HMS Britomart Crew Halcyon Minesweeper

CREW LOST ON 27^th AUGUST 1944 (includes 2 who died shortly after) To see photographs of the individual panels on the Plymouth Memorial go to http://www.webrarian.co.uk/rnwm/rnwm12.html
LAST NAME	FIRST NAMES	RANK	SERVICE NUMBER	AGE	FAMILY DETAILS	COMMEMORATION
BOWEN	Thomas William	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 570723	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 87, Column 3
BRICKLE	Lewis Henry Hubert	Able Seaman	D/J 104664	40	Son of Mr and Mrs Jack Brickle; husband of Olwen Brickle, of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, Wales	PLYMOUTH Panel 86, Column 1
CUTLER	Gerald	Able Seaman	D/SSX 24580	27	Son of John and Florence Cutler, of Sneinton Dale, Nottingham	PLYMOUTH Panel 86, Column 1
DEAKIN	William Richard	Able Seaman	D/J 73416	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 86, Column 1
GERRED	Albert Newton	Chief Yeoman of Signals	D/J 90489	-	Son of Frederick and Margaret Gerred; husband of Miriam Esther Gerred, of Shirley, Southampton	PLYMOUTH Panel 88, Column 2
HARRISON	Joseph	Able Seaman	D/JX 238295	23	Son of James and Emma Harrison, of Hyde, Cheshire	PLYMOUTH Panel 86, Column 2
JOHNSON	Ernest Charles	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 570743	19	Son of Ernest George and Emma Louisa Johnson, of Horfield, Bristol	PLYMOUTH Panel 88, Column 1
JONES	Alan Hugh	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 559094	19	Son of Joseph and Alice Matilda Jones, of Risca	RISCA OLD CEMETERY Monmouthshire Plot C, Grave 169 Photo: Steve Veysey
JONES	Leon Kenneth Edgar	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 559568	21	Son of Leon Christopher and Eleanor Jones, of Newport	NEWPORT (ST WOOLLOS) CEMETERY Monmouthshire Block 81, Grave 80
MARSH	George Herbert	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 147555	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 90, Column 1
MARSTON	Sidney Clifford	Able Seaman	D/JX 184868	24	Son of Sidney William and Anne Ethel Marston; husband of Eileen Alice Marston, of Richards Castle, Shropshire	PLYMOUTH Panel 87, Column 1
MURRAY	Patrick	Petty Officer Stoker	D/KX 86002	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 89, Column 3
ROLES	John Henry	Ordinary Telegraphist	D/JX 610352	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 89, Column 1
SCHOFIELD	Philip James	Ordinary Seaman	D/JX 570495	-	-	PLYMOUTH Panel 88, Column 2
SMITH	Walter George	Leading Steward	D/LX 24871	36	Son of John and Frances H Smith; husband of Joyce Lilian Smith, of Brimscombe, Gloucestershire	PLYMOUTH Panel 91, Column 2
SPENCE	William Robert	Able Seaman	D/J 89495	44	Son of William and Elizabeth Scott Spence; husband of Laura Ethel Spence, of Plymouth	PLYMOUTH Panel 87, Column 2
SYKES	Ernest William	Able Seaman	D/JX 304909	21	Son of Joseph and Mary Ellen Sykes, of Manchester	PLYMOUTH Panel 87, Column 3
WARE	Kenneth Martin	Sub-Lieutenant		35	Son of Frederick and Mabel Ware, of Taunton, Somerset; husband of Margery Seward Ware, of Taunton	PLYMOUTH Panel 93, Column 1
WEST	Albert Edward	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 152777	20	Son of Thomas and Emily West, of Exmouth, Devon; husband of Barbara M West, of Exmouth	PLYMOUTH Panel 90, Column 2
WHITFIELD	William Frederick	Signalman	D/J 39682	-	Son of Alfred and Ellen Whitfield; husband of Lena Whitfield, of Woodford Greell, Essex	PLYMOUTH Panel 88, Column 2
YATES	Charles	Stoker 1st Class	D/KX 140883	32	Son of Charles and Annie Yates, of Liverpool	BOOTLE CEMETERY Lancashire Section 6, C of E, Grave 10

