Wath - Part 1
Harry Bradley Ashley - P/JX 144693
© IWM (FL 22644) HMS EGRET, September 1942.
Harry Bradley Ashley was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1920, first child of Frederick B Ashley and Evelina (nee Howson) who had married the year before. Another son was born in 1924 and the family lived at 15 Ash Road, Wath.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1935 and served 3 years on the battleship HMS Nelson. He served in a number of naval actions, the most notable being those at Narvik, the battle of and Matapan and the sinking of the Bismarck. He was once wounded in legs by shrapnel and spent 16 weeks in a Cyprus hospital. Harry was a Leading Seaman, service number P/JX 144693, and later served on HMS Egret. The Egret was the lead ship in her class of Sloop, meaning that the class was known as the Egret class, she was commissioned on 11 November 1938. In 1943 HMS Egret was under refit between April and June, and after that was involved in the escort of a convoy to Gibraltar. The ship was then placed with 1st Support Group in the Bay of Biscay on anti-submarine operations to prevent passage of German submarines to and from ports in Bay of Biscay using coastal waters. While on deployment with the Canadian destroyer Athabaskan and HMS Grenville, the Egret was attacked by a German Dornier 217 aircraft carrying glider bombs. HMS Egret direct hit and sank quickly with only 35 survivors who were rescued by HMCS Athabaskan despite having been damaged by another bomb at the same time. Harry Bradley Ashley was lost in the sinking of the ship, aged 23 and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1935 and served 3 years on the battleship HMS Nelson. He served in a number of naval actions, the most notable being those at Narvik, the battle of and Matapan and the sinking of the Bismarck. He was once wounded in legs by shrapnel and spent 16 weeks in a Cyprus hospital. Harry was a Leading Seaman, service number P/JX 144693, and later served on HMS Egret. The Egret was the lead ship in her class of Sloop, meaning that the class was known as the Egret class, she was commissioned on 11 November 1938. In 1943 HMS Egret was under refit between April and June, and after that was involved in the escort of a convoy to Gibraltar. The ship was then placed with 1st Support Group in the Bay of Biscay on anti-submarine operations to prevent passage of German submarines to and from ports in Bay of Biscay using coastal waters. While on deployment with the Canadian destroyer Athabaskan and HMS Grenville, the Egret was attacked by a German Dornier 217 aircraft carrying glider bombs. HMS Egret direct hit and sank quickly with only 35 survivors who were rescued by HMCS Athabaskan despite having been damaged by another bomb at the same time. Harry Bradley Ashley was lost in the sinking of the ship, aged 23 and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Note
HMS Egret was the first ship ever to be sunk by a guided missile. The weapon a Henschel Hs 293 had first damaged a ship two days earlier, on 25 August 1943. The weapon a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It consisted of a modified standard 1,100 lb bomb with a thin metal shell and a high explosive charge inside, equipped with a rocket engine under the bomb, a pair of wings, and an 18-frequency-capability radio receiver. The bomb was in was intended to destroy unarmoured vessels and was controlled by joystick via a radio transmitting set that was carried by the launching aircraft. One drawback of the Hs 293 was that after the missile was launched the bomber had to fly in a straight and level path at a set altitude and speed parallel to the target so as to be able to maintain a slant line of sight. The rocket provided for only a short burst of speed, about 10 seconds at over 500 miles per hour, making range dependent on the height of launch. From a height of 4,600 feet the Hs 293 had a range of about 5½ miles. Later in the war the allies developed effective jamming systems. |
Harry Ballans - D/KX 81863
HMS Hunter
Harry Ballans was the seventh of eight children of William Ballans and Mary Agnes (nee Ambler) of 18 Chapel St Wath Upon Dearne. His birth was registered in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1912.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 81863. In 1940 he was a Leading Stoker serving on HMS Hunter. Hunter was involved in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940 as part of the force countering the German invasion of Norway. Hunter and five other H-class boats of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked the German destroyers that had transported German land forces to occupy Narvik in northern Norway the previous day. The flotilla was engaged by German destroyers in the Ofotfjord at
the entrance to the harbour and sank the destroyers Z 21 Wilhelm Heidkamp and Z 22 Anton Schmidt, heavily damaged Z 17 Diether von Roeder and inflicted lesser damage on two others. Seven German or
German-seized transport ships were also sunk. As the British flotilla turned to leave, it was engaged by three German destroyers emerging from the Herjangsfjord and then by two more coming from Ballangen Bay. In the ensuing battle, the British flotilla leader HMS Hardy was badly mauled and had to be beached in
flames, while Hunter sank after receiving heavy fire and colliding with HMS Hotspur. The ship sank in the centre of the fjord in position 68º20'N, 17º04'E with heavy loss of life. Of the 145 man Hunter crew, 95 died when the vessel went down, while 50 were picked up by the Germans. Harry Ballans was 28 years old when he was lost and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
The wreck was rediscovered on 5 March 2008 by the Royal Norwegian Navy mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr after being missing for nearly 70 years, and will be marked as a war grave, commemorating her lost crew members. A series of coordinated memorial ceremonies were held on board British and Norwegian warships on Saturday 8 March 2008, honouring all those who died during the battles of Narvik. Over a thousand NATO personnel took part, including British and Norwegian sailors, Royal Marines and soldiers. Led by HMS Albion, the UK's Fleet Amphibious Flagship, the five warships involved steamed in line past the spot, marked for the occasion by Tyr, where the ship lies. Hunter's final resting place was marked with wreaths cast into the sea.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 81863. In 1940 he was a Leading Stoker serving on HMS Hunter. Hunter was involved in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940 as part of the force countering the German invasion of Norway. Hunter and five other H-class boats of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked the German destroyers that had transported German land forces to occupy Narvik in northern Norway the previous day. The flotilla was engaged by German destroyers in the Ofotfjord at
the entrance to the harbour and sank the destroyers Z 21 Wilhelm Heidkamp and Z 22 Anton Schmidt, heavily damaged Z 17 Diether von Roeder and inflicted lesser damage on two others. Seven German or
German-seized transport ships were also sunk. As the British flotilla turned to leave, it was engaged by three German destroyers emerging from the Herjangsfjord and then by two more coming from Ballangen Bay. In the ensuing battle, the British flotilla leader HMS Hardy was badly mauled and had to be beached in
flames, while Hunter sank after receiving heavy fire and colliding with HMS Hotspur. The ship sank in the centre of the fjord in position 68º20'N, 17º04'E with heavy loss of life. Of the 145 man Hunter crew, 95 died when the vessel went down, while 50 were picked up by the Germans. Harry Ballans was 28 years old when he was lost and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
The wreck was rediscovered on 5 March 2008 by the Royal Norwegian Navy mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr after being missing for nearly 70 years, and will be marked as a war grave, commemorating her lost crew members. A series of coordinated memorial ceremonies were held on board British and Norwegian warships on Saturday 8 March 2008, honouring all those who died during the battles of Narvik. Over a thousand NATO personnel took part, including British and Norwegian sailors, Royal Marines and soldiers. Led by HMS Albion, the UK's Fleet Amphibious Flagship, the five warships involved steamed in line past the spot, marked for the occasion by Tyr, where the ship lies. Hunter's final resting place was marked with wreaths cast into the sea.
