ALLEN, Arthur Edmond


No.C/JX 149039, Telegraphist, Arthur Edmond ALLEN
Aged 23


HMS Dasher, Royal Navy
Died in seaborne incident on 27th March 1943


Arthur Edmond Allen was born in 1920 (2nd qtr 1920 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:2019) son of Percy M and Bessie ALLEN (née SPALDING). In the 1939 register it appears his parents were at The Manor Bungalow, Abberton, Essex, his father head gardener ( 1 closed record)


HMS Dasher was originally a passenger/crgo ship built in Pennsylvania, named the RIO DE JANEIRO. Requisitioned by the US Navy she was converted by a lightweight wooden flight deck into an aircraft carrier. As such she was transferred in July 1942 to the Royal Navy as HMS Dasher. She took part in the TORCH landings in Tunisia.
She was approaching the Clyde, carrying out flying exercises with her 2 squadrons 816 and 891 ready for a night torpedo attack against the Tirpitz. At 4:40 pm there was a tremendous explosion, such that the ship's two ton aircraft lift flew 60 feet into the air. The ship began to sink and rescue ships raced to the scene. Sadly 379 men of the 528 aboard perished, many escaping the ship but dying of hypoethermia or as a result of the burning fuel on the water. This was kept secret from the public until 1945 when there was brief mention of the incident in The Times. Even in 2021 there is conjecture as to the location of the grave(s) of many of those bodies recovered or washed ashore.




photo CWGC

Arthur Allen is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial 71:1

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


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