REMNI DECEMBER 17
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December 17 remembrance ni German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in flames after being scuttled by her own crew at Montevideo, Uruguay, 1939 Victory in the Battle of the River Plate The first major naval engagement of WW2, was a great boost to British morale during the “Phoney War”. Page 1
Transcript of REMNI DECEMBER 17
REMNI DECEMBER 17December 17
remembrance ni
German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in flames after being scuttled by her own crew at Montevideo, Uruguay, 1939
Victory in the Battle of the River Plate
The first major naval engagement of WW2, was a great boost to British morale during the “Phoney War”.
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December 17
When war broke out in September 1939 the German pocket battleship Graf Spee, commanded by Hans Langsdorff, was patrolling in the Atlantic. She represented a grave threat to Allied shipping, sinking eight merchant ships between September and December.
When the cruiser HMS Achilles opened fire on the German ‘pocket battleship’ Admiral Graf Spee in the South Atlantic, at 0621 hours on 13 /12/1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to strike a blow at the enemy in the Second World War. With the New Zealand ensign flying proudly from its mainmast – as battle loomed, a signalman had run aft with the ensign shouting ‘Make way for the Digger flag!’ – Achilles also became the first New Zealand warship to take part in a naval battle.
The 82-minute engagement between the Graf Spee and its three smaller British opponents – Achilles, Ajax and Exeter – was inconclusive. All four were damaged, with the British ships suffering 72 fatalities (among them two New Zealanders) to the Graf Spee's 36.
But the German warship's subsequent withdrawal to the neutral Uruguayan port of Montevideo, and its dramatic scuttling by its own crew on 17 December, turned the Battle of the River Plate into a major British victory – and a welcome morale boost for the Allied cause.
NI men in New Zealand ship
Achilles' role in the battle was a special source of pride for New Zealanders, who welcomed the ship's crew home at huge parades in Auckland and Wellington in early 1940.
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The German pocket heavy cruiser “Admiral Graf Spee” in flames having been scuttled off Montevideo, Uruguay, after the Battle of the River Plate, 17 December 1939.
On this Day - December 17 1922
The last 3,500 British troops leave Dublin following the creation of the Irish Free State. In October 1921, there was over 50,000 British soldiers in 68 battalions in Ireland. British troops remained in the Treaty Ports and Northern Ireland.
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The last 3,500 British troops leave Dublin
1938 Italy declares the 1935 pact with France invalid, because ratifications had not been exchanged. France denies the argument.
1939 Unable to complete the repairs to the Admiral Graf Spee within 24 hours, the time limit stipulated by international law for foreign warships in neutral ports to leave and under strict orders by OKM not to go in to internment in Uruguay, Captain Langsdorff takes his ship outside the harbour of Montevideo and orders his crew to scuttle her, thus denying the British fleet that is converging on the River Plate the opportunity of destroying her in an unequal battle.
Russian forces launch heavy attacks at Summa, Finland. Page 4
December 17
1940 Home Office announces third German spy hanged at Pentonville Prison. Winchester housewife sentenced to death for spying. Rations increased temporarily in Britain for Christmas week.
Fifty British Bomber Command Whitley and Hampden bombers attack German seaplane bases on the island of Sylt, part of the Frisian Islands.
While pursuing the retreating Italians, the British forces in North Africa take Sollum, Fort Capuzzo and several other crucial Italian defensive positions. They also capture another 38,000 Italians along the way.
Destroyer Acheron sunk by mine off Isle of Wight.
1941 After strong resistance, Rommel’s forces retreat from the Gazala defensive area.
Japanese troops make gains in northern Malaya and are now only 10 miles from Penang, as British and Commonwealth forces begin to fall back to the river Perak. Japanese forces make landings in northern Borneo.
1942 The British Parliament vows to avenge Nazi crimes against Jews, as Eden announces that the Germans ‘are now carrying into effect Hitler’s often repeated intention to exterminate the Jewish people in Europe’. U.S. declares those crimes will be avenged.
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The Final US-Australian assault on Buna begins.
1943 The U.S. Fifth Army captures the village of San Pietro in central Italy after 10 days of heavy fighting.
Roosevelt reveals a plot to assassinate him at Teheran. U.S. forces invade Japanese-held New Britain Island in New Guinea.
Wings are first awarded to US WASPs - Women’s Airforce Service Pilots.
1944 U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans. U.S. Major General Henry C. Pratt issues Public Proclamation No. 21, declaring that Japanese American “evacuees” from the West Coast could return to their homes effective January 2, 1945.
