The Franco-Italian Armistice was signed at 7:15 PM. A very small zone of Italian occupation was established consisting of 832 km2 that included the port town of Menton. The Franco-Italian armistice was signed at Villa Olgiata near Rome, Italy by French General Huntziger and Italian General Badoglio. Fighting would continue until the following day when the agreement would take effect. Although Italian troops made little headway against fierce French resistance during the few weeks of campaigning, demilitarized zones are to be established in France, Tunisia and Algeria — with Italian troops remaining on their advanced lines. The French are required to clear the battlefields of mines. France will allow Italy “full and constant right” to the port of Djibouti in Somaliland.
The whole Franco/Italian Armistice accomplishes virtually nothing useful. France never had threatened Italian colonies or the country itself, and France under German domination is becoming virtually an ally of the Axis powers anyway. The armistice, if anything, is simply a welcome by Italy to France into the Axis fold – although Gallic motivations in this area remain quite murky.
It is unfair to say that the entire border war was a “comic opera” and silly; many people died in the naval and air attacks during the short conflict. There also is the not-so-minor detail that Italy and Great Britain remain at war. That conflict shows no signs of ending any time soon even though that war, at least at first, will only be carried out in the two nations’ colonies and at sea. This “loose end” from Mussolini’s “piling on” of the Battle of France continues to fester.
The Italian offense on the Riviera ends after having occupied 5 miles of territory at the cost of an estimated 5,000 casualties. Foreign Minister Count Ciano notes in his diary, “We sent men to useless deaths two days before the armistice. If we go on like this, bitter disappointments await.”
As French warships scattered throughout Dakar, Casablanca, Algiers, and Mers-el-Kébir in French colonies in Africa, Alexandria in Egypt, and Plymouth and Portsmouth and Britain, French Admiral Darlan promised British Prime Minister Churchill that they would not fall into German hands. Admiral Darlan orders French warships to avoid falling into German hands. The British, particularly Prime Minister Winston Churchill, remain deeply skeptical about the ability and long-term willingness of the French to fulfill this promise.
The French military headquarters at Bordeaux issues its final military communiqué about the war with Germany, announcing that the Wehrmacht had occupied Angoulême and Aix-les-Bains. “The military phase of the war of 1939-1940 is over.” The government does not disclose where the new government will be located but does say it won’t be in German-occupied Paris.
German forces continue advancing in the French Occupation zone and down the Rhone.
22,000 French soldiers who had been holding out in the Vosges Mountains, surrender.
Operation AERIAL continues at St. Jean de Luz. There still are numerous troops from the Polish, Belgian and other Allied armed forces wishing to be taken off.
Georges Mandel, having arrived aboard Massilia, is thwarted in his attempt to proclaim new French government in North Africa and continue the war. He is accompanied by only 25 other deputies and one senator, and the locals do not recognize his “authority,” continuing to recognize the existing government.
Reinhard Heydrich writes to Ribbentrop, reminding him that in January 1939 Goering had entrusted Heydrich with authority over Jewish emigration. Since there were now 3.5 million Jews under German control, emigration could no longer provide a solution: “a territorial final solution is therefore necessary.”
The British began Operation COLLAR, the first British commando raid of the war, on the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. The British commandos, still styled No. 11 Independent Company, launch their first raid during the night in the Boulogne area. Operation COLLAR sends 115 men across the Channel to land on beaches at Neufchâtel-Hardelot, Stella Plage, Berck, and Le Touquet. It is almost a live-fire war game exercise because the men get ashore around 02:00 on the 25th and do little but muddle about on the beaches without accomplishing anything of note. There is a brief firefight with a German patrol at Stella Plage and the killing of two unfortunate German sentries at Le Touquet who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The landing does provide useful practice on beach landings. It allows the fine-tuning of things like ship-to-air communication (the RAF, uninformed about Operation COLLAR, almost attacks the landing craft before being warned off) and ship-to-shore coordination (one of the landing parties returns to the beach and finds its ride home is gone, but they get off later).
