DEMS gunner losses

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Steve49, Jul 5, 2021.

  1. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Friday 3rd April 1942

    BOTTOMLEY, Horace, Lance Bombardier, 4622279 [MURMANSK RUSSIAN CEMETERY EXTENSION]
    CONNELLY, James J, Lance Bombardier, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 4696029 [MURMANSK RUSSIAN CEMETERY EXTENSION]

    Saturday 4th April 1942

    CORRIGAN, Dennis J, Gunner, RA (5/3 Maritime Regt), 6090844 [MURMANSK RUSSIAN CEMETERY EXTENSION]

    These losses are possibly related to the bombing at Murmansk of Empire Starlight and New Westminster City on the 3rd April. Lloyd's doesn't mention any casualties on the former and says 1 crew and 1 gunner lost on the latter (though I have not been able to identify any Merchant Navy casualties related to New Westminster City). Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  2. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    Partly correct.

    MURMANSK RUSSIAN CEMETERY EXTENSION, Russian Federation
    BOTTOMLEY, Lance Bombardier, HORACE, 4622279, 3 Bty., 2Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS New Westminster City) 3 April 1942. Age 29. Son of Timothy and Kate Bottomley, of Thwaites, Keighley, Yorkshire. Grave Ref. South side. Grave 20.
    CONNELLY, Lance Bombardier, JAMES Joseph, 4696029, 3 Bty., 2Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS New Westminster City) 3 April 1942. Age 27. Son of Matthew Joseph and Marie Connelly, of Sheffield. Grave Ref. South side. Grave 21.

    In his report Chief Officer, A. S. Gaeler states: The crew numbered 52 which included 6 Naval and 2 Army gunners. The two army gunners were killed and three of the crew, an apprentice, the 2nd Wireless Operator and a fireman were injured"...Both the Army gunners were killed by flying bomb splinters while they were manning the twin marlins."
    ............................................

    CORRIGAN, Gunner, DENNIS JOSEPH, 6090844, 5 Bty., 3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Lancaster Castle) 4 April 1942. Age 22. Son of Thomas and Alice Corrigan, of Liverpool. Grave Ref. South side. Grave 15.

    Gunner Corrigan was first listed as wounded after the ship was attacked on 24th March 1942 but he later died of those wounds on 4th April 1942.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  3. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Saturday 4th April 1942

    CONROY, Patrick, Gunner, RA (6/3 Maritime Regt), 2984328, killed [ChM]

    No obvious shipping loss/incident to associate with Gnr Conroy on this date, so was his death from an accident/illness? Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  4. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    CONROY, Gunner, PATRICK, 2984328, 6/3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Afghanistan) 4 April 1942. Age 19. Son of Anthony and Mary McKenzie Conroy, of Renton, Dunbartonshire. 67, 1. (Died suspected Malaria at sea)

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  5. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Monday 6th April 1942

    HARTLEY, Albert, Lance Bombardier, RA (4/2 Maritime Regt), 3534982 [MANCHESTER (PHILIPS PARK) CEMETERY]

    L/Bdr Hartley was killed on this date. There were multiple UK shipping losses on the 6th, but they were all in the Indian Ocean, which his UK burial would rule out. An accidental explosion onboard S.S. Soborg in Milford Haven resulted in the death of six crew and two RN gunners, so he a victim of this incident? Or was he the victim of a separate accident or illness? Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  6. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    Casualty returns state: "died". so I guess he was a victim of illness or accident but nothing further in my files.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  7. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Thursday 9th April 1942

    JONES, Maldwyn, Gunner, RA (2 Maritime Regt), 4925374, [MOREHEAD CITY (BAY VIEW) CEMETERY]
    TURNER, Arnold, Gunner, RA (2/1 Maritime Regt), 3605808, killed [PoM]

    Two gunner losses on this date. Lloyd's notes that one gunner was lost in the sinking of S.S. Sagaing at Trincomalee, so could this be Gnr Turner?

    As for Gnr Jones, with a shore burial in the USA I suspect his death was accident/illness related.

    Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  8. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    Both were lost from the same ship.

    On 9 April 1942 U-203 torpedoed and sank SAN DELFINO (8,072 tons) in the North Atlantic off Cape Hatteras, USA with the loss of 28 lives.

    JONES, Gunner, MALDWYN, 4925374, 2 Maritime A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS San Delfino) 9 April 1942. Age 21. Son of Mrs. H. Williams, of Gelli Pentre, Glamorgan, Wales. Grave Ref. Square 56. Lot 3.
    TURNER, Gunner, ARNOLD, 3605808, 2/1 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS San Delfino) 9 April 1942. Age 30. Panel 72, Column 1.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  9. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Thanks for that. I should have noticed that Lloyd's had 4 gunners lost with the San Delfino. I had the RN gunners and the MN crew as being listed on the 9th (but lost on the 10th), but hadn't put the Army gunners in the same place.

