Commander James F Trickey RD RNR

[Brett Hendey]

James Fred Trickey was my godfather and I first became aware of him at the age of about 5 or 6, when he returned to South Africa after having spent most of World War II serving overseas with the Royal Navy. He was a larger-than-life character and much admired by little boys like me and, I suspect, some adults as well. Not long after he was demobilised, he joined Safmarine, a newly established South African merchant marine company. He was appointed Captain and travelled the world for the next 20 years commanding Safmarine ships. Family myths and legends suggest that Trickey was somewhat eccentric and I suspect that he did not endear himself to his superiors at Safmarine. He received scant attention in 'Safmarine' by Brian Ingpen, the official company history.

James Trickey was born on 7 November 1908 in Sculcoates, East Riding, Yorkshire. He served in the Merchant Navy until 1938, when he settled in Durban, where he married and raised a family.

His World War II service was as follows:
15/1/1940 - Appointed Lieutenant, South African Seaward Defence Force.
31/1/1940 - Released to serve in the Royal Navy as Lieutenant, RNR. He
sailed to Britain on the Union Castle liner, 'Warwick Castle',
arriving at Southampton on 24/2/1940. He served continuously
on HM ships throughout the war.
29/4/1940 - Trickey's first posting was on the Class U submarine, HMS Unity,
and it was nearly his last because Unity was sunk in the North
Sea after colliding with the Norwegian ship, SS Atle Jari.
1940 - 1944 - Served in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean but details of
his postings are not known.
6/6/1944 - Lieutenant-Commander, HMS Hilary, "J" Force Headquarter's Ship
off Juno Beach.
23/6/1944 - HMS Hilary became Rear Admiral Vian's Flagship.
11/10/1944 - Discharged from RN and transfered to South African Naval
Forces (No. 330783), but remained seconded to the RN.
23/2/1945 - As Lieutenant-Commander, RNR, awarded RNR Decoration.
15/4/1945 - Acting Commander, RNR.
28/3/1946 - In South Africa serving at RN shorebase, HMS Kongoni, Durban.
15/10/1946 - Secondment to UK Forces terminated.
7/1/1947 - Indefinite release granted.

Although Trickey's war service was largely with the RN, his service medals were issued to him in South Africa as a member of the SANF and they are, therefore, officially named, unlike the medals issued to UK service personnel. His medals are:
39/45 Star, Atlantic Star (with France & Germany clasp), Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal, Africa Service Medal, RNR Decoration.
The fact that he did not qualify for the Defence Medal means that he spent most of his war service at sea.

Trickey's medals are a late issue with smaller impressed naming and it is possible that they were claimed by his widow and it is she who had the medals framed for display. The medals were certainly never mounted for wear and it is likely that, during his service with Safmarine, Trickey wore only medal ribbons on his uniform.

The frame with Trickey's medals now hangs in my study. I would be most grateful for any additional information readers might have about Trickey the man and his naval service.

The first picture below is copied from Brian Ingpen's book, 'Safmarine'.

[alanbenn]

Wonderful story Brett, he sounds like he was a real character and certainly a 'Matelot' through and through.

Thanks for posting such a great story.

Regards
Alan

[Brett Hendey]

Thanks for the continuing encouragement, Alan. I still hope to add something to the Trickey story.
Brett

[Blaydon]

It would certainly be interesting to fill in the 1940-44 gap in his record, as a yorkshire man I imagine him being frank and no sufferer of fools which may be what led to his safmarine troubles.

[Brett Hendey]

Kev
Judging from family stories about him, you are right about Trickey's Yorkshire personality!

I have copies of his South African service papers from the military archives in Pretoria but, unfortunately, his Royal Navy records are still sealed - for another 20-30 years I am told, so I wont be around to see them. Hopefully, his medals, and the file that goes with them, will still be cared for by someone, and more of his story will then be revealed.

Regards
Brett

[Blaydon]

I am sure that the records might be sealed for public viewing but you should be able to get them as long as you have a letter giving permission from the nearest surviving relative. If that is not you.

[benbow30]

Was YOUR James F Trickey AnY Relation to the Famous Frank who was a 1 badge Killick G.I. at Ganges in Jully 51 insructor to 9/12 classes.later reaching the Rank of Commander.
Benbow30

[harry.gibbon]

Great thread, love the MG article!!! and what a man to have as your God Father.

Little h

[Brett Hendey]

Kev
Thanks for the tip. I will follow it up.

Benbow
Not the same man, but perhaps a close relative. It seems there are some interesting genes in the Trickey family.

Little h
I actually saw very little of my godfather. Most of the information I have about him is secondhand. However, I will bet that my brothers and sisters don't know who their godfathers were!

Regards
Brett

[dennis a feary]

BRETT, to fill in RN Service gap for Tickey, find here his Submarine Service details from my records ;

TRICKEY James Fred. RNR. LIEUT.
H.50. 26. 9.38. TITANIA.
FOR DISPERSAL. 24. 2.40. DOLPHIN.
SPARE S/M OFFICER. 12. 3.40. ELFIN.
SPARE S/M O. UNITY. 1. 4.40. ELFIN.
SPARE. 30. 4.40. ELFIN.
H.31. D.T.B.R. ELFIN.
H.31. 31. 8.40. CYCLOPS.
PORPOISE. D.T.B.R. FORTH.
H.44 1ST LT. 25. 2.41. CYCLOPS.
GENERAL SERVICE. 3. 8.41. EYESIGHT DEFECT.
LIEUT. R.N.R. 14. 2.36.