After some deep penetrations into the lines of the unprepared American forces, the Germans make only slow progress due to limited roads as well as difficult terrain and weather conditions in the Ardennes, not reaching any assigned first day objectives. The allies rush reinforcements to the Ardennes.
The German Army renews the attack on the Belgian town of Losheimergraben against the defending Americans during the Battle of the Bulge.
The bodies of 81 American soldiers from Battery B of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, killed by Waffen
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SS troops, Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgian town of Malmedy.
U.S. troops capture San Jose airbase on Mindoro. The U.S. Army Air Force begins preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by establishing the 509th Composite Group to operate the B-29s that will deliver the bomb.
1945 The Senate votes for U.S. help in establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Roll of Honour - December 17 Representing their comrades who died on this day
1915 +HUGHES, Edward Royal Munster Fusiliers, 7th Btn. Private. 1307. Died 17/12/1915. Age 30. Son of James and Rebecca Hughes. Edward was born about 1885 near Coalisland in County Tyrone. The family was living at Derry, Tullyniskane, Tyrone. Edward was husband to Maggie Hughes, of 67 Parkhead Rows, Bellshill, Scotland. Bothwell (Bellshill) Cemetery, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Bellshill WM
+SMYLIE, William McAlister Royal Irish Rifles, 12th Btn. Private. 6310. Died 17/12/1915. Larne. St Quen Communal Cemetery, France
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1916 +FOSTER, Robert Royal Engineers. Sapper. 64497. Died 17/12/1916 of wounds. Age 23. Training Centre (Newark). Born at Muckamore. He worked as a joiner and was a member of Thornhill LOL 651. Son of Margaret Foster and the late Robert Foster. Antrim New Cemetery. St Judes Parish Church, Muckamore WM, Antrim District Orange WM
1939 They served in HMS Exeter during WW2
BELL, Stanley AB. HMS Exeter. Became a prisoner of war aged 19. Hospitalised post-war in Freemantle. Father of Eileen Gary. Died 12/1994
CALDWELL, Robert In HMS Exeter at Battle of River Plate, off Uruguay.12/1939. Presented with a gold watch by the Young Men’s Institute when he returned on leave. Together with other members from Exeter, he was presented to Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Cowan St., Newry.
CHEYNE, Richard Warren RM. Corporal PLY/X2132. Enrolled 1937. Reported missing after loss of HMS Exeter in the Second Battle of the Java Sea 01/03/1942. PoW. He survived. He was one of three men from Bangor who were Japanese PoWs. Bangor Central PE School. Former member of 2nd Bangor Scout Troop. Son of Mrs. Cheyne, Belfast Rd., Bangor. First Bangor Presbyterian Church RH
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+FREEMAN, William Hugh RN. Blacksmith. HMS Leonian. Died 07/02/1944. Age 23. Joined the Royal Navy in the summer of 1938, serving on HMS Exeter. which played a heroic part in the battle with the ‘Pocket’ Battleship Graf Spee off the River Plate in December 1939. On the morning of 13th December, shortly after 6am AB Freeman was lying on deck when the order came for “action stations”. Distant guns flashed and soon HMS Exeter had received her first baptism of fire. Freeman was a member of the crew of one of the 4.7 inch guns that returned fire until the gun itself was disabled by a hit that killed and wounded many men, a piece of shrapnel cutting a hole in Billy’s cap and a slight cut to one hand. While serving on board HMS Exeter, Billy served with 14 men from Northern Ireland as well as men from the Republic of Ireland.
Prior to the war young William worked with his father as a Blacksmith and was a keen motor cyclist, having taken part in the Cookstown 100 motorcycle race in 1938.
He arrived home on leave on 02/03/1940 for 28 days to visit his parents in Cookstown. It is recorded that there were very enthusiastic scenes in Cookstown when he stepped of the bus from Belfast at the Transport Board’s parcel depot in William Street where he was surrounded by a large crowd of well-wishers. That evening he was met by the members of Killymoon and Derryloran bands and paraded to his home carried on the shoulders of some of his neighbours. There was much loud cheering and Billy Freeman was heard to say “I hope I live to see Hitler scuttle himself too”.<br>Son of William Hugh & Mary Freeman, Church Street, Cookstown. Husband to Iris Elvina Freeman, Devonport.
