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.
-
SURNAME
Palmer
FORENAME
John
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 3323
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
21
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of John Henry and Mary Elizabeth...
-
SURNAME
O'Brien
FORENAME
Edward Skilly
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 1309
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
died on HMS Fidelity (sunk 30/31.12.1942 off Azores)
-
SURNAME
Oborn
FORENAME
Arthur Ray
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 2308
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
24
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Charles and Gwladys...
-
SURNAME
Nash
FORENAME
Thomas
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
CH/X 2218
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Thomas and Ellen Nash,Fulham,London
died on HMS Fidelity (sunk...
-
SURNAME
Milo
FORENAME
Frederick Charles
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 2430
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Frank and Helen Maud Milo
died on HMS Fidelity...
-
SURNAME
Metcalf
FORENAME
Reginald Herst
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
PO/X 2450
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 31.1.1920 Northampton
husband of...
-
SURNAME
McGee
FORENAME
Joseph Christopher
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 3027
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
21
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Joseph Christopher and Mary...
-
SURNAME
McDowell
FORENAME
Ernest
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 3758
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Thomas and Harriett McDowell
husband of Hilda...
-
SURNAME
Ledbury
FORENAME
David Rupert Nelson
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 5001
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Richard and Lottie Frances...
-
SURNAME
Lagor
FORENAME
Reginald Arthur
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 3859
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Frank William and Florence Hilda...
-
SURNAME
Kelly
FORENAME
John Francis
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
CH/X 2555
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
21
GRAVESITE
Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of John and Mary Kelly,Armagh,Northern Ireland
lost on HMS Fidelity...
-
SURNAME
Jeffers
FORENAME
Michael
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 105426
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of James and Catherine Jeffers,Liverpool
lost on...
-
SURNAME
James
FORENAME
Russell Keith
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 108891
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Percy William and Hilda Jane James
lost on...
-
SURNAME
Hutchinson
FORENAME
James
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
CH/X 2331
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
GRAVESITE
Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of John William and Edith Mary Hutchinson,Gateshead,Co.Durham
lost on HMS...
-
SURNAME
Humphreys
FORENAME
Harry
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 2458
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
25
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of John W. and Lizzie Humphreys,Leicester
lost on HMS...
-
SURNAME
Hill
FORENAME
Reginald Hemming
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PLY/X 3235
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Alfred and Eveline Hill
husband of Nellie...
-
SURNAME
Hildreth
FORENAME
Harry Lowe
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 104141
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
18
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Harry and Jenny Hildreth,Tow Law,Co.Durham...
-
SURNAME
Hewson
FORENAME
William Bertram
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
PO/X 2397
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
25
GRAVESITE
Portsmouth Naval Memorial,Hampshire Panel 79 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of George T. and Amelia...
-
SURNAME
Herd
FORENAME
Alexander Frederick
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Marine
NUMBER
EX/3189
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
23
GRAVESITE
Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon Panel 83 Column 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Alexander and Rose Herd,Ipswich,Suffolk
husband...
-
SURNAME
Henderson
FORENAME
Alfred Walter
UNIT
40 Commando (T Company)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
CH/X 1123
DATE OF DEATH
1st January 1943
AGE
26
GRAVESITE
Chatham Naval Memorial,Kent 73.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Richard and Ada Louisa Henderson
husband of Evelyn Violet...