HMS Britomart - George Jenkins on right
Source: Georgie Tsyplek

Other Members of the Crew of HMS Britomart
SURNAME	FIRST NAMES	RANK	SERVICE NO.	DATES	AGE	SOURCE
Altmore	Alex	Asdic Rating				PQ17- Lund & Ludlum
Anderson	J D	Tempy Lt		8.11.39		Navy List Dec 1939
Barlow	John (Jack)	AB		12.12.41 - 27.8.44		My father in law (now deceased) was a member of the crew when it was attacked and sunk by the RAF whilst carrying out minesweeping duties in 1944 off the coast of France. He managed to survive the attack by jumping overboard after spotting the RAF coming again for a second attack. According to his wife who is now 86, she says he was picked up and taken to Scotland, but doesn't know where. She doesn't know the length of time he served on the Britomart but we do have several photographs from 1942/1943/1944 with his handwriting on the back of some of them of where they were taken, including one of a Guard of Honour for General Montel at Grosni Quay, Archangel in July 1943. My father in law's date of birth was 28/06/1921, he died on 06/12/1967. His home address whilst serving was: No 9 Dalzell Street. Moor Row, nr Whitehaven ,Cumbria. As I stated his wife Joan, who served in the ATS and met Jack in a dance hall in Edinburgh, is still alive and went on to have two daughters. He did many sailings to Murmansk, Archangel, Iceland and lost many friends, especially in the incident of 1944. Unfortunately my mother in law cannot remember any names of his colleagues but he did knock about with a lad from Hull. He always attended Remembrance Sunday service wherever he was living at the time. Source: Richard Stead, Nov 2008
Cook	G H	Lt		15.3.41 - 29.3.41
Crittle	George	Lt		1944
Fitton	Lawrence	Signalman	JX240566	24.2.44 - 27.8.44		My Father, Lawrence Fitton was a signalman on HMS Britomart. He was Port Division Devonport and his Official Number JX240566. He was born 6^th November 1923 and died 19^th August 1987 from cancer of the oesophagus. His Service Record shows that he joined 24^th February 1944 until it was sunk on 27^th August 1944. He then went back to HMS Drake. He was injured in the sinking (Shrapnel wounds to his arm – we still have the Shrapnel) and I believe helped save the lives of others, in particular one man who was trapped under Life Boat rigging. He managed to get him onto a flotation aid of some description. He was later reunited with the gentleman at a Hospital in Scotland where unbelievably my Father’s sister Mary, turned out to be the Nurse. Source: Michael Fitton (son) Jan 2009
Frederick	R	Lt Cdr		29.3.41 - 10.8.41
Galvin	Arthur James	Lt Cdr		5.1.44 - 27.8.44-
Grose	J C	Tempy Sub Lt		8.11.39		Navy List Dec 1939
Harvey	Richard Henry	Stoker 1st Class		14.2.41 - 9.1.43		My father, Richard Henry Harvey, DoB 18/2/1912 was born near St Just in Cornwall, official number KX 114425 and he served in HMS Britomart from 14/2/1941 to 9/1/1943 he was a stoker 1st class. He also served at HMS Orlando between May and July 1943 and on HMS Milford between 26/5/1944 and 27/2/1945 (submarine training target ship?). Source: Chris Harvey March 2009
Hinton	Eric Percival	Lt Cdr		28.6.39 - 28.5.40		Navy List Dec 1939
Hodgkinson	R H	Lieut		25.5.39		Navy List Dec 1939
Hodges	Alfred	CPO		1944		My father Mr Alfred Hodges d.o.b. 11/07/1915 and was from south Wales and was also called taffy I believe. As far as I am aware he was the chef and was a chief petty officer, he told me he replaced Robert Newton the actor. He was on the Britomart when it was sunk and had shrapnel around his stomach and was covered in oil and was picked up (I think) by a hospital ship. Sadly my dad died a couple of years ago with cancer he was 82 and a retired master baker having his own bakeries for a number of years. Source: Mark Hodges (son)
Holroyd	Ronald	ERA	D/MX12067677			My father-in-law Ronald Holroyd served on the Britomart. He was on board when it was sunk and survived.He is still alive and well and living in Blackburn aged 84. (Source: Julie Holroyd - Daughter in Law)
Hughes	Bert			1944		Daily Telegraph 29th Aug 1994
Jeffries	E	Stoker				PQ17- Lund & Ludlum
Jenkins	William George	Leading Writer				M`y father William George Jenkins was a crew member on Britomart for the whole war until it was sunk. He was a "Leading Writer" in charge of the ships administration. He escaped the burning ship by swimming under the burning slick of oil despite a broken collar bone and much shrapnel in his leg and some in his head. He was invalided out after that from his injuries. He became a Civil engineer and died in 1988 . (Source: Georgie Tsyplek)`