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Billy Freeman joined the Royal Navy in the summer of 1938. Cupuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta. Cookstown WM
MOFFATT, William J RN. Stoker First Class. In HMS Exeter at battle of River Plate. A presentation was made to him in Lisburn cinema at a midnight matinee in aid of Lisburn Navy, Army and Air Force Fund. (Lisburn Standard 15/03/1940). Son of Mr Thomas Moffatt.
THOMPSON, George CPO Stoker. HMS Exeter sinking in Java Sea. Japanese PoW. Limavady RNA. Castlerock. See this site - August 19, 2018
WITHERS, David HMS Exeter. Presentation made to him by local community in Killyleagh Castle. (Bangor Spectator 23/03/1940)
HMNZS ACHILLES
+SHIELDS, Francis Henry RM. Corporal. PO/X 653. Died 05/01/1943. Age 31. HMNZS Achilles. He had served 14 years. Son of James and Mary Ann Shields, Largymore, Lisburn. (Lisburn Standard 22/01/1943). Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 79. Lisburn WM
TRIMBLE, Samuel RM. Sergeant. CGM. On HMNZS Achilles acting as spotter for where the guns shells landed to correct range. During the Battle of the River Plate with the Graf Spee he won the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. “Stood fast without
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flinching or complaint throughout the hour of action that followed, bearing his wounds with great fortitude. When the Medical party came he helped them to move the (other) wounded and then made his own way to Sick Bay with little aid”
1940 +HARVEY, James RN. Chief Stoker. C/308315. Died 17/12/1940. Age 52. HM Boom vessel Thomas Connolly. Served in WW1.22 years service. Had been in Corps of Commissionaires at Belfast Ropeworks. Member of British Legion Naval Club. Cregagh, Husband to Margaret Harvey, Belfast. Son of Thomas James and Ellen Harvey. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 37. Family memorial, Milltown Cemetery, Belfast
+McKERNAN, William Hugh Johnston HMS Caroline. Chief Stoker. Died 17/12/1940. Served 1903 - 1924. Somaliland 1906, Persian Gulf, and Bosphorous. Shipwrecked twice. From 1924 - 39 he was caretaker of Ballymena YMCA. After recall he served six months in Devonport before posting to HMS Caroline.Son of James and Elisabeth McKernan; husband of Sarah Annie McKernan, of Ballymena. From Gracehill, Ballymena Methodist Church RH WW1. Gracehill Moravian churchyard
+PRICE, Ernest Edward RN. Leading Stoker. P/KX 78405. Date of Death: 17/12/1940. Age: 31. HMS Acheron. Son of Alfred George and Emma Jane Price; husband of Sarah Josephine Price, Loughinisland. Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.
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+McMEEKIN, John Royal Artillery, 9 A.A. Regt. 26 Bty. Gunner. 1487270. Died 26/08/1940. Age 30. Son of Patrick and Ann Jane McMeekin, of Ballymena. Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
1942 +BROWNE, Leonard RN. Able Seaman. D/SSX 20108. HMS Firedrake. Died 17/12/1942. Age 22. On the night of 16/12/1942, HMS Firedrake, an 'F' class Destroyer, was the escort leader to convoy ON153, with 43 ships bound for Canada. HMS Firedrake tracked a contact to about 5 miles south of the convoy, when at 2010 hrs she was hit by a torpedo fired by U-boat U211. The ship broke in two. The bow section sank immediately, with the stern just managing to stay afloat. HMS Sunflower, a Flower class Corvette, came as close as possible to HMS Firedrake in order to get the survivors off, but the weather was so bad and the sea too rough. There were 60 foot waves breaking over the two ships, which were bobbing about like corks, so the commanding officer of HMS Sunflower decided to stand by and hope the weather would get better. At about 0040 hrs on the 17th December, the weather worsened and HMS Firedrake’s bulkheads started to give way under the tremendous battering. The stern of HMS Firedrake started to sink, so the men had no option but to take to the water, and at 0045hr the stern sank. There were 168 of the Firedrake's crew lost. 27 were rescued. Son of William John and Kathleen Browne, Waterside, Londonderry. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 64
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+HESLOP, Thomas New Zealand Infantry, 21st Btn. Private. 64178. Died 17/12/1942. Second son of Alexander and Rachel Heslip. Born on 16/07/1912 in the district of Dungannon. He was one of at least six children, all born in the Clonavaddy area. They were a farming in Aghintober. Thomas emigrated to New Zealand. Prior to enlistment, Thomas was a farmer living at Cambridge Road, Tauranga, New Zealand. Tripoli War Cemetery, Tripoli. Tauranga WM
+HEWITT, Samuel Tweedy RAFVR. Flying Officer. Died 17/12/1942.103 Sqdn. This squadron saw service over Occupied Europe and it was in the course of one such mission that he died. Born in Lurgan on 18/03/1919. Son of Samuel Hewitt of Portadown Road. He was a pupil at Lurgan College from 01/09/1931 until 30/07/1937. One of his contributions to the school - the attractive mural of school life that used to adorn the wall of the History Room. Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark. Lurgan College RH.
