Family & Friends

Crew Member	Contact	Relationship	Information
John Swanson	Neil Marsden	Father in Law	Just found your excellent web-site having been looking for details of my late father in law's ship, HMS Harrier. His name was John Swanson and was born in Liverpool, Lancashire July 13th 1921 and passed away (Liverpool) March 18th 2001 John was a stoker aboard Harrier, but at this moment in time I cannot assist with a service number or dates of service aboard. I do know that he joined the vessel in Russia having travelled out aboard HMS Argus. Amongst others aboard 'Argus' travelling to join ships, he spoke of a young man en route to join the ill fated Destroyer 'Matabele'. He explained that 'Matabele' was lost soon after and his new found friend was amongst those who perished. Sadly he did not speak in great detail of his exploits, save to mention that they were based in Murmansk(?) during his time aboard and shared many of the hardships of the local population, poor rations, black bread etc. He also spoke of the rescue of survivors from an American ('Liberty'??) ship, when a keen eyed lookout spotted their lifeboat as dusk was falling and they were about to abandon the search. After service in 'Harrier' John returned briefly to the UK (means of transport unknown?) and then travelled to the US to 'standby' the building of new LSI's under construction in Virginia(?) On completion they sailed the vessels back to Europe where they participated in the Sicilian landings. Wounded (by 'friendly fire' the LSI silhouette was not unlike that of a submarine to a nervous gunner!!) he was hospitalized in Malta, following which he spent further time on a rocket armed landing craft, bombarding the Italian mainland, before rejoining his original LSI for 'D' Day. In the closing months of the War the vessel was engaged ferrying personnel etc. from UK to Antwerp(?) It had been our intention to mark his 80th birthday with a return to Caen and the Normandy beaches, but sadly this was not to be. John did apply for and receive his Russian Convoy medal which is displayed along with his other medals in a small cabinet featuring a photograph of 'Harrier' ...Naturally should any old shipmates contact you, please feel free to pass on any messages and I will respond with pleasure.
Len Mills	My name is Leonard Mills and I served on HMS Harrier from June 1940 to March 1943. I served as a Wireman. C/MX65447 I was 20 when I joined her and 23 when I left, to go to Chatham for Petty Officer Course. I would be pleased to hear from any surviving people who remember me. My e-mail address is lenmills@tiscali.co.uk
Jim Caddick	Andy Caddick	Grandson	I am the Grandson of James Caddick who was a writer on the HMS Harrier and is mentioned on your tremendous website. I am currently in possession of his diaries from his time on Harrier, and others, and have been tracking down leads to fill in the many gaps. First, may I compliment you on your excellent site. It has been a source of great information and background to my Grandad's experiences. Thank you so much Next. I am converting my Grandad's diaries, word for word, into a small “book” so that my two brothers will also be able to have the information that is contained therein. I would be happy to share this with you if it would be of any interest.
Francis James Woolley	Paul Wooley	Son	Thank you for such a good site and all the info available. It's really really good. My late father Francis James Woolley (JX165349) was the Quartermaster onboard HMS HARRIER when HMS EDINBURGH was sunk. I remember him telling me about the make shift Admirals Flag as mentioned by David Moore The Flotilla Navigating Officer (WW2 Peoples War) As my father was the Quartermaster. It would be interesting to know if he remembered him. Also it would be interesting to know if my Father was on the Helm at that time. I'm trying to collect as much information as I can, in order to produce a record of my Fathers War experiences to hand down to my Children. And any additional information would be most welcome Paul Woolley Aug 2007
George Frederick Winter	Able Seaman. C/JX 730370.Early 1944 until ship paid off Harwich 1946. Left ship when she paid off and was part of the steaming crew that beached her on the mud on the river Orwell at Harwich, She was a fine Ship very overcrowded, men sleeping on tables and benches many having no lockers to keep their gear in, always at sea (except when broken down) and more often at action stations than just steaming. We did a great job in those days minesweeping at D Day and off the French and Dutch coast. George Winter Sept 2007
