The Laconia Incident. At 22.07 hours on 12th September 1942 the U-156 under the command of Korvettenkapitan Werner Hartenstein torpedoed a large target in the middle of the South Atlantic, north of Ascension Island. The vessel was the British liner 'Laconia', some 20,000 tons, which had been converted for use as a troopship and  merchant cruiser. The Laconia sank just over an hour later. She was carrying a crew of 136, plus 80 civilians including women and children, 270 military personnel, and 1800 Italian prisoners of war with 160 Polish guards. Shortly after the sinking, the crew of the U-Boat were surprised to hear Italian voices in the water and Hartenstein immediately began rescue operations and radioed for assistance, both from nearby U-Boats and other vessels in the area, promising to cease hostilities. Over the following two days U-156 picked up some 400 survivors, other U-boats and an Italian Submarine also arrived and assisted in the rescue. When the survivors filled the Submarines others were placed in lifeboats and towed behind the submarines.

On 16th September 1942 an American B-24 Liberator bomber operating from Ascension Island  arrived on the scene and reported to base  that he could see the U boats rescuing survivors and  Red Cross flags being displayed. The pilot  received orders from the duty officer to immediately attack the submarines towing the lifeboats. The Submarines were forced to cut the tow lines and submerge, leaving hundreds of people again struggling in the water. The American action, prompted the order issued by Admiral Donitz, (who had tacitly supported rescue operations) sometimes known as the "Laconia Order", making  it absolutely clear that in future no U boats were to take part in any rescue operations and any survivors were to be left in the sea. As a result 1621 people died. One can but wonder how many lives that fatal American attack, which many considered to be a “war crime” cost. See  http://www.uboataces.com/battle-laconia.shtml for the full story.

Cadet Stanley Edward Clarke was commissioned 2nd Lt 12th June 1943 into the Royal Artillery (278813). Mentioned in Despatches for North West Europe 4th April 1946 as a Temp Captain R.A. Captain Army Air Corps 1st May 1947. He finally retired on 21st December 1963 as a Captain Parachute Regiment T.A.