Page Owner Jean Strange
Please make contact using our form with your information 

The Union Jack flag with 109 tallies stitched on it, including HMS Galatea, as shown on the right (third up from the left on the flag).  These pictures were kindly donated by Tim Nelson who purchased the flag in an antique sale.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
H.M.S. Galatea was one of four ships of the Arethusa Light Cruiser Class; the other three were Arethusa, Aurora and Penelope:

Despite their weaknesses this class gave good service in European waters.  The Arethusa Class was similar to Perth but was without the 'X' turret and they were an attempt to build a useful but smallest possible cruiser.  An unfortunate feature of the substantial box protection was that the 4in HA guns were a considerable distance from their magazines.  Between 1940 and 1941 the aircraft and associated catapults were removed.  The 4in Mk Vs were replaced by four twin Mk XVIs in Galatea in December 1940 and in Arethusa in September 1941.  All had two quadruple 2 pounder pompoms in 1940 to 1941 replaced by two 40mm quadruple Bofors in Arethusa in 1943 to 1944; finally these were replaced with eight to eleven 20mm Bofors.

HMS Galatea in the Grand Canal, Venice

Galatea saw much war service as she had taken part in the Norwegian campaign  and the evacuation of the British army from France in May/June 1940; she also took part in rounding up the Bismark.  A detailed account of the ship's history was found on www.warships.net which is nolonger active on the internet; the content is reproduced below:
"Galatea was a cruiser of the "Arethusa" class, built and engined by Scotts of Greenock and authorised in the 1932 naval building programme. She was laid down on 2nd June 1933, launched on 9th August 1934 and completed on 14th August 1935. Her armament consisted of six 6" and four 4" guns and she carried two triple revolving 21" torpedo tubes. Of 5,220 tons standard displacement, her overall dimensions were length 506 feet, breadth 51 feet and draught 15.75 feet. She had turbines which gave a designed hp of 64,000 to equal 32.5 knots, although a mean speed of 33.1 knots was achieved on her acceptance trials.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 she was serving with the Mediterranean Fleet, where she remained until March 1940. She returned to the UK and joined the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow on 4th March. From 21st to 23rd March she took part with the Squadron and eight destroyers of the Home Fleet in a sweep - called Operation DU - into the Skagerrak. In April she took part in Norwegian operations and although bombed, was not damaged.

On 10th May, with HMS Arethusa, she arrived at Ymuiden, Holland, to escort three merchant ships which were to carry gold bullion from there, to Southend, England. They left on 11th May.

On Sunday, 14th May the on-board concert party "The Racketeers" presented a show for the ships company.  It is with thanks to John Mitchell, son of Wilfred Mitchell that we are able to show a picture of the musicians (see Mitchell on the Roll of Honour below) and to present for you a copy from an original programme; the quality is not good but here it is.  And here is another programme that the "Racketeers" gave on H.S. Atlantis with a cartoon, this one is undated.

On 26th May she bombarded positions at Calais and formed part of the covering force for Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.

Towards the end of June HMS Galatea brought home the British Ambassador to France and the Ministers for Canada and South Africa from Bordeaux, arriving at Plymouth on 24th June.

During July and August she was based on the River Humber and early in September she sailed for Sheerness. On 7th September bombs fell close during an air raid, and on the 9th September a mine exploded close under the starboard bow, near the Tongue Buoy. She was out of action for four months. including a refit at Chatham, Kent.

On 20th January 1941, after the repairs and refit, HMS Galatea arrived at Scapa Flow and on 26th sailed with HMS Nelson, and a number of other ships to carry out a sweep for the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisnau which were assumed to have passed through the Great Belt on 23rd. She returned to Scapa on 30th January in company with HMS Arethusa. On 8th February she sailed again, with HMS Aurora and others to search for an enemy warship which had been sighted by HMS Ramillies, returning on 13th.

On 23rd March, and again on 5th April Galatea left Scapa Flow with HMS Aurora to cover minelaying operations off Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and on 13th April, she left again with Arethusa for Seydisfjord for a reconnaisance of the Iclelandic harbours. On 19th both cruisers sailed for a patrol between the Faroes and Iceland after a report that the German battleship Bismarck was at sea. She continued patrolling this area until the middle of May.

On 22nd May 1941 she left Scapa Flow with HMS King George the Fifth (KGV) and others to watch for Bismarck and Prinz Eugen which were reported to have left Bergen, Norway, and she continued with operations until Bismarck was sunk on 27th May, when she arrived at Reykjavik with HMS Prince of Wales. On 29th June she left the Clyde as part of the escort for convoy WS9B en route to join the Mediterranean Fleet via the Cape of Good Hope. She arrived at Alexandria in mid-August and joined the 15th Cruiser Squadron.

At the end of the month she took part in Operation Treacle, which was the relief of the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade at Tobruk by the Polish Brigade, after which she returned to Alexandria covering HMS Phoebe which had been hit by an aircraft launched torpedo off Bardia.

In the middle of September, Galatea was sent with HMS Naiad to reinforce HMS Coventry and others in the Red Sea. On the night of 20/21st October 1941, along with Ajax and Hobart, she bombarded an enemy battery east of Tobruk.

On 21st November, she left Alexandria with the Mediterranean Battle Fleet for Operation Landmark which was support for the Libya offensive. On 6th December she left Alexandria again, with HMAS Hobart and others to join the commissioned supply ship Breconshire and escort her to Alexandria."

