Swindon Scouts Memorial.

Name:PARRETT, DONALD WILLIAM
Initials W
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Leading Aircraftman
Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text:238 Sqdn.
Age:26
Date of Death:14/12/1941
Service No:904199
Additional information:Son of William and Alice Mary Parrett, of Brixham, Devon.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:8. O. 6.Cemetery:
TOBRUK WAR CEMETERY

The only Donald Parrett on CWGC. Details of his death unknown, so maybe one of our RAF experts can help on this one.


Parrett is listed as Killed on Active Service while engaged on non-operational flying duties or on the ground through enemy action.

At the time No.238 Squadron were operating with the Hurricane IIC from LG123 Libya.

 

Having not found any further details, I decided to check the Cemetery lists and discovered 13 other casualties who all died at HMS Collingwood on the same date and in their memory, I list them on this thread along with their comrade above. The sad thing is their ages.

Bell, Thomas Stanley, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Blackburn, Robert James, 33, Ordinary Seaman
Carrano, Andrew Edward, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Chitty, Thomas Joseph, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Clifton, George C, 18, Ordinary Seaman
Dixon, John David, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Hills, Peter Francis, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Howard, Leonard Arthur, 18, Ordinary Seaman
Jarvis, Cyril Tarrant, 18, Ordinary Seaman
Jones, Ronald Charles, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Sherrington, Henry Victor, 17, Ordinary Seaman
Smee, Edwin John, 18, Ordinary Seaman
Wright, Donald, 18, Ordinary Seaman

I have this morning found the name of another casualty, who is Thomas Edward Green, Age 35, Ordinary Seaman who is buried in his local cemetery at Foncett in Norfolk. If others were also taken home for burial, the final toll of this accident won't be known unless further research is carried out.

I also found a possible reference to this event on the Wartime Memories Project and have e-mailed the daughter-in-law of a rating who may have been there when this incident happened. Her father in law was trying to find where his former comrades were buried and wanted to pay his respects. As this post is undated, I don't know how old the enquiry is.

Come across this list on Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, June 1943, more info on this site http://www.hmscollingwoodofficersassociation.co.uk/thegreenie/chapter23.htm

18 June 1943

Collingwood, bombing
AMES, Arthur W H, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518558, killed
AVERY, William H, Act/Leading Seaman, RFR, P/J 35480, killed
BELL, Ronald, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518577, killed
BELL, Thomas S, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518563, killed
BLACKBURN, Robert J, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518542, killed
BRYANT, Robert B P, Ordinary Seaman, JX 517781, killed
CARRANO, Andrew E, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518550, killed
CHITTY, Thomas J, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518556, DOW
CLIFTON, George, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518575, MPK
DEWAR, David, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518553, killed
DIXON, John D, Ordinary Seaman, JX 430784, killed
DOWDESWELL, Ramsey D, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518569, DOW
EVANS, Harry, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518567, killed
FARLEY, Ronald A, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518557, killed
GREEN, Thomas E, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518572, killed
HEATH, Sidney C, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518546, killed
HILLS, Peter F, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518564, DOW
HOWARD, Leonard A, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518543, killed
JARVIS, Cyril T, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518570, MPK
JONES, Ronald C, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518551, killed
LINCOLN, Kenneth, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518565, killed
NUNN, John D, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518552, killed
PRIESTMAN, Ernest, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518566, killed
SEGASBY, Harry F, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518528, killed
SHERRINGTON, Henry V, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518586, killed
SMEE, Edwin J, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518544, killed
STEVENS, Kenneth A, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518568, killed
VARLEY, Albert, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518561, killed
WAGER, Dennis S, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 428452, DOW
WARD, Lionel F, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518559, killed
WILKINSON, Robert H, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518547, killed
WRIGHT, Donald, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518571, killed
YARDLEY, Reginald G, Ordinary Seaman, JX 518576, killed


Nick