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Reserve Forces => Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve => Topic started by: mark rogers on 25 January 2018 02:33:11 pm

Title: HMS Condor & HMCS Bytown
Post by: mark rogers on 25 January 2018 02:33:11 pm
I am conducting research into the men on the King’s School Worcester war memorials The intention is to produce a commemorative book to mark the end of WW1. I am looking to find details of how men were killed and if possible obtain a photograph of the individual. Could anyone help with the following 2 casualties?

BETHUNE-WILLIAMS, Denis Eustace   Lieutenant      RNVR H.M.C.S. Bytown.   commemorated onCHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL   died 25/01/1942
CLARKE, Frank David Strickland   Sub-Lieutenant (A)      RNVR H.M.S. Condor.   ARBROATH WESTERN CEMETERY died 13/05/1942
Title: Re: HMS Condor & HMCS Bytown
Post by: PhiloNauticus on 26 January 2018 06:19:24 pm

The ships mentioned were the Parent Establishments, responsible for pay etc., not necessarily where they actually were.  A bit of research has produced the following details:

Re: Bethune-Williams
Listed as being Missing, presumed killed after the loss of the Norwegian merchant ship RINGSTAD which was torpedoed and sunk by U-333.  Details of the loss may be found at the excellent warsailors website:

http://warsailors.com/singleships/ringstad.html

See also the U-boat website at:
https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1286.html

which adds the additional information that Bethune-Williams was a bomb-disposal expert, and was travelling to Ottawa



re: Clarke
Was killed in an air crash.  He was serving as a pilot with 767 Squadron, flying Fairy Swordfish aircraft, and based at Arbroath.   On 13 May 1942 his aircraft (K8434) was in a mid-air collision at 2,000 feet with another Swordfish (L2838) and both aircraft crashed at Shandford Farm, Finavon, Fearn, Angus, with the loss of all crews – six men in all  (source of this info:Sturtivant & Burrow 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945'


Title: Re: HMS Condor & HMCS Bytown
Post by: PhiloNauticus on 26 January 2018 06:25:57 pm

For Bethune-Williams, see also the file at The National Archives, ref no: ADM 358/1323

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12760493

and also  ADM 358/489

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12759768
Title: Re: HMS Condor & HMCS Bytown
Post by: mark rogers on 28 January 2018 03:13:45 pm
Absolutely Brilliant!  :) Thank you for that information which gives me exactly what I was looking for.