Cause of Death: |
Killed in action, sunk by the German battleship Bismarck commanded by Admiral Lutjens and captained by Captain Ernest Lindemann. In an early morning action in the Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland, the Bismarck, accompanied by the cruiser Prince Eugen (Captain Helmuth Brinkmann), were en route from Bergen in Norway to the Atlantic when they intercepted the Hood, the Prince of Wales and six escorting destroyers. From 26, 000 yards, the Bismarck opened fire and at 16, 500 yards scored a direct hit on the Hood's magazine causing the 112 tons of explosives to blow up. The battleship, commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Lancelot Holland, went down in about four minutes. Of a crew of 1,417 (94 officers and 1,323 ratings and Royal Marines) there were only three survivors, a death toll of 1,414. |
Additional
Information: |
Son of John McLaren and Gladys Ella (nee Gill) McLaren. Born Durban. Educated Durban Preparatory High School. Cadet Draft 1936-38 (extended training to 01/04/1938). Ex-Cadet of the South African Training Ship General Botha. John Bruce McLaren was apprenticed to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, in 1939 and served in the tanker Donax. In November 1940 he enlisted with RNR and for four months, attended HMS King Alfred at Hove. He was then posted as Temporary Midshipman HMS Hood which was lost three weeks after he had signed on for 1936/37 service. |
