HMS President 111

[Pete53]

I have found that the HMS President 111 my ancestor was killed on was not a ship but a shore base near London. what I am wanting to know is how to find the ship Herbert Brearey, P/JX 290005, who was killed on the 6th July 1942 was on and any information about this vessel.
Any information would be appreciated or how to proceed in my search.
Many thanks

[Lesley Robertson]

His entry on the CWGC website says HMS President III. There’s a good chance that the base was bombed, especially since he is listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial so was either not identified or not found.

It would be worth checking the newspapers of that week.

OTOH there are posts on the Great War Forum saying that President III was the accounting base for the naval gunners on Defensively Armed Merchant Ships, and they would not necessarily have been there. The problem is that the MOD has not yet released WW2 records, so I still think that newspapers may be your best bet. You have the date, so look for merchant ships being sunk.

PS Welcome to the British Genealogy Forum!

[Pete53]

Hi Lesley
The information I have on a list,Folio No.000426 mentions Herbert as A/A.B, was killed at sea, cause of death given as a number 2 what ever that indicates.If this is of any use.
Will arrange in the mean time to access library records

[Pete53]

Hi Lesley
Thank you will look through local papers at the library

[elsinore]

Findmypast has a record of Herbert Brearey's death which has ( SS Hero ) after HMS President III.
(British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials). His death is recorded as 'at sea'.

The website Wrecksite has an entry for an SS Hero which was torpedoed and sunk on 6th July 1942, the same date as Herbert's death.

Peter

[Pete53]

Hi Peter

Thank you for that I will look this up, it will fill in the gaps I have

Peter

[Lesley Robertson]

That matches with other entries on the Great War Forum. Other people with losses from President III were being referred to other ships with references to “Admiralty Deaths”.