightWin]

Awesome video, my great grandfather was an officer aboard the Admiral Scheer during her first Atlantic sortie. He sadly didn't survive the war but we have a photo album of his time on the Admiral Scheer including a blurry picture of what the album labeled attacking merchant escort which is most likely Jervis Bay, though its hard to tell based on the distance.

[percyprune]

2 things I remember from the accounts.
1) the lack of formal thanks by the British government to the Swedish ships crew who risked their lives to pick up survivors while in range of the German guns
2) differing accounts of the Canadian S.S. Beaverthorn. Some claim the Captain 'took over' when the Jervis Bay was sunk, with her own antiquated guns taking on the German raider to buy time for the convoy; others say it did not happen. Either way, she sank with all hands. It would be nice to have a definitive version of that.

[rileyanoid]

I thoroughly believe it was the right decision, giving time for the convoy to scatter.
A convoy in formation would be easy pickings compared to having to chase down individual ships.
Yet, I have reservations over the award given. Not because it was undeserved but because I believe the ship and its crew should have been honoured.
The gun crews, desperately hoping for a chance to come into action.
Those encased below, coaxing every last ounce of power from the engines in order to close on the enemy.
Do they not deserve the same laudits for doing their duty?
With the exception of family and friends, and possibly, their name carved on a memorial, can anyone name a single crewman from this ship?
Yet they all played their part.
Honour them all.

[Lord.Kiltridge]

*Who are these men?*

Who are these men who march so proud
Who quietly weep, eyes closed, head bowed.
These are the men who once were boys
Who missed out on youth and all it's joys.

Who are these men with sorrowful look
Who can still remember the lives that were took.
These are the men who saw young men die,
The price of peace is always high.

Who are these men with aged faces
Who silently count the empty spaces.
These are the men who gave their all
Who fought for their country, for freedom for all.

These are the men who in the midst of pain
Whispered comfort to those who won't see again.
These are the men whose hands held tomorrow,
Who brought back our future through blood, tears and sorrow.

Who are all these men who promise to keep
Alive in their hearts the ones God holds asleep?
These are the men to whom I promise again
Veterans, my friends, I WILL REMEMBER THEM.

This poem was written in 1996 by eleven year old Jodie Johnson after seeing a service of Remembrance in Aldershot and was published by the Kensington Regimental Association.

[parrotraiser]

An act of cold-blooded courage that deserves to be better known.

[stephenfarthing]

Next to the Jervis Bay, 7 ships out of this convoy were sunk and damaged the San Demetrio, that vessel was one of the 31 vessels that made it back to the British Isles.

[WilliamDoyle-rblt]

Excellent video, the photos and paintings match the story. We'll researched and narrated. Perhaps you could tell the Story of the USS Johnston and Samuel B Robert's who sacrificed themselves under similar circumstances off of Samar.

[karlsilcock]

My grandfather traveled to Australia and back with the GB Lions Rugby League touring side, in 1932, on the SS Jervis Bay. I've got a postcard of the ship somewhere and some pictures of players doing some training on the deck.

[dfabba]

I'm an Irishman watching this with tears in my eyes for the selfless bravery involved...I'm humbled by such an act

[keithdrower]

I live just near Jervis Bay, in New South Wales, Australia. Some people call it 'Jarvis Bay'. The Australian Navy is much more modern now. The officers College is still here, turning out 1st class Australian Navy Officers. It is called HMAS Creswell. HMAS Albatross ( Navy Air Wing), is also nearby. It is mainly a Navy helicopter base now.