1943 RAF BLACK THURSDAY
+Brown, John Thomas RAF. Flying Officer.156611. Died 17/12/1943. Aged 22. The RAF suffered heavy losses on the night of 16th-17th December 1943, known as "Black Thursday". Belfast-born John Thomas Brown was one of many losses. He was a navigator with RAF 97 (Pathfinder) Squadron on board Avro Lancaster JB243 OF-P. The London Gazette on 20th May 1943 listed Brown as a Pilot Officer on probation to be called up in an emergency. By 20/11/1943, he had received a promotion to Flying Officer. Brown’s plane came down
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near RAF Gravely, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire on the return leg of a pathfinder mission to Berlin, Germany. Severe weather across much of England, with heavy fog over airfields, resulted in many losses for the Royal Air Force. As well as the crew of which Brown was part, 4 other crews from RAF 97 Squadron resulted in 28 fatalities. All had taken off from RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire bound for Berlin. The other losses from RAF 97 Squadron that night were Duncan Forbes McKenzie’s crew in JB119, James Kirkwood’s crew in JB219, Ian Macdonald Scott’s crew in JB117, and Edward Thackway’s crew in JB176. Poor weather had closed in around Cambridgeshire so that landing at RAF Bourn was almost impossible. The RAF employed many techniques to get the bombers down safely. Still, they were unable to shift the fog or sufficiently illuminate runways. Some planes diverted to other nearby bases while others decided to wait out the weather.
JB243 was one of those that decided to wait. The plane ran out of fuel as they circled the airfield under the command of an extremely experienced pilot Ernest Alfred Deverill. On colliding with the ground, the plane burst into flames, leaving the sole survivor with severe burns. Son of Robert and Elsie May Brown of 51 Wandsworth Road, Belfast. Dundonald Cemetery
+GRAY, Stanley Nicholson RAFVR. Flight Lieutenant. 125739. Died on 17th December 1943, aged 24. 161 Sqdn. The 17th December 1943 was referred to in Bomber Command as “Black Thursday” due to the number of lives lost. Gray and his crew were on a Special Operations Executive sanctioned mission to France. Special Operations Executive flew several clandestine
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missions that night making use of RAF 138 Squadron and RAF 161 Squadron. Missions over occupied territory included dropping supplies and agents behind enemy lines. Gray was pilot of Mark V Handley Page Halifax DK206 MA- V. His crew was part of a Special Operations Executive sortie, Operation Wheelwright 50.
They took off from RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire. The destination was Angoulême, France. The crew returned early from the sortie due to high patchy rain, and thick ground fog over the target area. In the poor weather, the crew received no responses from Eureka beacons on the onboard Rebecca set. The fog hid signal lights and no S- Phone contacts were made.
Bound for a landing at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, the bomber came down at Tangham Forest near Capel St. Andrew, Suffolk at 0505hrs on 17th December 1943. Gray had attempted to take the plane beneath the cloud base, which had dropped to only 200 feet.
Of the 8 people on board, 3 died in the resulting crash. On board were 2 French Agents, both of whom escaped. Bofors gun operators at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk reported the crash near the south-east of the airfield.<br>Son of Hugh H. Gray and Martha Gray of Cooldarragh Pk., Belfast. Hugh was a linen manufacturer. Carnmoney Cemetery
1944 +MILLAR, William Cecil RAFVR. Leading Aircraftman. 1795872. Died 17/12/1944. 2724 Sqd RAF Regt. Son of Andrew Mcknight Millar and
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VETERAN
ALLISON, William Walter RAMC. Captain. Campbell College. QUB MB 1914. BCh, BAO. Lieutenant RAMC 01/06/1917. Captain 01/06/1918. Born 09/02/1887. Medical practitioner post-war. Son of Rev Robert and Louisa Allison, Kilbride Manse, Doagh. Died 17/12/1953.
