HMS Kelly, Hebburn Cemetery

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Verrieres, May 4, 2011.

  1. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Whilst looking for a photo for Spidge I came across this in memory of those who died on HMS KELLY.Thought it may be of interest to our Naval members
    HMS KELLY
    HERE LIES THE MORTAL REMAINS OF TWENTY MEMBERS OF THE SHIPS COMPANY KILLED IN ACTION AT SEA 9TH MAY 1940
    LEADING SIGNALMAN A AMOS
    BOY 1ST CLASS E W S BETHELL
    LEADING SIGNALMAN W T J BOXER
    STOKER PETTY OFFICER A W CHARMAN
    STOKER PETTY OFFICER J W DIXON
    LEADING TELEGRAPHIST H B EDWARDS
    LEADING STOKER V GOUGH
    STOKER 1ST CLASS W J P JENKINS
    STOKER 2ND CLASS J JOHNSON
    LEADING STOKER D KAY
    YEOMAN OF SIGNALS F A KINGSLEY
    STOKER 1ST CLASS C J MOWER
    LEADING TELEGRAPHIST A W PALMER
    TELEGRAPHIST H C PICKERING
    ABLE SEAMAN L PRIDMORE
    LEADING TELEGRAPHIST L F RICHARDSON
    AND 4 UNKNOWN SAILORS
    PLAQUE
    IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF LORD LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN LATER ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET THE EARL MOUNTBATTEN OF BURMA, CAPTAIN OF H.M.S. KELLY WHO WAS KILLED AT MULLAGHMORE COUNTY SLIGO MONDAY 27TH AUGUST 1979
    PLAQUE
    IN MEMORY OF THE 27 MEN KILLED IN ACTION WITH E BOATS OFF THE GERMAN MINE FIELDS IN THE NORTH SEA IN THE NIGHT OF THE 9TH MAY 1940.
    THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED BY OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE SHIP AND WORKMEN OF HEBBURN SHIPBUILDING YARD.
    PLAQUE
    NINE OFFICERS AND ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTYONE MEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN H.M.S. KELLY WAS SUNK IN THE BATTLE OF CRETE
     

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  2. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    The final plaque plus the graves of two former crewmen now buried alongside their shipmates:poppy:
     

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  3. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the post, remember reading a book about HMS Kelly many years ago charted the life of the ship.
     
  4. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    I was brought up in Hebburn - there used to be a pub called the Kelly but it closed about a year ago, the town always had close links with both Mountbatten who had been the Captain and many of the surviving crew. The film 'In Which We Serve' was based on the Kelly Story.
     
  5. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    I was brought up in Hebburn - there used to be a pub called the Kelly but it closed about a year ago, the town always had close links with both Mountbatten who had been the Captain and many of the surviving crew. The film 'In Which We Serve' was based on the Kelly Story.


    It was situated on Hedgeley Road closed January this year,heres a photo of the `other` KELLY.
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=50050&d=1304620855
     

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  6. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Thanks for the post, remember reading a book about HMS Kelly many years ago charted the life of the ship.


    You`re more than welcome Sir!;)
     
  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Very interesting posts, thank you. Especially poignant to see the two post war graves so close by.
     
  8. beaufort

    beaufort Junior Member

    Does anyone have information about those servicemen who are not listed here, but subsequently died from injuries received? I am especially interested in Colin Herbert Thomas, AB, who died on May 23rd - two weeks after HMS Kelly was sunk - and is buried in Chatham Naval Memorial.


    And, like so many people, I would love to have a list of those who survived! Has one been compiled?


    Thank you!
     
  9. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hello and welcome,
    Try these folks, they may have a list of the crew.

    Contact:

    Director Naval Personnel,
    TNT Records Management,
    PO Box 7814,
    William Nadin Way,
    SWADLINCOTE,
    Derbyshire,
    DE11 1EG

    Or email: mailto:navysearchpgrc@tnt.co.uk



    Colin Herbert Thomas is not buried at the Chatham Naval Memorial - he is remembered there in perpituity. The memorial is for those who have no known grave.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  10. beaufort

    beaufort Junior Member

    Thanks, Hugh!

    Interesting regarding CH Thomas and the memorial. I actually have a photo of his grave somewhere, so it looks like I've got my wires crossed - I'll do some checking. And, I'll follow-up on your advice re the crew list.
     
  11. beaufort

    beaufort Junior Member

    OK - several simple errors!
    I confused the date of the 1940 action with the date of the sinking in 1941. So, CH Thomas died on the day of the sinking, and my photo is of a memorial plaque. There is an entry on the Swanage War Memorial.

