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Battle Of The Atlantic Museum - Loch Ewe

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Battle Of The Atlantic Museum - Loch Ewe

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Pool House was requisitioned during WWII following a visit by Winston Churchill in September 1939 and became the Arctic Convoy Headquarters.

It also controlled the North Atlantic, Icelandic and Gibraltar convoys that assembled at Loch Ewe.

09/10/2026

An original Kriegsmarine foul-weather cap, made in Hamburg in 1940.

Among the fascinating objects in our collection is this original German naval weather cap, made from brown rubberised canvas with cotton ties. Designed to protect against the elements, it offers a tangible connection to the men who served aboard German U-boats during the Second World War.

The North Atlantic was a hostile environment for any sailor. Cold winds, driving rain, freezing spray and mountainous seas made life on deck an unforgiving experience. For U-boat crews, keeping out the worst of the weather was essential, particularly when they were on watch or working on the exposed conning tower.

Alongside the cap, we have photographs showing U-boat crewmen wearing similar headgear, bringing this remarkable piece of history to life. Looking at these images, it is easier to imagine the harsh conditions in which these men operated.

This cap has survived more than eight decades and now offers a small glimpse into everyday life at sea during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Sometimes the simplest objects tell us the most about the realities of war.

Come and discover more remarkable artefacts and stories at the Battle of the Atlantic Museum, Loch Ewe.

05/10/2026

On This Day ….

5 OCTOBER 1942 - FIRST BLOOD FOR 269 SQUADRON

84 years ago today, southwest of Iceland, a lonely Lockheed Hudson was hunting in the grey.

On board, Flying Officer J. Markham and his crew of No. 269 Squadron RAF, flying out of Iceland, spotted a wake cutting through the Atlantic swell.

It was U-619 - a Type VIIC U-boat under Kurt Makowski. She was on only her second patrol, fresh from sinking two Allied merchantmen in convoy RB-1 - a decoy convoy to protect troops and supplies travelling further south across the Atlantic for Operation Torch.

Markham didn't hesitate. He dived in and released his depth charges.
It was a perfect straddle.
U-619 was sunk at 58°41′N 22°58′W, southwest of Iceland, by depth charges from the RAF Hudson. All 44 hands were lost.

For 269 Squadron, it was a milestone - their first confirmed U-boat kill.

But for the Battle of the Atlantic, it was another reminder that the air gap was closing. No U-boat was safe anymore, even in the middle of the ocean.

We remember all who were lost at sea - on both sides.

Lest We Forget.

02/10/2026

⏱️ 55 Minutes to Change the Fate of a Ship

Among the fascinating objects in our collection is this German Kriegsmarine 55-minute demolition timer, dating from around 1943–1945.

Small in size, but potentially devastating in its purpose, this ingenious mechanical timer could be attached to a large explosive charge and set to detonate after a delay of between 1 and 55 minutes.

For a U-boat or other German vessel, it could serve two very different purposes.

⚓ Scuttle your own ship – if capture was unavoidable, the crew could set the timer and abandon the vessel, ensuring it did not fall into enemy hands.

🎯 Sink an enemy vessel – demolition charges could be placed aboard a captured or disabled enemy ship, allowing the crew to withdraw and destroy it without using a valuable torpedo.

The simple instructions on the accompanying tag read:

1. Remove the seal.
2. Set the time.
3. Remove the pin.
4. Pull up the setting disc.

Once activated, the countdown began.

Imagine leaving a ship behind knowing that somewhere inside it, a small mechanical device was quietly counting down its final minutes.

Objects like this give us a remarkable insight into the technology, tactics and dangers of naval warfare during the Second World War.

This rare Kriegsmarine timer is now part of the collection at the Battle of the Atlantic Museum, Loch Ewe.

28/09/2026

HMS Starfish – A Fight for Survival

HMS Starfish was in serious trouble. After losing power to her forward hydroplanes, she began to descend bows-first. Captain Turner ordered the tanks flooded, and the submarine finally settled onto the seabed.

Then came the order for total silence.