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remembrance ni
The remembrance ni programme is overseen by Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey OBE, QVRM, TD who served as Chaplain to 102 and 105 Regiments Royal Artillery (TA), as Hon. Chaplain to RNR and as Chaplain to the RBL NI area and the Burma Star Association NI. Dr McKelvey is a Past President of Queen’s University Services Club. He may be contacted at [email protected]
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remembrance ni
German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in flames after being scuttled by her own crew at Montevideo, Uruguay, 1939
Victory in the Battle of the River Plate
The first major naval engagement of WW2, was a great boost to British morale during the “Phoney War”.
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December 17
When war broke out in September 1939 the German pocket battleship Graf Spee, commanded by Hans Langsdorff, was patrolling in the Atlantic. She represented a grave threat to Allied shipping, sinking eight merchant ships between September and December.
When the cruiser HMS Achilles opened fire on the German ‘pocket battleship’ Admiral Graf Spee in the South Atlantic, at 0621 hours on 13 /12/1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to strike a blow at the enemy in the Second World War. With the New Zealand ensign flying proudly from its mainmast – as battle loomed, a signalman had run aft with the ensign shouting ‘Make way for the Digger flag!’ – Achilles also became the first New Zealand warship to take part in a naval battle.
The 82-minute engagement between the Graf Spee and its three smaller British opponents – Achilles, Ajax and Exeter – was inconclusive. All four were damaged, with the British ships suffering 72 fatalities (among them two New Zealanders) to the Graf Spee's 36.
But the German warship's subsequent withdrawal to the neutral Uruguayan port of Montevideo, and its dramatic scuttling by its own crew on 17 December, turned the Battle of the River Plate into a major British victory – and a welcome morale boost for the Allied cause.
NI men in New Zealand ship
Achilles' role in the battle was a special source of pride for New Zealanders, who welcomed the ship's crew home at huge parades in Auckland and Wellington in early 1940.
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The German pocket heavy cruiser “Admiral Graf Spee” in flames having been scuttled off Montevideo, Uruguay, after the Battle of the River Plate, 17 December 1939.
On this Day - December 17 1922
The last 3,500 British troops leave Dublin following the creation of the Irish Free State. In October 1921, there was over 50,000 British soldiers in 68 battalions in Ireland. British troops remained in the Treaty Ports and Northern Ireland.
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The last 3,500 British troops leave Dublin
1938 Italy declares the 1935 pact with France invalid, because ratifications had not been exchanged. France denies the argument.
1939 Unable to complete the repairs to the Admiral Graf Spee within 24 hours, the time limit stipulated by international law for foreign warships in neutral ports to leave and under strict orders by OKM not to go in to internment in Uruguay, Captain Langsdorff takes his ship outside the harbour of Montevideo and orders his crew to scuttle her, thus denying the British fleet that is converging on the River Plate the opportunity of destroying her in an unequal battle.
Russian forces launch heavy attacks at Summa, Finland. Page 4
December 17
1940 Home Office announces third German spy hanged at Pentonville Prison. Winchester housewife sentenced to death for spying. Rations increased temporarily in Britain for Christmas week.
Fifty British Bomber Command Whitley and Hampden bombers attack German seaplane bases on the island of Sylt, part of the Frisian Islands.
While pursuing the retreating Italians, the British forces in North Africa take Sollum, Fort Capuzzo and several other crucial Italian defensive positions. They also capture another 38,000 Italians along the way.
Destroyer Acheron sunk by mine off Isle of Wight.
1941 After strong resistance, Rommel’s forces retreat from the Gazala defensive area.
Japanese troops make gains in northern Malaya and are now only 10 miles from Penang, as British and Commonwealth forces begin to fall back to the river Perak. Japanese forces make landings in northern Borneo.
1942 The British Parliament vows to avenge Nazi crimes against Jews, as Eden announces that the Germans ‘are now carrying into effect Hitler’s often repeated intention to exterminate the Jewish people in Europe’. U.S. declares those crimes will be avenged.
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The Final US-Australian assault on Buna begins.
1943 The U.S. Fifth Army captures the village of San Pietro in central Italy after 10 days of heavy fighting.
Roosevelt reveals a plot to assassinate him at Teheran. U.S. forces invade Japanese-held New Britain Island in New Guinea.
Wings are first awarded to US WASPs - Women’s Airforce Service Pilots.
