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HMS Kent 1926-1948 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

HMS Kent 1926-1948

Posts 1 to 50

I am looking for anyone who may have served or knows someone who served on HMS KENT in WW2. My father John LAKE served as a Royal Marine on the Kent. Regards, Richard Lake

I was just wondering whether you know if HMS Kent's home port was actually in Kent i.e Chatham? I have actually joined this forum to trace my grandfather's (on the meternal side) Naval history but I had a great Uncle (on the paternal side)called John Henry Lake -known as Jack (His father was also John Henry) who lived in the Medway towns. We know he had family and any sons would have been the right age to have served in the second World War. Jack himself had been a soldier but other mebers of the family were connected with the sea. The likelihood of there being a connection I know is fairly remote but possible. Jack had broken off contact with his family when his wife died (there was obviously a reason for this) and therfore I have no records of any names.

HMS Kent was based at Chatham during ww2. My Father served on her from 1942 until 1944. He was a Petty officer sick berth attendant. While browsing this forum i came across `Reindeer sub` which reminded me that my late father has photos of a Reindeer on board HMS Kent when she was on the Russian convoys. According to a little poem obviously written by a member of the crew, the reindeer was offloaded on Orkney.

Following my posts re HMS Exmoor, I thought this may be of interest. I came across it whilst sorting paperwork belonging to my late mother.
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Thanks a lot for that Blackshuck - most interesting and very much appreciated. This is a photo of HMS Kent a couple of years before the tour...
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[QUOTE=richardlake;212]I am looking for anyone who may have served or knows someone who served on HMS KENT in WW2. My father John LAKE served as a Royal Marine on the Kent. Regards, Richard Lake[/QUOTE] hi my father served on the kent as a marine too from 1937 to 1949 his name was sid kennedy, hope this helps,regards,andy.

Richardlake posted his only post in Aug 2007. He hasn`t come back, so he obviously won`t know there has been some answers? (Unless of course he contacted via Personal post???

[QUOTE=Stan.J;16424]Richardlake posted his only post in Aug 2007. He hasn`t come back, so he obviously won`t know there has been some answers? (Unless of course he contacted via Personal post???[/QUOTE] I always think it's such a shame when people post asking for information, people give what they can, but never know whether their answers have been read. cissy x

[QUOTE=cissystar650;16458]I always think it's such a shame when people post asking for information, people give what they can, but never know whether their answers have been read. [/QUOTE] It's particularly annoying when people who do still visit and post to the forum do not bother to acknowledge the efforts of others on their behalf.:mad: Regards...John

Couldn`t agree more John. Still the way I look at it is that one appreciative comment from someone we have helped in someway is worth ten of the sort you so correctly describe...

Terry, I believe that is the way to think about it, but it is still galling that people are not polite enough to acknowledgethe information given in response to their request.

I do agree David - but it is my way of keeping positive about it!

Hello, My Grandfather John Williams served on HMS Kent in WWII. I have a picture of him dated Dec 1942 (he is in the back right), his two companions are unkown. Picture is attached. If anyone recognises the other two please let me know!
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I have a photo of HMS Kent Ship's Company, including my father William Thompson Kerr of Belfast. He served from 1939 to 1959, retiring with the rank of Lieut Commander. Would anyone know the date and place of this photo? It looks official. Maybe you can spot your relative. Dad's 2 up from the left hand side capstan.
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Hello Allan, Good photo of Kent's crew. As there seems to be quite a few pics of the ships crews mustered, I was wondering if there is a formal layout of the crews which they all follow, it would make it easier to find individuals. My uncle(dad's brother), served on Kent, as his first commission, on leaving HMS Ganges, back in the early thirties, 1931 I think, 2 years or so to the far east. Regards Vern.

Hi Alan, I agree that is a brilliant photograph!

