HMS Gloucester

[peter frisby]

hi everybody,i`m pete and i have joined the forum to see if anybody can help me in my quest .i am trying to trace my family tree and unfortunatley my dads parents did not get round to tying the knot in fact they threw the rope away shortly after conception . i know my grandads surname was buxton funnily enough from buxton and from the only photograph i`ve got of him is of him in sailors outfit with hms gloucester dated 1919 .does anybody have or know how i can get the crew members list . thanking you in antiscipation .

[spruso]

Hi All,

Here is a photo of HMS Gloucester sent to me by a survivor many years ago. it was only a small photo so it is not all that clear. Anyone have an idea where it would have been taken?
Cheers
Bruce

[astraltrader]

It sort of looks like the West Indies. Bermuda?

[CYLLA]

TERRY,
it may be "FREEPORT" the bahamas,before it got well built up.....


CYLLA

[astraltrader]

Even more likely!

[spruso]

Thanks Gents,
Here is a copy of Bob's photo of GLOUCESTER entering Malta which I colorized using color photo references. Hope you like it.
Cheers
Bruce

[Joseph]

Not sure, but she's a Flagship would that close it down. Bruce thats a work of art.

Regards Charles

[Batstiger]

You've made a nice job of that Bruce, well done!

Bob.

[Brett Hendey]

The sinking of HMS Gloucester by the Luftwaffe on 22 May 1941 during the Battle of Crete was a major disaster for the Royal Navy. Of the ship's company of over 800, only 85 survived. There were 30 seconded South Africans on board the Gloucester of whom 26 were lost. The sinking of the Gloucester has been well documented, one of the best accounts being that by Ken Otter, entitled 'HMS GLOUCESTER The Untold Story' (Pic 1 below). This book gives comprehensive coverage of the action and includes many personal anecdotes. Picture 2 below is from the book and shows the German record of the sinking. Pictures 3 and 4 are of the pages that list the South African casualties.

One of the South African casualties was Acting Leading Seaman Cyril Arthur Mitford Stokoe RNVR (SA), who had been born in Durban on 16 April 1914 and who was employed as Secretary of the Merthyr Coalmine at Waschbank in northern Natal. Stokoe had served in the RNVR (SA) in the 1930's and returned for service on 11 December 1939. He was seconded to the Royal Navy on 18 February 1940 and posted to HMS Gloucester on 1 May 1940. His next of kin was his mother, Ivy Kathleen Stokoe (born Smith), who was informed on 3 June 1941 that her son was missing in action. He was presumed dead on 24 May 1945 (Pic 6 below). His medals (39/45 Star, Africa Star, War Medal, Africa Service Medal) were sent to his mother in 1952 (Pic 5 below), and are one tangible reminder of his service and sacrifice.

Stokoe is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 58, Column 3).

[alanbenn]

Brett, I am thoroughly enjoying these stories you are posting, we do tend to forget that many commonwealth personel were serving aboard some of our ships as well as those from their own Navies.

Keep on posting them, they are fascinating to read.

Regards
Alan

[spruso]

Very interesting. My dad was on HMAS Perth at the time and knew a few blokes on Gloucester. Were there any Australians lost in the sinking?
Cheers
Bruce

[chris westwood]

Brett, I am thoroughly enjoying these stories you are posting, we do tend to forget that many commonwealth personel were serving aboard some of our ships as well as those from their own Navies.

Keep on posting them, they are fascinating to read.

Regards
Alan
ther war cemetary at Suda Bay, Crete is testament to what you say. It is one of the most emotional expriences I have had. The cemetary slopes down to the bay and you get the impression that the people are still waiting to be evacuated.
Unforgettable

[Brett Hendey]

Alan
Many thanks for your encouraging response. I have a few more posts to make and then I hope there will be more from other South Africans.

Bruce
There were no Australians on the Gloucester - at least, not identified as such on the rolls. The only 'foreigners' were Maltese and South Africans. The reason that so many South Africans served on RN ships during WWII was that, initially at least, South Africa had no navy to speak of - only small ships such as trawlers converted to minesweepers. I wrote elsewhere that when South Africans like Stokoe enlisted, they expected to be seconded to the Royal Navy and welcomed it. At that time, much of South Africa, and especially Natal, was very loyal to Britain and the Empire. Political changes in the 1950's and 1990's changed all that.

Chris
Ken Otter's book tells of the involvement of Greeks in the aftermath of the sinking. They were very courageous and helpful and the Gloucester, and other elements of the Battle of Crete, are remembered to this day.

Brett

[spruso]

Hi,

Anyone know where I can find the movements of HMS Gloucester on the East Indies Station before WW2.

Cheers
Bruce

[navalis]

GLOUCESTER commissioned 27.01.1939
Sailed Plymouth 15.3.1939 for 4th Cruiser Squadron East Indies

via Gibraltar - Malta - transited Suez 28.04 - Aden - Arrived Colombo 14.05.1939.

Seychelles 09.06 - 12.06
Farquahar Islands 15.06
Dar-es-Salaam 17.06 - 27.06
Zanzibar 27.06 - 05.07
Mombasa 06.07 - 25.07
Aden 31.07 - 10.08
Colombo 18.08 - 25.08
Aden 29.08 - 01.09
Mombasa 09.09 and 15.09 - 17.09
Aden 22.09 - 26.09
Aden 02.10 - 05.10
Masirah (Oman) 05.10
then to Colombo 11.10.39

above taken from 'Fleet Air Arm aircraft, units, ships 1920-1939'

[spruso]

Thank you for that info
Cheers
Bruce

[spruso]

Hi All,

Here is a photo of HMS Gloucester sent to me by a survivor many years ago. it was only a small photo so it is not all that clear. Anyone have an idea where it would have been taken?
Cheers
Bruce

Have looked into GLOUCESTER"S movements pre war. She did not visit the West Indies but operated on the East Indies Station. I think I have narrowed this photo to two places. Either Kildini Harbour Mombasa, or Dar es Salaam.

Anyone like to help out.

Cheers
Bruce

[Graham Barnes]

Hello,

I believe this thread might be misleading the original poster, as his HMS GLOUCESTER was a TOWN-, or BRISTOL-class light cruiser launched in 1909, and had no relationship--other than name--operationally to the GLOUCESTER lost off Crete in 1941, AFAIK.

The cruiser sunk in WWII was launched in 1937, or 18 years after the photo mentioned by Peter Frisby.

[spruso]

Yes you're right. Maybe the mod. could move this to the RN CRUISERS - 'Post-1925' section or wherever he feels is appropriate.
Cheers
BC

[astraltrader]

Point taken gentlemen but as the original poster only ever visited the forum the once back in January 2008 I am leaning towards just letting it stay as it is.

After all every other post refers to the more recent cruiser! :)