TWO survivors of the first major naval battle of the Second World War, which saw HMS Exeter play a brave and central role, are to be honoured with a civic dinner at the Guildhall.
Jim London and Basil Trott were serving on the cruiser Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate which was fought out on December 13 1939 and ended with the sinking of the German battleship Graf Spee.
After the battle HMS Exeter returned to Devon and was granted the Freedom of the City.
On February 29 1940, a leap year, her crew marched through Exeter, from St David's Station through High Street, cheered on my huge crowds.
Now the Lord Mayor of Exeter Councillor Percy Prowse has organised a special civic dinner for Saturday, February 28, to mark the anniversary of the 'freedom' march with veterans Mr London and Mr Trott being given pride of place.
They will even be treated to the same menu they enjoyed in war-torn Exeter all those years ago – cream of tomato soup, followed by cod with lobster sauce, followed by roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, baked potatoes and green vegetables, followed by apple tart with cream or Devonshire junket and cream, followed by biscuits and cheese, followed by coffee.
Cllr Prowse said: "I met both men at the 75th anniversary memorial held last year and they are two wonderful men.
"It is fitting that we remember the Freedom of the City award anniversary in this way and we are delighted that Mr Trott and Mr London are able to be here for the occasion.
"We will be getting the civic silver out for them."
The day will also include a buffet and the White Ensign Club and the laying of a wreath at Exeter Cathedral.
The Battle of the River Plate saw ships from the Royal Navy's South American Division take on the might of Germany's Graf Spee which had been attacking British merchant ships in the South Atlantic.
Commodore Henry Harwood, commanding Hunting Group G, ordered the cruisers HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter to an area east of the River Plate – an estuary between Argentina and Uruguay. On the morning of December 13, Exeter investigated smoke and signalled: "I think it is a Pocket Battleship."
The Graf Spee initially fired on Exeter while Ajax and Achilles closed in causing significant damage to the German vessel.
Able Seaman Jack Napier, who was aboard Exeter said at the time: "The first thing I realised, that most of the bridge personnel were wiped out, was when a head came rolling down the ladder. And I recognised the head."
Exeter had to retire from the battle after suffering damage while Ajax and Achilles shadowed Graf Spee into Montevideo, Uruguay. Graf Spee's commanding officer, Captain Hans Langsdorff requested 14 days to repair her damage but Uruguay only allowed 72 hours.
Knowing that escape was no longer an option Graf Spee was scuttled in the River Plate on December 17. The battle brought the first Royal Navy victory of the Second World War and gave a much needed lift to the country's morale.
In Winston Churchill's regular radio broadcasts to the nation, he said: "This brilliant sea fight takes its place in our naval annals and in a long, cold, dark winter it warmed the cockles of the British hearts."
HMS Exeter, built at Devonport in 1931 and the fourth to carry the name, carried between 600 and 630 men
On March 1, 1942, she was sunk by the Japanese during the Battle of the Java Sea.
