No.C/JX 151660, Able Seaman, Reginald Charles FRENCH
Aged 22
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Very likely to be Reginald Charles French was born in Cavendish (Sudbury Q3-1920 4A:1861), son of Charles William and Ethel Annie FRENCH (née WELLS). Confusion here as that marriage cannot be found, only Charles W FRENCH to Ethel A PLUMB in 1919 (Sudbury 4a:2397). His age is apparently incorrect on CWGC by six years. It may be his mother Ethel A FRENCH [14-3-1894] at 5 Middleton Road, Sudbury in the 1939 register. She is entered as married, with Edward L FRENCH [15-8-1922] single, matting factory packer. More confusion as his birth registration cannot be identified. nor the whereabouts of Mr FRENCH. Certainly help from relatives will be necessary to sort this out. His photo here (from http://www.sudburysuffolk.co.uk/ww2/profile.asp?id=584) with the cap band for Ganges indicates he was a boy entrant in the Navy and trained at HMS Ganges, the shore base at Shotley |
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HMS Veteran was an Admiralty modified W-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy.Commissioned 13th November 1919.Pennant No was D-72 until
1920 and then I-72 She was stationed off the east coast of USA on convoy defence between US and Canada to Newfoundland. Nominated for a special convoy RB1, she sailed with HMS Vanoc on the 16th September 1942. On 23 September 1942, Convoy RB1 was sighted by U-380 and U-boat Group Blitz was ordered to attack. Groups Vorwarts and Pfiel were also directed against RB1. On the 25th the SS Boston and SS New York were sunk and the convoy scattered. On 26 September the convoy was ordered to reform and HMS Veteran came across the survivors of the SS New York. While she was picking up some of the survivors HMS Veteran was hit by two torpedoes from U-404. HMS Veteran sank quickly in position 54.51N 23.04W south of Iceland after an explosion. All hands, as well as a number of survivors from the SS New York were lost. Other survivors from SS New York were later rescued. U-404 was sunk in the Atlantic in July 1943 by two USAF Liberator aircraft and an RAF Liberator from 224 Squadron. None of the submarine crew survived. photo © I.W.M. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205141622 photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