All this activity was eventually to come to an end on 14th December 1941.

Source: Naval Historical Branch - 'The Admiralty Regrets - British Warship Losses of the 20th Century', Paul Kemp

U-557 - A German Type VIIC Submarine
It had a displacement of 749 tons, its dimensions were 220ft 2in x 20ft 4in x 15ft 9in. It had two shafts powered by two diesels plus two electric motors developing 1,400b.h.p and providing a top speed of 17 knots on the surface and 7.6 knots submerged.  Its armament was five 533mm TT (4 bow and 1 stern), one 88mm C35 and one 20mm C30.  It had a complement of 44 officers and ratings.

The keel was laid down 6 Jan 1940 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg; commissioned 13 Feb 1941 by Oblt. Ottokar Paulshen.  Its Commander from Feb 1941 to December 1941 was Kplt. Ottokar Paulshen.  The boat's career was 3 patrols in 1941:
February to May 1st Flotilla (Kiel)
May to November 1st Flotilla (Kiel/Brest) front boat
December 29th Flotilla (La Spezia) front boat
(A full diary of its actions is recorded in U-BOAT OPERATIONS OF THE 2ND WORLD WAR, Volume 2: Career Histories, U511-UIT25 by Kenneth Wynn)

Its successes were recorded as 7 ships sunk for a total of 36,949 tons including Galatea.

THAT FATEFUL NIGHT

U-557 left Messina for operations in the Eastern Mediterranean on 9 December 1941 and patrolled in the area between Alexandria and Tobruk.

Meanwhile, Galatea was under the command of Captain E.W.B. Sim as a unit of the 15th Cruiser Squadron; Force B was returning to Alexandria from an unsuccessful search for Italian convoys going to Benghazi.  On the night of 14th December 1941 Galatea was attacked by German dive bombers; the attacks persisted for about seven hours. Just before midnight, when north west of Alexandria, Galatea became a target for U-557 which hit her with two torpedoes in quick succession.  The cruiser turned over and sank in three minutes, this is reported variously as being at 31deg 12 min (or 17min) N, 29deg 15min E.  Captain Sim, 22 officers and 447 ratings were killed.  About 100 survivors were picked up by the destroyers Griffin and Hotspur.

U-557 headed back to reach the base of the 23rd flotilla Salamis.  At 18:06 on 16 December it gave a short radio signal that she was 18 hours before the port and the crew were no doubt still congratulating itself after having sunk a British Cruiser.

It so happened that on the same day, at 18:00, the Italian motor torpedo boat Orione left the port of Suda on Crete. The commander was unaware that a German U-boat was in the area of Crete. When he saw a submarine at 21:44, heading in a northerly direction, he decided to ram it supposing it to be British.  U-557 sank immediately with all hands (43) lost in the position as given by the Italian Commander of 35deg 33min N, 23deg 14min E; that is on the 16th parallel west of Phalasarna on Crete.

During investigation of the incident it was realized that the message about U-557 had reached the Italian Navy at 22:00 or later. 

A theory has been put forward that Galatea sank so fast because the Captain had given permission for bulkhead doors to be opened.  He was possibly convinced his ship was safe, being close to Alexandria, and as there had not been any reports of hostile craft in the area. - this has not been proven.

A report of the sinking was filed by Reuters, I am sorry but I do not know who that reporter was nor the source of the article - it was just a newspaper cutting that was given to us. It is a fairly graphic account - Click Here

A second report, another graphic eye-witness account, was reported in The News of The World newspaper (date not known but was probably early January 1942) by Mr. Larry Allen, Associated Press, war correspondent - Click Here

We have received a letter written by one of the survivors of that night, to read it Click Here

THE ROLL OF HONOUR
The Roll of Honour was published in the The Times newspaper on 12th February 1942 - the leader read, "The Board of Admiralty regrets to announce the following casualties sustained in H.M.S. Galatea, the loss of which was announced in January last.  Next of kin have been notified:-"

We have a copy of the newspaper page and would be delighted to consult it for anyone with an interest, please contact my wife (Jean Strange) for details using the link at the top of this page.

The reason for our interest in Galatea is that a William (Billy) ROGERS, the late brother of my mother-in-law, was one of those lost on that December night in 1941.  My wife Jean would be delighted to hear from anyone connected with the ship, especially from any survivors or their relatives.

Where links are shown from the names in the information they point to photographs or more details

We have found out about the following men who lost their lives on Galatea; for most we are in communication with, or aware of, a relative and ask you to get in touch if you would like to link up with them:

ANDERSON, Alexander Massy, War Correspondent Reuters  
website: http://www.newseum.org/scripts/Journalists/nameBrowse.asp
ALLEN, James Leslie., A.B. D/JX162744 (known as Barney) Joined up at 15 years of age. In contact with nephews and great nephew.
ARSCOTT, Ralph Fernley, Sto.1 from Dartington, Devon.  There is a plaque to his memory in Dartington church  He had two sisters: Joan & Viola, plus a brother Victor. Contact is Victor's son.
ASHBY, Sydney F., P.O. Writer (TY) C/MX58100. In contact with two cousins.  Sydney was also known in the family as Harry.
BARMAN, William E.R.A. D/mx74258 Aged 23 years from Barrow in Furness.
Contact cousin.
BICKERSTAFFE, Edmund, PY/X100083 Royal Marine, aged 24.  He was engaged to be married to a friend of his sister, she remained a family friend until she died in 2004.  The family were from Hull.  In contact with great-nephew.
BOULTER, Lionel George T/A/Gnr (T) R.N., Aged 40 years. Contacted by grandson; family from Gloucestershire. There was a service held for Mr. Boulter and the Captain at a small village in Gloucestershire.
BOWLES, Walter Benjamin Sto.P.O., C/K61589 Aged 39. Contacted by his Son.
BRINKWORTH, David, Sto. 1 D/KX95099 from Grangetown, Cardiff aged 21 years.  In contact with a great-niece and also a nephew who has in his possession a poem, which he believed was written onboard entitled "When the British Lion Roars" It is signed HMS Galatea 7/9/40.  Please email for a copy.
BROWNE, Bertie Cecil, Sto.1, D/KX108551 aged 20 years from Norwich.  Contacted by his great-nephew.
BULFORD, Mervyn A.B., D/JX152320 Aged 18 years from Fraddon.  In contact with his niece.
BURCH, Albert Edward Wedlock E.R.A. D/MX48707  Aged 26. He left a wife and 2 children, he was originally from Plymouth.  In contact with his grandson.
CHAPPLE, Courtney John, A/Elect. Art.4  D/MX62312 Aged 23 years from Plymouth.  In contact with his cousin's daughter.
CHINNER, Richard, PLY/X3617 Royal Marine.  Aged 18 from St. Just, Cornwall.  He had only been in the Marines for 6 weeks; one of 12 siblings, in contact with a niece.
CHILTON, Robert (Bobby) Stoker KX101216, 55 Mess.  Joined the Navy in January 1941, he died aged 24 leaving a wife and son aged 8 months.  Contacted by his son who was sent copies of letters and a picture of Galatea left him by his grandparents.  Robert had been a painter in the employ of Colne Corporation, Lancashire; he had been connected with the Holy Trinity Church Colne and was a member of the Colne Rescue squad.
CLARK, Fred James, Ldg.Sto. D/KX81331  Aged 30 years from Bedminster, Bristol.
In contact with his Grand-Nephew: Steve who lives in Bankok.  Fred's niece contacted us after Steve(her Grandson) had told her about the website.  She has a photo of Fred at Weymouth when the fleet was in to celebrate the jubilee of the old King George and Queen Mary. She remembers standing on Fred's shoulders watching the King and Queen in their open carriage.
CLARKE, Frederick Charles, Leading Stoker (A/Sto P.O.) (Ty) D/KX82306 from West Bromwich, in contact with a researcher.
CONACHER Alex A.B. P/JX275226  Aged 22 years from Dundee.  (Listed in The Times as CONAGHER, confirmed on Commonwealth War Graves Commission website as CONACHER)  In contact with a nephew.
COULSON, W.F. (Frank), Ord. Smn. D.JX208659.  Aged 35 years. He left a wife Ivy Beatrice in Newport, Monmouthshire.  In contact with his great nephew. 
COWLEY, Reginald A. Ord. Tel. D/JX213906 Aged 24 years.  In contact with Reg's friend's son. Previously worked for the Coal Board in Shirebook, Nottinghamshire and his father was the pit policeman.
COOPER, Walter, Sto.1  D/KX106023 Aged 30 from Manchester.  He left a wife: Lucy, 2 sons and 2 daughters his youngest was 8 months old.  In contact with his Grand-daughter. 
CRAFT, Walter George, A.B., D/J105295 aged 33, born in Walthamstow, London.  He left a wife Salvina and two daughters in Sliema, Malta. In contact with the two daughters and grand children in Malta.
DARKE, Norman, Boy 1 D/JX166599 Aged 17 from Torquay, Devon - In contact with his great niece.
DAVIDSON, Alexander, PLY/100684 Royal Marine from Aberdeen, aged 21, in contact with great niece and a great nephew.
DE HAYES, Arthur Vernon, C/KX122092 Stoker 2nd Class.  Aged 20 years from Loughborough, Leicestershire, in contact with his brother who sent copy of News of the World article written by Reuters reporter (See below).
DENLEY, Ernest Norman D/K62467 P.O. Stoker from Devonport, aged 37.  In contact with Grandson. 
DOHERTY, Albert E., D/X18508A Smn. R.N.R., Aged 30 from Liverpool, in contact with a niece.
DUBERY, George, Cpl. PLY/122256 in Royal Marines.  Aged 40 years from Perranporth, Cornwall.  In contact with Grand-daughter.
EDWARDS, Ernest Walter, D/JX156266 A.B. Aged 44 from Devon. In contact with Great Grand-daughter.
ENGLISH, Samuel, Cook D/MX56632  Aged 30 from Wishaw, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, contact relative of his grand daughter.
EVANS, John LT/JX198877 A.B. Royal Naval Patrol Service.  Aged 27 years. Contacted by Great Niece and by a Great Nephew in the U.S.A.
FENLON, James, Sto.1  D/KX105417 Aged 22 originally from Liverpool, moved to Banbury in Oxfordshire just before the war to work at the Whately Hotel.  He left a wife Hilda. She had a daughter Angela on 26th September 1941 a telegram was sent telling him of the birth.  A photograph of the baby sent to him later was tragically returned with the letter saying he was lost in action.  In contact with the daughter and grand-daughter.
FENTON, Leon A/Ldg. Sto. (Ty) D/KX92832  Aged 23 years.  Left wife Dorothy May in Grimsby. Served on Galatea from its commissioning.  In contact with nephew, who told us that his Father was serving in Alexandria in 1941 and met up with Leon.  They went to a cinema, during the evening a coded message was broadcast telling crew members to report back to the ship. He never saw his Brother again.  He witnessed an explosion off the coast of Alexandra, not realising it was the Galatea. His Nephew has sent us a printed copy of the "Galatea Gazette" dated September 1935-1936.  It has 125 pages (too long to reproduce here) and was originally printed at St. Joseph's Institute, Hamrun-Malta.  See picture of front page. The first page describes the Gazette as "Being an attempt to tuck a few strands of interest, parceled with strips of humour and served by C.T.Dean, C.Y.S., M.S.M.
FOGG-ELLIOT, Lancelot, Commander (E) Aged 39 from Staindrop, Barnard Castle in County Durham, one of four brothers, he is remembered on a WWII plaque at Staindrop. Contact great nephew.
FOOTE, Hubert J., Leading Steward P/LX21849.  He was only married 3 months before the loss of HMS Galatea.  Contact: son of Hubert's widow by second marriage.
FORD, John Bensley, Ldg.Ck.(S) D/MX51362 from Kingstanley near Stonehouse in Gloucestershire.  Died aged 25 leaving a wife and daughter aged 9 months.  He met his wife whilst stationed in Plymouth, where his daughter was born. In 1941 the blitz was so bad he arranged for them to move to his parents' home in Kingstanley where they stayed until after the War. In contact with his daughter. 
FRIEND, Leonard, Ord. Smn D/SSX35918 Aged 18 years from Paignton, Devon. Contact younger brother and his son-in-law.
GEDGE, Ronald Henry, Musn., in Royal Marines MNE.RMB/X721. In contact with a niece.
GILLEY, William Henry P.O. Stoker D/KX92410. From Ivybridge, Devon. Also served on HMS Hood and HMS Renown among many others. He was in the Navy for 35 years and was 50 when he died.  He should have retired in 1940 but because of the war kept on serving.  In contact with his Grandson. 
GOLDING, George Frederick, Boy1 service C/JX180513.  Aged 17 from Acomb, Yorkshire. Contact: nephew who found name on Royal Navy War Memorial at Chatham.
GOURLAY, Alexander, A.B. D/JX141836 Aged 24 years. Youngest of six, three boys and three girls, from Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland.
In contact with his nephew.  The family have a great number of letters and photographs of Alex, some of which originated on board HMS Galatea and we are pleased to share on this web site.
GREENLAND, Douglas Carter, PLY/X3910 Royal Marine, Aged 19 years, youngest of eleven children. Contact niece.