The British Ministry of Information quickly puts out a communiqué that quietly overstates the actual minimal result of the entire operation for propaganda purposes. The German high command does notice the incident and puts out its own propaganda that the commandos “acted outside the Geneva convention.” The whole incident does feed into Hitler’s paranoia about the danger of British naval landings all along the lengthy coastline now occupied by the Wehrmacht, which affects decisions about the Atlantic Wall.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann of the World Jewish Congress warns that a German victory would mean the deaths of 6 million Jews. He advocates a “defense program” staffed by Jewish people.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco’s border guards on the Pyrenees frontier are keeping the passes to Spain closed tight to Spanish Republicans who fought fascism and then fled to France.
Operation Fish: British Royal Navy cruiser HMS Emerald sailed from Greenock (Scotland) in convoy for Halifax, Nova Scotia (arrived July 1), carrying a large part of the gold reserves of the United Kingdom and securities for safe keeping in Canada.
Malta received its first strike aircraft with the arrival and creation of No. 830 Squadron with Fairey Swordfish Mk.1 aircraft; they were left behind by HMS Argus when she departed the Mediterranean Sea.
RAF bombers attack Italian positions around Bir el Gubi, Libya.
The RAF attacks Asmara Aerodrome and Biri el Boggi in Eritrea.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 103 aircraft to attack targets in Germany overnight
French bombers conduct their last attack on Italian positions in Libya.
11 Leo45s of French 6th Bomber Group attack German pontoon bridges between Moirans and Grenoble. Only 4 machines found their target and the attack was unsuccessful. This is the last French bombing raid of the campaign.
U-47, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, sank Panamanian steamer Cathrine in 50 08N, 14W. Of the ship’s complement, all 19 survived. At 0248 hours on 24 June 1940, U-47 opened fire with the deck gun at the unescorted and unarmed Cathrine (Master Part) in heavy seas after two torpedoes had missed the vessel at 02.18 and 02.41 hours. The Germans fired 113 rounds and scored 12 hits that caused the ship to sink after 52 minutes about 190 miles west-southwest of Cape Clear. The Estonian crew immediately stopped the engines and abandoned ship in two lifeboats after the U-boat had opened fire. The master was questioned by the Germans who laughed after being told that the ship was bound for Antwerp and handed the survivors some tinned bread, sausage and two bottles of wine before leaving the area. The survivors were picked up by the British decoy ship HMS Orchy (X 72) (Cdr Charles V. Jack, RN), disguised as Antoine, in position 51°26N/10°38W at 1730 hours on 25 June. Great difficulties were experienced with the boats alongside as the ship was pitching in the rough sea and heavy swell. All survivors were very cold, tired and wet and given hot drinks and dry clothes, but were kept from the after mess and gun decks to prevent that the true nature of the vessel became known to them. Among the survivors was a female cook who was accommodated in a vacant cabin until they were all landed at Milford Haven on 26 June. The 1,885-ton Cathrine was carrying general cargo and wheat and was headed for London, England.
Destroyers HMS Firedrake and HMS Punjabi departed the Clyde at 0100/24th to escort aircraft carrier HMS Argus and liner Andes (25689grt) to Iceland where they safely arrived at Reykavik at 2015/26th and Seidisfjord on the 30th. The ships departed Reykavik at 1900/27th and arrived at Akreyri at 1320/28th. Troops were landed at Akreyri on the 28th. Destroyers Firedrake and Punjabi and liner Andes departed Akreyri at 1020/29th for Seidisfjord. Fog delayed the passage and the ships arrived in the Fjord at 1030/30th. Troops were landed at Seidisfjord on 1 July. The British ships completed their mission and departed Seidisfjord at 1400 on 1 July. The ships arrived in the Clyde at 1030 on 3 July.
At 0332, submarine HMS Trident fired four torpedoes at German tanker Dithmarschen, escorted by destroyers Ihn and Galster, in 64-21N, 09-12E. All torpedoes missed.
Minelayers HMS Teviotbank and HMS Plover and destroyers HMS Intrepid, HMS Icarus, and HMS Express, which departed the Humber on the 24th, laid minefield BS.18 during the night of 24/25 June.
