Torpedoed in the med.

Long story short. Whilst researching my family history I have been asking a few questions about my father’s service during WWII. He was not the sort to ‘open up’, died when I was 18 and so my memories are a bit vague. What I know of his career is as follows:

Volunteered in 1941 at 16, lying about his age in the process.

Was on a destroyer that was torpedoed in the Mediterranean, the ship broke in two with the crew on one half surviving and the crew on the other half going under.

Was heading for the Azores when he developed appendicitis, was operated on under local anaesthetic before being dropped at Cork. His parents then travelled from Wales, via Dublin, to see him.

He also mentioned when I was a small, snotty child that he had been on one of the ships that escorted Churchill to Yalta.

Finally, I have in my possession, a small metal plate that came, allegedly, from the bow of an Italian ship – the plate (about 2†by 3â€) shows the Fasces and Swastika – A case of ‘it came off in my hand, Chief’, I suspect.

I have his service medals and know that there are at least the Mediterranean Star and North Atlantic Star. I also have one photo of him on board ship and I will try and attach it later.

Can anyone shed any light on the ship that was torpedoed in the Med or any of the other details or suggest resources that may be of use?

Many thanks,

SFB

 

If you haven't already done so you need to apply for his service record. These are usually very good at giving ships names served on where the ships involved are the larger type, this would seem to fit your Dad's service.

Records are not so good for those that served in "Harry Tates Navy." Where quite often all that is given is the Depot ship or base and not the actual vessel served in.

Good luck with your search

 

I'm in the process at the moment - have broached the subject with my mother (not easy) but have got a signed consent form - all I need now is his death cert, their marriage cert, the sacrifice of one of my children to the great god Bureaucracy and we're away... :thumright:

 

Centurion keep records going back a long, long way.
I traced my fathers naval record that way and it was really interesting; including him being a survivor of a couple of sinkings and bombings, which neither I nor my siblings had any idea of. As with a lot of ex servicement who have been through a lot he never talked about it.
He'd glance at the rememberance service on TV and mutter 'silly old fools'.
Does tend to explain why he was so against my joining the mob though.
You tend to go through phases with this kind of thing and I also found out that my uncle was on a tanker sunk by the U boat featured in Das Boot. I contacted the German U boat association and it seems certain that my uncles ship the Clea (Shell) was in fact the lone tanker sunk by the boat and featured in the book/film.
I think it is well worth doing this for your own peace of mind.

 

If you have an inkling of his Service number (both HO and Regulars had different formats) then you are halfway there.
I managed to get my OHs Dad's records from MOD by knowing the ship that was torpedoed under him in the Med also ( HMS Haydon ). It takes a few weeks, and will cost you about £30.00, and I can post the address later if you wish ?

You will find that if he has the 'Med' Star - you probably mean the Africa Star - he will be entitled to the Malta GC 50 Year Commemoration Medal, which is allowed by HMQ to be worn alongside the official issues, as both my Old Man, and hers are.

 

There is a list of losses;

http://uboat.net/allies/warships/war_losses.html?navy=HMS

and

http://www.naval-history.net/WW2BritishLossesbyDate1.htm

 

Thanks for the replies and links on this one, I will have a good dig around.