GREENWOOD, Bernard, D/KX112288 Sto.1 (known as Bunny) aged 21 years from Garston, Lancashire. Previously worked for Gas Company. Contact is the daughter of Bunny's fiance. They had met when she was 15 years old and got engaged on her 21st birthday.  She still wears his engagement ring to this day, alongside her husband's, at aged 87 years (2006). 
HALL, Richard, chief stoker, D/K66885 from Abertillery, Monmouthshire. Contact: Great Nephew,
HARRAS, Walter Sydney, PLY/510 Royal Marine aged 29 years.  In contact with niece.
HARRIS, Edward George, D/J108439 Ch.P.O. nickname "Sonny". Aged 34 from Bromley, Kent. Contact nephew.
HARRIS, Ronald D., Boy, D/JX166767 Aged 17 years from Droitwich.  Contact is a local history researcher and friend of Ronald's Brother.
HARRIS, William Thomas T/A/Gnr., R.N. In contact with Daughter Janet and Granddaughter Michele. Aged 37 when he died and left behind a wife Anne May Harris, eldest son 14yrs William (Bill), 2nd eldest Anthony (Tony) 12yrs, daughter Audrey 10yrs and a fourth child Janet only 6 months old.  Can anyone identify the chap with William in the photograph?
HARTGROVE, Arthur Edwin, Ck.(S) D/MX72725  Aged 25 years from Harpoole, Northamptonshire.  In contact with Great Niece.
HARTSHORN, Frank P/SKX1028 stoker 2nd class. Aged 19 years From Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Contacts: Brother-in-Law and a nephew.
HAYWARD, William Ronald Bevan A.B., D/JX138662 Aged 24 from Littledean Hill, in the Forest of Dean.  He had just changed shift with his shipmate Jack Lake (Ginger) when the ship was hit.  Ginger survived.  Contact: A nephew who kindly provided this photograph that was framed and hanging on the wall of his grandmother's cottage and was later in his mother's home.  He tells us that the flags flying are the white ensign on the stern with the Saltaire on the main mast plus a red flag with a blue square in the corner on the main mast. We acknowledge the photographer, identified on the rear of the photograph, John Abrahams, Naval Photographer, Queen Street, Portsmouth.
HENDERSON, Harold, J.W., T/A/Wt. Shipwt. R.N.  Aged 43 years. He had retired from the Navy and was on Reserve List when war was declared and he was called up.  Contact is a great niece.
HENWOOD,  Hugh Desmond, Ord.Smn. D/JX 161403, aged 18 years from Newquay in Cornwall.  Contact is a second cousin once removed.  
HINGSTON, F.T.F 'Tommy'. A/Shipwt 4, D/MX51883.   21 years of age and just passed his Warrant Officer exams before he went down with the ship, brought up in Plymouth.  In contact with a niece.
HITT, Dudley Baillie, Wrtr. R.N.V.R., aged 20 years from Plymouth.  Contact is a niece, who sent in copies of his letters and Christmas Greetings; a slightly different newspaper article dated January 20 1942 also written by Larry Allen and a letter of condolence from his former employer.
HOLLAND, Henry J., Boy 1, C/JX171679 aged 17 from Kent.  Contact is a niece.
HUGHES, William John Elwyn D/JX154500 Able Seaman. From Abertillery, Monmouthshire. He was only 20 when he died but had apparently joined the RN as a fifteen year old.  In contact with a cousin.  Photograph taken about 1940 and the woman with him is his older sister, Rowena.
IRVING, James William, Leading Seaman D/X 142163 a Geordie, born in Wallsend.  In contact with 2nd cousin.
JACKSON, James Sto.1 D/KX93097 from Ballydare, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.  Contact is a family friend.
JACKSON, Ronald Edward. C/JX172840 Telegraphist. Contact nephew.
JENKINS, Eric Fenner Rowland, Sto.1 D/KX 107449 Aged 24 years.  Contacted by a researcher in Neath, South Wales.
JOHNSTONE,  William (W.F.), Elect. Art.1  D/M39328  Aged 38 years.  Left a wife Frances Rigby from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset.  In contact with daughter's daughter-in-law.
JONES, Patrick Roy, D/KX8988205 Sto. 1 from Devon. Contact niece and other family in Australia.
JOPE, Norman Richard., D/MX66990 Supp.Asst.  Age 24 years from Plymouth.  In contact with great-niece.
KAY, Donald William D/KX112298 Sto.  Aged 25 years from Denton, Lancashire. Contact: great nephew
KERSWILL,  Alfred Sydney, Royal Marine, PLY/X100349  Aged 27 years from Plymouth.  In contact with his Great Nephew.
KIMBER, James, D/J103361 A.B.  Called back to service from the reserve.  Had only been on Galatea for a couple of months having transferred from HMS Kandahar which was sunk by a mine a few days after HMS Galatea.  In contact with his Son.
LAWRENCE, George Edward, PLY/X 2826 Cpl in Royal Marines.  Aged 24 years, he left a widow Ruby. Contacted by the niece of his best man at his wedding.
LOBB, William Henry, D/KX103667 Sto.1 Aged 26 from Plymouth.  He left a widow: Violet.  In contact with distant relative.
LOVE, Robert Albert,RMB/X 1006, musician in Royal Marine Band. Aged 17 years from Bournemouth, Hampshire.  Affectionately known in the family as Bobbie.  In contact with his Sister Lena.
LOVELL, Dudley Hugh, Signalman D/JX155923 aged 19 from Cork, Republic of Ireland.  In contact with his nephew.
LUGTON, John, Ord Tel. D/JX212512.  In contact with Great niece.
MARSHALL, John James Obrien. D/JX237994 A.B., aged 21, from Dundee. Contact Grandson.
MARKS, William Gordon, PLY/x3618 Royal Marine. From Newquay, Cornwall.  In contact with a researcher with the same surname.
MARTIN, Albert Fredrick James, Band Master in Royal Marine Band 2702. Aged 38 years, he was from Datchet in Buckinghamshire. Contact: great nephew.
MATCHETT, Vivian, "Twinem", A.B. D/JX184764  From Hillsborough, Co Down, Northern Ireland, aged 20/21.  He was one of 12 siblings, was interested in pigeon racing.
McCALLISTER, William, Boy 1, C/JX 188549. Aged 17 years, from Nottingham.  In contact with his niece
MILLS, Sydney Norman, A.B. P/JX148904 aged 20 years from York.  Contact Nephew.
MITCHELL, Wilfred Sinclair A.B. D/JX 148928  Joined the Navy as a very young man, serving on HMS Emerald, Hood and Rodney before joining the Galatea on her sea trials.  Contacted by his son who sent several photographs, including one of his father in the HMS Galatea band called the "Rhythm Racketeers" in which Wilfred played guitar.
MOORE, Hamilton Johnston Leader, Marine PLY/X 3263 from Belfast. In contact with son-in-law of Brother.
MORGAN, Ernest (Ralph), Ch.Sto. DK62331. Aged 37, left a wife Gwendoline and one son aged 4 years.  He was from Barry in Glam. South Wales and joined the Navy at an early age. Ralph was stationed in Plymouth with his wife when his son Trevor was born in 1937. War came and incendiaries coming through the roof of their home in Devenport drove Gwen and Trevor back to South Wales. They were still there when the dreaded telegram arrived notifying them of Ralph's death.  After Gwen's death in her effects a telegram was found dated and timed on the 14th Dec. shortly before midnight which Ralph Morgan sent to his wife and son wishing them a Happy Christmas.  We don't know how long the 'gram took to reach them,  but the ship must have been hit moments after it was sent?
In contact with Trevor and his wife in Alberta, Canada where they have been for the past 33 years.
MORGAN, Thomas Lewis, A.B. D/JX127239 aged 32 years.  Contact: Grand-daughter.
MUIRHEAD, William, Sto.2 D/KX118130 aged 26 years from Bootle, Lancashire.   Contact Son and daughter-in-law.
NORRIS, Ronald Frederick Lionel, Marine PLY/X3730 age 19.  He is commemorated on panel 59, column 3 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial on the Hoe overlooking the Sound.
O'NEILL, Dennis Stephen, A.B. D/SSx31956 believed to have served in the wireless room. He was from Dublin, Republic of Ireland.  Contact: nephew.
ORCHARD, Albert Frederick Charles, Ord. Smn, D/JX253704 Aged 26 years from Ridge, near Wareham, Dorset, he left a wife Edith.   Contacted by a nephew.
PALFREYMAN, Charles Sydney Ch.P.O. ERA3, D/MX54262, believed to have served aboard her from her launch. In contact with a great nephew.
PARSONS, David J., A.B.,  R.N.V.R. D/MD/X2995 aged 22 years from Wallasey, Cheshire. Contact: Great niece.
PEARCE, Claude Henry E.R.A.4 D/MX64418.  Aged 23 from Truro, Cornwall. Contact friend of widow.
RADFORD, Ronald James, leading telegraphist D/JX 152327.  Aged 21 years.  In contact with a niece.
REYNOLDS, William, P/SSX25066, Signalman, aka "Billy" from Birkdale, Lancashire.  Aged 21 according to the CWGC but 18 according to his friend Gordon Johnson). His parents were William and Lily Reynolds of Birkdale.  Gordon's story about his friendship is on Billy's page.

