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Since the launch of this website in April
2006 there has been a steady number of e-mails from relatives of crew
members and, indeed, former members of the crews of the Halcyons themselves. Details have
been included here of those contacts relating to HMS Bramble although e-mail addresses are excluded for privacy
and to avoid spam messages.
Please
contact me if you would like to contact anyone listed here. |
|
Crew Member |
Contact |
Relationship |
Information |
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Morgan Griffiths |
David Griffiths (also John Shipsey
and Robert Brown) |
Son |
Relatives of men who died when a Plymouth-based minesweeper was
attacked during World War Two are being urged to contact an author
writing a book on the ship. HMS Bramble was accompanying a supply
convoy to North Russian ports in December 1942 when a German
destroyer and cruiser fired on it in the Barents Sea. All 121 crew were lost and the wreckage was
never found, although it is believed the ship and its courageous
company 'went down fighting'. The heroic tale of the ship fired the
imagination of Bristol-based naval enthusiast David Griffiths, whose
father, Petty Officer Morgan Griffiths, was a chef on board.
He has already made contact with dozens of families, but there are
still many he wants to trace from Plymouth,
where the ship was built in 1937 and commissioned in 1939. Its first
crew came from HMS Drake.
Backing Mr Griffiths' search are Robert and Michael Brown, whose
grandfather, William (Bill) Thomas Brown, was a member of Bramble's
crew and narrowly escaped death due to a twist of fate. He was due to
rejoin the ship before it began its ill-fated voyage to Russia but a
German Blitz raid on Bristol made him miss his train to the docks. He
never made it to the ship on time - but the delay saved his life and
he lived until 1994, when he died aged 90.
Mr Griffiths' search began four years ago with a photograph of
Bramble's football team, and he is desperate to trace more relatives
of the Bramble's heroic crew.
Today he said: "My father was a chef on board the Bramble but left
the ship just 10 days before it sailed to take up another posting. He
survived the war but he never let me forget that ship and those
men."
An HMS Bramble reunion was held three years ago
and attended by 20 people, but Mr Griffiths hopes more can be
traced.
If you can help Mr Griffiths, write to him at 15 Rock Lane, Stoke
Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8PF, or ring 0117 975 9651.
You can also write to Robert Brown, Hazelhurst, Pill Road, Abbots
Leigh, Bristol, BS8 3RG, or email
hazelhurst@waitrose.com |
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R S Smith |
Julia Aston nee Smith |
Niece |
I have been looking at your site with
great interest. However, on looking at the crew list, I cannot see
my uncle listed although I know his name is on the Plymouth
memorial. His name was Richard Stanley Smith who would have been 20
at the time Bramble was sunk - he had been home on leave and my
grandmother had given him his 21st birthday present of a signet
ring, knowing he would be away for his birthday, which would have
been in the January.
My aunt, his only surviving sibling, thinks that his job was either
a cook or something to do with the Naafi, she is not sure. He was
the son of George Henry and Florence Mary Smith of Meole Brace,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
[Note: Many interesting e-mails followed and a page for Richard
Smith was added to the site] |
|
Albert Maude |
Philip Watson |
Family friend |
In 1942 I was 12 years old and a
boyhood friend of Bertie Maude(13) whose father, Albert Maude, was
serving on board HMS Bramble. I think Albert was either an AB
seaman, or a signalman. I think he was in the naval reserve at the
outbreak of the war in 1939. Albert at the time worked with George
Youngers Brewery in Alloa Clackmannanshire and lived at
Smithfieldloan, Alloa, in, I think a company house.
I remember the occasion of the loss
of HMS Bramble, and of Berties' dad, because on the night of
the 31st., Bertie and his mum were at the pictures and when Bing
Crosbie sang "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" Bertie burst into
tears uncontrollably, and when his mum asked him what was wrong he
said "I'm thinking of my Dad". At the time he had no idea that the
Bramble had been lost, but when he was finally told of what happened
I met him in the street sometime later, again crying with great
despair at his loss.
Mr. Albert Maude was a lovely man,
a loving husband, and a great Dad to Bertie during a time restricted
life together.
I think, from memory, part of the
official communication given to Mrs. Maude regarding her husband's
fate was- " The HMS Bramble was last seen steaming towards enemy
action." How simple a sentence it is to explain the loss of a loved
one, but how great a feeling it brings to those of us who remember
the ultimate sacrifice the crew of the Bramble made that night in
their effort to secure what we now call freedom.
Although I was only 12 years old
at the time the memory will remain with me for ever. |
|
Peter Dickenson |
Jessica Dickenson |
Great Niece |
I am Peter Dickenson's great niece
and with my best friend Charlotte Holland we are doing a project
on Peter Dickenson and we know that you would like to speak to
relatives of seamen who were on HMS Bramble. I would also like to
speak to you because I want to know a bit more about my Great
uncle Peter ( Peter Dickenson ).
Charlotte and I are doing a
presentation in an Assembly tomorrow as part of our poppy
collection. We found your website very useful, thank you very
much!