Kenneth Dudley Barker - D/JX 270130
Kenneth Dudley Barker was born in Leeds in the second quarter of 1921, the first child son of Alec Barker and Amy (nee Tokins), who had married in Newmarket. Further children, all sons, were born in Hemsworth in 1923 and 1925 and Rotherham in 1934. He was a member of the Scouts belonging to the 68th Doncaster (Wath Grammar School) Group.
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 270130, and was a Telegraphist. In 1943 he was serving on HMS Itchen a River class frigate that was a convoy defence vessel commissioned in 1942. On the 19 September 1943 HMS Itchen was part of Support Group 9 which was tasked with escorting convoys ONS-18 and ON-202 on their west-bound route across the North Atlantic. The convoy encountered a number of German U-boats en-route, after an absence of a number of months the u-boats were back with new Gnat acoustic torpedoes. On the night of 22/23 September HMS Itchen’s night screen position was ahead of the convoy. The first sighted submarine was attacked, and then at 22.38, HMS Itchen obtained another contact and at 23.37, Itchen and another escort were both in contact with several submarines coming in from the starboard bow. At 23.55, the escort Gatineau obtained a radar contact and sighted a submarine coming in towards the centre of the convoy from ahead. Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion, which was thought by many ships, including Gatineau, to be the submarine blowing up. Shortly afterwards the escort Morden
reported that it was an escort that had blown up astern of her. When operational signals allowed I called all escorts on R/T and established the fact that only HMS Itchen was not answering. It is believed that HMS Itchen was torpedoed in her foremost magazine just after she had sighted and engaged, and just before she rammed the U-boat. The latter was probably considerably shaken by the explosion and dived: its attack was frustrated and no ships of the convoy were torpedoed. The submarine carrying out the attack on HMS Itchen was U-666.
There were only three survivors from Itchen, two from the ship and one other was a survivor out of 81 that Itchen had picked up from another ship that had been torpedoed. Kenneth Dudley Barker was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
U-666 was listed as missing in the North Atlantic on 10 Feb, 1944. There is no explanation for its loss. 51 dead (all hands lost).
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 270130, and was a Telegraphist. In 1943 he was serving on HMS Itchen a River class frigate that was a convoy defence vessel commissioned in 1942. On the 19 September 1943 HMS Itchen was part of Support Group 9 which was tasked with escorting convoys ONS-18 and ON-202 on their west-bound route across the North Atlantic. The convoy encountered a number of German U-boats en-route, after an absence of a number of months the u-boats were back with new Gnat acoustic torpedoes. On the night of 22/23 September HMS Itchen’s night screen position was ahead of the convoy. The first sighted submarine was attacked, and then at 22.38, HMS Itchen obtained another contact and at 23.37, Itchen and another escort were both in contact with several submarines coming in from the starboard bow. At 23.55, the escort Gatineau obtained a radar contact and sighted a submarine coming in towards the centre of the convoy from ahead. Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion, which was thought by many ships, including Gatineau, to be the submarine blowing up. Shortly afterwards the escort Morden
reported that it was an escort that had blown up astern of her. When operational signals allowed I called all escorts on R/T and established the fact that only HMS Itchen was not answering. It is believed that HMS Itchen was torpedoed in her foremost magazine just after she had sighted and engaged, and just before she rammed the U-boat. The latter was probably considerably shaken by the explosion and dived: its attack was frustrated and no ships of the convoy were torpedoed. The submarine carrying out the attack on HMS Itchen was U-666.
There were only three survivors from Itchen, two from the ship and one other was a survivor out of 81 that Itchen had picked up from another ship that had been torpedoed. Kenneth Dudley Barker was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
U-666 was listed as missing in the North Atlantic on 10 Feb, 1944. There is no explanation for its loss. 51 dead (all hands lost).
Ronald Carnill - C/SSX 30686
HMS Firedrake
Ronald Carnill was the second of four children born to Joseph Henry Carnill and Hilda Ellen
(nee Greaves), his birth being registered in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1920. The family lived at 41 Vicar Road, Wath. His elder brother was in the RAF, and his younger brother was in the Fleet Air Arm, whilst his sister was a member of the ATS.
Ronald enlisted in the Royal Navy in May 1939, service number C/SSX 30686. By late 1943 he was a Telegraphist on the HMS Firedrake. The destroyer, commissioned in 1936 was the leader of
Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7 from early 1942. It was to act as part of the escort of the 43 ships of convoy ON-153 which departed Liverpool on 11 December 1942 bound for New York. The convoy encountered severe storms which at times were reported as force 12. The waves lifted the Firedrake to the top of a 60 foot crest and then dumped it down into the trough ready for the next wave. The convoy was attacked by U-boats of wolfpack Raufbold, which total 13 submarines, on the morning of the 16th December. About 550 miles of Cape Clear, the tankers Regent Lion and Bello were torpedoed and sunk and at 19.11hr the convoy was attacked again, the SS Emile
Francqui was sunk in position 50° 56’ N, 24° 42’ W. Submarine U-211 had surfaced for routine ventilation and battery charging and was surprised that her presence was not detected by Asdic or radar. It is equally surprising that the sound of the convoys propellers had not been heard, the fury of the weather obviously blotted out all other sounds. At 22.10hr that evening the Firedrake’s luck finally ran out when she was struck by a torpedo from U-211. The torpedo struck the starboard side, probably abreast the forward boiler room, the forward bulkhead of No. 3 boiler room remained intact, the ship listed heavily to starboard, righted momentarily then broke in two about a minute after the explosion. The bow section floated away and capsized to starboard, there was only one survivor from the bow section. The stern section remained afloat on an even keel, but the bulkhead of the after boiler room was being pounded by heavy seas. After a quick count up, it was found that there were 35 crew members still on this section, they got to work making the depth charges safe, dumping the torpedoes and trying to attracted the attention of the other escorts, by firing star shells. The first reaction from the escort group was to train the radar onto the position of the star shells, and picking up Firedrake’s after part on their screens, assumed that we were on station and in good order. After more star shells had been fired the corvette HMS Sunflower came over to investigate and sent up star shells of her own. It was then clear to them what had happened. HMS Sunflower came as near alongside as she could get, it was decided to take survivors off by boson’s chair, but with the corvette at one point towering some sixty feet above and the next sixty feet below in that mighty sea no such action was possible. It was decided therefore to wait for daybreak before transferring to the rescue ship. At 00.45 on the morning of the 17th December the weather deteriorated, Firedrake however began to settle lower in the water and was finally abandoned, the bulkheads collapsed and the stern sank. Survivors took to the rafts to make their way over to the Sunflower. Several men perished in the cold, some being in the water for two hours, during which time Sunflower continually sought out survivors with great skill and determination and courage, one of her crew actually going over the side to help men inboard. HMS Sunflower, managed to rescue six officers and 21 ratings from a crew of 194, although one of those rescued died before morning. Ronald Carnill was lost when the vessel sank, he was 22 years old and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Note
U-211 was sunk just under a year later on 19 November 1943 east of the Azores, in position 40.15N, 19.18W, by depth charges from a Wellington of 179 Squadron,
with the loss of all 54 hands.