1944 U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans. U.S. Major General Henry C. Pratt issues Public Proclamation No. 21, declaring that Japanese American “evacuees” from the West Coast could return to their homes effective January 2, 1945.
After some deep penetrations into the lines of the unprepared American forces, the Germans make only slow progress due to limited roads as well as difficult terrain and weather conditions in the Ardennes, not reaching any assigned first day objectives. The allies rush reinforcements to the Ardennes.
The German Army renews the attack on the Belgian town of Losheimergraben against the defending Americans during the Battle of the Bulge.
The bodies of 81 American soldiers from Battery B of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, killed by Waffen
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SS troops, Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgian town of Malmedy.
U.S. troops capture San Jose airbase on Mindoro. The U.S. Army Air Force begins preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by establishing the 509th Composite Group to operate the B-29s that will deliver the bomb.
1945 The Senate votes for U.S. help in establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Roll of Honour - December 17 Representing their comrades who died on this day
1915 +HUGHES, Edward Royal Munster Fusiliers, 7th Btn. Private. 1307. Died 17/12/1915. Age 30. Son of James and Rebecca Hughes. Edward was born about 1885 near Coalisland in County Tyrone. The family was living at Derry, Tullyniskane, Tyrone. Edward was husband to Maggie Hughes, of 67 Parkhead Rows, Bellshill, Scotland. Bothwell (Bellshill) Cemetery, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Bellshill WM
+SMYLIE, William McAlister Royal Irish Rifles, 12th Btn. Private. 6310. Died 17/12/1915. Larne. St Quen Communal Cemetery, France
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1916 +FOSTER, Robert Royal Engineers. Sapper. 64497. Died 17/12/1916 of wounds. Age 23. Training Centre (Newark). Born at Muckamore. He worked as a joiner and was a member of Thornhill LOL 651. Son of Margaret Foster and the late Robert Foster. Antrim New Cemetery. St Judes Parish Church, Muckamore WM, Antrim District Orange WM
1939 They served in HMS Exeter during WW2
BELL, Stanley AB. HMS Exeter. Became a prisoner of war aged 19. Hospitalised post-war in Freemantle. Father of Eileen Gary. Died 12/1994
CALDWELL, Robert In HMS Exeter at Battle of River Plate, off Uruguay.12/1939. Presented with a gold watch by the Young Men’s Institute when he returned on leave. Together with other members from Exeter, he was presented to Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Cowan St., Newry.
CHEYNE, Richard Warren RM. Corporal PLY/X2132. Enrolled 1937. Reported missing after loss of HMS Exeter in the Second Battle of the Java Sea 01/03/1942. PoW. He survived. He was one of three men from Bangor who were Japanese PoWs. Bangor Central PE School. Former member of 2nd Bangor Scout Troop. Son of Mrs. Cheyne, Belfast Rd., Bangor. First Bangor Presbyterian Church RH
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+FREEMAN, William Hugh RN. Blacksmith. HMS Leonian. Died 07/02/1944. Age 23. Joined the Royal Navy in the summer of 1938, serving on HMS Exeter. which played a heroic part in the battle with the ‘Pocket’ Battleship Graf Spee off the River Plate in December 1939. On the morning of 13th December, shortly after 6am AB Freeman was lying on deck when the order came for “action stations”. Distant guns flashed and soon HMS Exeter had received her first baptism of fire. Freeman was a member of the crew of one of the 4.7 inch guns that returned fire until the gun itself was disabled by a hit that killed and wounded many men, a piece of shrapnel cutting a hole in Billy’s cap and a slight cut to one hand. While serving on board HMS Exeter, Billy served with 14 men from Northern Ireland as well as men from the Republic of Ireland.
Prior to the war young William worked with his father as a Blacksmith and was a keen motor cyclist, having taken part in the Cookstown 100 motorcycle race in 1938.
He arrived home on leave on 02/03/1940 for 28 days to visit his parents in Cookstown. It is recorded that there were very enthusiastic scenes in Cookstown when he stepped of the bus from Belfast at the Transport Board’s parcel depot in William Street where he was surrounded by a large crowd of well-wishers. That evening he was met by the members of Killymoon and Derryloran bands and paraded to his home carried on the shoulders of some of his neighbours. There was much loud cheering and Billy Freeman was heard to say “I hope I live to see Hitler scuttle himself too”.<br>Son of William Hugh & Mary Freeman, Church Street, Cookstown. Husband to Iris Elvina Freeman, Devonport.