The crew knew the Germans were searching for them with powerful listening equipment. Even a cough or a dropped spanner could reveal their position.

For hours, Starfish lay motionless in the darkness. Then the depth charges began.

Explosions shook the submarine violently. Light bulbs shattered, air lines split and water poured in. Rivets were torn from the hull and men struggled in darkness to control the flooding. The Germans continued their attack, dropping charge after charge above the stricken submarine.

The situation became desperate. Starfish was damaged, her batteries were running low and the crew knew that if seawater reached them, poisonous chlorine gas could fill the boat.

Eventually, the Germans stopped attacking. They had seen an air bubble rising from the submarine and knew Starfish was still alive. They simply waited for the crew to be forced to surface.

With their air and batteries almost exhausted, Captain Turner gave the order to surface.

Slowly, the stern rose. The bows remained stuck on the seabed, leaving the submarine at a dangerous angle with part of her hull exposed above the waves.

As Captain Turner emerged through the escape hatch, German gunfire opened up.

His order was immediate:

“Abandon ship.”

A remarkable story of courage, discipline and survival beneath the water. The full story is part of our display.

25/09/2026

❄️ Keeping the Guns Functioning

Imagine standing on the deck of a warship in the North Atlantic or Arctic, surrounded by freezing spray, biting winds and temperatures far below zero. Within minutes, seawater could turn the ship, its deck and its guns into a mass of ice.

For the men who operated the guns, this wasn’t simply uncomfortable — ice could make a gun impossible to use when it was needed most.
To prevent this, gun crews were constantly required to train the guns from left to right and elevate them up and down. This continual movement helped prevent the gun mountings and their moving parts from becoming completely frozen solid.

It was exhausting work. Men would often be working in appalling conditions, surrounded by ice, snow and spray, while wearing heavy clothing and gloves that made handling equipment even more difficult.

This photograph gives us a glimpse of these conditions. Every surface is coated in ice — including the guns themselves which are shown at maximum elevation.

In North Atlantic and Arctic Convoys, keeping the guns moving meant keeping the ship’s defences ready for action at all times.

23/09/2026

HMS DEVONSHIRE (39) - From Loch Ewe to saving a King!

Did you know County-class cruiser HMS Devonshire was based right here at Loch Ewe in December 1939? After the loss of Royal Oak at Scapa Flow, she anchored here with Nelson and Rodney before sailing to hunt the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.

She was also involved with “The Winston Specials” Convoys for transporting troops. When the Med was too dangerous, troops to the Middle East & Far East went round the Cape in these special convoys. Devonshire was Ocean Es**rt for three of these, guarding thousands of ANZAC and British troops.

The NORWEGIAN ROYALS - JUNE 1940

After Narvik fell, Devonshire was detached to Tromso. On 6-7 June 1940 she embarked King Haakon VII, the Norwegian Royal Family and government officials for passage to the UK. On the way home on the 8th June she picked up garbled distress signals from HMS Glorious who was being attacked by German battlecruisers - she was sunk along with two detroyers and the loss of 1500 lives in this terrible tragedy as the admiralty did not realise the three ships had been sunk and men drifted in the freezing sea for three days before Norwegian vessels reached the few survivors. Devonshire held radio silence to protect the King aboard. He landed safely at Greenock.

From protecting convoys in the Atlantic at the start of the war she served across the globe and ended her wartime service as a troopship. A remarkable ship with an equally remarkable history.

Pictured here on a recent visit is Graham Ledger holding one of her salvaged portholes after she was scrapped. His father Frank was on this ship after the war when she was a troopship and we wonder if he looked out through this window?

14/09/2026

HMS Escapade – “A Greyhound of the Sea”

Look closely at this photograph and you can almost feel the speed of HMS Escapade as she throws the sea aside during a high-speed turn.
An E-class destroyer, Escapade was built for speed, agility and action. Her top speed was 35.5 knots (40.9 mph). Her motto was Celeriter — “Swiftly” — a fitting description for her as destroyers were known as “The Greyhounds of the Sea.”