(nee Greaves), his birth being registered in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1920. The family lived at 41 Vicar Road, Wath. His elder brother was in the RAF, and his younger brother was in the Fleet Air Arm, whilst his sister was a member of the ATS.
Ronald enlisted in the Royal Navy in May 1939, service number C/SSX 30686. By late 1943 he was a Telegraphist on the HMS Firedrake. The destroyer, commissioned in 1936 was the leader of
Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7 from early 1942. It was to act as part of the escort of the 43 ships of convoy ON-153 which departed Liverpool on 11 December 1942 bound for New York. The convoy encountered severe storms which at times were reported as force 12. The waves lifted the Firedrake to the top of a 60 foot crest and then dumped it down into the trough ready for the next wave. The convoy was attacked by U-boats of wolfpack Raufbold, which total 13 submarines, on the morning of the 16th December. About 550 miles of Cape Clear, the tankers Regent Lion and Bello were torpedoed and sunk and at 19.11hr the convoy was attacked again, the SS Emile
Francqui was sunk in position 50° 56’ N, 24° 42’ W. Submarine U-211 had surfaced for routine ventilation and battery charging and was surprised that her presence was not detected by Asdic or radar. It is equally surprising that the sound of the convoys propellers had not been heard, the fury of the weather obviously blotted out all other sounds. At 22.10hr that evening the Firedrake’s luck finally ran out when she was struck by a torpedo from U-211. The torpedo struck the starboard side, probably abreast the forward boiler room, the forward bulkhead of No. 3 boiler room remained intact, the ship listed heavily to starboard, righted momentarily then broke in two about a minute after the explosion. The bow section floated away and capsized to starboard, there was only one survivor from the bow section. The stern section remained afloat on an even keel, but the bulkhead of the after boiler room was being pounded by heavy seas. After a quick count up, it was found that there were 35 crew members still on this section, they got to work making the depth charges safe, dumping the torpedoes and trying to attracted the attention of the other escorts, by firing star shells. The first reaction from the escort group was to train the radar onto the position of the star shells, and picking up Firedrake’s after part on their screens, assumed that we were on station and in good order. After more star shells had been fired the corvette HMS Sunflower came over to investigate and sent up star shells of her own. It was then clear to them what had happened. HMS Sunflower came as near alongside as she could get, it was decided to take survivors off by boson’s chair, but with the corvette at one point towering some sixty feet above and the next sixty feet below in that mighty sea no such action was possible. It was decided therefore to wait for daybreak before transferring to the rescue ship. At 00.45 on the morning of the 17th December the weather deteriorated, Firedrake however began to settle lower in the water and was finally abandoned, the bulkheads collapsed and the stern sank. Survivors took to the rafts to make their way over to the Sunflower. Several men perished in the cold, some being in the water for two hours, during which time Sunflower continually sought out survivors with great skill and determination and courage, one of her crew actually going over the side to help men inboard. HMS Sunflower, managed to rescue six officers and 21 ratings from a crew of 194, although one of those rescued died before morning. Ronald Carnill was lost when the vessel sank, he was 22 years old and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Note
U-211 was sunk just under a year later on 19 November 1943 east of the Azores, in position 40.15N, 19.18W, by depth charges from a Wellington of 179 Squadron,
with the loss of all 54 hands.
Albert Dove - D/KX 80472
Albert Dove was born in the last quarter of 1911, his birth being registered in Rotherham. His father, a coal miner, George Henry Dove had married Mary Elizabeth (nee Martin) early in 1911. Initially the couple lived with Mary’s parents at 21 Tingle Bridge, Hemingfield. Albert was married in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1935, he lived with his wife and daughter, who was born in 1938, at 6 York St, West Melton, Rotherham.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1930, service number D/KX 80472, and became a Petty Officer Stoker. He had served on HMS Rodney, but by 1940 he was serving on HMS Glorious. Glorious was a Courageous-class cruiser completed in late 1916. After serving in the First World War it was paid off, but was rebuilt as an aircraft carrier during the 1920’s. In WWII she supported operations in Norway in May and June 1940. As part of the withdrawal 20 RAF fighters had flown on for transport to the UK, in addition to her fighters and 5 torpedo bombers of the Fleet Air Arm, HMS Glorious then departed for the UK. On 8 June 1940 she sailed independently with the destroyer escorts, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent for Scapa Flow. Glorious reduced speed to 17 knots and, in an attempt to confuse enemy submarines, commenced zigzag. By 16:00 Glorious was in the fourth degree of readiness, i.e. at cruising stations, steaming at 17 knots on 12 of her 18 boilers. No aircraft were ranged on deck, nor were any in the air. Ardent and Acasta were disposed two cables (440 meters) on either bow. None of the ships were fitted with radar and the carrier had no lookout in her crow's nest. The sea was calm, with wind force 2-3 (approximately 6.5 knots) from the northwest, sea temperature 34°F (I°C), visibility unlimited. Two strange ships were sighted on the western horizon shortly after 16:00. Ardent was ordered to close and identify them, and a pipe was made for five Swordfish to be ranged on the flight deck. Action Stations sounded about 16:20. The two ships were the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst who had sighted smoke on the eastern horizon at 15:46, and altered course to close the enemy. By 16:36 Gneisenau was making 30.5 knots and Scharnhorst was making 29 knots. Scharnhorst initially in the leading position, opened fire on Glorious at 16:32, range 28,600 yards (over 16 miles) and Gneisenau opened fire at 16:46. In accordance with instructions from Glorious, Ardent closed the enemy ships flashing a challenge on her searchlight and was fired on. Ardent withdrew, firing torpedoes, one of which was seen to pass close ahead of the Scharnhorst. Both destroyers made smoke to screen the Glorious. This smoke was effective enough to force the Germans to cease fire from about 16:58 to 17:20. Glorious received her first hit at 16:38 from Scharnhorst's third salvo. The 11 inch shell penetrated the flight deck and burst in the upper hangar starting a large fire. Splinters pierced a boiler casing and smoke entered air intakes. This caused a temporary drop in steam pressure from two boilers, but pressure was built up again as the smoke cleared. Further hits were obtained after 17:20 as the carrier once again became visible through the smoke of the screening destroyers. At 16:56, just before the Germans ceased fire due to screening smoke, a hit on the homing beacon wrecked the bridge, killing the captain and almost all of the bridge personnel. The Executive Officer assumed command of the ship. About 17:20 a hit in the centre engine room shook the whole ship, which thereafter began to lose speed, developed a starboard list, and commence a slow circle to port. The Germans ceased fire at about 17:40, and Glorious sank at about 18:10.
