11 March 1942. On this day the Dido Class cruiser HMS Naiad, was sunk while escorting a convoy to Malta.
The cruiser’s First Lieutenant, was Lieutenant Commander A. S. Storey, RAN. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for conspicuous bravery during the operation.
She had sailed from Alexandria to attack an Italian cruiser that had been reported damaged. This report was false, and on the return, on 11 March 1942, Naiad was sunk by the German submarine U-565 south of Crete. 77 of her ship’s company were lost with the ship.
A Bar to the DSC was awarded to LCDR Storey some months later “for gallantry, skill and seamanship in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces” when serving in his next cruiser HMS Cleopatra .