My father was a stoker on HMS Kent, James Ellis. I have posted a couple of photos and stories in the Arctic Convoys Thread. Alan, I grew up with the same photograph of the ships company on the wall. It must have been taken towards the end of the war, or just after. Kenco, I remember my father telling me about the Reindeer, he had to clean up after it. He said it made quite a mess. HMS Kent spent a good deal of time at Scapa Flow, and had a re-fit on the Clyde. While this was taking place, my father met my Mother, she came from Glasgow. My Mother used to tease my father, saying that the only action he ever saw was on Sockeyhall Street, Saturday Night! The Glasgow Constables used to escort the crew members back to the ship after the pubs had closed. Another of my father’s stories was about the Kent steaming into a Norwegian Fjord. He said they went in doing about 10 knots, but came out at twice that speed, as the German Shore Batteries had caught them in the Fjord and opened fire on them. The Captain made an announcement to say, “Well done, we will do a better job next time”. I am lucky enough to have the original signal sent back to the home fleet by the Captain, reporting this action. I have attached a copy for those interested. I also have some photographs of sailors being buried in Russia, they must have been HMS Kent Crew, I can’t think of any other reason why my father would have kept them. Wombat, (James).
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Hello James, my father-in-law, Taylor McCall served aboard the Kent as P.O.from 30th June 1938 till Jan 1st 1941. Among his service papers I found a "roll of honour" dedicated to the 33 souls who were killed in action on 17th Sept. 1940. I wondered if you had any info about what happened that day and which ships were involved. Ted came back to Pembroke 1st Jan 41 and immediately joined the Suffolk and was involved in the skirmish with the Bismark.any info gratefully received. kind regards Gordon.

Hello Gordon, Sorry I don’t have any information that would relate to your father-in-law. The only things I do have are the ships Battle Honours: ATLANTIC 1940 MEDDETERANIAN 1940 ARCTIC 1942-43 NORMANDY 1944 Your father-in-law would have been involved with the first two. I can remember my father telling me that HMS Kent had been attacked in the Mediterranean by Italian bombers, and the ship sustained casualties, but I don’t have any further information. I am sure there will be other members following this thread that could help. I am like you, I am only just learning about what my father actually did during the war. Like so many children of my generation my father went to work in the dark, and came home in the dark. The only time we saw him was at the weekend, and as children we had other things to do rather than sit and listen to war stories, (which my father very rarely told in any case). Its only as you get older you wish you had taken the time to ask more questions. The only time my father took any interest in what we were up to, was when the “Local Bobby” brought you home by the ear, with the threat, “wait until your dad finds out what you’ve been up to!” My father was only 17 yrs old when he joined the Navy, and was posted to HMS Kent. I know that he was on the Russian Front. It’s sad that it has taken me so long to realize all the crap he had to put up with, and he never complained. My son was still in school when he was 18 yrs old. I have attached two old photographs that my father had, taken in Russia. They were taken at a funeral for sailors who had lost their lives on the Artic Convoy and were buried in Russia. There is also another telegram, received by HMS Kent and dated, 4.5.45. Wombat, James.
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James, thank you for that,it looks like a bleak, desolate place to have a burial for our heros , I suppose "needs must" under the circumstances. Sounds like you had the same kind of upbringing as I did and having researched both of our family histories(wife's and mine) I agree with your sentiment...why didn't we ask all of the questions we want answered now,when they were all here ??? My own link to the R.N. comes from the fact my own father transfered out of the royal artillery into the R.N. in 1941. He was at the training establishment at Dartmouth before doing atlantic escort duties on destroyers.I have two photos which he took, one of the Beagle and one of the Bulldog as they made their way to liberate the channel islands. once again thank you for your reply kind regards gordon.

Interesting reading about the various links to HMS Kent, was quite interested in the last post by Gordon agan where he mentioned the photos of HMS Bulldog and Beagle on their way to liberate the Channel Islands, a point to note was that when the ships arrived off Guernsey, a German rep. from the German Commander Admiral Huffmier (ardent nazi) warned the ships that the ceasefire was not until 0000hrs and that their presence meant they could be fired upon by the German shore batteries, the British commander, Brigader Snow, decided it was better to withdraw but only after telling the German naval officer to tell Admiral Huffmier that if his ships were fired upon they would hang him tomorrow, by all accounts the German officer was somewhat shaken by this comment. So whereas Europe celebrates VE day on the 8th May, we in the Channel Islands celebrate it on the 9th as the Royal Navy returned to moor outside St Peter Port at 0230hrs, the surrender was finally signed in the early hours and the British task force landed to liberate the Islands after 5 years of occupation May 9th is still celebrated as Liberation day and is a public holiday with many events taking place.