British steamer Albuera (3477grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.36 at two miles south west of Lydd Light Float off Dungeness. Seven crewmen were lost on the British steamer. Twenty nine survivors from steamer Albuera were rescued by a Dutch steamer Merope (1162grt) which transferred them to Anti-submarine trawler HMS Grimsby Town (422grt) .
British steamer Kingfisher (276grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.19 in 50 30N, 00 28E off Beachy Head. One crewman was lost on the British steamer.
British steamers Glenaffaric (7782grt), Cyclops (9076grt), and Clan Ross (5897grt) were off St Jean de Luz to join British liner Ettrick (11,279grt) embarking troops at St Jean de Luz. British liner Arandora Star (15,501grt) also joined for the evacuation. British steamer Clan Ross (5897grt) was damaged by German bombing in 43 54N, 1 53W off St Jean de Luz.
Italian submarine Luigi Galvani, which departed Massawa on the 10th,was rammed and sunk by sloop HMS Falmouth in the Gulf of Oman at 25 55N, 56 55E.
Destroyer HMS Douglas of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, with Sir Dudley North aboard, departed Gibraltar for Mers el Kebir to learn the terms of the French Armistice. Destroyer Douglas arrived back at Gibraltar later that same day.
Convoy FN.204 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Valorous, sloop HMS Egret, patrol sloop HMS Sheldrake. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 26th.
Convoy FS.203 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops HMS Fleetwood and HMS Weston and patrol sloop HMS Pintail. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 26th.
Convoy MT.95 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Vega and HMS Vivien. The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.
Convoy HGZ (formed as HG.36) departed Gibraltar with twenty four ship escorted by destroyer HMS Wishart and anti-submarine trawler HMS Lord Hotham as local escort. Destroyer Wishart remained with the convoy until 28 June when she was detached to convoy OG.35. Sloop HMS Fowey joined from convoy OG.35 and escorted the convoy from 28 June to 4 July when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
The War at Sea, Monday, 24 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
Heavy cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow after completing repairs in the Clyde of her 19 March bombing damage.
Light cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyer ECHO arrived at Scapa Flow at 0445.
Destroyers FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 0100/24th to escort aircraft carrier ARGUS and liner ANDES (25689grt) to Iceland where they safely arrived at Reykjavik at 2015/26th and Seidisfjord on the 30th.
The ships departed Reykavik at 1900/27th and arrived at Akreyri at 1320/28th. Troops were landed at Akreyri on the 28th.
Destroyers FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI and liner ANDES departed Akreyri at 1020/29th for Seidisfjord. Fog delayed the passage and the ships arrived in the Fjord at 1030/30th. Troops were landed at Seidisfjord on 1 July.
The British ships completed their mission and departed Seidisfjord at 1400 on 1 July.
The ships arrived in the Clyde at 1030 on 3 July.
Destroyer FORESIGHT departed Scapa Flow at 0615 for Sullom Voe to escort minelayer ATREUS.
Destroyer FORESIGHT and minelayer ATREUS departed Sullom Voe at 1715 for Scapa Flow. They arrived at Scapa Flow at 0500/25th.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI arrived at Scapa Flow from Iceland.
Destroyer DIANA departed Scapa Flow at 2000/24th for Aberdeen.
At Aberdeen, destroyer DIANA and minesweeping trawler WHITETHORN (515grt) and anti-submarine trawler STOKE CITY (422grt) escorted British steamer LOCHNAGAR (1619grt) and store carrier KYLEBROOK to Lerwick and Scapa Flow, respectively.
Store carrier KYLEBROOK and minesweeping trawler WHITETHORN were detached to Scapa Flow on the 25th.
Destroyer DIANA, anti-submarine trawler STOKE CITY, steamer LOCHNAGAR arrived at Lerwick at 1440.
Destroyer DIANA proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 2130.
Destroyer AMAZON departed Scapa Flow for repairs at Chatham.
At 0332, submarine TRIDENT fired four torpedoes at German tanker DITHMARSCHEN, escorted by destroyers IHN and GALSTER, in 64-21N, 09-12E.
