No.C/JX126522, Petty Officer, Walter Edward STEWARD
Aged 32
|
Walter Edward Steward was born in Barnham (Thetford Q3-1910 4A:317) son of George Frederick and Alice Sophie STEWARD (née CLARKE) .
In the 1911 census he was 7 months old, at Church Lane, Barnham, with his father George STEWARD [30] brick maker born Little Livermere; his mother Alice [30]; sisters Alice F [8] and Ruby [1]; brothers Harry [6], Arthur [5], and John [4]. All except his father were born in Barnham He married Alice Maud OXLAND in Sutton on Plym, Plymouth in 1936. His parents were at 8 Euston Road, Barnham in 1939 with his uncle Frederick. His wife's address in 1939 has not been identified. Her address from CWGC was Elland, Yorkshire |
|
H.M.S. "Avenger" was an Escort Carrier, a converted merchantman. Originally laid down as "Rio-Hudson" she was converted in the USA and commissioned by the
Royal Navy on 2nd March 1942. She could carry 15 aircraft, which could be a mixture of Grumman Martlet or Hawker Sea Hurricane fighter or Fairey Swordfish
torpedo bombers. In fact she was chosen to carry out the initial deck landing trials for the Sea Hurricane. After her sinking and that of HMS DASHER,
modifications were ordered to this class of ship as to stowage of petrol and bombs to improve safety standards
After taking part in Operation Torch landings of North Africa in November 1942, she left Gibraltar on 14th November 1942 with convoy MKF 1 on 14 November, heading home to the Clyde in Scotland. At 03:05 on the 15th November, Avenger was torpedoed by U-155. She was hit on the port side amidships, which in turn ignited her bomb room, blowing out the centre section of the ship. Her bow and stern sections rose in the air and sunk within 2 minutes in position 36-15'N, 07-45'W, leaving only 12 survivors out of a crew of 504. As with all WW2 men, medal entitlements are only a surmise at this stage, unless relatives have specific information. This HMS Avenger had no crest, that came later in 1976 for a frigate of that name. photo: Nelson to Vanguard: Warship Development 1923-1945.   photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