Albert Dove was lost on 8 June 1940, aged 28 and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1930, service number D/KX 80472, and became a Petty Officer Stoker. He had served on HMS Rodney, but by 1940 he was serving on HMS Glorious. Glorious was a Courageous-class cruiser completed in late 1916. After serving in the First World War it was paid off, but was rebuilt as an aircraft carrier during the 1920’s. In WWII she supported operations in Norway in May and June 1940. As part of the withdrawal 20 RAF fighters had flown on for transport to the UK, in addition to her fighters and 5 torpedo bombers of the Fleet Air Arm, HMS Glorious then departed for the UK. On 8 June 1940 she sailed independently with the destroyer escorts, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent for Scapa Flow. Glorious reduced speed to 17 knots and, in an attempt to confuse enemy submarines, commenced zigzag. By 16:00 Glorious was in the fourth degree of readiness, i.e. at cruising stations, steaming at 17 knots on 12 of her 18 boilers. No aircraft were ranged on deck, nor were any in the air. Ardent and Acasta were disposed two cables (440 meters) on either bow. None of the ships were fitted with radar and the carrier had no lookout in her crow's nest. The sea was calm, with wind force 2-3 (approximately 6.5 knots) from the northwest, sea temperature 34°F (I°C), visibility unlimited. Two strange ships were sighted on the western horizon shortly after 16:00. Ardent was ordered to close and identify them, and a pipe was made for five Swordfish to be ranged on the flight deck. Action Stations sounded about 16:20. The two ships were the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst who had sighted smoke on the eastern horizon at 15:46, and altered course to close the enemy. By 16:36 Gneisenau was making 30.5 knots and Scharnhorst was making 29 knots. Scharnhorst initially in the leading position, opened fire on Glorious at 16:32, range 28,600 yards (over 16 miles) and Gneisenau opened fire at 16:46. In accordance with instructions from Glorious, Ardent closed the enemy ships flashing a challenge on her searchlight and was fired on. Ardent withdrew, firing torpedoes, one of which was seen to pass close ahead of the Scharnhorst. Both destroyers made smoke to screen the Glorious. This smoke was effective enough to force the Germans to cease fire from about 16:58 to 17:20. Glorious received her first hit at 16:38 from Scharnhorst's third salvo. The 11 inch shell penetrated the flight deck and burst in the upper hangar starting a large fire. Splinters pierced a boiler casing and smoke entered air intakes. This caused a temporary drop in steam pressure from two boilers, but pressure was built up again as the smoke cleared. Further hits were obtained after 17:20 as the carrier once again became visible through the smoke of the screening destroyers. At 16:56, just before the Germans ceased fire due to screening smoke, a hit on the homing beacon wrecked the bridge, killing the captain and almost all of the bridge personnel. The Executive Officer assumed command of the ship. About 17:20 a hit in the centre engine room shook the whole ship, which thereafter began to lose speed, developed a starboard list, and commence a slow circle to port. The Germans ceased fire at about 17:40, and Glorious sank at about 18:10.
Albert Dove was lost on 8 June 1940, aged 28 and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Mark Leslie Frost - PLY/X 1761
Mark Leslie Frost was born on 21 May 1918 in Rotherham. He was the youngest of 11 children born to coal miner George Robert Frost and Mary Jane (nee Needham), who had married in 1900. In 1911 the family lived at 14 Princess St, West Melton, Rotherham and later at 68 Winterwell Rd, West Melton.
Mark joined the Royal Navy and became a Marine, service number PLY/X 1761. In 1942 he was on board the light cruiser HMS Edinburgh, which on 25 April sailed to Murmansk in Russia with steel plates for repair of the damaged cruiser HMS Trinidad. Whilst in Murmansk it was loaded with gold bullion for payment of war materials sent to Russia from Britain. HMS Edinburgh left Murmansk on 29 April and joined up with convoy QP11 the following day. Taking position ahead of the body of ships Edinburgh
was twice attacked by German submarine U456. The first attack failed but on the second attempt two torpedoes struck on the starboard side. One hit amidships and the other blew away the stern structure including the rudder. Although the ship was able to use the port shafts, steering by engines was impracticable because of the prevailing weather conditions. Little progress was made and a towing attempt by HMS Forester failed when the tow broke HMS Foresight was then taken in tow by the damaged cruiser which proved much more successful until both destroyers had to be detached to refuel. On 1 May after making slow progress eastwards other RN ships and a
Russian tug arrived but an attempt to tow again failed. Despite the significant damage the main armament could still be used in Local Control. The following day the ship engaged German destroyers making torpedo attacks and hit Schoemann which was abandoned by her crew and subsequently sank. One of the torpedoes fired by the German destroyer Z24 hit the ship on the port side amidships abreast the hangar. Further major damage amidships sealed her fate as it was unlikely that the structure could remain intact. As salvage was clearly impracticable the ship had to be abandoned. Of the ships complement 790 men of the 847 on board were taken off by HM Minesweepers Harrier and Gossamer before HMS Foresight was ordered to sink the ship by torpedo. The final casualty list recorded that 78 men were killed and 43
wounded.
