HMS OXLEY (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman) was attacked and sunk by HMS TRITON (Lt Cdr H P deC Steel) on the evening of 10 September 1939 while on patrol off the southwest coast of Norway.  OXLEY had strayed into TRITON’s area.  Both submarines were on the surface and OXLEY failed to respond to several challenges by signal light.

There were only 2 survivors, the Commanding Officer and Able Seaman Gukes, both of whom were on the bridge when the torpedo struck; they were blown into the water and recovered by TRITON.  Lt Manley, RNR, the Officer of the Watch of OXLEY, was also blown overboard and sighted by TRITON, but disappeared before he could be recovered.