MINGAY, Dennis


No.C/JX 355338, Able Seaman, Dennis MINGAY
Aged 20


H.M.S. "Penelope", R.N.V.R.
Killed in Action on Friday, 18th February 1944


Dennis Mingay was born on 13th September 1923 (Bury St Edmunds Q4-1923 4A:1521), son of William J and Annie MINGAY (née RANSON).

Royal Navy records have his date of birth as 13th September 1923, in Bury St Edmunds, CWGC have his age as 19. The only place his surname is MINGEY is on the memorial

In the 1939 register none of the family have been identified


HMS Penelope was an Arethusa class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 October 1935, and commissioned 13 November 1936. She was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat near Naples on 18 February 1944. On wartime service with Force "K", she was holed so many times by bomb fragments that she acquired the nickname "HMS Pepperpot". In fact she was damaged by enemy action on very many occasions and once even spent time in the USA for repairs

On 18 February 1944, HMS "Penelope", under the command of Captain G D Belben, was leaving Naples to return to the Anzio area when she was torpedoed at 40.55 N 13.25 E by the German submarine U-410 under the command of Horst-Arno Fenski. A torpedo struck her in the aft engine room and was followed sixteen minutes later by another torpedo that hit in the aft boiler room, immediately sinking her. 417 of the crew, including the captain, went down with the ship; 206 survived.




Dennis Mingay is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial 75:3

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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