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Billy Freeman joined the Royal Navy in the summer of 1938. Cupuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta. Cookstown WM
MOFFATT, William J RN. Stoker First Class. In HMS Exeter at battle of River Plate. A presentation was made to him in Lisburn cinema at a midnight matinee in aid of Lisburn Navy, Army and Air Force Fund. (Lisburn Standard 15/03/1940). Son of Mr Thomas Moffatt.
THOMPSON, George CPO Stoker. HMS Exeter sinking in Java Sea. Japanese PoW. Limavady RNA. Castlerock. See this site - August 19, 2018
WITHERS, David HMS Exeter. Presentation made to him by local community in Killyleagh Castle. (Bangor Spectator 23/03/1940)
HMNZS ACHILLES
+SHIELDS, Francis Henry RM. Corporal. PO/X 653. Died 05/01/1943. Age 31. HMNZS Achilles. He had served 14 years. Son of James and Mary Ann Shields, Largymore, Lisburn. (Lisburn Standard 22/01/1943). Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 79. Lisburn WM
TRIMBLE, Samuel RM. Sergeant. CGM. On HMNZS Achilles acting as spotter for where the guns shells landed to correct range. During the Battle of the River Plate with the Graf Spee he won the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. “Stood fast without
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flinching or complaint throughout the hour of action that followed, bearing his wounds with great fortitude. When the Medical party came he helped them to move the (other) wounded and then made his own way to Sick Bay with little aid”
1940 +HARVEY, James RN. Chief Stoker. C/308315. Died 17/12/1940. Age 52. HM Boom vessel Thomas Connolly. Served in WW1.22 years service. Had been in Corps of Commissionaires at Belfast Ropeworks. Member of British Legion Naval Club. Cregagh, Husband to Margaret Harvey, Belfast. Son of Thomas James and Ellen Harvey. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 37. Family memorial, Milltown Cemetery, Belfast
+McKERNAN, William Hugh Johnston HMS Caroline. Chief Stoker. Died 17/12/1940. Served 1903 - 1924. Somaliland 1906, Persian Gulf, and Bosphorous. Shipwrecked twice. From 1924 - 39 he was caretaker of Ballymena YMCA. After recall he served six months in Devonport before posting to HMS Caroline.Son of James and Elisabeth McKernan; husband of Sarah Annie McKernan, of Ballymena. From Gracehill, Ballymena Methodist Church RH WW1. Gracehill Moravian churchyard
+PRICE, Ernest Edward RN. Leading Stoker. P/KX 78405. Date of Death: 17/12/1940. Age: 31. HMS Acheron. Son of Alfred George and Emma Jane Price; husband of Sarah Josephine Price, Loughinisland. Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.
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+McMEEKIN, John Royal Artillery, 9 A.A. Regt. 26 Bty. Gunner. 1487270. Died 26/08/1940. Age 30. Son of Patrick and Ann Jane McMeekin, of Ballymena. Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
1942 +BROWNE, Leonard RN. Able Seaman. D/SSX 20108. HMS Firedrake. Died 17/12/1942. Age 22. On the night of 16/12/1942, HMS Firedrake, an 'F' class Destroyer, was the escort leader to convoy ON153, with 43 ships bound for Canada. HMS Firedrake tracked a contact to about 5 miles south of the convoy, when at 2010 hrs she was hit by a torpedo fired by U-boat U211. The ship broke in two. The bow section sank immediately, with the stern just managing to stay afloat. HMS Sunflower, a Flower class Corvette, came as close as possible to HMS Firedrake in order to get the survivors off, but the weather was so bad and the sea too rough. There were 60 foot waves breaking over the two ships, which were bobbing about like corks, so the commanding officer of HMS Sunflower decided to stand by and hope the weather would get better. At about 0040 hrs on the 17th December, the weather worsened and HMS Firedrake’s bulkheads started to give way under the tremendous battering. The stern of HMS Firedrake started to sink, so the men had no option but to take to the water, and at 0045hr the stern sank. There were 168 of the Firedrake's crew lost. 27 were rescued. Son of William John and Kathleen Browne, Waterside, Londonderry. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 64
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+HESLOP, Thomas New Zealand Infantry, 21st Btn. Private. 64178. Died 17/12/1942. Second son of Alexander and Rachel Heslip. Born on 16/07/1912 in the district of Dungannon. He was one of at least six children, all born in the Clonavaddy area. They were a farming in Aghintober. Thomas emigrated to New Zealand. Prior to enlistment, Thomas was a farmer living at Cambridge Road, Tauranga, New Zealand. Tripoli War Cemetery, Tripoli. Tauranga WM
+HEWITT, Samuel Tweedy RAFVR. Flying Officer. Died 17/12/1942.103 Sqdn. This squadron saw service over Occupied Europe and it was in the course of one such mission that he died. Born in Lurgan on 18/03/1919. Son of Samuel Hewitt of Portadown Road. He was a pupil at Lurgan College from 01/09/1931 until 30/07/1937. One of his contributions to the school - the attractive mural of school life that used to adorn the wall of the History Room. Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark. Lurgan College RH.