    Age is a poor excuse - but otherwise I can only plead stupidity!
     
  12. petken

    petken New Member

    I was at the Kelly grave yesterday for Remembrance day. My partner Ken is the eldest son of Eric Cross who is buried beside the memorial and who served on the Kelly until 1940. I was surprised to read that one of the names on the Kelly grave was A W Charman, stoker petty officer. As this was my maiden name I was hoping to find any information about A W that anyone may have. He may or may not be related to me but it would be great to know more.
     
  13. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hi Petken,

    Welcome hopefully this may help?

    Birth: 1906 - London, England
    Marriage: Jun 1931 - Lewisham, Kent
    Death: 9 May 1940
    Parents: Albert Edward Charman, Edith Sarah ( ? )
    Spouse: Dorothy Ferguson


    Kyle
     
  14. Ken Sutton

    Ken Sutton New Member

    Not sure if this is the best forum to post in but here goes.
    I am the curator of the RN Communications Branch museum/library and one of the exhibits is a Union Flag. A small plaque attached to the exhibit reads as follows:
    The Kingsley Union Flag
    Presented by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
    Patron of the Kelly Re-Union Association
    To HMS Mercury
    For Safe Keeping
    25th May 1984

    I am assuming that the flag in question had something to do with Yeoman of Signals Frederick Arthur Kingsley. However I would like to add some background information such as how this Union Flag came about. Any information greatly appreciated.
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    KINGSLEY, FREDERICK ARTHUR

    Rank:Yeoman of Signals
    Service No:C/JX135719
    Date of Death:09/05/1940
    Age:25
    Regiment/Service:Royal Navy H.M.S. Kelly
    Grave Reference: Screen Wall. Sec. C. Coll. grave 115-118. Cemetery:HEBBURN CEMETERY
    Additional Information:Son of Frederick and Blanche Eliza Kingsley; husband of Doris Anne Kingsley of Roxwell, Essex.

    From a family tree -

    Frederick Arthur Kingsley
    Birth: Mar 1915 - Essex
    Death: 09 May 1940 (9 May 1940)
    Marriage: Sep 1939 - Chelmsford, Essex
    Spouse: Doris A Everard
    F: Frederick George Kingsley
    M: Blanch Eliza Brown


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    TD
     
    K Lawson likes this.
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960
    Name: Frederick Arthur Kingsley
    Event: Death
    Birth Date: 19 Jan 1915
    Birth Place: Grays, Essex
    Death Date: 9 May 1940
    Death Age: 25
    44994_adm_104_133-0100.jpg
    44994_adm_104_126-0156.jpg

    TD

    edited to add:
    HMS Kelly, destroyer

    K-Class Destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn, Newcastle under the 1937 Programme in March 1937 and laid down on 26th August 1937


    Detached with HMS KANDAHAR and HMS BULLDOG to carry out search for U-Boat.
    After unsuccessful search took return passage to rejoin screen and came under torpedo
    attack by E-Boats. Hit forward below bridge structure by torpedo from S21.
    Ship disabled and sustained serious damage both Boiler Rooms flooded. 27 of ship's company lost their lives.
     
  17. Ken Sutton

    Ken Sutton New Member

    Many thanks for that information, I have added the details to the database. However, I would still like to find out more re the Union Flag itself e.g. how it came into being, what was it used for e.g. was it used for a commemoration service or such like. Ideally I would have liked to contact the Kelly Association but sadly it was disbanded in 2002. I have also written to Clarence House in the hope that H.R.H. can throw some light on it. Thanks. Ken
     
  18. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    As a pure guess, was it drapped over his coffin, or used in some way at his rememberance service??

    TD
     
  19. Ken Sutton

    Ken Sutton New Member

    I thought you might like an update regarding the Kingsley Union Flag. I received a reply to my letter to HRH The Prince of Wales, from The Archives and Records Manager to TRH The Princle of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. I now have the full provenance of the Union Flag. It was presented to F.A. Kingsley's father by Lord Mountbatten after the funeral, although it is not known as to whether the flag was the one draped over the coffin or was a flag that had been flown in HMS Kelly. The reply also provided a photo copy of a letter from Rear Admiral PW Burnett written in 1984 which details the history, movement and ownership of the flag. Many thanks for your help.
     
  20. martinfbrown

    martinfbrown Member

    Hi,
    Just been in contact with Ken Sutton regarding a photo of the screen wall memorial for H.M.S.Kelly. I have sent him a photo of the screen wall. If anyone might want any photos, I have attached the photo of HMS Kelly Memorial. If anyone would like any photos,I will be pleased too oblige.
    Martin
     

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    Peter Clare and CL1 like this.

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