Dewis Wilson	Graham Wilson	Son	Thank you for such a great web site. My father served on the Harrier and although he has told me some of his war experiences, this has filled in a lot of background for me. He doesn’t have a computer so I printed off a lot of the information from your site and he enjoyed reading it. His name is Dewis Norman Wilson (service number C/JX570673) and he served as an able seaman on the Harrier from 13^th Sept 1944 to 30^th April 1946. His main responsibility was manning the Oerlikon guns. He says they would also try and shoot down any doodlebugs that came within range and they must have had some success because he remembers having to clear the deck of shrapnel from one hit. He also remembers the overcrowding. He says some of them used to go where the depth charges were stored and put their hammocks up there and sleep over the depth charges. I’ve attached a photograph of my father and also another photograph that he has of six of the crew. Unfortunately, he cannot remember any of their names except I think the one front left is Les Whitaker who he kept in touch with after the war. If anyone wants to contact him, I would be happy to pass on any messages. Graham Wilson Oct 2007
Harold Lewis	Wayne Lewis	Son	My Father A/S Harold Lewis Service Number JX185980 served on HMS Harrier from Nov.19/41 to Aug.30/44. He is from Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Canada. He married Gertrude (Smith) Chapman from Hull, Yorkshire. After the war he returned to grand Falls and passed away at the young age of 67 on August 28th,1988. He talked a lot about the Russian Convoys and when the Russian Government passed out Medals for Russian Convoy duties he was overlooked and didn't receive the honour which he so deserved. He also spent some time on HMS Dunnotter Castle as well as HMS Sikh. If anyone has any info on Harrier duties and actions the ship was involved in like at Normandy I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. He often mentioned about convoy PQ 17 and I was wondering would it have been possible that a ship's company could have been dispatched to another ship while the Harrier was under refit at the end of June 1942 when Convoy PQ 17 set sail. My mother told me of a message she received from Russia saying how they arrived safely. This is usually unheard of during wartime action. I hope some of this information is of use and I wonder if any of his shipmates remember him. Wayne Lewis March 2008
Bill Cooper	David Buckley	Friend	I am writing to you on behalf of William Joseph “Bill” COOPER who was a member of the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. During his service he was seconded to the Royal Navy and after completing his ASDIC training at Dunoon, joined HMS Harrier. The details of his service on Harrier were:- Joined the ship on the 2^nd July 1941 as an ordinary seaman and while onboard on the 29^th August, 1941 was promoted to Able Seaman (AB/SD) and served until 9^th July, 1942. His service no. was S4802. During his time on board the ship was involved in Russian Convoy escorts, operations in the Lofoten Islands and with evacuation of the crew off HMS Edinburgh. I have attached copies of his Certificate of Service papers in the hope that his name and details might be included in the crew list. He was a member of the crew and not a supernumerary. Perhaps it is policy to only place on the list members of the Royal Navy and not those of allied services. The reason I mention this is because Bill Cooper mentioned to me that there was a member of the Canadian Navy named Lewis onboard and his name did not appear. We both live in Sydney, NSW, Australia Thanking you in anticipation. David Buckley April 2008 --------------------------------------------------------- My name is Martin Cooper from Sydney, Australia, writing about my father, an Australian naval rating who served on HMS HARRIER during the Second World War. My father (details will follow & who is still alive) joined Royal Australian Navy for war service during Second World War, and was seconded to the Royal Navy. As an ASDIC rating, he received further training at HMS OSPREY, Dunoon, Scotland, before being drafted to HMS Harrier. William Joseph Cooper 18 years of age at time of draft RAN Official Number S 4802 HMS HARRIER 2 July 1941 to 9 July 1942. During his time on Harrier, she performed duties to Ireland, Russian Convoys, Iceland, Norway, was based at Murmansk, and was involved in the action that sunk HMS EDINBURGH. His has written his recollections at my, and others, request , and I am amazed at the preciseness of his recollection when compared to ships log accounts from your website. He relates how he was known only as "Digger" to rest of the ships crew. After his HARRIER service, my father served the rest of the war on Australian ships, ending up in Tokyo Bay at the time of the Japanese surrender, before being demobilised in 1946. I was wondering if the current crew list is updated & if so, would the inclusion of my father be considered. I attach copies of an image he has from his Harrier service that you may find interesting. Regards, Martin Cooper May 2008
William Knight	Lance Knight	Son	I am searching for information on my Father William Clifford Knight from Manchester UK . He served onboard HMS Harrier as a chief PO ERA. He is still alive living here in Australia. I am hoping to bring him home to England. Is there a list of surviving crew/ reunion contact. Regards Lance William Knight Ships Master Newcastle NSW Australia
James Gaskell	Tom Gaskell	Son	My father, James Henry Gaskell served on HMS Harrier up to it being scrapped at Harwich. I don’t know when he joined the ship but he joined the navy in 1943 as a signaller. My father is still alive aged 82 and lives in Australia. Tom Gaskell, Sept 2008