Family and Friends

Crew Member	Contact	Relationship	Information
James Walls	Angela Sheahan	Daughter	My father, who was one of the survivors of the sinking of the Sphinx in 1940. He always said he was the last to be picked up alive from the water. He was Chief Shipwright James Walls, Official Number M 38469. According to his naval record, he served on the Sphinx from 27th July 1939 to February 4th 1940, when she went down. He returned to service at HMS Pembroke (Chatham) immediately afterwards, and then to HMS Pelican for the next couple of years. In 1945, shortly before the war ended he was considered physically unfit for further service and was granted a disability pension, a result, he maintained, of the time he spent in the freezing water. After the war and his recovery from illness, he returned to light duties in Chatham Dockyard. He passed various exams, and subsequently had a successful career in the Admiralty. He died in 1982 at the age of 73.
A L Tessier	Alejandra Morales Tessier	Grandson	I was so touched to read for the first time the true fate of HMS Sphinx. My maternal grandfather Lt. A L Tessier was on board and sadly perished with the ship. Your website is fascinating. Thank you for all your hard work. It has meant a lot to my mother and aunt.
Clem Walker	Brian Walker	Son of crew member of HMS Boreas which participated in rescue attempts	I must congratulate you on a superb website. It is excellent in every way and a very fine addition to the RN history of WW2 plus a fitting memorial to the crew who lost their lives in service of their country. I noted on the HMS Sphinx casualty roll that two of the men were from my hometown of Gillingham. You may be interested to know that my father is alive and well and will be 88 in June. I guess he must be one of a few participants still alive who witnessed the final moments of the Sphinx and the rescue of some of her crew. Brian Walker, Adelaide. `I thought I should tell you that dad died on the 12th March 2007. He had been unwell for a month or so with a chronic lung disease and despite the best medical attention was unable to recover.`
Eric Dunnell	Lynda Waterhouse	Niece	My Uncle, Eric Dunell, Able Seaman HMS Sphinx, perished on 4th February 1940. He was only 21, and not long married. Although I never knew him, being born in 1949, his memory is still cherished in our family; my mother is Eric's sister and even still mourns his loss. However, it is a great revelation to myself and my cousin to learn the details of the final hours of HMS Sphinx, and thus the final hours of our Uncle. We now know that he was not killed in the initial attack on the Sphinx, but perished during the storm that overtook the ship whilst being towed. Your website brings home to us, the fortunate ones who never knew the anguish at first hand of losing a loved one in wartime, the horrors of war and what it meant to ordinary families whose members served their country, and lost their lives in doing so. Very humbling - thank you. Lynda Waterhouse (Farnborough, Hants)
			The first photo shows Eric with HMS Sphinx on his cap band. I also have a few photos of Eric on board a ship – I know he sailed to India and Ceylon, and also played hockey in Zanzibar against a team of the Sultan’s there. The other photo is of Eric’s wedding, also showing the HMS Sphinx cap band; he married Kathy Hills in November 1939 in Great Bardfield, Essex, so it seems they had a very short time together before he sailed on the Sphinx to his end. So, there we are. I can only add that, according to my mother (Eric’s sister), Eric earned an extra 3d (or was it 6d? certainly no more) a week for foregoing the navy’s “grog” ration (he was teetotal, being brought up a Methodist), and that when the bodies were washed up at Wick, Eric’s was identified from a scar on his knee, which he got from falling off of some railings when a child, which my mother remembered. Lynda Waterhouse (Farnborough, Hants)
			Further to my email regarding my uncle, I was prompted to check the identity of my uncle’s Best Man at this wedding. I can’t make out the name of the ship on his cap band, but a newspaper cutting reporting Eric’s wedding had him as Joseph Cooper. I have looked on your website for Joseph Cooper and sadly there he is, he also lost his life in the wreck. I thought you may be interested. (By the way, the ladies on the left of the photo are my mother, then aged 14, and her mother, my Grandmother Ethel Dunell, mother of Eric Dunell, the groom). Lynda Waterhouse (Farnborough, Hants)
