Sunday 11th May 1941 Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft ship HMS Goatfell has the following casualties listed, but I have not been able to confirm the cause of their loss or whether the ship was damaged. TANDY, Noel, Able Seaman, RFR, C/J 94612, killed [ChM] BRERETON, Frederick G T, Able Seaman, C/J 109091, DOW 13/5/41 [EASTBOURNE (OCKLYNGE) CEMETERY] MELLANBY, Robert W, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 226060, DOW 12/5/41 [THORNABY-ON-TEES CEMETERY] Any ideas? Regards, Steve
Noel Tandy HMS GOATFELL assited the survivors from HMS HELVELLYN which was sunk in an air raid on Surrey Docks 19/March/1941. AB Noel Tandy Cook John Faulds Snoddy Fireman John Hume were awarded the BEM Lt Charles Davison officer in command of HMS GOATFELL was commended. UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Name: Frederick George Thomas Brereton Event: Death Birth Date: 19 Oct 1907 Birth Place: Liverpool, Lancs. Death Date: 13 May 1941 Death Age: 33 Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, May 1941 11 May 1941 Goatfell, bombing TANDY, Noel, Able Seaman, RFR, C/J 94612, killed 13 May 1941 Goatfell, bombing BRERETON, Frederick G T, Able Seaman (Pens), C/J 109091, DOW MELLANBY, Robert W, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 226060, DOW BBC - WW2 People's War - We Went to War in a Paddle Minesweeper HMS. Goatfell another paddle sweeper was later hit by a bomb which killed four crew members. Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft vessel armed with four 2pdr guns and six 20mm anti aircraft guns, six 0.5ins guns, sixteen 0.303ins guns and four 3 ins rocket launchers. Built at Denny and launched 1st February 1934, requisitioned by the Royal Navy and returned May 1946.
Steve, The ship was damaged by a bomb and Tandy was killed at sea. The other two must have been badly hurt as they both died ashore in hospital. The Mellanby Brothers - Part I - Tees Valley Museums Regards Hugh
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Robert W Mellanby (W = William) Death Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1918 Registration Date: Apr 1941 [May 1941] [Jun 1941] Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration District: Bermondsey Inferred County: London Volume: 1d Page: 170 UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Name: Robert William Mellenby Event: Death Birth Date: 1 Jan 1918 Birth Place: Stokesley, Yorks Death Date: 13 May 1941 Death Age: 23
Thanks for that information regarding HMS Goatfell and confirming that the ship was the victim of an air attack. I see both articles refer to four crew being killed. I haven't been able to identify a fourth casualty, though I do have the following deaths listed on the 11th with no ship/establishment identified. GURNEY, Thomas E, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 194313, killed [HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (HEATH LANE) CEMETERY] TREADWELL, Donald V, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 205319, killed [SOUTHEND-ON-SEA (NORTH ROAD) CEMETERY] Regards, Steve
Thanks for that. I guess the four deaths from HMS Goatfell is possibly in error. I note that the BBC WW2 article is incorrect regarding HMS Foylebank, it says 176 killed, when the actual losses were 73 killed/DOW, so it is possible that the recollection Goatfell in similarly in error. Regards, Steve