Regards Sadsac

[dennis a feary]

After the sinking of HMS/m UNITY James Trickey was singled out for `special mention' by the Captain Lt. F.J Brooks for `his assistance and encouragement of ratings in difficuties in the sea'. This was particularly relevant as Lt. Trickey was unable to swim more than a few yards.

Sadsac

[Brett Hendey]

Sadsac

When I posted the account on James Trickey I hoped that someone might be able to provide further information on his RN service, so I am very grateful to you.

After Trickey returned to South Africa, he gave me the officer's cap that he was wearing when the Unity sank. The cap was a bit battered and the badge was green with verdigris, not gold. Later, when he joined Safmarine, he gave me the cap that he had worn as a Commander, RN, and took back the Unity cap - his favourite, good luck sea-going cap.

Regards
Brett

[dennis a feary]

Brett, pleased to have been of some little help.
Nice story re Trickey's cap - where is it now do you know ??
Sadly so many things / artefacts / books etc get thrown out / disguarded when the owner passes on & family have no interest in them.
Hence my posting of the HMS BOTLEA Thread, of which I managed to obtain the chaps photo album.

Sadsac

[Brett Hendey]

Sadsac

Both caps are now lost. I suspect the Unity one disintegrated with old age, while the Commander's one went missing with other household goods when my family moved from Cape Town to Durban 20 years ago. Crime is one of South Africa's main businesses.

I have noticed that while families tend to keep their ancestors medals because of their real or perceived value, other relics of military service end up on bonfires or in landfills. At a recent school reunion, I met the daughter of the OC of one of South Africa's World War II armoured regiments. This Colonel had a DSO, WWII service medals and others from his earlier service in the Indian Army. It transpired that his son "might have the medals", but everything else that represented the Colonel's military career was destroyed after he died. How sad!

Regards
Brett

[dennis a feary]

BRETT, `How sad' - quite agree if these people/relatives would only bundle them up and take them to local museum, even auction room, at least they would be preserved if only in bits. I have even had one man who was awarded the DSM his family left it laying around & another member who was `a little short' took it to local shop & sold it for £5 - a couple of pints !!
That was in New Zealand. Such story make one want to weep.

Cheers Brett. Sadsac

[HDCD]

I was very interested in this thread. James Trickey was my uncle and although I never met him I do have quite a bit of his family history. His forebears were Devon through and through (not Yorkshire) his father a sea captain, his grandfather part owner and captain of a three masted barguentine, his Uncle Thomas Smellie is captured in the book 'Arctic Command - The Story of Smellie of the Nascopie' by Roland Wild (a bit of a Boy's Own adventure story but interesting for those Trickey genes!) And my grandmother (James' mother) always suggested there was a family link to Sir Francis Drake. In my family research this has been like the big fish that got away - there is tantalising evidence to suggest this is true but never the final convincing document!

[Brett Hendey]

HDCD

Many thanks for revealing your family connection with James Trickey and giving details of his forebears. James' children were still living in South Africa a few years ago and there are also several grandchildren. There is, however, a great deal of emigration from this country, so some (or all) may now be abroad.

Regards
Brett

[HDCD]

I believe James had three children and would be interested to hear news of them. However, I do appreciate that your forum is not a family history forum but a naval forum.

[Brett Hendey]

HDCD
Sorry, I am not in touch with any of them

Brett

[HDCD]

Many thanks Brett. It has been interesting reading your account of James and learning something of this branch of the family. You may be interested to know that James' grandfather lost his life at sea when the SS 'Westbourne'
sank just off Theodosia, Russia. Thomas Smellie, who married James' father's sister (therefore only uncle by marriage) opened up the commercial North West passage on his icebreaker 'Nascopie' whilst working for the Hudson Bay company (lots of information and photgraphs on the internet on this ship and events). James' father sailed for the 'Harrison Line' out of Liverpool, as did another Uncle also called James. So Merchant shipping was definitely in his blood.
Thanks again, HDCD

[Brett Hendey]

HDCD

The Trickey family deserves a book featuring them! My last contact with the Durban branch of the family was many years ago and there is no longer a Trickey listed in the telephone directory.

Brett

[Lynn Trickey]

Hi Guys

I am James Trickey's granddaughter. How amazing to find all this information about him.

I have all my grandmothers letters that she wrote to her mother during the war.

The reason why i joined this forum, was to try and find out more about James Trickey's carreer in the RN.

I would be most grateful for any information you may have on him. Also I would be most happy to supply any information i have on him to you.

[Brett Hendey]

Hi Lynn

I was very pleased to read your post. I had hoped a close family member would respond to my first post and it was disappointing when that didn't happen. However, better late than never ......

I will send you a pm.

Regards
Brett

[fulcrum]

In reply to Benbow30. Sub Lieut Frank Trickey was on my first ship Cavalier. He was such a formidable character, larger than life. I was doing a management course at Whale Island years later – he was then a Commander and the commanding officer. What a man.

[davidrn]

Hello Brett, A nice group as they are SA and named. I have a ERII with the WWII medals, I have quite a lot of paperwork but being un-named I can only call them attributed.
Hope you find what you are looking for.

Regards Dave

[Lynn Trickey]

We dont know who Frank is.

if he is in his 60/70's, he may be the nephew of James.

Is it possible to to let me have some more information.

My father was the first member of his family not to go to sea in 700 years!