HMS Laforey Survivors

[HogHedge]

Hi,

I believe one of my rellies served on the HMS Laforey in WW2 but there is some confusion in the family about this. I have a photo of him so if there are any surviving crew members who could take a look at at it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[herakles]

I can't answer your question I'm afraid but I was struck by the name Laforey. Is it a place? A meaningful word or something? Anyone know?

[John Brown]

Herakles

I am not certain but I suspect the Laforey was named after one of the Laforey family that came to Britain from France in the late 1600s. Sir John Laforey 1729-1796 who was a 1st Baronet and Admiral with a distinguished career in the RN is my bet. However, he did have a son called Francis who also became an Admiral.

If you find out any more, let us know.

regards...John

[herakles]

Thanks for that John. I'll see what I can find out.

[The Sailor]

The name commemorates the service of Sir Francis Laforey, (1767 - 1835) who was Captain of HMS SPARTIATE during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.


HMS LAFOREY (March 29, 1944)

Destroyer of 1,935 tons sunk by the U-233 (Gerlach) while carrying out a routine anti-submarine sweep off Palermo, Sicily. After a twenty hour chase and twenty-two separate depth charge attacks, the U-233 survived by diving to a depth of 772 feet. Surfacing after being submerged for twenty-five hours the U233 made another attempt to escape but before doing so managed to fire three torpedoes at the Laforey. The torpedoes struck with such force that the Laforey blew up. Of her crew, a total of 189 men were killed, only 69 survived.





Here is a great photo of the ship that I found.

[tonclass]

Sailor, can I suggest that anyone who states they have a 'Great Photo' of a pic, and posts it, could they make sure it's of a decent size ? To reproduce your pic on a bog-standard 6"x4" print is a waste of time. Please make sure they are of, at least, 1024 pixels wide.
Not a complaint, mearly an observation my Antipodean chum.
Attached is a bigger version for comparison..................
Rgds
Rik (moderator)

[The Sailor]

I'm glad it isn't a complaint Ton. Because if I say I think it is a great photo everyone can take it or leave it.
On this forum if anyone does a kindness for anyone it is a rarity. I certainly don't need to be criticised for any help I gladly give.
In fact I find your post from a 'senior' and a moderator hard to believe.

I guess I should apologise to you here for taking the time to search the net for photos of Ham class minesweepers for your earlier request yesterday. All I could find was sub standard one. Sorry.

[tonclass]

Sailor, please don't take offence. I run witha 19" monitor and all these pix that get posted look like postage stamps to me. I guess I'm just a fussy felt at heart ;-)
Don't stop posting, as you've broadened our horizons no-end with your info.
Rgds
Rik

[herakles]

thanks or answering my query about the name Laforey Sailor. Anyone who took part in Trafalgar deserves later recognition.

Pic sizes are a bit of a problem due to the restrictions the site puts on us when we want to add an attachment.

Are there different restrictions in the Gallery? There certainly should be. I mean we can't have people adding 3Mb pics to the forum but there should be scope to post a rather bigger one than in one's post. These thumbnail pics are the very devil to see properly.

[John Enright]

I'm a new member so not sure if I am doing this right - anyway- My uncle was
killed on HMS Laforey and I have some memorabilia that I am putting together as a story of the sea battle that sank the Lafory. What I don't have is a photo of U-223 that sank her. I have the history of the u-boat as well as photos of the captain and the engineer but not the boat itself. Can anyone help on this?


The name commemorates the service of Sir Francis Laforey, (1767 - 1835) who was Captain of HMS SPARTIATE during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.


HMS LAFOREY (March 29, 1944)

Destroyer of 1,935 tons sunk by the U-233 (Gerlach) while carrying out a routine anti-submarine sweep off Palermo, Sicily. After a twenty hour chase and twenty-two separate depth charge attacks, the U-233 survived by diving to a depth of 772 feet. Surfacing after being submerged for twenty-five hours the U233 made another attempt to escape but before doing so managed to fire three torpedoes at the Laforey. The torpedoes struck with such force that the Laforey blew up. Of her crew, a total of 189 men were killed, only 69 survived.





Here is a great photo of the ship that I found.

[John Enright]

I'm a new member so not sure if I am doing this right - anyway- My uncle was
killed on HMS Laforey and I have some memorabilia that I am putting together as a story of the sea battle that sank the Lafory. What I don't have is a photo of U-223 that sank her. I have the history of the u-boat as well as photos of the captain and the engineer but not the boat itself. Can anyone help on this?



Blackstairs My Uncle's name was Richard (Dick) Keane. He came from Ireland He was a Leading Stoker. The ship was blown up and sank in minutes. In our village we are putting together a commemoration for all those killed in the war from this area. All I am missing is a photo of U223. I notice in other stories and quotes that the U-Boat is referred to as U233 but it is in fact U-223 There has to be a photo of it somewhere but my search has been negative so far

[rimbo]

I'm a new member so not sure if I am doing this right - anyway- My uncle was
killed on HMS Laforey and I have some memorabilia that I am putting together as a story of the sea battle that sank the Lafory. What I don't have is a photo of U-223 that sank her. I have the history of the u-boat as well as photos of the captain and the engineer but not the boat itself. Can anyone help on this?



This is the only one i could find sorry it's so small.

[John Brown]

This is the only one i could find sorry it's so small.

Ron

Sorry to disagree but that picture actually shows U-251 and is often captioned as 'a u-boat similar to U-223'. I have attached a bigger example of the same picture together with U-251s emblem which can be seen on the conning tower. I have also attached another photo of the same boat.

Sorry I can't help on U-223.


Regards...John

[rimbo]

Ron

Sorry to disagree but that picture actually shows U-251 and is often captioned as 'a u-boat similar to U-223'. I have attached a bigger example of the same picture together with U-251s emblem which can be seen on the conning tower. I have also attached another photo of the same boat.

Sorry I can't help on U-223.


Regards...John

That's OK John, don't do u boats usually, so i'll stick with destroyers.Hope John Enright reads this and as some luck with his search.

[John Enright]

Great try lads and I appreciate the effort and thanks for the photo. I will use it and caption it as same class U-Boat as U223. It came just in time as I have an exhibition on Thursday with various memorabilia and I can now at least be specifiic. The story of U-223 is a very interesting one as i have quotes and story from the U-Boat Engineer of its last battle in sinking laforey Thanks again Ron and John. John Enright

[John Dann]

I can't answer your question I'm afraid but I was struck by the name Laforey. Is it a place? A meaningful word or something? Anyone know?

You may have this information already -but if you look at the following site -all will be revealed about this ship. www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-40L-Laforey.htm -

[Chris_Reed]

My father, Able Seaman Harold "Blood" Reed survived the sinking of HMS Laforey. He told us many tales of the experience and reaching Italy afterwards, but sadly no more as he died in 1999 (on his 87th birthday). One detail I do remember was that his hair was soaked in oil as he floated and awaited rescue and when he landed the oil set. When he eventually had it cut, it fell off as a single clump (he said it cost him 5 Mars bars - the local currency).
Anyone else out there related to other survivors who might remember Harold?