|
Crew Member |
Contact |
Relationship |
Information |
|
R J Anthony |
Nigel Anthony |
Grandson |
Thanks for giving me the opportunity
after all these years to tell someone of this great man's life.
Click here
to see full story |
|
Frank Walker |
Zoe Bradshaw |
Niece |
For many years my family have been
under the
impression that my mum's uncle went down on the HMS Hood until I
mentioned to my mum that the Hood went down in 1941 and my grandma had
letters from him in 1944 from the HMS Hussar and he was lost at sea in
August 1944 which ties in with the Hussar's dates. If you have any
information on the Hussar and what actually happened I would greatly
appreciate it.
[Info given to Zoe confirming Frank did
die on Hussar]That's
fantastic ... so he did go down with the Hussar at last the mystery is
solved.
Thanks very much for your help. Just want to congratulate you on your
website it is fantastic and more information that we could have wished
for. Those poor men and what they must have suffered. |
|
WGF Sandell |
Eileen Carpenter |
Daughter |
As a daughter of one of the crew of HMS
Hussar (AB William George Frederick Sandell) who was lost on that
dreadful day in August 1944, I can offer nothing but praise to you
Bill for the preparation of this site. I have been spellbound for a
couple of hours reading all that you have collated. If anyone from
the
Hussar has any crew photos, I would of course be delighted to receive
a copy. I am also going to collate some details of my own father's
service with the Halcyons to add to the site as soon as I can, and I
look forward to reading other comments. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BILL.
Eileen Carpenter nee Sandell |
|
Cecil Baden
Hamilton Mead |
Dawn Mead-MacGregor |
Daughter |
I am trying to
find out about my father who served on HMS Hussar from 15 Jun 1939 to
13 Jul 1940. He did something heroic at that time, though what I do
not know. The incident was on a newsreel at that time. If you know
of anyone who is still alive who served on HMS Hussar I would love to
be able to get in touch with them to see if they knew my father. My
father was not killed during the war he spend most of his time after
that on shore duty stationed at St. Merryn on Cornwall. |
|
Cornelius Conway |
Paula Braby |
Niece |
I wish to update the details of my
uncle Cornelius Conway as follows. Cornelius was 19yrs old and the
son of Michael and Sarah Conway of Liverpool.
The details of just how Cornelius died have just come to light and I'm
trying to find out as much information as I can in order to paint a
picture. Your website is a great help because I now know there is a
memorial out there with his name on it.
The 'friendly fire' section makes for a truly sad read. Such an
avoidable tragedy that hardly bears thinking about...yet we must.
|
|
Denis Bert Morriss |
Richard K Morriss |
Son |
My late father - Denis Bert
Morriss (nicknamed Red), then a Petty Officer from Walsall, was one of
the survivors of the Hussar after the friendly fire incident. He had
previously served on HMS Onslow and was on board during the 'Hipper'
attack.
He didn't speak about the horror of the war much - and my mother is
adamant he had been sunk once before being on Hussar (which he never
told me about) though I have not been able to check out the details of
which ship. He served mainly on the Atlantic and Russian convoys
after joining up in 1941 aged 18.
After the Hussar was sunk I do know that he held up his best friend in
the water for a long time only to find out that he had been killed by
the shrapnel when the rescue boat arrived. He himself suffered all
the rest of his life from cramps caused by shrapnel in his legs.
Like the other survivors he was told to shut up and was quickly
transferred to Australia travelling there on HMS Ranee, one of the MAC
carriers. He spend the rest of the war there, was offered a
commission in the RAN but turned it down and returned home.
He trained in catering and in 1952 became the catering manager at
Alton Towers, where we lived until 1970. He died in Spain in 1996,
aged 73, and despite being fit all his life, the doctors thought that
the blood clot he died of was directly related to his war wounds all
those years later.
I am naturally biased, but he was a fine man, much loved - but I know
he never forgot the events of that day in June 1944 or the loss of his
mates. |
|
Trevor James Davies |
Steve Moult |
Great Nephew |
Trevor James Davies stoker 1st class D/JX
107333 age 27 son of William & Matha Davies of Hafod Swansea.
Trevor was my Great uncle, it is known
in the family that Trevor was lost at sea and his name is on Plymouth
panel 89 column 3 but the details of his loss was not known until
now. My father serving in HMS Goodson A Captain Class Frigate said he
was the last in the family to see Trevor alive just before June 5
1944. I have attached a photo of Trevor, and Trevor with a shipmate
name unknown may have been in HMS Hussar.
RE William Joseph Merrigan Leading
seaman D/JX285658 Plymouth panel 89 column 3 on board HMS Hussar was
also from Hafod Swansea but further information at this time.
I hope this information is of
use, if I obtain any other information I will forward to you.
Thank you S. Moult. |
|
George Ellis |
Andrew Foster. |
Grandson |
My name is I am the grandson of
Chief Petty Officer George Richard Ellis serial number SSX
27550(although I am not sure of his rank at the time of the sinking of
the Hussar).
I was very close to my grandfather and he told me many stories of his
time at sea although I was 13 when he died and am now 38, so they have
become
lacking in exact detail.
I remember him telling me about the friendly fire incident and I'm
sure that it was whilst he was in the water following the damage to
HMS Hussar that a
young 17 year old rating died in his arms. This man was the first
thing he thought about at the 11th hour of the 11th day every year
since. He would have a glass of Rum he would quietly relive this
experience.
Would it be possible to let me know if he was amongst the crew on that
day.
He joined The Royal Navy in 1938 and saw much service. Prior to her
death, my grandmother and I claimed his medals (as he thought that
only conscripted men deserved them).
He has 1939-45 star
Atlantic star with bar
Africa star with bar
War medal 1939-45
And also qualified for the Russian convoys medal and Malta star.
However these weren't awarded posthumously.
His area of expertise would of been Asdics.
Is there any way that I can find his complete service records?
I know he served on:
HMS Delight
HMS Anthony
HMS Hussar
A Canadian aircraft carrier (which was torpedoed, but not sunk)
I have a feeling that he may have been sunk twice.
I would be much appreciated if you could point me in the right
direction, as
I am extremely keen to plot his full Naval service history.
Andrew Foster (Grandson) July 2008 |
|
Robert Cawker |
Joy Whieldon |
|
I have to thank you for compiling the
history of the HMS Hussar. It is amazing, and saddening, to read of
the ship that my Great Uncle served on.
I noticed you are missing his family
details however.
Robert Cawker is my grandmother's
brother. My grandmother's name was Viola, mothers name Catherine and
my name Joy.
Robert Richard's parents were Richard
and Violet, and I understand that the family was situated in Swansea
in South Wales, Glamorgan.
Hope this helps you with some
information about the crew.
Joy Wheildon. August 2008
|
| |
|
|
|