All torpedoes missed.
Submarine H.28 arrived at Blyth after patrol.
Submarines SEAWOLF, SEALION, and SHARK exercised in the Firth of Forth.
Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS, and EXPRESS, which departed the Humber on the 24th, laid minefield BS.18 during the night of 24/25 June.
Destroyer BOREAS on OD 2 (South Goodwins Patrol) was ordered to investigate a surface craft steering in circles.
(Note:OD 1 was North Goodwins Patrol. OD 3 was the Dungeness Patrol. )
Destroyer CODRINGTON was sent to support destroyer BOREAS.
Destroyer BOREAS proceeded within three and a half miles off Boulogne. She reported no ships underway. The destroyer experienced considerable artillery fire, but no damage was sustained.
Later, destroyer CODRINGTON brought British whale factory ship SVEND FOYN (14,795grt) to anchorage west of Dungeness.
British steamer ALBUERA (3477grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.36 at two miles south west of Lydd Light Float off Dungeness.
Seven crew were lost on the British steamer. Twenty-nine survivors from steamer ALBUERA were rescued by a Dutch steamer MEROPE (1162grt) which transferred them to Anti-submarine trawler GRIMSBY TOWN (422grt).
British steamer KINGFISHER (276grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.19 in 50‑30N, 00‑28E off Beachy Head.
One crewman was lost on the British steamer.
British steamers GLENAFFARIC (7782grt), CYCLOPS (9076grt), and CLAN ROSS (5897grt) were off St Jean de Luz to join British liner ETTRICK (11,279grt) embarking troops at St Jean de Luz.
British liner ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt) also joined for the evacuation.
British steamer CLAN ROSS (5897grt) was damaged by German bombing in 43‑54N, 1‑53W off St Jean de Luz.
Convoy FN.204 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS, sloop EGRET, patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 26th.
Convoy FS.203 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops FLEETWOOD and WESTON and patrol sloop PINTAIL. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 26th.
Convoy MT.95 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VEGA and VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.
U-47 sank Panamanian steamer CATHRINE (1885grt) in 50‑08N, 14W.
Nineteen survivors were landed at Milford Haven.
Italian submarine GALVANI, which departed Massawa on the 10th, was rammed and sunk by sloop FALMOUTH in the Gulf of Oman at 25‑55N, 56‑55E.
Destroyer DOUGLAS of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, with Sir Dudley North aboard, departed Gibraltar for Mer el Kebir to learn the terms of the French Armistice.
Destroyer DOUGLAS arrived back at Gibraltar later that same day.
British liaison officers departed Oran on French destroyer TYPHON for Gibraltar, arriving on the 25th. The destroyer returned to Oran that day.
Convoy HGZ (formed as HG.36) departed Gibraltar with twenty-four ships escorted by destroyer WISHART and anti-submarine trawler LORD HOTHAM as local escort.
Destroyer WISHART remained with the convoy until 28 June when she was detached to convoy OG.35.
Sloop FOWEY joined from convoy OG.35 and escorted the convoy from 28 June to 4 July when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
Heavy cruiser KENT was attached to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
Heavy cruiser CORNWALL departed Simonstown for Liverpool to refit completing on 5 August.
New Zealand light cruiser HMNZS ACHILLES departed Auckland for anti-raider patrol around Curtis and Macauley Islands.
The light cruiser arrived back at Auckland on the 28th.
The 1940 Republican National Convention officially opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The twenty-second Republican National Convention opened here today with a prayer for divine guidance and avoidance of war in these troubled times, and the election of Governor Harold E. Stassen as temporary chairman. In his keynote speech tonight the young Minnesota Governor, ineligible for the Presidency because he has not reached the constitutional age of 35, demanded a change of government at Washington “before it is too late.” He drew a parallel between the present leadership at Washington with the pre-war leadership in England and France and stressed the necessity of real and not paper preparedness for the national defense in this time of crisis. The blond Minnesota Governor denounced the New Deal as ineffective to reduce unemployment or revive industry and said a resolute voice and a big stick was needed at Washington instead of “a big noise and a little stick.” With the Auditorium filled to its capacity of 17,000, Governor Stassen received an enthusiastic welcome from the delegates and spectators when he was presented by National Chairman John Hamilton.
