| HMS LAFOREY (March 29, 1944)
Destroyer of 1,935 tons sunk by the U-233 (Gerlach) while carrying out a routine anti-submarine sweep off Palermo, Sicily. After a twenty hour chase and twenty-two separate depth charge attacks, the U-233 survived by diving to a depth of 772 feet. Surfacing after being submerged for twenty-five hours the U233 made another attempt to escape but before doing so managed to fire three torpedoes at the Laforey. The torpedoes struck with such force that the Laforey blew up. Of her crew, a total of 189 men were killed, only 69 survived.
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On weald of Kent I watched once more
Again I heard that grumbling roar
Of fighter planes; yet none were near
And all around the sky was clear
Borne on the wind a whisper came
'Though men grow old, they stay the same'
And then I knew, unseen to eye
The ageless Few were sweeping by
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