W G Yorkstone	Kirsty & Katrina	Grandaughter and Great Grandaughter	My name is Kirsty, my daughter Katrina was in contact with you back in may, at that time I tried sending you a photo of my Grandfather P O Steward W.G Yorkstone, of the Sphinx. I failed miserably in the first attempt and this is my second try, a while later. First off I found the site you have put together just wonderful, as time goes by history gets distorted with retelling and this is a true version for us to visit. Thank you for the time and effort you have given to this site. My grandfather had 3 children, a daughter and twin sons, Ruby is the daughter, the older twin is my father Gordon, W. Peter was the younger twin. Both my father and Peter were seamen, my father was ship based, Peter was a submariner. Dad served with the navy for ten years before demobbing back to civilian life. July 2007
Norman Bell	Doreen Jackson	Daughter	My father was petty officer Norman Bell. He joined the Sphinx on the 3rd of November 1939 until it was attacked 4th February 1940. Fortunately he survived and was posted as a Chief Petty officer to the Pembroke. Invalided out on the 10th May 1943 as a result of an injury he had received in 1940. Went on to train sea cadets as a hobby and died age 72 in 1977 being age 39 when he joined HMS Sphinx. Married to Ruby with 2 children all of whom lived in Newcastle upon Tyne. Source: Doreen Jackson, daughter. Sept 2007
Leslie Skiggs	Allan Skiggs	Nephew	My uncle Leslie Skiggs was the first casualty of the attack. He was only 19 and was a much loved older brother e to my father. Sadly my father passed away some years ago and we scattered his ashes at sea as he wanted to be with his brother. I know my father would have found this web-site interesting and a credit to the memory of all those who served. I thank you on his behalf as well as my own. Allan Skiggs (April 2008)
Henry John Foster	Barry Morgan	Nephew	I have recently received my late uncle’s RN service record, Henry John Foster JX 134032 Chatham Port Division. Date of Birth 2 June 1914 at Woolwich, Kent.The record shows the following: Ship in which Serving From Rating & Discharge Boscawen (Sphinx) 26 Jul 1939 Ldg. Sig. Boscawen (Sphinx) 10 Oct 1939 Over 1 yr. Pembroke.1. 5 Feb 1940 Over 1 yr. I take it that this means that he was onboard HMS Sphinx when it was sunk? My uncle went on to serve in HM Ships Naiad, Dido, Nile, Canopus? Chevron, Virago, Gillingham? and Superb to name the ones I can read on his record. He continued to serve until 27 Oct 1954 when he discharged with the rank of CCY. Barry Morgan April 2008
Ted Fayers	Tony Fayers	Son	My Father served on 2 Halcyon Class. Details as follows: HMS SPHINX Last Name: FAYERS First Names: EDWARD ANDREW (Ted) Rank: Stoker I Class, Acting Leading Stoker Service No: C/KX 86110 Service Date: 27.7.39 - 22.1.40 (Stoker I Class) 23.1.40 - 4.2.40 (Acting Leading Stoker) HMS FRANKLIN Rank: Stoker Petty Officer Service Date: 22.3.46 - 4.12.46 Age:30 Dad had joined Pembroke 13th May 1935. Apart from Shore Establishments (Pembroke I, II and Seaborn ,Nova Scotia) he served on Scarborough, Pegasus, Sphinx, Sussex, ML170, ML 174, Lookout, Leamington, St Albans, Courier, Marmion, Franklin, Cleopatra, Whirlwind, Obdurate. At his retirement in 1957 he was CPO Chief Stoker. I was born when he was on Franklin. As a family we spent a year 1952-3 in Malta when he was on Cleo (1949-53). My first school was Verdala Naval School, Malta. In 1954 we lived in Pembroke (St. Mary's Gardens) Tony Fayers May 2008
Kenneth Upsall	Susan Donovan	Niece	Firstly I would like to congratulate you on your web site, Whilst my partner and I were researching her family history we found your site and uncovered so much about HMS Sphinx and the incidences surrounding her Uncle's sad death. Her Uncle was Kenneth Upsall service number C/KX95972MPK Stoker Second Class and served on HMS Sphinx, died on the 4th of Feb 1940 and now lies at Wick Cemetery. She would like to contribute to your site, some photos of Kenneth in Naval Uniform to your site in the hope that others will do the same, and that one day the whole crew will be reunited for all time. She would also, if possible have like to have contact with other members of the ships company or family , Just to know of any further information on Kenneth. My Partner's name is Susan Donovan now 60yrs old (nee Upsall) and she is the niece of Kenneth. Once again can I congratulate you on your site. Trevor White Dec 2008
James Dow	Andrew Dow	Grandson	My Grandfather was James Dow who had served on board the Sphinx as the ships doctor for some period in its short time in service. I don't believe he was on board when it was struck but I will look a little further into this to see if I can get more info. You may or may not be interested but I attach a photo of a model of the sphinx which I can only presume was made on board; some of the materials used are old sea charts. Rumour has it that whilst the Sphinx was clearing mines, my Grandfather was offered a shot at a mine and successfully hit it. The amusement of the ship's doctor blowing up a mine resulted in him being presented with a model of the Sphinx. I have no idea if this is true but there certainly must have been a talented model maker on board! Andrew Dow Feb 2009