RICHARDS, H.F. Sto.P.O. D/KX61858 Contact: collector of medals. Any living relative please get in touch.
ROBERTS, Samual George P.O. Cook D/MX49456.  He is commemorated on panel 55 column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.  In contact with a cousin.
ROBINSON, Harry, PLY/X100433 Royal Marine.  Aged 21 years from Darwen, Lancashire. In contact with nephew.
ROGERS, William Lewis, "Billy", A.B., P/JX224055, Signals, from East Dereham, Norfolk, aged 25.  Was conscripted at the beginning of the war.  He left a wife, Amy, and son David aged 12 months.  He was educated  at the Paston School, North Walsham.  He was interested in cricket and football.  Billy was my uncle.
ROWARTH, Ronald Ralph, D/JX162699 Telegraphist aged 18 years from Cheshire.  Contact: Nephew.
SAIT, Cuthbert Eric, Ch. P.O. Steward P/L 12818   Contact: Grandaughter.
SANDFORD, Walter Sto.1 D/KX113340 (nicknamed Snowy because of his blond hair) from Blackburn.  He had recently married Lilian on a weekend leave.  She always thought that he would come back as the telegram had said 'presumed dead'.  However, in 1945 she married again and 8 years later had a daughter, who contacted us with their story. 
SCOTT, Eric, A/Ord. Art.4 C/MX 53226 from Gillingham, Kent.  In contact with his nephew. 
SEAGROATT, John Thomas, A.B., C/JX126523. Aged 31 years.  In contact with a nephew.
SEAMARKS, William George, Mech. 2, D/KX84870.  Aged 26 years.  In contact with Nigel Seamarks, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
SEDDON, Kenneth, Boy rating, aged 17, from Crescent Road, Bolton, Lancashire, Contacts: a great nephew and a step-brother.
SEVIOUR, Douglas Henry, Sto.1, D/KX111627 from Mells in Somerset.  Contact: a nephew
SEXBERY, Desmond Walter, Ord. Smn. C/JX181923  From Norwich.  He let a brother Ken and 3 sisters: Rosemary, Molly and Audrey.  Contact by a friend of the family.
SHERLOCK, John James Bruce, Wrtr. D/MX69177  Aged 25 years.  He left a wife Phyllis Marion of Acton, Middlesex.  In contact with distant cousin.
SHUTTLEWORTH, William, Petty Officer D/JX130557.  He left a daughter, in contact with her daughter-in-law.
SIDDELL, Edward, Royal Marine PLY/X 694  In contact with his Grandaughter who sent this photograph of his passing out parade around 1924. He did his training at Lympston barracks in Devon.  Edward is pictured on the third row from the front and is third from the left
SILVERWOOD, John E.R.A.5. D/MX74211  Aged 20 years, from Burley, Lancs.  Contact cousin and a niece. There are 3 surviving brothers Raymond, Marshall & Douglas, one of whom we are now in contact with.
SIMCOCK, James William, Stoker 1st Class C/KX96631.  Aged 21 years from Sandbach Cheshire.  Contact: nephew.
SMITH, John Thomas Cpl. PLY/X1635 Royal Marines. Aged 22 years. Contact: Son.
STANYON, Leslie Lawton, Sto.P.O., D/KX83357 He prefered to be called Bob Stayon. Aged 33. In contact with great niece.
STREET, Harry A.B. D/SSX26649 aged 22 years.  Left a widow: Christina and Son:Jack  Contact: Nephew.
SURKITT, Trevor A.B. D/JX154609 from Cambridge, age 19, in contact with Malcolm Surkitt and a daughter of Trevor's cousin
SYMONS,  John Henry, Leading Wireman D/MX62466. Aged 21 years from Cheswardine, Shropshire.  In contact with nephew.
TAIT, Robert William, PLY/X2204 Royal Marine. Aged 21 years, from Edinburgh.  Contact:  nephew.
TALBOT, Frank Avery, Warrant Engineer R.N. Aged 32 years  contact: grandaughter
THOMAS, William, Chief Engine Room Artificer D/MX53003. Age 29 from Penryn, Cornwall. DOB 07.10.1912 Did apprenticeship with Silley Cox & Co., The Docks, Falmouth 1928-33. Joined RN 1936. Married Roma Trethewey at Plymouth Dec. 1940, no children, contact nephew.
THOMPSON, Robert Forsyth, A.B. D/SSX17232.  Aged 24 years from Bellshill, Lanarkshire.  In contact with great-niece.
WAKEFIELD-SMITH Charles, PLY/X3308 Royal Marine.  Aged 22 years from Wandsworth, London.  He left a widow Ella.  In contact with Nephew.
WALL, Lionel Hugh, Ord. Smn. P/JX 253338 Aged 27 years from Weston Supermare. He left a wife Gwendoline.   In contact with his Son in Canada.
WALTERS, Edwin Luke, Sto.1.  D/KX11898 Aged 21 years, from Droitwich.  Contact local history researcher.
WALTON, William H. Ldg. Sto, Service Number D/KX84374, he was 28 at the time of his death and married to Alice, he was the son of James & Bertha Walton of Higher Openshawe, Lancashire. In contact with his nephew.
WELLS, Roy Gordon. Ord. Smn. C/JX230230 Aged 26 years from Newfoundland. Contact great-nephew.
WICKS, George Alfred, A.B. P/JX151473. Aged 20 years. He boxed for HM Navy under the name of Buddy Wicks.  His sister thinks he is possibly on the 'Galatea Crew in Alexandria' photograph, "the one on the right with arms folded"  Contact: Niece.
WILLIAMS, Albert John, Eng.Room Artificer 4th Class D/MX157887 Aged 22 from Caerphilly.  Heard from his niece in Australia but she did not leave a contact address.
WILLIAMS, Henry (Harry), Telegraphist, D/SSX28272, aged 20, son of Henry and Evelyn Williams, Ancoats, Manchester.  In contact with nephew.
WILSON, Arthur Grosvenor A.Ldg.Smn, D/SSX166596. In contact with his son who was 3 months old at the time the ship sank.  He has sent copies of photographs of Galatea in the ports of Alexandria, Haifa, Limassol and Silema Creek in Malta and several others of the members of the ship's company; these can be found in the Gallery.  Also contacted by his nephew; we were able to put him in touch with his long-lost cousin.
WILTSHIRE, Arthur Frederick, Sy Ch. P.O., D/M39186 Aged 34 from Wiltshire.  Left a wife in Ivybridge, Devon.  Contact: Niece.
WORRALL, Herbert, A.B. D/JX192852  Aged 22 years from Tyldesley, Lancs.
He was transferred to Galatea from his usual ship HMS Devonshire because of fog delaying personnel.  In contact with cousin, who ascertained this information from Herbert's girlfriend of the time..
YENDLE, William James, A.B. D/JX156766  Aged 20 years from Falmouth, Cornwall.  
Contacted by deputy editor of The Packet Group of Newspapers who was writing an article about the concern of the sisters of A.B. Yendle about a local memorial garden where they place poppies every year.