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Robert Edward Jones |
Marilyn Fuller |
Daughter |
My father served on Bramble from
1/1/39 to 20/2/40. He was Chief Stoker. He never said much
during his life about his minesweeping duties, so I wondered where
exactly he was minesweeping. I think now, that from what I have
read, that it was around Scapa flow. Can his name be included with
the names of others that served on her? He was shore based for
awhile after Feb.1940, in fact hospitalised in Devonport, as
suffering from stomach ulcers. My father's name was Robert Edward
Jones, Chief Stoker on the Bramble, and his official Number was
K57968. He left the navy in 1945, after many years service, he
first joined in 1919. |
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Ray Burrows |
Emma Donovan |
Great Niece |
I
wanted to email you to say a HUGE HUGE thank you! My Great-Uncle,
Lawrence Raymond Burrows (AKA Ray) served on HMS Bramble and died
aboard her in 1942.
Ray was my mother's uncle on her father's side and I have always
been lead to believe that he had died in 1941 when the ship was
sunk. My father was in the Army for 40 years and has tried
finding information on the Ship, one memorable time being at the
Royal Navy stand and the Royal Tournament when he was told that
there was never any ship called Bramble!
I
have been researching the family history for about a year now, and
after talking about Ray today, I thought I would have another look
on Google, and your site came up first. I have learnt so very
much about what it is that Ray did in the war, and what happened
on that ill fated day, and it is all thanks to you.
I
cannot wait until tomorrow when I can call my Gran and tell her
all about her Brother-in-Law (unfortunately my Grandad has passed,
but they were all really close friends), and even more exciting is
that I can write to my Great-Aunt to let her know more about her
brother's death.
Once again, thank you so so much. I have always wondered what had
happened to Ray - and now I even know where I can go to see his
name on a remembrance plaque. If there is anything I can do for
you, please do let me know!
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A W Kerr |
Edward Paxton |
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My mother's cousin, Alexander
Walker KERR, JX 177842, served on Bramble between 26/9/1940
and31/3/1941. He was promoted to AB on 17/1/1941, whilst serving
aboard her.
He was a buoy jumper and injured
himself doing this on 18/12/1940. Witness to the injury was Aubrey
Quinney AB D/JX 128786
Edward Paxton |
|
Martin Malachy Brogan |
Malachy Keena |
Niece |
Just to introduce myself, my name
is Malachy Keena from Dublin Ireland.
My uncle was Martin Malachy Brogan
(Steward) served on the HMS Bramble which was sunk 31.12.1942.
I found your email address on HMS Bramble website (Family &
Friends) I thought you might be interested in the attached
photos.
I presume that the naval
personnel were part of the crew of HMS Bramble. ? Maybe someone
can recognise some of the crew.
One photo shows my uncle with a
small number of naval personnel seated on chair in front row. The
second photo of the larger group I have circled my uncle centre of
photo. These photos were also emailed to Navy News.
I was only four years old at the
time of this tragedy. I believe a Mr D R Griffiths of Stoke
Gifford may be interested in that attached photos also.
My Uncle whom I was called after
(Middle name Malachy) had two brothers Francis & Patrick four
sisters Josephine, Margaret, Elizabeth (my mother) and Angela all
now deceased. He was from a town in the midlands of Ireland called
Mullingar, Co Westmeath
My uncle has a daughter Veronica
still living near Birmingham. I believe she was only 3 months old
at the time of her father's death and would have very little
knowledge of the events of that time.
Malachy Keena April 2008
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H T Rust |
Bill Dawson |
1st Cousin |
I enjoyed
looking at the site for BRAMBLE. Commander Henry Thew Rust DSO was
my 1st cousin, twice removed and pretty much my only
Naval ancestor. Important to me as I am serving now currently in
the Falkland Islands. I have enclosed the only picture I have for
you HT as a Midshipman in approx 1917. Dont know whether it is
of any use but if you have any other information about him I would
be really interested.
Bill Dawson May 2008
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Ernest Staniforth |
Robert Staniforth |
Son |
My father Ernest Staniforth,SSX25410 served on Britomart from
2/06/1941 to its sinking on 27/08/1944. He very rarely spoke about
his experiences during the war as the sinking was very traumatic and
he lost friends in terrible circumstances. At the time of the attack
he had just been taken of watch in the wheelhouse and was down in
the mess, the chap who had taken him off was killed outright while
at the the wheel. My father ended up in the water with a mate who
was injured, my dad swam with him for a while in all the oil and
flames, he eventually had to abandon him as he had lost most of his
lower torso and would not have survived. He ended up ashore in an
orchard in France and was eventually rescued and taken to Dartmouth
and sent on survivors leave. While on leave he attended a wedding
and someone came round collecting for the R.A.F. benevolent fund,
with what happened at sinking, including shooting at them in the
water he caused a right upset. He returned to civilian life in Jan
1946 he very rarely spoke about his time during the war except
about the conditions they put up with travelling to and from Russia,
when I joined the Navy in 1965 he always commented on all the warm
places I got to which he never did. He worked for the Post Office
most of his working life and died in 1996 aged 73, hope this is of
some use to you and if you would like more info just let me know.
R.E.Staniforth,D093736P Oct 2008 |
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