A display of popular emotion that amazes seasoned political observers at the GOP Convention in Philadelphia has made Wendell Willkie the most talked of man on this exciting opening day of a gathering of 1,000 delegates and 10,000 others, who likewise claim the right to name the standard bearer of the Republican Party On every hand there are delegates who are wondering on what ballot they shall desert their original favorite and turn to this new phenomenon who has come out of the Democratic Party to save the nation from what his followers declare Is war hysteria and business and defense bungling of President Roosevelt.
Distinguished by a sharp attack on the Roosevelt Administration’s handling of foreign affairs, with a declaration for keeping the United States out of other nations’ wars, and a pledge for every measure of armed defense needed to keep war from the Western Hemisphere, the Republican party platform for 1940 was practically completed tonight. A more general statement of sympathy for all “oppressed people” in their fight for freedom, and approval of such aid to these beleaguered governments as may be extended without violation of international law or peril to the defense of the United States are also understood to be included in the document, which may be submitted to the convention tomorrow. The resolutions committee announced a virtually finished job soon after it convened in formal session in the afternoon. Its members had been here for the last eight days, preparing the planks which were turned over to a drafting committee to be reduced to a “short, concise and conclusive” statement of Republican party principles. Former Senator George Wharton Pepper of Pennsylvania is head of the group which will draft the resolutions into final form.
Governor Harold Stassen of Minnesota gives the GOP convention keynote address. “The saddest chapter of the last four years,” Stassen shouted, was that the Roosevelt administration “has turned its political gaze upon a third term,” instead of upon the national welfare.
President Roosevelt abruptly canceled today the Navy Department’s release to the British Government of the first twenty units of the Navy’s “mosquito fleet” of torpedo boats, following receipt of an opinion from Attorney General Jackson that the transaction was directly contrary to a prohibitive law passed by Congress in 1917. One of the President’s first official acts on returning to the White House from Hyde Park, the rescinding order directed the Navy Department “to put an end to pending negotiations with the Electric Boat Company by which the department would have accepted deferred delivery on twenty experimental motor torpedo boats.”
The future plans of the Anglo-French Purchasing Board, established here some months ago to correlate the armaments purchases of Great Britain and France, were still much in doubt yesterday, the board’s activities already having been slackened last week when France sued for peace.
Plans for doubling the factory space and the number of employes devoted to the manufacturing of airplane propellers were announced yesterday by the Curtiss propeller division of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.
Senator Pepper denounced the German-Italian peace terms to France today as without parallel since the days when “the victor put the men to the sword and carried off the enemies’ women and cattle.”
Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., Ambassador to the Polish Government, who has been the de facto Ambassador to France since removal of the French Government from Paris, was ordered to London today by Secretary of State Cordell Hull.
Myron C. Taylor will resign as President Roosevelt’s personal representative to the Vatican on account of his health, according to reports here today. The reports, while generally credited, lacked official confirmation.
The United States Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the conviction of Earl Browder, General Secretary of the Communist Party and its presidential candidate, on charges of passport fraud. Browder, sentenced to four years imprisonment and a $2,500 fine, is at liberty under bail and may carry on his presidential campaign during an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The left-wing-dominated New York County Committee of the American Labor Party, meeting last night at the headquarters of the C.I.O. Transport Workers Union in New York, adopted resolutions protesting against all pending conscription measures and against any American intervention in Mexico and Latin America.
Charles Edison, who had devoted himself to accelerating naval construction and to technical advances in the naval service, resigned as Secretary of the Navy. Lewis Compton, Assistant Secretary of the Navy since February 9, 1940, became Acting Secretary. Edison would become Governor of New Jersey.
Rear Admiral Charles A. Blakely relieved Rear Admiral Joseph R. Defrees as Commandant, Eleventh Naval District and Commandant Naval Operating Base, San Diego, California.
