As Remembrance Day approaches, we honour our partner Sarah Draper’s grandfather Belford Alexander Draper.
Belford Alexander Draper served as a telegraphist in the Royal Navy during World War II. His post was aboard HMS Puncher, a British escort carrier built in the United States and transferred to British service. Escort carriers like the Puncher were smaller than traditional aircraft carriers but were vital to convoy protection, particularly in dangerous waters where German forces posed a constant threat.
Draper’s specific role as a telegraphist placed him at the heart of shipboard communications, a critical link in ensuring orders and information flowed smoothly between ships and command.
As a part of his duties on the HMS Puncher, Draper participated in the perilous Murmansk Run.
What is a Telegraphist:
In World War II, telegraphists, nicknamed “Sparkers”, held positions of significant responsibility within naval crews. A telegraphist operated and maintained radio and Morse code equipment, ensuring that vital messages were received and sent accurately and promptly. This role required high levels of technical skill, precision, and a steady hand, particularly in combat or when navigating dangerous waters.
Telegraphists worked with Morse code, transmitting coded messages that allowed ships to communicate despite distance or even enemy jamming attempts. At times, they were the only line of communication between ships and command, or between individual vessels in a convoy. This made telegraphists indispensable, especially on missions where ships operated under radio silence or communicated via encrypted messages to avoid enemy detection.
The Murmansk Run:
The Murmansk Run was a series of Arctic convoys between the Allied forces and the Soviet Union, primarily through the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in northern Russia. These convoy routes were established to deliver vital supplies, weapons, and resources to the Soviet Union, which was fighting on the Eastern Front against Germany. Between 1941 and 1945, these convoys transported thousands of tons of military supplies to bolster Soviet defenses.
The Murmansk Run was notorious for its treacherous conditions and high casualty rate. To reach the Soviet ports, convoys had to traverse the Arctic Circle, through waters that were not only frigid but often choked with pack ice. Severe winter storms battered the ships, and freezing temperatures created constant risks of ice buildup on deck, which could capsize a ship if not quickly removed. The convoys also faced nearly 24-hour darkness in winter, making navigation incredibly difficult.
Aside from the harsh weather and total darkness, the Murmansk Run was made even more dangerous by the presence of German forces stationed in Norway. German submarines (U-boats), bombers, and surface raiders actively targeted these convoys, making the journey one of the most dangerous operations of the war. German aircraft would launch attacks from Norwegian bases, dropping bombs and attempting to disrupt or destroy the convoy formations.
German U-boats lurked below, waiting for any opportunity to attack unguarded or weakened ships. The German Navy deployed advanced submarines along the convoy route, and they were often equipped with powerful torpedoes capable of sinking ships with a single hit. Escort ships like the HMS Puncher played an essential role in protecting the convoys from these threats, often engaging in anti-submarine warfare and providing a defensive perimeter.
In the high-stakes environment of the Arctic convoys, a telegraphist’s quick transmission of critical information could mean the difference between life and death for the convoy. Any delay or miscommunication could expose ships to attack or leave them stranded without reinforcements.
The convoy missions were essential in supporting the Soviet war effort, helping to turn the tide against Nazi Germany. More than 3,000 seamen lost their lives on these Arctic convoys, and hundreds of ships were lost or damaged. However, their sacrifices were not in vain, as the supplies they delivered played a vital role in strengthening the Allied front on the Eastern theater.