After surviving the abandonment of HMS Edinburgh Marine Frost was transferred to HMS Trinidad, a Fiji class cruiser, for the voyage home. Earlier HMS Trinidad had been action out to Russia with convoy PQ-13 in March 1942, she and other escorts were in combat with German Narvik-class destroyers. She hit and sank the German destroyer Z 26, and then launched a torpedo attack. One of her torpedoes had a faulty gyro mechanism possibly affected by the icy waters. The path of the torpedo
formed a circular arc, striking the Trinidad and killing 32 men. Trinidad was towed clear of the action, and was then able to proceed under her own power towards Murmansk. The German submarine U-378 attempted to engage and sink the damaged cruiser, but was spotted and attacked by destroyer HMS Fury. On arrival in Murmansk she underwent partial repairs. She set out to return home on 13 May 1942, escorted by the destroyers HMS Foresight, HMS Forester, HMS Somali and HMS Matchless. Other ships of the Home Fleet were providing a covering force nearby. Her speed was reduced to 20 knots owing to the damage she had sustained. En route, she was attacked by more than twenty Ju-88 bombers on 15 May 1942. All attacks missed, except for one bomb that struck near the previous damage, starting a serious fire. Sixty-three men were lost, including twenty survivors from HMS Edinburgh, which had been sunk two weeks earlier. The decision was taken to scuttle her and she was
torpedoed by HMS Matchless and sank in the Arctic Ocean, north of North Cape.
Mark Leslie Frost was one of the HMS Edinburgh survivors that was lost on HMS Trinidad, he was 23 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Notes
At the time of Edinburgh's sinking she was carrying a 4.5 ton consignment of gold bullion. The 465 gold ingots, carried in ninety-three wooden boxes, were being
transported in the armoured bomb-rooms situated on the starboard side of the vessel, not far from the original torpedo's impact point. At the time, the estimated worth of the bullion was somewhere in the region of £1.5 million. In the late 1970s the British Government was becoming increasingly anxious to recover the gold. This was not only because it would provide further valuable revenue for the Treasury, but because there was also a growing fear of the wreck being pirated by unscrupulous salvagers, or, worse, salvaged by the Soviet Union, in whose waters it lay. In the early 1980s, a company called Jessop Marine, run by a seasoned diver from Yorkshire, won the contract for the salvage rights to the wreck of the Edinburgh. In April 1981, the survey ship Dammtor began searching for the wreck in the Barents Sea and after only ten days, they discovered the ship's final resting place at an approximate position of 72°N, 35°E, at a depth of 800 feet. Using specialist camera equipment, the Dammtor took detailed
film of the wreck, which allowed them to carefully plan the salvage operation. Later that year, on 30 August, the dive-support vessel Stephaniturm journeyed to the site, and salvage operations began in earnest. Several divers were injured during the operation, but on 15 September 1981, a diver finally penetrated the bomb room and recovered a bar of gold. On 7 October, bad weather finally forced the suspension of diving operations, but by that time, 431 of 465 ingots had been recovered. A further 29 bars were recovered in a subsequent operation in 1986, bringing the total to 460, leaving five unaccounted for.
Mark joined the Royal Navy and became a Marine, service number PLY/X 1761. In 1942 he was on board the light cruiser HMS Edinburgh, which on 25 April sailed to Murmansk in Russia with steel plates for repair of the damaged cruiser HMS Trinidad. Whilst in Murmansk it was loaded with gold bullion for payment of war materials sent to Russia from Britain. HMS Edinburgh left Murmansk on 29 April and joined up with convoy QP11 the following day. Taking position ahead of the body of ships Edinburgh
was twice attacked by German submarine U456. The first attack failed but on the second attempt two torpedoes struck on the starboard side. One hit amidships and the other blew away the stern structure including the rudder. Although the ship was able to use the port shafts, steering by engines was impracticable because of the prevailing weather conditions. Little progress was made and a towing attempt by HMS Forester failed when the tow broke HMS Foresight was then taken in tow by the damaged cruiser which proved much more successful until both destroyers had to be detached to refuel. On 1 May after making slow progress eastwards other RN ships and a
Russian tug arrived but an attempt to tow again failed. Despite the significant damage the main armament could still be used in Local Control. The following day the ship engaged German destroyers making torpedo attacks and hit Schoemann which was abandoned by her crew and subsequently sank. One of the torpedoes fired by the German destroyer Z24 hit the ship on the port side amidships abreast the hangar. Further major damage amidships sealed her fate as it was unlikely that the structure could remain intact. As salvage was clearly impracticable the ship had to be abandoned. Of the ships complement 790 men of the 847 on board were taken off by HM Minesweepers Harrier and Gossamer before HMS Foresight was ordered to sink the ship by torpedo. The final casualty list recorded that 78 men were killed and 43
wounded.
After surviving the abandonment of HMS Edinburgh Marine Frost was transferred to HMS Trinidad, a Fiji class cruiser, for the voyage home. Earlier HMS Trinidad had been action out to Russia with convoy PQ-13 in March 1942, she and other escorts were in combat with German Narvik-class destroyers. She hit and sank the German destroyer Z 26, and then launched a torpedo attack. One of her torpedoes had a faulty gyro mechanism possibly affected by the icy waters. The path of the torpedo
formed a circular arc, striking the Trinidad and killing 32 men. Trinidad was towed clear of the action, and was then able to proceed under her own power towards Murmansk. The German submarine U-378 attempted to engage and sink the damaged cruiser, but was spotted and attacked by destroyer HMS Fury. On arrival in Murmansk she underwent partial repairs. She set out to return home on 13 May 1942, escorted by the destroyers HMS Foresight, HMS Forester, HMS Somali and HMS Matchless. Other ships of the Home Fleet were providing a covering force nearby. Her speed was reduced to 20 knots owing to the damage she had sustained. En route, she was attacked by more than twenty Ju-88 bombers on 15 May 1942. All attacks missed, except for one bomb that struck near the previous damage, starting a serious fire. Sixty-three men were lost, including twenty survivors from HMS Edinburgh, which had been sunk two weeks earlier. The decision was taken to scuttle her and she was
torpedoed by HMS Matchless and sank in the Arctic Ocean, north of North Cape.
