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. RM CDOS Palmer, John

    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...
  2. RM CDOS O'Brien, Edward Skilly

    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)
  3. RM CDOS Oborn, Arthur Ray

    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...
  4. RM CDOS Nash, Thomas

    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...
  5. RM CDOS Milo, Frederick Charles

    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...
  6. RM CDOS Metcalf, Reginald Herst

    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...
  7. RM CDOS McGee, Joseph Christopher

    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...
  8. RM CDOS McDowell, Ernest

    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...
  9. RM CDOS Ledbury, David Rupert Nelson

    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...
  10. RM CDOS Lagor, Reginald Arthur

    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...
  11. RM CDOS Kelly, John Francis

    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...
  12. RM CDOS Jeffers, Michael

    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...
  13. RM CDOS James, Russell Keith

    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...
  14. RM CDOS Hutchinson, James

    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...
  15. RM CDOS Humphreys, Harry

    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...
  16. RM CDOS Hill, Reginald Hemming

    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...
  17. RM CDOS Hildreth, Harry Lowe

    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...
  18. RM CDOS Hewson, William Bertram

    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...
  19. RM CDOS Herd, Alexander Frederick

    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...
  20. RM CDOS Henderson, Alfred Walter

    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...
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