Major League Baseball:
The Indians rout the Yankees, 7–1, as Bob Feller goes the distance and allows just one run on seven hits, while striking out five. The Indians pile on three New York pitchers for eleven hits. The Indians take control of the game with three runs in the third.
Four home runs, one with two men on base, were hit by the St. Louis Browns today as they defeated the Philadelphia Athletics, 9–4. Harlond Clift’s three-run shot in the sixth was the heaviest blow. Elden Auker got the win for the Browns.
New York Yankees 1, Cleveland Indians 7
Philadelphia Athletics 4, St. Louis Browns 9
In a secret order to J. Edgar Hoover, Roosevelt authorizes the FBI to begin sending espionage agents to nations in Central America and South America. Roosevelt issues a secret order to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to infiltrate Central and South American governments to gauge their degree of German sympathies.
Japanese warships were dispatched to Haiphong, French Indo-China port, today to “observe the movements” of vessels suspected of carrying munitions and supplies to China, the admiralty announced. The vessels were sent from the China fleet, the admiralty said, although the size of the force was not stated. This action was taken by Japan as informed sources said the Tokyo government may attempt to declare a “protectorate” over French and Netherlands territories in the orient. Such a move, it was said, probably would follow discussions with Germany and Italy as to the future of such holdings by defeated European powers.
Japanese troops take control of French sector in Shanghai. French authorities, without consulting British and Americans, turned over to the Japanese today a part of the defense sector of the International Settlement and French Concession. They gave up the so-called Siccawei sector, adjoining the French Concession, to the Japanese and to representatives of Wang Ching-wei, Japan’s puppet representative at Nanking. British and American authorities are shocked at this action. This area is considered an essential point in the defense of the foreign concessions at Shanghai and has been occupied by the French since August, 1937. The French were obliged, under an agreement with the other powers, not to change the status quo without consultation with other defense forces. It was observed today that they retired without consultation or notification.
Battle of South Kwangsi: Japanese 22nd Army captures Peichianghsu, controlling the Nanning – Lungtou highway.
Japan requests that British close the Burma Road, thus severing the Allied supply line to China. Great Britain today had to face an upsurge of her old trouble with Japan. It was reported from Tokyo that a declaration had been handed to Ambassador Sir Robert Leslie Craigie to the effect that the British must stop supplies from reaching Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s government via the Burma Road, the only way the Chinese can get supplies at this time. An Associated Press report from Tokyo said the demands included the stationing of Japanese inspectors in Burma, cessation of trade between Hong Kong and free China and withdrawal of British interests, including troops, from the Shanghai International Settlement.
Japanese planes bombed the British Embassy and Consulate and the nearby French Consulate in Chungking today during a raid that was the first on the city since a week ago.. The British Consulate was virtually demolished by a direct hit. At the Embassy Building there was minor damage when a bomb failed to explode. All the Embassy and Consulate staff members were safe in a near-by dugout. Five Chinese, not members of the staff, were killed by a bomb that fell in the compound of the French Consulate and caused minor damage to the building. Squadrons of twenty-seven and thirty-six planes bombed the city, loosing their explosives on the thickly settled wailed area and the northern and southeastern residential suburbs. Damage was extensive and some big fires were started, but loss of life was not as large as in some previous raids.
Pu Yi, the puppet emperor of Manchukuo and last emperor of China, arrives in Japan on an official visit.
New Zealand Division light cruiser HMS Achilles departed Auckland for anti-raider patrol around Curtis and Macauley Islands. The light cruiser arrived back at Auckland on the 28th.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 123.76 (+0.93)
Born:
Hope Cooke, American author, historian and former Queen Consort of Sikkim (1963–1975), in San Francisco, California.
Vittorio Storaro, Italian cinematographer (“Taxi”, “Apocalypse Now”, “The Last Emperor”), in Rome, Italy
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Alyssum (K 100) is laid down by George Brown & Co. (Greenock, Scotland); completed by Kincaid. She will be transferred to the Forces Navales Françaises Libres (Free French Naval Forces) after launching and eventually completed as Alysse.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Geranium (K 16) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant Alan Foxall, RNR.
History Diaries 