During the Second World War, Escapade served extensively in some of the most dangerous waters of the conflict. In the Atlantic, where she protected many vital convoys from U-boats, to the freezing and treacherous waters of the Arctic, she was repeatedly called upon to es**rt ships carrying desperately needed supplies to the Soviet Union.

In 1941–42 she took part in several Arctic convoy operations, including PQ 1, PQ 6, QP 4, PQ 13, QP 9, PQ 14, PQ 15 and PQ 17, facing German aircraft, U-boats, mines, heavy seas and the relentless Arctic weather.

Later, back in the North Atlantic, Escapade continued the fight against the U-boat menace, es**rting convoys including HX 228, ONS 175, HX 232 and HX 239 during the crucial battles of 1943.

This photograph captures more than simply a destroyer making a turn. It captures the speed, skill and determination of the men who took these ships into harm’s way — again and again.
HMS Escapade — “Celeriter” — Swiftly. ⚓🇬🇧

11/09/2026

🌧️ Remembering the Russian Arctic Convoys

Today marks the anniversary of the unveiling of the Russian Arctic Convoy Memorial at Rubha Nan Sasan, near Cove in 1999.

It was a deeply moving occasion — and fittingly, the weather seemed to share the mood. Heavy rain fell throughout the ceremony, with the grey skies and wet ground creating a sombre backdrop as people gathered to remember those who sailed from Loch Ewe into the unforgiving Arctic.

The memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the men of the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy who made those perilous journeys carrying vital supplies to the Soviet Union. Many never returned, losing their lives in the bitter Arctic seas.

As wreaths were laid and memories shared, the rain continued to fall — but the importance of the occasion was undiminished.

Today, the stone remains overlooking the waters from which so many ships departed, a quiet reminder of courage, sacrifice and comradeship.

We will remember them.

🌺 Lest we forget.

09/09/2026

🔒 BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT POOL HOUSE ……

Imagine sitting in this room in the middle of the Second World War.

The curtains drawn. Maps spread across the table. Officers gathered around, listening carefully to every word.

This room, now our library, was once the setting for vital convoy conferences at Loch Ewe.

On one day, the Commodore would meet with the Royal Navy Captains and First Officers. On another, the Merchant Navy Captains would be briefed.

They would be told where their convoy was heading, how the ships would be arranged, the speed they would maintain — and, most importantly, what dangers might lie ahead.

There could be U-boats waiting beneath the waves… or the terrifying possibility of German capital ships breaking out into the Atlantic.

Once the conference was over, the men would return to their ships and prepare to sail.

They knew the risks.

They also knew that the cargoes they carried — fuel, food, am******on and vital supplies — were essential to Britain’s survival.

From Easter next year this room will be opened to the public and will feature fascinating stories and artefacts.

🎥 As you watch this video, take a moment to imagine the conversations that once took place within these walls.

This is not just a library. It is a room that witnessed decisions upon which lives depended.

⚓ Loch Ewe — where the Battle of the Atlantic was planned, briefed and fought.

07/09/2026

As this season begins to draw to a close, we are already planning our displays for next year and HMS ANSON – GUARDIAN OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS will take a prominent position. We will be displaying a wonderful collection relating to a leading signalman onboard this battleship. Below is an advance look at one item, a beautiful brass bell cast from metal salvaged from this magnificent ship when she was scrapped in 1957.

Commissioned in 1942, this powerful King George V-class battleship joined the Home Fleet and became part of the force protecting the vital Arctic Convoys to Murmansk and Archangel.

The merchant ships carried desperately needed supplies to the Soviet Union — but every mile of the journey brought danger from U-boats, aircraft, German warships and the unforgiving Arctic weather.

Anson’s massive guns provided a powerful deterrent to German surface forces. Her presence could mean the difference between a convoy being attacked or being left alone.

We hope you will visit to see the remarkable collection of items relating to this important ship.

Address

Pool House
Poolewe
IV222LD

Opening Hours

Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm

Telephone

01445781272

Website

https://pool-house.co.uk/pool-house-in-ww2/

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