Terry, Here is a photo of HMS Kent 1762. That puts it a couple of years before yours! :D:D:D:D Actually it is a model of course card dated 5th Aug 1930. (Sorry);) Wombat, (James)
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Has to be said James it is indeed a fine model.

hello all, I wonder if anyone on this forum can help with this, My late father -in-law served aboard H.M.S.. Kent from June 1938 to Dec.1941 as acting P.O.amongst his papers is a roll of honour for 32 men who were killed in action Sept.30th 1940.I understand this battle was at a place called Bahia or Baria can anyone enlighten me as to where Bahia is and what were the circumstances regarding this loss. many thanks and kind regards. gordon

Kent took part in the air-strikes and bombardment of Bardia on Sept 9th and on 17th Sept was torpedoed and disabled. On Sept 30th she was on her way to Simonstown from Alexandria. Perhaps there is a mix up on the dates ??? regards gerry

Gerry, thank you for that and of course you are right it was the 17th Sept.I was reading two documents and got the dates mixed.Regards gordon.

James, very interested in your photo`s of a sailor`s funeral in ' Russia',as I have the exact photo`s in my late father`s album in somewhat better condition in which he relates as the funeral of BOB CRESSWELL. However these are a series of 5 photo`s among others taken by my father while stationed at HMS Baldur, shore establishment of Nissen huts in Iceland. Therefore I do believe that the funeral is actually in Iceland. My father also served on HMS Kent on the Arctic convoys. I will gladly post the photos but I cannot find how to upload them, can you help please. I also have other photos relevant to HMS Kent. many thanks. Kenco.

K To post your photos click on "Manage Attachments", this is under the reply box you are typing in. Click on first "Browse", open your file where photos are ie MY PICTURES, select photo and click "Select". Click on second "Browse" ad repeat for your second photo. Repeat until you have selected all photos. Click on "Upload File" On completion of this you can click "Preview Post" and your photos should appear as thumbnails. Look forward to seeing them Regards gerry

Kenco, Please persevere with posting your pictures; I was very interested to hear about your father’s album. I didn't know that my father had ever been to Iceland, he mostly only talked about Russia. I am now puzzled as to how he came by the photographs, and why he kept them all those years. Do you know anything about "Bob Creswell"? I don't recall ever having heard his name. There also appears to be more than one person being buried at the same time, but obviously the photographs I have are in very poor condition and not very clear. Please post everything you know, there are a few of us trying to fill in some of the gaps in family history. As stated we always leave it too late. It doesn't matter how insignificant you may think your information is, there is always someone who will be glad to hear it, and make a connection as you have done for me with the photographs. I now know that my father must have been to Iceland. I don’t know where this photograph was taken but my father was a stoker (front left) and the insignia being worn would suggest they were all part of the same engine room crew on HMS Kent. My father would have been around 20 years old at the time. Wombat, (James)
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Gordon, the story of KENT's torpedoing taken from ub.net: 17 Sep, 1940 British raid on Benghazi; Aircraft from the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. D.W. Boyd, DSC, RN) attacked Italian ships in Benghazi harbour. Also mines were laid off the harbour. The destroyer Borea was sunk by torpedo, The destroyer Aquilone was mined and sunk. The merchants Gloria Stella (5490 GRT) and Maria Eugenia (4702 GRT) were also sunk during the attack. Illustrious was escorted by the British battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) the British heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN), the British light cruisers HMS Liverpool (Capt. P.A. Read, RN) HMS Gloucester (Capt. H.A. Rowley, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN) and the British destroyers HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN) and the Australian destroyer HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RAN). After the attack HMS Kent, escorted by HMS Nubian and HMS Mohawk, was detached to bombard Italian positions at Bardia early on the 18th. However before this could materialise HMS Kent was torpedoed and heavily damaged by Italian torpedo bombers (two S.79 of 278th Squadriglia Aerosiluranti: pilot lieutenant Guido Robone is Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia) just before midnight. Kent was hit in the stern and badly damaged. Kent was towed to Alexandria by HMS Nubian, escorted by light cruiser HMS Orion, AA cruiser HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN) and destroyers HMS Mohawk, HMS Jervis, HMS Juno (Cdr. W.E. Wilson, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN) and the Australian destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN). HMS Kent arrived at Alexandria early on the 19th. Emergency repairs were carried out and Kent departed for the UK (around Africa) on 26 October 1940. Kent arrived at Plymouth on 27 December. Repairs were completed in September 1941.

