My uncle. Capt. John MacDonald Smith, RNR, was killed 4 August, 1943, at HMS Hannibal, Algiers. I have been trying to find details of this explosion but so far with no success. Any help appreciated.
HMS Hannibal was a shore establishment - odd that the only two casualties listed were relatively senior officers (aha - they were caught up in the explosion of another ship, see below) Hannibal, explosion Algiers HUNT, John P, Commander, killed SMITH, John MacD, Captain, RNR, killed Captain JOHN SMITH Iain Mor Iain Iain Ruaidh Last address in Lewis: 16 Balallan Son of John and Catherine Smith; husband of Edith May Smith, of Streatham, London. Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Hannibal (Algiers) Date of death: 4 August 1943 at the age of 37 Killed in explosion on ammunition ship in Algiers Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 73, column 2 Local memorial: Kinloch, Laxay (on CWGC files as John Macdonald Smith)
Cargo ship Fort La Montee, 7,132grt, (MOWT, J & C Harrison Ltd). On the 4th August 1943, the ship caught fire alongside the dock in Algiers while loaded with ammunition and phosphorus, towed into the bay the forepart blew up causing serious damage to the Destroyer HMS Arrow, which had been standing by the burning ship. The aft section of the Fort ship had to be sunk by gunfire from a Royal Navy submarine to stop it blowing up, while the forward section burned for several days. Around 100 lives were lost from the Fort La Montee and HMS Arrow. 4 August 1943 Arrow, explosion of steamship Fort La Montée ALLMAN, Charles W G, Coder, P/JX 252956, MPK BAKER, Edward, Stoker 1c, P/KX 130565, killed BETTS, Thomas H, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 388386, MPK BROWN, Peter H, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK CHAMBERS, Robert K, Engine Room Artificer 4c, P/MX 54048, MPK COSHAM, Ronald G, Act/Leading Stoker, P/KX 107238, killed DE LA COUR, John G, Stoker 1c, P/KX 158788, MPK DEWAR, Neil A, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, killed GREGORY, Donald G, Able Seaman, P/JX 161383, killed HACKETT, Benjamin, Able Seaman, P/JX 275283, MPK HERYET, Henry R, Chief Petty Officer Stoker, P/K 59142, killed HOUSLEY, Stanley, Able Seaman, P/JX 177831, MPK HUGHES, John J, Able Seaman, P/JX 172159, MPK MACBETH, John J, Able Seaman, P/SSX 32152, killed MARSHALL, John J, Able Seaman, D/JX 273341, MPK MARTIN, John W H, Act/Stoker Petty Officer, RFR, P/KX 81041, DOW MASSEY, William J, Supply Assistant, P/MX 80324, killed MCNAUGHTON, John, Stoker 1c, P/SKX 1010, MPK MEALE, Cyril F, Able Seaman, P/JX 264122, MPK PETTIT, Gerald W, Act/Leading Seaman, P/JX 147770, killed PRICE, Frank T, Able Seaman, P/JX 264184, MPK ROBERTS, Charles H, Able Seaman, P/JX 274996, MPK ROBINSON, Stanley, Engine Room Artificer 2c, P/MX 52394, MPK SEAL, Bertram E, Act/Leading Stoker, P/SKX 421, killed SQUIRE, Philip W, Able Seaman, P/JX 275086, MPK THORPE, Thomas H, Able Seaman, P/JX 295249, MPK WELLS, Arthur F, Stoker 1c, P/SKX 369, killed WINDSOR, William E, Gunner (T), killed Fort La Montée, steamship DOCHERTY, Robert C, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), C/JX 334220, (President III, O/P), MPK LOVEDAY, Douglas H, Bombardier, RA, 5184038, (3 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed OWEN, Leslie, Gunner, RA, 4810066, (3 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed WATERWORTH, Henry, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), D/JX 393465, (President III, O/P), MPK HENSHAW, Albert R, Gunner, RA, 1807577, (3 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed plus - https://therealchrisparkle.wordpress.com/tag/hms-howe/
Many thanks for this, DaveB. Although not quite six, I remember well when the news of my uncle's death reached us while my family was on holiday in Cornwall. My uncle's wife and young son were with us that day so the impact was very palpable. The Captain came from a large family in the Isle of Lewis.