Relatives of the following survivors of the incident have been in contact with us:
CLARIDGE, J.W. Lt. Cdr. rescued by HMS Hotspur.  In contact with Grandson. 
DAVIES,  Jeff, C.P.O (Painter) picked up by destroyer after swimming for 3 days, he never talked about the event with his family.  He was an Artificer when he joined in 1936, served until 1953 when he was invalided out with TB.  He remained in Plymouth until his death in 1987.  In contact with his son.
FERRETT, Alan George, Survivor rescued by Hotspur after several hours in water. He was a Supply Assistant. Family comes from Boscastle, North Cornwall. He was asleep in the forepeak when the torpedoes struck; on reaching the deck he said that he didn't need to be told 'abandon ship' as the situation was already critical. He dived over the side, spent several hours in the water before being picked up by HMS Hotspur. Contacted by son after father's death.
GRANGE, Thomas, Ord. Tel. from Shipley, Yorkshire. He died in 2002 just 3 days short of his 82nd birthday.  In contact with his Son, who sent us a copy of his Father's memoirs entitled 'A Sailor's War'   An extract relating to HMS Galatea is included.
HARRIS, John from Stourbridge.   Contacted by his daughter.
HIGMAN, Kenneth James joined Navy at 15 as a boy seaman in 1929.  By June 1940 he had reached the rank of Petty Officer on board Galatea.  His recollections to his daughter of the sinking was that he was on watch the night the ship went down.  He said that it went down very fast and that those down below in their bunks didn't have a chance. He lost his two front teeth, they were broken off in the escape from the ship. He was in the water for a long time and swallowed a lot of oily water, which affected his stomach. Thinking of his family back in England, he willed himself to stay alert and not give up hope of a rescue.   There were others with him some who gave up and went under.  This memory stayed with him for the rest of his life. He died in 1969.  His brother survived the sinking of the Exeter and after the War it was a family joke not to go on the Torpoint ferry with either of them.  In contact with Daughter and Son-in-Law.
KEARNEY, James.  He was 20 years old when the Galatea sunk.  He died in Ireland in September 2002.  Contacted by his Son in Australia, who sent in his story.  Also contacted by his daughter Pauline.
KIRVELL, Albert,  His son had a newspaper clipping showing that survivors were shipped to Durban, South Africa. Died from lung cancer believed to be caused by working with asbestos on the ships' boilers.  Contact: Grandson
LAKE, Jack E. (Ginger) A.B. D/JX154237  contact: nephew of Jack's friend Billy HAYWARD.  Billy's sister kept in touch with Jack for some years. 
MACKIE, Harold John, P.O. (known as Jack) contact: nephew who said that his uncle who married his mother's sister, lived in Bolton.  When he went to their flat with his Mam and Dad, Jack would talk to them about the war. He remembers him talking about the sinking of his ship HMS Galatea and how he said that when he was in the water he clung on to a piece of coconut matting, which saved his life. He last saw his uncle when he went to Liverpool to join his new ship HMS Kite (he did say that when he left the ship was like a rusty bucket and should not go to sea), but it did go to escort a Russian Convey where it was sunk by a U boat and his uncle did not return.  He left a wife and son.
MILLER, W., Survivor.  He was one of those in the water for 6 hours before he was picked up. This was the 2nd ship that had sunk with him on board.  He was on HMS Calypso when it sunk in early 1940.  He only just made it out of the engine room.  He swore he would never sleep below again, as a consequence he was on deck when the Galatea was torpedoed.  He was adamant that was what saved his life.  After surviving being sunk twice he was sent back to a training establishment.  Died in 1997. Contact:  Grandson. 
NEAL, Thomas Joseph nickname: Tubby Neal. Pictured 3^rd from right (with hat on back of head) on Galley Crew photo. Contact: daughter.
NEWEY, Geoffrey aged 19 at the time, wireless operator. Picked up by HMS GRIFFIN. He wrote an account of the sinking which we hope to feature shortly.
NICHOLSON, Leslie, He was discharged as medically unfit in 1943. He died in 1991 aged 78 years
contacted by his daughter.
TATEM, Jack, C.P.O., from Portscatho, Cornwall, rescued after two hours in the water. After the war ended he worked at Devonport Dockyard for 20 years. Contact not related.
WORTLEY, Jack, died in 2002.  Our contact knew him in his last years and had obtained a photograph of HMS Galatea for him from the Naval Museum and had it framed - he was moved to see a picture of his old ship. Jack told his friend that he was on the toilet when the first torpedo struck, had he been at his post he would have been killed. He said that the force of the explosions took the door off the toilet and by the time he pulled his pants up he was treading water.