    Looking at S.S. Sagang, I see Lloyd's listed 1 crew and 1 gunner, CWGC have 2 MN crew killed (plus 1 DOW), so I wonder if one of the MN losses was considered to be a gunner.

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  10. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,

    SAGAING was attacked by Japanese aircraft at Trincomalee harbour on 9 April 1942. It was part of the last operation conducted by Kidō Butai, the Japanese carrier force which attacked Pearl Harbor.
    Chanda Madarie collapsed during the attack and died from shock while being transported in a boat to the Dutch warship SUMATRA. Ahmed Ali also died in the attack on the 9th.
    Quartermaster Robert McDougall was severely burned in the attack and was admitted to Trincomalee hospital where he died on 12 April 1942. Also severely wounded in the same incident was Maritime Royal Artillery gunner. William Bell who was also taken to Trincomalee hospital where he died of his wounds - official sources differ on his date of death which was 12 or 17 April 1942 depending on where you look.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  11. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Sunday 12th April 1942

    HAMPTON, William A, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 3196731, killed [PoM]

    No obvious sinking to associate with the loss of Gnr Hampton. Empire Lotus was lost on this date, but as far as I can see that sinking resulted in no deaths. Any ideas?

    Edit: Just noticed that the UK MN casualties from the loss of M.V. Christian Knudsen are listed on the 12th (for a sinking on the 10th). Could he have been lost in the this sinking?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2022
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  12. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member


    HAMPTON, Gunner, WILLIAM ALEXANDER, 3196731, 3/2 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Kirkpool) 12 April 1942. Age 31. Son of William Alexander and Mary Hampton; husband of Agnes Jane Hampton, of Montrose, Angus. Panel 72, Column 2.

    KIRKPOOL was intercepted and sunk by the German Raider Thor on 10 April 1942. Those that survived ended up in a Japanese PoW camp - it wasn't entirely clear until 1946 when an updated casualty list cancelled that which was issued in July of 1942. The other army gunner aboard was Charles McCulloch Bryden who was taken as a prisoner and released in 1945.
    The Naval gunners were Robert A. Denmark, J. Dixon, T. Owen and P.M. Armstrong. The Master, Captain Kennington died in the PoW camp.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2022
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  13. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Thanks for that. I had 3 Officers and 13 OR crew, plus the gunner AB Owen as being killed in the sinking, plus like you say Capt Kennington and 1 more crew who DPOW.

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  14. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Friday 17th April 1942

    DENWOOD, Albert, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 3384826, killed [PoM]

    Gnr Denwood was lost on this date. I can not see any shipping loss to associate with him. Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  15. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hugh will no doubt be along shortly to reveal all. However I note that the Casualty List has him DOW and the RA Casualty Card has Denwood as DOW at the Government Hospital, Berhampur, India. Interesting as if the casualty card is correct one would expect him to have a grave and he should therefore not be on the Portsmouth Memorial.

    Tim
     
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  16. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Gunner Denwood died of wounds sustained on 6 Apr 42.
    upload_2022-7-7_16-19-38.png

    Tim
     
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  17. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Cheers Tim,

    That probably places him on a merchant ship that had been attacked by Japanese forces during their April strikes in the Indian Ocean/Ceylon.

    Edit: Ah should have looked closer. So he was fatally wounded on 6th April, which indeed was a date of multiple merchant ship losses.

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  18. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Indeed, Gunner Denwood was wounded in the attack on ss GANGES by the Japanese and subsequently died from his wounds on 17 April 1942.

    DENWOOD, Gunner, ALBERT, 3384826, 3 Bty., 2 Maritime A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Ganges) Died ashore 17 April 1942. Age 27. Son of William and Elizabeth Alice Denwood; husband of Annie Denwood, of Burnley, Lancashire. Panel 3.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  19. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

     
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  20. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    A little more -

    Captain J.T. Vivian in his report stated that "Denwood a “Naval Gunner” was also severely injured by shrapnel, but he also managed to swim to the chief officer’s boat, but unfortunately died 11 days later in hospital".

    As well as getting Denwood’s service arm mixed up he also spoke of the bravery of Merchant Navy Gunner Partridge.

    “Merchant Navy Gunner Partridge” behaved splendidly. Although badly wounded he continued to fight his gun after I had given the order to abandon ship. I found him lying on deck badly injured with part of his foot shot away. As there was nobody to help me to carry him, I had to push him overboard and jump over myself while Partridge managed to swim unaided to a boat and was helped on board. This man in spite of his injuries, never once uttered a word of complaint the whole time he was in the boat.

    I should point out that it was Temporary Corporal Royal Marine Gunner, John Hartridge, CH/X 222, that the captain was describing above.

    Marine Hartridge was awarded the D.S.M gazetted 16 February 1943 and also awarded the Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at sea.

    Awards were also gazetted for the following:
    ALLAN, William – Chief Engineer – Commendation
    MURPHY, Michael Joseph – First Radio Officer – Commendation
    VIVIAN, John Tristram – Captain – Commendation
    REILLY, Willie – Second Radio Officer – Posthumous Commendation

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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