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  1. #1
    taffy2
    Guest

    Default Missing in action, HMS Gloucester 1941

    Hi all.
    I'm looking for information IE place and date of birth, i have found him on the Plymouth Naval memorial.(panel 49. Col 3.)
    He is
    Thomas.
    Donald.
    Ord seaman, Royal navy.
    Ship. HMS Gloucester.
    service number. D/JX 157798.
    His date of death is given as 22/05/1941. When his ship was sunk off Crete.
    His mother was Bessie Discombe Annie Anderson/Dean / Thomas. Dob 21/4/1896,Cardiff?, as far as i know she had two husbands. Henry Dean died of wounds on 10/5/1918. France.
    Im not sure if she married Mr Thomas.
    Any information would be greatfully received.

  2. #2
    Procat
    Guest

    Default

    He does have a Death Certificate which can be purchased from the GRO. I don't know if it would he helpful from the point of view of his age however. You need to select the option for Overseas events:

    Name: THOMAS, Donald
    Ship or unit:Gloucester
    Rank:Ordinary Seaman
    Year: 1941
    Volume : 10
    Page: 3840

    There is a possible birth:

    Name: Donald Thomas
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Anderson
    Date of registration: Dec QTR 1922
    Registration district: Cardiff
    Inferred County: Glamorganshire
    Volume Number: 11a
    Page Number: 638

  3. #3
    IanStockbridge
    Guest

    Default

    Thought you may be interested in this regarding HMS GLOUCESTER.

    GLOUCESTER
    British Cruiser
    Royal Navy from 1939 to 1941
    Southampton (Town Group II) class Pendant number 62
    Technical data:
    Built by H. M. Dockyard, Devonport, Plymouth January 1939
    Job No. Ordered 02/03/1936 Laid down 22/09/1936 Launched 19/10/1937 Completed 31/01/1939 Commissioned 27/01/1939
    Engine information:
    4 Steam Turbine Parsons S.R. Gearing Boilers 82,500 Shp by Scott's Shipbuilding & Eng Co Ltd., Greenock Speed 32.5 knots
    Original dimensions:
    591.50 x 62.25
    Displacement, Standard 9,400

    Equipment:
    Prime Armament 12-6in.(4x3), 8-4in.(4x2), 4-3pdr., 8-2pdr.AA.(2x4), guns.
    Other Armament 6-21in.(2x3), T.T.; 2-aircraft; 7-depthcharges.


    Remarks

    27.1.1939: Commissioned as the cruiser HMS GLOUCESTER (62) for the Royal Navy at HM Naval Base, Devonport.
    1.1939: Assigned to 4th Cruiser Squadron, East Indies Fleet. Flagship C-in-C.
    18.11.1939: With Free French sloop RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY left Colombo to search for German armoured ship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE.
    1.5.1940: Assigned to South Atlantic Command, based at Simonstown.
    26.5.1940: Assigned to 7th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet, based at Alexandria.
    12.6.1940: Bombarded Tobruk. Sank Italian auxilliary minesweeper GIOVANNI BERTI.
    8.7.1940: Damaged in bomb attack by Italian aircraft. Bridge hit; CO and 17 crew killed.
    9.7.1940: Battle of Calabria. Struck by unexploded bomb. Assigned to 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
    25.11.1940: Assigned to 7th Cruiser Squadron.
    11.1.1941: Attacked by German Ju 87 dive-bombers. Unexploded bomb went through the DCT. Nine killed, 14 wounded.
    28.3.1941: Fired on by Italian cruisers. With Force B, but held up by engine problems.
    28.3.1941: Fired on, but not hit, by Italian battleship VITTORIO VENETO. Destroyer HMS HASTY laid protecting smoke screen.
    20.4.1941: Bombarded Tripoliarea in support of the withdrawal of 8th Army.
    30.4.1941: Bombed in Malta Harbour. Unexploded bomb passed out through hull on port side below waterline.
    5.5.1941: Escorted convoy to Alexandria, Operation 'Tiger'.
    22.5.1941: Bombed by German aircraft. Hit by three bombs causing internal explosions. Sank nine miles off Pori Island.
    22.5.1941: Only 82 survivors. CO Cpt H A Rowley and 692 men lost.

  4. #4
    taffy2
    Guest

    Default

    Thank you for your most useful replies.
    Donald (Donny) Was my cousin, thought he died before i was born. The year of birth seems right as i was told he was either 18 or 19 at his death.
    I have only just started researching this branch of the family, it seems strange that he had two older siblings and two younger. One of his younger sisters has the surname of Dean, yet her supposed father died in 1918 and she was born in either 1925 or 1926.??
    I feel a mystery starting

  5. #5
    Name well known on Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    4,863

    Default

    Hello
    Diary of HMS Gloucester
    https://www.
    naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Gloucester.htm

    Further reading
    https://news.
    bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/281741.stm

    Interesting that the CWGC doesnot indicate whose son he is!


    From www dot Freebmd.org.uk
    This may possibly be Donald's mother
    Bessie Discom A Anderson Apr-May-Jun 1896 Cardiff Vol 11a Page 387

    Marriage
    Bessie D A Anderson
    George H Dean
    Jan-Feb-Mar 1917
    Cardiff Vol 11a Page 408

  6. #6
    taffy2
    Guest

    Default

    Thank you .
    Sorry for the delay, ive been playing with those sites you gave me, fantastic. Ive managed to track down her five children. now i have to get their certifacates to prove there mine .
    I cant find any marrage to a mr Thomas though.And it seems strange that her youngest daughter Vera (CDF 11a 748) Was given the surname of her deceased husband who was killed 8 years prior. More might come out when i get the birth cert.
    Thank you once again for that freebmd site.

  7. #7
    Name well known on Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    4,863

    Default

    Play away, like most of us you will find this becomes very addictive!

    Remember when researching that WW2 changed things for a lot of people, divorce wasn't as we know it a copuple og months and your free. Herberts Divorce Act 1937 was introduced to accomodate war 'widows'.
    It is unlikely, if she wasn't a widow that you will find any divorce papers, they will most probably have been lost....then if a widow re married she may have lost any pension entitlement! Life goes on!!!!! maybe your skeleton in the cupboard

    In the UK certificates are ordered from:www dot gro.gov.uk
    This site will advise what you can expect to find on them : www dot direct.gov.uk select Government citizens & rights

    www dot familysearch.org for parish records, census information all worldwide etc.

    others genuki.org.uk

    Enjoy

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