I can't find Bob Cresswell in the Admiralty casualty records, which suggests that Bob was a nickname or he wasn't RN.

David, Bob is short for Robert. Wombat, (James).

Thank you Gerry for help with uploading photos, I am well past my use by date and am unfamiliar with using forums,but here goes with a bit of luck. Now for James I have found two extra photos relating to Bob Cresswell`s funeral which shows the Icelandic flag inside the church which leaves me in no doubt that the photo`s were in fact taken in Iceland. The original photo`s were taken by my Father, PO SBA John Herd who developed and printed his own photo`s so I assume that he made copies for other people. In fact I have found other examples of copies on the BBC WW11.website. On a lighter note I will upload a couple of reindeer pics which your father had to clean up after it. If I am successful I will scan a few more of his photo`s. cheers, Kenco. Success, but my thumbnails look rather big ! are they OK ? if not perhaps I need more advice.
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Kenco, Thanks for the excellent photo's, they are as you say in much better condition than the couple I have. Your father must have known mine, I expect the SBA would have known everybody on the ship. Did your father have previous service? If you have any stories about his time on HMS Kent, I am sure we would enjoy hearing them, I know I would. Thanks again, Wombat, (James).

James, so pleased you managed to view my photos. in answer to your query about my father`s service record. He was I believe RNVR as he would go to Plymouth for two weeks training every year before the war. He was called up in Sept.39 as Leading sba. At first stationed at the RM infirmary,Deal, Kent. His first ship was Hms London,then Kent and finally Swiftsure.Demobbed 1945. I have attached a few items of interest, a xmas menu,an ode to "olga" and a snippet I found on the web about Kent ship`s bell. Also I will give you a link which has 15 photos of kent on arctic convoys and another which you may know about which lists the complete history of Kent`s campaigns along with dates. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/31/a8003431.shtml[/url] [url]http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CA-Kent.htm[/url] I will endeavour to scan a few more photos relevant to Kent shortly. May I use my christian name? 'Ken'. I find these user names very impersonal. cheers.
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Ken, Your Father may have been on board H.M.S.Swiftsure when she was the first Capital ship to enter Hong Kong harbour on the 30th August 1945. She was flying the flag of Admiral Harcourt and was there to take the surrender of the Japanese of the Colony. The war had been over for two weeks but the reception of the Swiftsure was of unknown quality. As it turned out no shots were fired and the surrender took place.

Hello Ken, Thank you for the pictures and links, this will certainly go into my fathers history, and be treasured and kept for family reference. James.

[QUOTE=historydavid;34079]I can't find Bob Cresswell in the Admiralty casualty records, which suggests that Bob was a nickname or he wasn't RN.[/QUOTE] David, I have looked again on the reverse side of photos and 'Bob Cresswell' written by my father could possibly be 'CrOsswell'. I am sure my father would have known him personally to refer to him as 'Bob', and to take the trouble to photograph the coffin and funeral. Also would the union flag be draped over the coffin of non service personnel ? Would his relatives be informed that he was buried in such a desolate place ? regards, Ken. Kenco.