Leah	Cyril	AB	JX556128	19.11.43 - 27.8.44		His date of birth was 27^th. June 1925. He Joined the navy on the 19^th July 1943 entered under NS (AF) Act 1939 He joined the Britomart on 19^th Nov 1943 as Ordinary Seaman. On his certificate of service on the 19^th July 1944 rating changed to A/A.B. He was with the ship when it was sunk on the 27^th Aug. 1944 An entry on his service certificate, under the section Marks, Wounds and Scars there is a note :- Wounded in Le Havre aboard HMS Britomart. My father died from cancer in 1995. He never spoke to me about his time in the navy during the war. The only things he mentioned was that he was sunk by friendly aircraft, but would say no more The other thing he told me was that he was sent to Canada when the keel of his ship was laid down. As far as I can make out he was given a civilian job as a postman until his ship was built. This I am not very sure about. The certificate of service shows Canada HMCS name of ship Hadin. The next part in brackets is very difficult to make out as to scrawl of the hand writing. I think it is Indle Ness. Perhaps this could be confirmed some way. The dates are 6^th August 1945 to 29^th September 1945 The following entry is Indle Ness 30^th September 1945 to 21^st March 1946. Next entry is Drake March 1946 to 20^th December 1946 I am assuming this is when he was discharged. Source: Barry Leah (son)
Marriott	Clifford	Sick Berth Attendant	DMX93856			DoB 12.11.1903 in Manchester. Moved to Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire mid 1939. Medically examined for National Service (Armed Forces) Acts on 2 October 1941 at Preston Service No. DMX 93856, Rank SBA (Sick Bay Attendant) Following enlistment passed out from basic training at "HMS" Royal Arthur Class 145 From what is remembered all father's service was aboard Britomart. It was fortuitous that on that fateful day of 27th August 1944 father was in hospital in Plymouth having damaged his knee while transferring to liberty boat at some unknown location. Father passed away in Lytham St. Annes 03.03.1977 pre deceased by Mother (Catherine)in October 1969. Philip S. Marriott (son) Sept 2008
Metters	W	Cd Engineer		22.8.39
Morrison	Kenny	AB Radar Technician		Aug 1944		http://freespace.virgin.net/forces.friends/narc/njun.html
Newton	Robert	Steward				Robert Newton was a well known actor who served on Britomart for 4 years (apart from when he was occasionally given special leave to work on select films, notably the patriotic Henry V in 1944). www.robertnewton.net He was released from his duties on medical grounds (asthma). Perhaps his most famous film role was as Long John Silver. (Source: Nicholas Newton (son) & Fiona McGregor)
Norton	Arthur H	PO				PQ17 - Lund & Ludlum
O'Regan	J J	PO/CPO?				As far as I know my uncle J J O'Regan served on the Britomart during the Murmansk Convoys, and possibly as late as its sinking. In fact the second man from the left, back row, in your photograph of the crew page looks rather like him. He was a PO or CPO. His brother Daniel died in the sinking of the Neptune. Source: William Wall
Seaward	Frederick Martin	Leading Steward	D/LX22489			He was born 5/7/1919 at Brixham, Devon. He joined the navy at Devonport in 1938 as an Officer’s Steward. He made 3 trips to North Russia, including PQ17. At the time of the convoys he was Leading Steward on HMS Britomart. He applied for the medal issued by the Russian Embassy, but sadly his application was received too late and he never received a medal. Mr. Seaward died in 1991. (Information from Fiona McGregor - daughter in law)
Staniforth	Ernest		SSX 25410	2.6.41- 27.8.44		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, Source: R. E. Staniforth (son) Oct 2008
Stammwitz	Spencer Shelley	Lieut-Com		10.8.41 - 4.1.44		Commanding Officer www.unithistories.com/
Stanton	William	Sub Lt		Aug 1944		Died aged 22 on 26.6.47. Survived the attack by allied aircraft but "he never really recovered from the oil in his lungs when he was in the sea and was in some kind of naval convalescent home from then onwards" Belinda Stott - niece
Tweed	G W	Sub Lt		21.8.39		Navy List Dec 1939
Yakubovsky	Benjamin	Interpreter				http://www.times.spb.ru/archive/sppress/132/feature.html

Unknown crew members of HMS Britomart

HMS Britomart - unknown crew members 1

HMS Britomart - unknown crew members 3
Unknown members of the crew of HMS Britomart
(Source: Jack Barlow)

Thirty years ago I was a young nurse in Blackpool. I had a nursing officer who over a few years I became friends with. After I married and left home I used to write to her and visit with my family. Her house was called Britomart and she told me it was named after her brother who was on the Britomart when it was hit by friendly fire. He survived but the oil from the ship damaged his lungs. I do not know when he died, but it was certainly before I started nursing in the 1970s. Sadly the nursing officer also died many years ago but Britomart has remained with me and I was very interested to read the account of it sinking.

Source: Alison Sangster