Show typists error during war cost british two ships LONDON A typists error was blamed for or the loss ot of two british destroyers in the battle of 0 crete during the early phases ot of world war 11 II it was disclosed in newly released admiralty dispatches ol of that battle from adm sir andrew B cunningham then in charge of mediterranean operations now lord cun bingham ot of Hynd hope he explained that on the night of may 22 1941 he received a most immediate message reporting the battleships queen elizabeth and barham were empty of anti air craft ammunition the message should have read the two battle wagons had plenty As a result the two ships were ordered back to alexandria leaving behind the destroyers kelly and kashmir presumably to protect their withdrawal against the get ger mans both were sunk |