Post War Death

[gardener]

Hi everyone out there..

after all the info received about the last enquiry my wife has a very loose thread up for investigation .. It is about a relative who was killed when the ship he was on hit a mine just outside the harbour at RHODES, this was just after the war and we believe that hostilities had ceased. The ratings name was (jackie ? )Gallaghar, possibly he was a radio man ? He shouldnt have been aboard at the time but was covering for a mate who was ashore on a date..As all of the relatives are now dead we dont know the name of the ship,but our thinking is that any ship lost to a mine should have been logged some where shouldnt it ? Any further info i can find out will be posted here.
Many thanks for any help.
gardener

[John Brown]

Hi Gardener

Off hand I can't recall hearing of a ship being mined, post war, off Rhodes. That doesn't mean to say, of course, that it didn't happen.

I am wondering however if you are actually referring to what became known as 'The Corfu Incident'. On 22nd October 1946 the destroyers HMS Saumarez and HMS Volage were both damaged by mines in the Corfu Channel between the Greek island of Corfu and Albania. There was loss of life on the ships and the Albanians were held responsible for mining the channel and told to pay compensation.

No guarantees this is the incident in question but it might be worth researching a little further especially as it should be well documented on the net.


Good luck ..........John

[Stan.J]

I sent a post yesterday but it seems to have disappeared..
Enoch Gallagher D/JX724465 Telegraphist. Killed when H.M.S.Saumarez struck a mine in the Corfu Channel 22/10.46

[Batstiger]

Hi Gardener.

I have a couple of pictures and a small account in reference to the HMS Saumaraz incident if they are of any use to you.

Bob.

[Batstiger]

Here are the other ships involved in the Unfortunate incident.

HMS Leander.
HMS Mauritius.
HMS Volage.

I believe to this day Great Britain was never recompensed for the incident.

Bob.

[stewart mcloughlin]

Ships history at:-
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-54S-Saumarez.htm

Casualty list at:-
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1946-09SEP.htm

Tuesday, 22 October 1946

Saumarez, destroyer, mined in Corfu Channel off Albania
ATKINSON, Bernard, Leading Radio Mechanic, C/MX 658647, killed
BECKETT, Lauriston B, Cook (S), D/MX 750559, killed
BRIFFA, Victor E A, Act/Steward, E/LX 667166, killed
BUTCHER, Donald G, Stoker 2c, C/KX 779246, killed
EDWARDS, William A D, Writer, D/MX 738317, killed
EVA, Stanley J, Leading Cook, D/MX 53041, DOW
FISHER, Robert, Able Seaman, D/JX 655048, killed
FORD, William J N, Engine Room Artificer 5c, D/MX 93556, killed
FRANCIS, Vernon, Able Seaman, D/JX 709105, killed
GALLAHAR, Enoch J, Telegraphist, D/JX 724465, killed
GERMAN, Raymond, Able Seaman, D/JX 708935, killed
GOODE, Trevor W J, Stoker 1c, P/KX 763125, killed
HALL, Francis R, Telegraphist, D/JX 711742, killed
HOLMES, Norman, Able Seaman, D/JX 642544, killed
KITT, William J H, Leading Stoker, D/KX 98204, killed
LEWIS, John, Able Seaman, P/JX 632719, killed
LLEWELYN, Frederick E, Able Seaman, D/JX 769885, killed
LOCK, Samuel F, Stores Petty Officer, P/MX 59959, killed
MALLIA, Francis X, Assistant Cook (O), E/LX 77952, killed
MORRIS, Ronald, Cook (S), D/MX 750902, killed
MUNN, Reginald H, Petty Officer Writer, D/MX 58072, killed
PARSONS, Ernest W, Chief Petty Officer, D/JX 125562, killed
PINE, William H, Stoker Petty Officer, D/KX 90676, killed
ROSS, William P J, Able Seaman, D/JX 650092, killed
SCHOLES, Frank M, Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist, D/J 112746, killed
SPEIGHT, Gordon, Ordinary Telegraphist, P/JX 745538, killed
STAERCK, Walter J, Able Seaman, D/JX 709285, killed
WILSON, Henry J R T, Leading Telegraphist, D/JX 245788, killed
WINTER, Brian J, Leading Radio Mechanic, P/MX 742378, killed
WINTERBOTTOM, Sam, Able Seaman, D/XX 729949, killed

Volage, destroyer, in company with Saumarez, mined in Corfu Channel off Albania
BROOM, Harry G, Leading Stoker, P/KX 92073, killed
CHANNELL, Archibald J, Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 88770, killed
KEETON, Cyril, Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 78483, DOW
KNOTT, Joseph, Petty Officer, P/JX 161869, killed
LOCHLIN, James L A, Stoker 2c, D/KX 786732, killed
MILLSON, William E, Engine Room Artificer 3c, P/MX 55187, killed
PRICE, Horace G, Act/Sub Lieutenant (E), RNVR, killed
TAYLOR, Cyril J, Stoker 2c, P/KX 784766, killed

Wednesday, 23 October 1946

Saumarez, mining

BEVAN, Leslie O, Stoker 1c, D/KX 98551, DOW
DEBATTISTA, Antonio, Leading Steward, E/LX 23209, DOW
HALES, Gordon H, Able Seaman, D/JX 652361, DOW
SAYERS, William H, Leading Stoker, D/SKX 86, DOW

Thursday, 24 October 1946
Saumarez, mining

WEAVER, John, Leading Seaman, D/JX 150227, DOW

Monday, 4 November 1946
Saumarez, mining

ZARB, Salvatore, Petty Officer Cook, E/LX 20225, DOW

Commonwealth War Grave Commemoration at:-

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2479581
Name: GALLAHAR, ENOCH JOHN
Initials: E J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Telegraphist
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Saumarez
Age: 19
Date of Death: 22/10/1946
Service No: D/JX 724465
Additional information: Son of John and Ada Annie Gallahar, of Marston Green, Warwickshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 96, Column 1.
Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

NOTE SPELLING OF SURNAME

Stewart McLoughlin

[John Brown]

A memorial stone in the British Cemetery Corfu....


Regrds...John