On 7 July 2011, Captain David Jones gave an illustrated talk to Newport U3A entitled:

"The Enemy, My Friend"

Captain Jones had previously talked about his experience when his ship was attacked in 1942.

He started his nautical career in Newport on 6 September 1939 as a Cadet Navigating Officer, and retired after 51 years.

In 1942 his ship Quebec City was sunk by German U-boat U156, captained by Werner Hartenstein, who came from Plauen in Bavaria.

Captain Hartenstein showed compassion to all the survivors of the 24 ships he sank in WW2 (the Laconia was sunk just days before Quebec City - and was the subject of a TV programme earlier in the year).

Our speaker abandoned ship in the nude and was still naked 30 days later after his lifeboat had travelled 1500 miles to Liberia. Eventually a rescue ship took him to Freetown. He had no belongings or identification. When he finally arrived home, injured, in Swansea he was interviewed by Edwina, who later became his wife.

Captain Hartenstein took his ship back to base for repairs, but when he was sent out again an American patrol from Trinidad spotted his U-boat and bombed it, leaving no survivors.

Captain Jones researched and published his book "The Enemy We Killed, My Friend" and took two years to research a German book.

When the German Navy became aware of his book, which made known the humanity and compassion of Captain Hartenstein, they contacted him and asked him to speak in Plauen at the 1999 Centenary of German Naval Associations. They awarded Captain Jones the German Navy Order of Merit for his book.

Over a thousand sailors and Admirals from all over Germany attended, along with German TV and press. The day was so busy that he and his wife Edwina had to dress for dinner straight after breakfast! He took with him a poppy wreath which he laid at Plauen Cenotaph, putting it on the ground. The German Guard of Honour moved it to the centre of the German Naval Wreath. A shanty choir from Hamburg sang.

Musical instruments are made in Plauen, and when U156 was launched in 1941 it was named "Plauen" and 43 harmonicas and 3 accordions were left on board. Plauen was also famous for lace but the machines were removed in WW2 and tanks were built - as a result the Allies flattened the town four weeks before the end of the war.

A wreath was also laid at the Hartenstein family grave. (The German Naval Association had traced the family). Werner was 33 when killed, a bachelor who had lived in the HUGE family home. His nephew gave family photos to Captain Jones.

Captain Jones presented a love spoon to the Burgermeister of Plauen. Edwina received a lace tablecloth.

They return each year, speaking to colleges and high schools, presenting a Welsh Flag to each of them.

 

Captain Jones expressed his thanks to Polly Davies for operating the projector.

 

Mary Walker
July 2011

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