Mark Leslie Frost was one of the HMS Edinburgh survivors that was lost on HMS Trinidad, he was 23 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Notes
At the time of Edinburgh's sinking she was carrying a 4.5 ton consignment of gold bullion. The 465 gold ingots, carried in ninety-three wooden boxes, were being
transported in the armoured bomb-rooms situated on the starboard side of the vessel, not far from the original torpedo's impact point. At the time, the estimated worth of the bullion was somewhere in the region of £1.5 million. In the late 1970s the British Government was becoming increasingly anxious to recover the gold. This was not only because it would provide further valuable revenue for the Treasury, but because there was also a growing fear of the wreck being pirated by unscrupulous salvagers, or, worse, salvaged by the Soviet Union, in whose waters it lay. In the early 1980s, a company called Jessop Marine, run by a seasoned diver from Yorkshire, won the contract for the salvage rights to the wreck of the Edinburgh. In April 1981, the survey ship Dammtor began searching for the wreck in the Barents Sea and after only ten days, they discovered the ship's final resting place at an approximate position of 72°N, 35°E, at a depth of 800 feet. Using specialist camera equipment, the Dammtor took detailed
film of the wreck, which allowed them to carefully plan the salvage operation. Later that year, on 30 August, the dive-support vessel Stephaniturm journeyed to the site, and salvage operations began in earnest. Several divers were injured during the operation, but on 15 September 1981, a diver finally penetrated the bomb room and recovered a bar of gold. On 7 October, bad weather finally forced the suspension of diving operations, but by that time, 431 of 465 ingots had been recovered. A further 29 bars were recovered in a subsequent operation in 1986, bringing the total to 460, leaving five unaccounted for.
John Galloway
John Galloway was born in Barnsley in the third quarter of 1919, first child of George Galloway and Sarah Annie (nee Gibson) who had been married for one year. The family lived at 40 Burman Road, Wath having previously lived in Brampton. John was educated at Brampton Ellis School and Mexbro Secondary School. He was married to Emma (nee Parkin) in March 1941 in the Rother Valley registration district. He couple lived in Goldthorpe.
John Galloway enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in November 1939. He saw service in the Mediterranean (Oran & Dakar), in the Narvik action and also in early 1941 the bombardment of Genoa. John was appointed as a temporary Sub-Lieutenant in January 1942. He was serving with 800 Squadron Fleet Air Arm on the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable. On 13 June 1943 he was killed in an air crash, aged 23 years and is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial. It was reported that on the day of the report of Lt Galloway’s death arrived his wife had just given birth to a son, this information was with-held for a few weeks. |
Stanley Hartley - D/KX 118065
Stanley Hartley was born in the early part of 1922, to Charlie Hartley and his wife of 17 years Gertrude (nee Wilkinson) who had married in Rotherham in 1905. Stanley's father, Charlie, worked as a guard on the railway goods trains, later working in the local coal mine and lived with his family at 54 Avenue Road, Wath.
Stanley Hartley enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 118065. His training included time at HMS Raleigh (Torpoint), where he was based just before Christmas 1940, and at HMS Cabot (Bristol). After training he served as a Stoker 2nd Class on HMS Gloucester. Gloucester formed part of a naval force acting against German military transports to Crete, with some success. On 22 May 1941, while in the Kithera Channel, about 14 mi (12 nm; 23 km) north of Crete, she was attacked by German Stuka dive bombers and sank, having sustained at least four heavy bomb hits and three near-misses. Of the 807 men aboard at the time of her sinking, only 85 survived. Stanley Hartley was lost on 22 May 1941, aged jus 19 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. |
Jack Haslam - D/SSX 23390
Jack Haslam’s birth was registered in Doncaster in the second quarter of 1920, the son of John William Haslam and his wife of one year Grace Penelope Hobson
Hemmingway.
Jack Haslam served in the Royal Navy and was an Able Seaman, service number D/SSX 23390. He was one board HMS Itchen when it was lost on 23 September
1943, he was 23 years old and Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
Also on HMS Itchen was Kenneth Dudley Barker, from Wath (see above for details)
Hemmingway.
Jack Haslam served in the Royal Navy and was an Able Seaman, service number D/SSX 23390. He was one board HMS Itchen when it was lost on 23 September
1943, he was 23 years old and Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
Also on HMS Itchen was Kenneth Dudley Barker, from Wath (see above for details)
Roy Hill - D/SSX 35787
Roy Hill was the first child of Ernest Hill and Vera Lily (nee Sands), he was born in Doncaster in the third quarter of 1922.
Roy enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/SSX 35787, he was an Able Seaman serving on HMS Galatea. HMS Galatea was an Arethusa Class Light Cruiser built in 1935. The Galatea was part of the Mediterranean Fleet and in December 1941 was tasked, with other ships, to attack German convoys operating from Italy to North
Africa. When this was cancelled, as the convoys had returned to port, the Galatea was ordered to return to Alexandria in Egypt. For seven hours the Galatea was subject to repeated air attacks, however she survived these. Just after midnight, in the first few minutes of 15 December 1941 the Galatea was hit by a salvo of torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-557 whilst entering swept channel 30 miles North West of Alexandria. Galatea listed heavily then suddenly rolled over on her portside with a terrific splash, and sank in just 3 minutes. Some 100 survivors were picked up by the destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur but Galatea’s Captain, 22 officers and 447 ratings were killed.
Roy lost on 15 December 1941, aged just 19 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Roy enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/SSX 35787, he was an Able Seaman serving on HMS Galatea. HMS Galatea was an Arethusa Class Light Cruiser built in 1935. The Galatea was part of the Mediterranean Fleet and in December 1941 was tasked, with other ships, to attack German convoys operating from Italy to North
Africa. When this was cancelled, as the convoys had returned to port, the Galatea was ordered to return to Alexandria in Egypt. For seven hours the Galatea was subject to repeated air attacks, however she survived these. Just after midnight, in the first few minutes of 15 December 1941 the Galatea was hit by a salvo of torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-557 whilst entering swept channel 30 miles North West of Alexandria. Galatea listed heavily then suddenly rolled over on her portside with a terrific splash, and sank in just 3 minutes. Some 100 survivors were picked up by the destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur but Galatea’s Captain, 22 officers and 447 ratings were killed.
Roy lost on 15 December 1941, aged just 19 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Harold Holman - C/KX 134907
Harold Holman was born in Rotherham in late 1922, to William H Holman and his wife of eight years Louisa E (nee Shaw).
