Family & Friends

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 Hebe, 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
George Kirk	Jason Kirk	Grandson	My Grandfather, George Kirk. served on HMS Hebe during its last voyage. My father and myself and brothers have all been to visit his grave in Bari. Are there any records or photographs of crew where my grandfather may be mentioned or pictured. Any more information would be wonderful as my father was only 5 years when his father died.
Robert McLoughlin	Bill McLoughlin	Son	My father, Robert McLoughlin was a Petty Officer on board HMS Hebe. He was a radar mechanic and ship's writer and actually ashore at the time Hebe sank. The date of the sinking was his first wedding anniversary. I think most of his watch died. He didn't speak much about the events of that day, but did tell a remarkable story. As he was ashore he wasn't listed among the survivors and the worst was feared. By coincidence, his lifelong friend George McFee was in Bari. George was in the Marines and I think a Commander. When he learned of the Hebe's sinking he tried to find my father, but with no luck. George was trying to work out a way of contacting my mother to tell her the bad news when my old man appeared having just heard that the Hebe had gone down. In all the years I knew George, I never heard him swear, but my father said he'd never heard so many swear words in one sentence. George managed to send a telegram, bearing in mind censorship, it read: Wished Bob a happy first anniversary when I saw him on the 24th. Happy anniversary, Margaret from George. The telegram arrived before the news of the Hebe's sinking and my mum knew my father was okay. My father died in 2000, and George in 2002, but to the end these two friends did everything together. Probably not much good to you, but I'm proud of my old man and proud to have been one of George's friends as well
Reg Birch	Malcolm Birch	Son	I just noticed my late father's name on the crew list for HMS Hebe - He was on the Royal Oak when she was sunk at Scapa Flow at the start of the war. He passed away in 1999 but I remember his stories of the Hebe and the time spent on the Hebe in Malta & I understand he was on her when she was finally sunk off Bari. His Service number was P/SSX29655. After WW11 moved to Australia with our family, joined the RAN and served on HMAS Perth11 in Vietnam I have attached (3) war-time photo's which may be of interest. No. 1. is marked June 1942 Malta Convoy - 2 days out from Gibraltar. My father is 3rd from left at rear. No. 2. is marked Christmas 1942 Malta. Reg is on the left in the trench coat. No. 3 is marked Portsmouth 1939 - I know he joined the RN earlier that year and got sunk for the first time on the Royal Oak at Scapa Flow later that year. I have all his service medals which included a commemorative George Cross Medal which was awarded by the Government of Malta in 1993 to mark the 50th anniversary of the original award to the people of Malta. I remember him telling me that they spent a lot of time underground whilst being continuously bombed and the Hebe being damaged on several occasions. My brother has his actual RN Service Records at his place which I'll get a copy of to confirm some dates. Hope this is of some interest - even though he spent a further 20+ years in the Australian Navy after the war he always spoke with respect and a kind of reverence for the dark years of 1939-45
Jack Millward	Richard Peel	(Niece)	I can not add much information but my wife's uncle (Jack Millward (John)) was shipwright on the Hebe and escaped the sinking by stripping off and covering himself in grease so he could get out of the porthole. When in the water he gave his life jacket to the doctor who could not swim but unfortunately he died. A friend mentioned that our aunt may be able to get a star for jack even though he has died do you know how I can do this. Jack died last week at the age of 93, he would have been 94 in February this year (2007). Jack said that a number of the crew swam for the shore but did not make it. He did not try to swim as he had given his life jacket to the doctor. Although the doctor did die they were picked up by an Italian ship, possibly a fishing vessel? I do not remember.
Bill Taylor	Rob Taylor	Son	My father, Bill Taylor, joined up in 1940 rather than be conscripted. After basic training at Pompey he was posted to the Hebe, joining the crew in early 1941, I believe, as a stoker. He came from Bridport, a small town in west Dorset. He never spoke a great deal about life during the convoys, but I remember him saying how bitterly cold it was on the runs to Murmansk. I also remember him saying that he had no real wish to return to Malta. While the Hebe was in Malta he bumped into an old friend, John Snook, who was in the R.A.F., and it seems that occasionally they would reminisce about days gone by. John a retired teacher, published his own poems under the publisher's name of Koons and in his book Malta Siege Verse 1941/1942/1943 he wrote a poem entitled Heebie Jeebies (see Hebe, June 1942 for the poem). In a prologue to this poem he wrote "I knew two sailors who came to Malta on board H.M.S. Hebe escorting the remains of a convoy code named 'Harpoon' which reached the island in June 1942. While in Grand Harbour, with two merchantmen that had also survived the voyage, the Hebe was almost enveloped by a smoke screen. After meritorious service mine sweeping and escorting Mediterranean convoys for months in most hazardous waters, Hebe was sunk by enemy action in the Adriatic Sea off Bari. Over thirty members of her crew were lost including one of the sailors I knew. The other man survived and when I met him recently he was enjoying a happy retirement in the little west of England town where he and I were born." John was a lovely old chap and in 1990, the year of publication, signed a copy of the book for my father "To Bill Taylor. 'Survivor of he Hebe'. Sadly both have now died, my father in May 1999 and John in the summer of 2005. Three or four weeks ago I spoke to Roger Snook, John's son, who was more than pleased to allow me to forward the poem to you for your use, should you wish to include it on the web site. Although we both know that there was another member of the crew from Bridport, we are both unable to remember his name. I will, of course contact you with that information if it is forthcoming.
Maurice Maguire	Maurice Maguire	Nephew	I never knew my uncle, Maurice Maguire, who was able seaman on HMS Hebe (and who didn't survive), because I was born on 1st October 1944 after the ship was sunk. I was named after him. All my uncles and aunts are long gone now so I don't know much about him. However, I am grateful to all who have contributed to this site, and would like to know if my uncle was on any of the photographs, providing anyone with such information is still alive as it is a long time ago now. Kindest regards to all, and God bless all the crew, and all those in the service of their country. Maurice Maguire (jnr) (July 2007)
	Irene Doughty	Cousin	I am sorry, I don't have any information for you, I just wanted to say a big thank you for your site, I have noticed over the years that there was very little mention of these ships, and the fantastic work they did, I would like more recognition for these men. My cousin was not yet 18 when he went down on H.M.S Hebe, I have looked for records, but must be looking in the wrong places, do you know how I might find out if there are any relations of the men who went down in the Hebe still about. Irene Doughty Sept 2007
Hugh Kearney	Matilda Geraghty	Niece	Hugh Kearney was my uncle, my mother's youngest brother. He came from Carfin in Lanarkshire and was the youngest in a family of 10. His parents' names were John and Mary. May 2008
	Daniel Clarke		This is an excellent site and you are to be thanked and commended for putting it together. I cannot claim to be related to any crew member. However, my grandfather, who died recently aged 88, was at Dunkirk. I think he told us he escaped on a ship called the Hebe. I expect it must have been the HMS Hebe. So, in a way, I owe my existence to the ship, as do my father and my siblings. March 2009