SURVIVORS STILL ALIVE - JANUARY 2007
WHITING, James Ernest  He will be 89 in August 2008.  Contacted by his Nephew, who has copied and sent him all the pages from this website about HMS Galatea and the men that were lost.  March 2008 We have heard directly from Jim Whiting who and he has written his story for us; it is on his name linked page above.
BOULTON, Donald Henry, DJX164045  see his story and two photographs on his page.  We are in contact with his son and daughter-in-law.

We are also in touch with a relative, or aware of the following who were on Galatea prior to the fateful voyage:
CAINE Larry, gunner, was not on board that night; he had been reassigned as they had too many crew.  He lives in North Wales.  On being shown details on the website by a neighbour's relative he wanted to get in touch with the relatives of Walter Craft in Malta.  Walter and he had been friends on board Galatea.  He was usually in the gun turret on the other side of the ship to his when at action stations. He has provided us with a copy of a photograph of himself and Walter in a line up when the ship was being inspected by Admiral Jack Tover.   Larry remembers an occasion on board Galatea when the ship hit a mine, he said it was raining mud and fish when the plume of water from the explosion shot upwards.
JOSE, N.R., Chief E.R.A., was drafted to a shore base a few weeks before the incident and transferred to the 8^th Army.  He died in 1978. We are in contact with his widow who still publishes, every year, a memoriam in her local newspaper the Falmouth Packet:

"HMS Galatea - in memory of all who lost their lives on HMS Galatea, December 15 1941.
Age will not weary them nor the years condemn."

We are also in contact with his son Eric. His grandson is a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy.
NETHERSOLE Ron.  In contact with his nephew, who sent us several photographs. One appears to be a 'crossing the line' ceremony.  He thinks the one of Ron with a friend is possibly Kenneth Seddon.  The picture at sea he thinks is possibly from Galatea with Griffin and Swordfish.
PALMER, Ronald "Peddlar",  Petty Officer and then Chief Writer from April 1938 to Feb. 1940.  The only reason he left Galatea was that he was taking promotion exams to become a Warrant Officer.  In contact with grandson and he has kindly provided us with an account of his grandfather's time on Galatea.    Click Here
Sadly Ron Palmer died on Wednesday, 6th June 2007 aged 96 years.

WARSHIP WEEK PROJECT

For Warship Week of November 15th to 22nd 1941, the citizens of West Bromwich were raising money through National Savings towards the building costs of HMS Galatea. It was the intention that a commemorative book would be carried on-board during Galatea's active service and be returned to West Bromwich when victory was achieved with the signatures of Commander and Crew. Of course this was overtaken by events and the intended metal plaque was never placed on the ship.

The commemorative book (click for pictures - return with Browser Back button - Book - Fronticepiece) was continued with all citizens of West Bromwich allowed to sign it providing they had made savings during Warship Week. has been carefully archived in Smethwick Archives.  Members of the West Bromwich Local History Society are researching with the intention of compiling a book of their town during WW2.

Further information about the project may be obtained from Ms Pauline Lawley, 102 Vicarage Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 1AG.  Pauline is also interested to hear from people whose family or friends served on HMS Galatea or indeed from anyone with wartime information relating to the West Bromwich area during WW2.

List of Attachments and Links

Reuters report of the sinking
Eye-witness account of the sinking
A survivor's letter
Photographs in The Roll of Honour
Commemorative book
and its Fronticepiece
Ronald Palmer's account of his service on Galatea
Detailed account of the Galatea's history