1943 RAF BLACK THURSDAY
+Brown, John Thomas RAF. Flying Officer.156611. Died 17/12/1943. Aged 22. The RAF suffered heavy losses on the night of 16th-17th December 1943, known as "Black Thursday". Belfast-born John Thomas Brown was one of many losses. He was a navigator with RAF 97 (Pathfinder) Squadron on board Avro Lancaster JB243 OF-P. The London Gazette on 20th May 1943 listed Brown as a Pilot Officer on probation to be called up in an emergency. By 20/11/1943, he had received a promotion to Flying Officer. Brown’s plane came down
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near RAF Gravely, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire on the return leg of a pathfinder mission to Berlin, Germany. Severe weather across much of England, with heavy fog over airfields, resulted in many losses for the Royal Air Force. As well as the crew of which Brown was part, 4 other crews from RAF 97 Squadron resulted in 28 fatalities. All had taken off from RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire bound for Berlin. The other losses from RAF 97 Squadron that night were Duncan Forbes McKenzie’s crew in JB119, James Kirkwood’s crew in JB219, Ian Macdonald Scott’s crew in JB117, and Edward Thackway’s crew in JB176. Poor weather had closed in around Cambridgeshire so that landing at RAF Bourn was almost impossible. The RAF employed many techniques to get the bombers down safely. Still, they were unable to shift the fog or sufficiently illuminate runways. Some planes diverted to other nearby bases while others decided to wait out the weather.
JB243 was one of those that decided to wait. The plane ran out of fuel as they circled the airfield under the command of an extremely experienced pilot Ernest Alfred Deverill. On colliding with the ground, the plane burst into flames, leaving the sole survivor with severe burns. Son of Robert and Elsie May Brown of 51 Wandsworth Road, Belfast. Dundonald Cemetery
+GRAY, Stanley Nicholson RAFVR. Flight Lieutenant. 125739. Died on 17th December 1943, aged 24. 161 Sqdn. The 17th December 1943 was referred to in Bomber Command as “Black Thursday” due to the number of lives lost. Gray and his crew were on a Special Operations Executive sanctioned mission to France. Special Operations Executive flew several clandestine
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missions that night making use of RAF 138 Squadron and RAF 161 Squadron. Missions over occupied territory included dropping supplies and agents behind enemy lines. Gray was pilot of Mark V Handley Page Halifax DK206 MA- V. His crew was part of a Special Operations Executive sortie, Operation Wheelwright 50.
They took off from RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire. The destination was Angoulême, France. The crew returned early from the sortie due to high patchy rain, and thick ground fog over the target area. In the poor weather, the crew received no responses from Eureka beacons on the onboard Rebecca set. The fog hid signal lights and no S- Phone contacts were made.
Bound for a landing at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, the bomber came down at Tangham Forest near Capel St. Andrew, Suffolk at 0505hrs on 17th December 1943. Gray had attempted to take the plane beneath the cloud base, which had dropped to only 200 feet.
Of the 8 people on board, 3 died in the resulting crash. On board were 2 French Agents, both of whom escaped. Bofors gun operators at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk reported the crash near the south-east of the airfield.<br>Son of Hugh H. Gray and Martha Gray of Cooldarragh Pk., Belfast. Hugh was a linen manufacturer. Carnmoney Cemetery
1944 +MILLAR, William Cecil RAFVR. Leading Aircraftman. 1795872. Died 17/12/1944. 2724 Sqd RAF Regt. Son of Andrew Mcknight Millar and
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VETERAN
ALLISON, William Walter RAMC. Captain. Campbell College. QUB MB 1914. BCh, BAO. Lieutenant RAMC 01/06/1917. Captain 01/06/1918. Born 09/02/1887. Medical practitioner post-war. Son of Rev Robert and Louisa Allison, Kilbride Manse, Doagh. Died 17/12/1953.
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