Re funeral `Bob Cresswell,` I too have searched the records at Fossvogur cemetery, Iceland and can find no record of that name, therefore I must conclude that my father made a mistake when he wrote that name on the back of the photos. I attach the remaining photos that I have relevant to Hms Kent and regret that I have no further Items or anecdotes of interest, The photo of Anthony Eden has been posted on the BBC ww2 website as a cropped copy,another case of copies being handed out to whoever wanted them.Other photos that I have relate to Hms Swiftsure and Hms London. Which I assume have to be posted elsewhere.( Any advice gladly received ) I found a snippet somewhere on the web regarding Kent ship`s bell. this is a shortened version QUOTE: There is a ceremony in Rochester Cathedral every Saturday morning at 11 A.M. The ship's bell of the 8" cruiser Hms Kent. (County Class) is in the Rochester Cathedral and preceding a short ceremony 8 bells are sounded on the bell. From time to time various veterans of the wartime crew attend the ceremony, as occasionally have members of the present ship's company.END. ( 8 bells at 11am ? ) not when I was in the RN.! Thanks to all of you for your interest and advice. Ken.
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What a great thing. My dad's uncle Ron Willmott was a Petty Officer aboard the Kent on her tour of the Far East. I have a fantastic leather bound photo album from the tour - mainly pictures of the sights although there is an 8"x10" of the Kent herself and one of the crew on parade somewhere.

Rob, welcome to the forum. I'm sure your post will interest many who would love to see the photo of the crew from that tour and also the photo of the ship...they are the 2 most common things our members ask for. Any chance you could upload a few photo's from the album? Regards Alan

Hi Alan I'll have a go. The pictures are all stuck in the album but with a bit of jiggery pokery, I should be able to balance it on my scanner. If not, I'll get my digital camera on the go. Cheers Rob

Ken, I have been in touch with Miss Hayley Williams at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who was very helpful. This is the only Creswell they have listed who was burried in Iceland. [COLOR="Blue"]Able Seaman CRESSWELL, ELIJAH JAMES Unit: H.M.S. Kent. Regiment: Royal Navy Service No: C/JX 277806 Age: 34 Date of Death: 27 January 1944 Commemoration: AKUREYRI CEMETERY Iceland Mil. Plot. Row B. Grave 9. Additional Information: Son of Elijah and Ethel A. Cresswell. of Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Location: Akureyri Cemetery lies high up on a hillside, near the head of the Eyjafjordur overlooking the fjord. The graves are to be found in Plot H 15, the military plot, in the north east corner. Historical: Iceland was under Allied occupation for much of the Second World War, primarily to guard against possible German invasion, but the considerable air and naval forces based there also provided an important link in the defensive chain across the Atlantic for the protection of shipping. Commonwealth land forces were relieved by the Americans in October 1942, but the naval and air force presence was maintained until 1945. Akureyri Cemetery contains 17 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.[/COLOR] I don't know if this is the right chap, but it could well be. "Bob" could have been some sort of nick name. Regards, Wombat, (James).

Hello James, Thank you very much for taking the trouble to try and locate ("Bob") Elija Cresswell`s grave. It certainly does seem possible that this is the right man as nicknames are very common in the services, also as my father was in the medical branch he may have nursed him during an illness thereby getting personally involved.That would account as to why he photographed the funeral. All this of course is pure conjecture but I would like to think that it is a satisfactory explanation of a very sad event even though it happened many years ago. Thanks again, Ken.

Hi Rob I just picked up your post re the Kent and I wondered if you had any luck with uploading the pictures yet ? regards Alan

Hello all, for your interest here is photo of Kent that my aunt had on her wall. My uncle's first commission was aboard Kent to China in early thirties. Regards Vern

Whoops, got that wrong, try again.
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Vern Great shot of Kent leaving Malta. I find it strange that so many photos of 1930 vintage show ships leaving harbour with awnings spread. Certainly in the 60s this was not so when I was in the med. Awnings were spread only at anchor or berthing. Anyone else noticed this ?? Regards gerry

[QUOTE=SCRG1970;53906]Vern Great shot of Kent leaving Malta. I find it strange that so many photos of 1930 vintage show ships leaving harbour with awnings spread. Certainly in the 60s this was not so when I was in the med. Awnings were spread only at anchor or berthing. Anyone else noticed this ?? Regards gerry[/QUOTE] YES!!! and I have noticed it was the practice for a good while later than that, however our colleagues must have an answer for it??? Little h

What lovely photos to be able to look at! my grandad richard (dickie) Pexton served on HMS kent. I have photos of the reindeer (olgar) and various others but I am really trying to find anyone who may have any stories or memories of him. I would love to be able to find someone who knew him. I live in chatham in Kent now too so it would be amazing to find a link to my dear Grandad who i sadly will never get to explore his past with. Any help I would be glad of. Thank you Lara

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