Harold joined the Royal Navy, service number C/KX 134907, and served as a Stoker 1st Class on HM Submarine Parthian. In February 1943, Parthian was the only British submarine stationed at Beirut along with the Greek submarine Papanicolis. She then returned to Malta under the command of Lieutenant C. A. Pardoe. In July 1943, HMS Parthian sailed from Malta for a patrol in the southern Adriatic. On the 26th she was ordered to patrol off Capo Otranto. This order was cancelled on the 28th when a new patrol area was given. The submarine was signaled on 6th August to leave the patrol. This signal was not acknowledged and no further contact was made with the submarine. Parthian was due to arrive at Beirut on 11th August 1943, and her failure to do so was presumably due to a mine off Brindisi, southeastern coast of Italy, while returning to Beirut, on or around 6th August. The date that the submarine was due is shown as the date that it became overdue. Harold Holman was lost on 11 August 1943, aged 21 and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. |
Douglas Law - P/JX 138916
Douglas Law was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1917. He was the youngest child of Alfred Law and Sarah Ellen (nee Dobson), who had married in 1903 lived at 80 High Street, West Melton.
Douglas joined the Royal Navy, service number P/JX 138916, and was based at shore based establishment HMS Vernon. During the Second World War, HMS Vernon became responsible for mine disposal and mine countermeasures. Various sections of HMS Vernon were dispersed to sites throughout the country following heavy air raids on Portsmouth, one of which demolished Dido Building and killed 100 people in a single night. On 3 May 1941, the main part of HMS Vernon was evacuated to Roedean Girls’ School at Brighton.
He died on 29 June 1944 in hospital in Brighton, and is buried in West Melton Congregational Churchyard.
Douglas joined the Royal Navy, service number P/JX 138916, and was based at shore based establishment HMS Vernon. During the Second World War, HMS Vernon became responsible for mine disposal and mine countermeasures. Various sections of HMS Vernon were dispersed to sites throughout the country following heavy air raids on Portsmouth, one of which demolished Dido Building and killed 100 people in a single night. On 3 May 1941, the main part of HMS Vernon was evacuated to Roedean Girls’ School at Brighton.
He died on 29 June 1944 in hospital in Brighton, and is buried in West Melton Congregational Churchyard.
Stanley Thomas Sands
Stanley Thomas Sands was born on 19 March 1912, his birth was registered in Barnsley as Thomas Stanley Sands. His parents coal miner Thomas Sands and Alice (nee Mattocks) had married in Barnsley in 1907 and by 1911 were living at 49 Bartholomew Street, Wombwell. Stanley was their third, of six children. He was married in the first quarter of 1941, the marriage registered in the Rother Valley registration district. He lived with his wife and son, who was born in 1943, at 49 Brookfield Avenue, Swinton.
Stanley joined the Merchant Navy when was 15 years old and transferred to Royal Engineers at the outbreak of war, and then transferred back to Merchant Navy in 1941. He was a Fierman and Trimmer on the Reynolds a 5,113 ton steam ship registered in London. The Reynolds left New York on 27 August 1942 as part of convoy NG300 and arrived in Guantanamo, Cuba on 3 September and then sailed on with Convoy GAT2 to Trinidad, where it arrived on 10 September 1942. It had a cargo of military stores and its ultimate destination was Karachi, India. It sailed via Durban in South Africa and was sailing unescorted. At 17:18 on 31 October 1942, the Reynolds was hit by two torpedoes from U-504 about 210 miles east of Durban. She was hit amidships and in the stern, capsized and sank within seconds at 30.02S, 35.02E. The Germans questioned the few survivors and they told them that the ship was the Reynolds en route from Durban to India with general cargo. However, no survivors were ever found and it was first assumed that the ship had been sunk by a raider in about 29°S/41°E.
Stanley Thomas Sands was 30 years old and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Stanley joined the Merchant Navy when was 15 years old and transferred to Royal Engineers at the outbreak of war, and then transferred back to Merchant Navy in 1941. He was a Fierman and Trimmer on the Reynolds a 5,113 ton steam ship registered in London. The Reynolds left New York on 27 August 1942 as part of convoy NG300 and arrived in Guantanamo, Cuba on 3 September and then sailed on with Convoy GAT2 to Trinidad, where it arrived on 10 September 1942. It had a cargo of military stores and its ultimate destination was Karachi, India. It sailed via Durban in South Africa and was sailing unescorted. At 17:18 on 31 October 1942, the Reynolds was hit by two torpedoes from U-504 about 210 miles east of Durban. She was hit amidships and in the stern, capsized and sank within seconds at 30.02S, 35.02E. The Germans questioned the few survivors and they told them that the ship was the Reynolds en route from Durban to India with general cargo. However, no survivors were ever found and it was first assumed that the ship had been sunk by a raider in about 29°S/41°E.
Stanley Thomas Sands was 30 years old and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Francis Tingle - C/JX 234842
Francis Tingle was born in Rotherham in October 1919, first child of Arthur Tingle and Evelyn (nee Atkin) who had married early the previous years. He was educated at Brampton Ellis Senior School, and later employed by Mr Ricketts (Painter & Decorator), West Melton. His parents lived at 16 Oaklea Avenue, West Melton. His grandparents were Mr & Mrs F Atkin, 122 High St, West Melton.
He enlisted in 1940 and joined the Royal Navy, being an Able Seaman, service number C/JX 234842. He served on HMS Veteran, who he joined around the start of 1941. On 21 September 1942 HMS Veteran left New York as part of the escorts on convoy RB1, two days later the convoy was sighted by a U-boat. U-boat pack were order to attack and on the 25th the SS Boston and SS New York were sunk and the convoy scattered. On the 26th the convoy was ordered to reform and HMS Veteran came across the survivors of the SS New York. HMS Veteran was torpedoed and sunk by U-404 in position 54º34'N, 25º44'W while she was rescuing survivors of the New York. She was lost with all hands together with rescued survivors from the American passenger ships Boston and New York that she had picked up.
Francis Tingle was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
He enlisted in 1940 and joined the Royal Navy, being an Able Seaman, service number C/JX 234842. He served on HMS Veteran, who he joined around the start of 1941. On 21 September 1942 HMS Veteran left New York as part of the escorts on convoy RB1, two days later the convoy was sighted by a U-boat. U-boat pack were order to attack and on the 25th the SS Boston and SS New York were sunk and the convoy scattered. On the 26th the convoy was ordered to reform and HMS Veteran came across the survivors of the SS New York. HMS Veteran was torpedoed and sunk by U-404 in position 54º34'N, 25º44'W while she was rescuing survivors of the New York. She was lost with all hands together with rescued survivors from the American passenger ships Boston and New York that she had picked up.
Francis Tingle was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Fred Wake - P/KX 75562
Fred Wake was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1907, he was the second child to John Charles Wake and Annie Emma (nee Lomas). His parents had been married for four years and lived at 39 Princess Street, West Melton, and later at 27 Princess St, West Melton. Fred married in Weymouth in 1934 and a son was born there the following year.
