hms fidelity

HMS FIDELITY
HMS FIDELITY
In December 1942 Fidelity, with T Company, 40 Commando aboard, joined Convoy ON 154. The convoy was attacked by U-boats from 27 December while north of the Azores. On 29 December Fidelity, suffering from engine problems, fell out of the convoy. She launched her aircraft as an anti-submarine patrol while repairs took place. During this time her aircraft reported lifeboats to the southwest and her landing craft was sent to pick them up. These were 44 men from Empire Shackleton, the convoy commodore's ship. During the night Fidelity was making 5 knots towards the Azores, but came under attack twice. She was fired on by U-225, and later by U-615. Both U-boats were driven off when Fidelity fired back. On 30 December she was found by U-435, under the command of Siegfried Strelow at position 43°23′N 27°07′W Coordinates: 43°23′N 27°07′W and was torpedoed twice. Strelow observed the sinking, and estimated about 300 survivors in the water, but when he made his report later he was asked "whether their destruction in the prevailing weather can be counted on". This was some months after BdU’s infamous Laconia Order, instructing U-boat commanders not to assist survivors in any way, and regarded at the Nuremberg Trials as a tacit encouragement to ensure there were none. At the time of her sinking Fidelity had on board some 369 souls (274 crew, 51 Marines and 44 survivors from Empire Shackleton): All were lost. The only survivors were the eight crew of the motor torpedo boat, detached on anti-submarine patrol, who were later picked up by HMCS Woodstock (K238), and two crewmen of a seaplane that had crashed on take off on 28 December and been picked up by HMCS St. Laurent (H83). To this day 40 Commando has never reused T as a company designation in memory of the loss.
  1. SOE Barclay, Madeleine

    SURNAME Barclay FORENAME Madeleine UNIT SOE (HMS Fidelity) RANK First Officer NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 31 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire Panel 80 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION true name Bayard, Madeleine Victorine parent unit Women's...
  2. SOE Avencour, Jean Jacques

    SURNAME Avencour FORENAME Jean Jacques UNIT SOE (HMS Fidelity) RANK Lieutenant (A) NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Lee-on-Solent Memorial,Hampshire Bay 4 Panel 6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION parent unit Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve from France lost in...
  3. RM CDOS Wilson, Desmond John

    SURNAME Wilson FORENAME Desmond John UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 2546 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Jesse Ernest and Alice Mary Wilson,Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk died...
  4. RM CDOS Wakefield, Jack Harry

    SURNAME Wakefield FORENAME Jack Harry UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 1417 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942 off Azores)
  5. RM CDOS Twidale, Thomas

    SURNAME Twidale FORENAME Thomas UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER EX/3870 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 34 GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of J.R. and Mrs Twidale,Hull,Yorkshire died on HMS Fidelity...
  6. RM CDOS Turner, Roland Clement

    SURNAME Turner FORENAME Roland Clement UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 2632 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942 off Azores)
  7. RM CDOS Trump, William Charles

    SURNAME Trump FORENAME William Charles UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 104658 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 33 GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Albert and Mary Trump,Seven Sisters,Glamorgan died on HMS...
  8. RM CDOS Trask, Walter Albert Henry

    SURNAME Trask FORENAME Walter Albert Henry UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Lieutenant NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 19 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of A.S. and Mrs Trask,Plymouth,Devon died on...
  9. RM CDOS Thomson, Ronald

    SURNAME Thomson FORENAME Ronald UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Corporal NUMBER EX/3948 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 24 GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Robert John and Martha Thomson,Kearsley,Lancashire...
  10. RM CDOS Swatton, Vernon

    SURNAME Swatton FORENAME Vernon UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Corporal NUMBER PO/X 2317 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Hilda F.Swatton,Hythe,Kent award D.S.M. died on...
  11. RM CDOS Simmonds, Joseph Frederick

    SURNAME Simmonds FORENAME Joseph Frederick UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Corporal NUMBER PO/X 3601 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942)
  12. RM CDOS Shockley, Harry William

    SURNAME Shockley FORENAME Harry William UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 101827 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Albert Henry and Esther Louise...
  13. RM CDOS Seabrook, John James Lavender

    SURNAME Seabrook FORENAME John James Lavender UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 1934 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of James Edwin Lavender and Dorothy C.Seabrook, Old...
  14. RM CDOS Saunders, Reginald Thomas Colonel

    SURNAME Saunders FORENAME Reginald Thomas Colonel UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 1276 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942 off Azores)
  15. RM CDOS Salaman, Hugh Lind

    SURNAME Salaman FORENAME Hugh Lind UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER PLY/X 104581 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 36 GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of E.J. and Florence Salaman,Marylebone,London died...
  16. RM CDOS Richmond, James Albert

    SURNAME Richmond FORENAME James Albert UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER EX/3778 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Agnes Richmond,Keighley,Yorkshire died on HMS...
  17. RM CDOS Pember, Henry Douglas Haig Allenby

    SURNAME Pember FORENAME Henry Douglas Haig Allenby UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER EX/3500 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942 off Azores)
  18. RM CDOS Payne, George Thomas

    SURNAME Payne FORENAME George Thomas UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 4374 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of William Henry and Caroline Esther Payne...
  19. RM CDOS Parker, Robert Stevenson

    SURNAME Parker FORENAME Robert Stevenson UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER PLY/X 2254 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of J.J. and Mrs Parker,Fallowfield,Manchester...
  20. RM CDOS Panter, Howard Denis

    SURNAME Panter FORENAME Howard Denis UNIT 40 Commando (T Company) RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 107976 DATE OF DEATH 1st January 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Paul J.J. and Elsie...
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