HMS Speedy 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 Speedy, 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 Edward Kennedy Fred Kennedy Son On doing some research for my grandson on the WWII for a school project I told him about his Great Grandfather who served on HMS Speedy. From his certificate of service his Service No. SBGD 1033 Kennedy Edward. He joined the ship 21st March 1942 as a OS and left 18th March 1946 as Act.Ldg Sea. I hope that this information is of use to you. My father died in 1986 do you know if the family would be able to get his Arctic Star. Roy West David West Son My late father Roy Jack West was on the Speedy from 1939 until 1944 or 1945. So he was on the Arctic & the Malta convoys. He was an ERA and then Chief ERA. He looked back on those troubled times on the Speedy with much affection. [David subsequently sent many photo's which now appear on the site] Percy Wilington Edmund Gore Gt Grandson My great grandfather Percy A. Wilington CPO was on the HMS Speedy during WW2. we believe he was on the Atlantic Convoys between 1942-1944. Duncan Christison Keith West Grandson Can you kindly add my Grandfather to the crew list of HMS Speedy for  the following dates - 1941-1942.  Petty Office Duncan McFarlane- Christison (PJX148085)... My Grandfather was awarded the Russian Convoy star for his service in the North Atlantic whilst on the Speedy - so he should be eligible for this Arctic Star.  I have asked him if he has any photos of him on the Speedy and also if he can remember anymore names for you.  He immediately got his notepad and starting scribbling stuff down... [Keith subsequently supplied many photo's and information and also a link to his grandfather's memoirs at www.dmchristison.co.uk  ] Fred Cossey Chris Cossey Son I found the web site and on looking through the pictures found one which I thought was my father. He is the canteen manager pictured with David West's father.  His name is Frederick Charles Cossey ( known to his family as Barley and to everyone else Fred)  I have a number of pictures that Dad gave me and I have included two that you might like, I hope they are not too big.  Dad passed away a number of years ago but my mother was so excited when she saw the picture and read the web site.  In the pictures I have attached my father is back left on pic 02 and front right on 01.  I hope you find them as interesting as I found the site.   Chris Cossey July 2007 Horace Nussey Catherine Crosby Daughter My father Horace Sharp Nussey served on H.M.S. Speedy from 16th August 1941 to 31st May 1942 and perhaps later as he was injured on board a ship and hospitalised in Malta. He was injured on the convoy to Malta and was evacuated from Malta to Alexandria where, after recuperating, he was a member of a combined operations force operating from North Africa. He was a Petty Officer and his service number was P/LX2476.   I'm also sending a photograph of my father in his naval uniform.   Sadly he died in April of last year at the marvellous age of 88.   I look forward to seeing him added to the crew members list. He would have been very proud. Catherine Crosby Sept 2007 Thank you for adding my dad to the crew members list. It would have made him very happy. He was very proud of his time in the navy even though it had some difficult and sad memories connected to it. I remember him telling me about the sailor who died and was buried in Murmansk, it moved him to think that he was buried in permafrost with a few belongings and so will still be there. Oct 2007   Frank Foreman Alan Foreman Son My father, Frank Foreman unfortunately died 40 years ago at the age of 56.   Being a young man with a young family at the time I regret I did not have time to sit with him and reminisce his war time stories, before his death.   I remember him telling me that when they were on the Russian Convoys the ropes would treble in size with ice and it was a full time job chipping it away.   At least life was warmer on the Malta convoys and he always said he would like to live there permanently.   It has been fascinating to read the diary of events during 1942/43 which has helped me understand just what my father encountered during his time on HMS Speedy.    Alan Foreman Jan 2009

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This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012