He joined the Royal Navy, service number P/KX 75562, and became a Petty Officer Stoker. By 1943 he was serving on HMS Egret when it was sunk by a glide bomb (see Harry Bradley Ashley, above for more details).
Fred Wake was 36 years old when he died and is listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
He joined the Royal Navy, service number P/KX 75562, and became a Petty Officer Stoker. By 1943 he was serving on HMS Egret when it was sunk by a glide bomb (see Harry Bradley Ashley, above for more details).
Fred Wake was 36 years old when he died and is listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Douglas Wilson - D/KX 82559
Douglas Wilson was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1914 to Ernest Wilson and Mary (nee Cullen), who had married in 1908. In 1911 Ernest was a coal miner and lived with his wife and 2 children at 112 Providence Place,
Conisborough. Douglas later lived at 56 Albert Rd, West Melton.
Douglas enlisted in the Royal Navy and became a Petty Officer Stoker, service number D/KX82559. By late 1941 Douglas was serving on board HMS Galatea an Arethusa Class Light Cruiser built in 1935. The Galatea was part of the Mediterranean Fleet and in December 1941 was tasked, with other ships, to attack German convoys operating from Italy to North Africa. When this was cancelled, as the convoys had returned to port, the Galatea was ordered to return to Alexandria in Egypt. For seven hours the Galatea was subject to repeated air attacks, however she survived these. Just after midnight, in the first few minutes of 15 December 1941 the Galatea was hit by a salvo of torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-557 whilst entering swept channel 30 miles North West of Alexandria. Galatea listed heavily
then suddenly rolled over on her portside with a terrific splash, and sank in just 3 minutes.
Some 100 survivors were picked up by the destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur but Galatea’s Captain, 22 officers and 447 ratings were killed. Douglas was 27 years old and was amongst those lost and is now commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
His brother Roland also died (see below)
Note
U-557 was sunk just one day later on 16 December 1941 with the loss of all hand in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Crete. The Italian torpedo boat Orione saw a submarine and believing it to be British rammed it.
Conisborough. Douglas later lived at 56 Albert Rd, West Melton.
Douglas enlisted in the Royal Navy and became a Petty Officer Stoker, service number D/KX82559. By late 1941 Douglas was serving on board HMS Galatea an Arethusa Class Light Cruiser built in 1935. The Galatea was part of the Mediterranean Fleet and in December 1941 was tasked, with other ships, to attack German convoys operating from Italy to North Africa. When this was cancelled, as the convoys had returned to port, the Galatea was ordered to return to Alexandria in Egypt. For seven hours the Galatea was subject to repeated air attacks, however she survived these. Just after midnight, in the first few minutes of 15 December 1941 the Galatea was hit by a salvo of torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-557 whilst entering swept channel 30 miles North West of Alexandria. Galatea listed heavily
then suddenly rolled over on her portside with a terrific splash, and sank in just 3 minutes.
Some 100 survivors were picked up by the destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur but Galatea’s Captain, 22 officers and 447 ratings were killed. Douglas was 27 years old and was amongst those lost and is now commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
His brother Roland also died (see below)
Note
U-557 was sunk just one day later on 16 December 1941 with the loss of all hand in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Crete. The Italian torpedo boat Orione saw a submarine and believing it to be British rammed it.
Roland Wilson - PLY/X 1758
Roland Wilson was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1918 to Ernest Wilson and Mary (nee Cullen), who had married in 1908. In 1911 Ernest was a coal miner and lived with his wife and 2 children at 112 Providence Place Conisborough. Roland later lived at 56 Albert Rd, West Melton.
Roland enlisted in the Royal navy and was a Marine, service number PLY/X 1758, serving on the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire. Having been involved in the sinking on the Bismarck, firing the torpedoes that sent he to the bottom, Dorsetshire was sent east in 1942. Dorsetshire was assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. In the Imperial Japanese Navy's Indian Ocean raid, she and her sister ship Cornwall were attacked by Japanese Navy Aichi D3A 'Val' dive bombers 200 miles southwest of Ceylon on 5 April. Dorsetshire was hit by 10 bombs and sank stern first at about 13:50. Cornwall was hit eight times and sank bow first about 10 minutes later. Of Dorsetshire's crew, 234 men were killed in the attack.
Roland was 24 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
His brother Douglas also died (see above)
Roland enlisted in the Royal navy and was a Marine, service number PLY/X 1758, serving on the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire. Having been involved in the sinking on the Bismarck, firing the torpedoes that sent he to the bottom, Dorsetshire was sent east in 1942. Dorsetshire was assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. In the Imperial Japanese Navy's Indian Ocean raid, she and her sister ship Cornwall were attacked by Japanese Navy Aichi D3A 'Val' dive bombers 200 miles southwest of Ceylon on 5 April. Dorsetshire was hit by 10 bombs and sank stern first at about 13:50. Cornwall was hit eight times and sank bow first about 10 minutes later. Of Dorsetshire's crew, 234 men were killed in the attack.
Roland was 24 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
His brother Douglas also died (see above)
Ronald Wilson
Ronald Wilson was born in Rotherham in the last quarter of 1920 to Herbert and Doris Mary Wilson of Fitzwilliam St, Wath-on-Dearne
Ronald served in the Merchant Navy and was a Steward on the SS Manchester Brigade. The Manchester Brigade was a 6,042 ton steam merchant ship built in West Hartlepool in 1918 and was owned by Manchester Lines Ltd. It set out from Liverpool on 24 September 1940 as part of Convoy OB-218, 20 ships and 7 escorts, bound for Montreal. The convoy was attacked by U-boats and the Manchester brigade was sunk by U-137.
Ronald Wilson was lost on 27 September 1940, aged 19 and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Note
Ronald Wilson is also listed on the Brampton Bierlow War Memorial
Ronald served in the Merchant Navy and was a Steward on the SS Manchester Brigade. The Manchester Brigade was a 6,042 ton steam merchant ship built in West Hartlepool in 1918 and was owned by Manchester Lines Ltd. It set out from Liverpool on 24 September 1940 as part of Convoy OB-218, 20 ships and 7 escorts, bound for Montreal. The convoy was attacked by U-boats and the Manchester brigade was sunk by U-137.
Ronald Wilson was lost on 27 September 1940, aged 19 and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Note
Ronald Wilson is also listed on the Brampton Bierlow War Memorial