Crushing defeat of Italian Navy, Monday, 31, March 1941. From the Sun

And. Lone Cruiser Traps Italian Fleet, Tuesday, 1, April 1941. From The Sun. Royal Navy ships mentioned are, HMS Jervis, HMS Havock, British light Cruiser, Orion (Admiral Cunningham). Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet.

After reading the newspaper articles again on 15 September 2024, I realize now that Royal Navy Battle ships, Warspite, Barham and Valiant were also involved. Side panel next to Article (May be referring to another article on same incident) states that HMS Warspite, whose 15-inch guns fired at two-mile range, practically blew the Italian Cruiser out of the water. The 2 photos from 31, March 1941 article are from the Sun newspaper (Not the Advocate)

APA citation
CRUSHING DEFEAT OF ITALIAN NAVY (1941, March 31). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 1 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved September 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231202495

APA citation
LONE CRUISER TRAPS ITALIAN FLEET (1941, April 1). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 1 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved September 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231207147

Philip L

Luftwaffe's fierce attack on Royal Navy Mediterranean fleet, 16, Jan 1941.
12 enemy planes shot down. Italian destroyer sank. Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier Illustrious, Cruiser Southhampton, and destroyer Gallant were damaged.

APA citation
12 ENEMY PLANES DOWNED; DESTROYER SUNK (1941, January 16). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved September 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68488794

Philip L

Hi all

I have recently made contact with Mark. My Uncle ABS John 'Jack' Shields was one of those that perished.

In 2019 I came across the following blog and have been in touch with Mike and made contact with William Todd's family.

I posted this in 2019. His father was Commanding 920 and whatever they and 921 were carrying they were defended at all costs.

Hi all

Recently came across this blog from Mike Botula in the US whose father was aboard LST920 and recounts the final moments of LCI(L)-99 when 920 and 921 were under attack from U-667. Finally after 75 years we know how it ended.

It was either brave act to save the crew and cargo of 920 or she went to the wrong place at the wrong time. As a family we hope it was the former. RIP brave men of LCI(L)-99.

https://mikebotula.blogspot.com/2019/08/back-story-lst-920-and-charlie-botula_31.html

Alex Shields

From the Daily Telegraph (Sydney NSW), Thursday, 14, November 1940, page 1.
Italy's battleship strength cut in half by British Attack.

APA citation
Air Blow At Italian Fleet (1940, November 14). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248824309

Philip L

Hi
I am researching a sailor who served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service from 1942 until the end of the War. Prior to joining he was in the RN Special Reserve and his service number was prefixed with SR. I am wondering whether anyone can tell me what the SR stood for. Might it have been Special reserve?

Thank you
Mike

Thank you very much PhiloNauticus; that small amount of information will help a lot. My father has information on some ships my grandfather served on so possibly we may be able to make an educated guess at which ship this *might* be. Very much appreciated.

I would suggest that it is definitely WW2 - the rating on the right of the front row seems to have the branch badge of 'submarine detector', which was a WW2 branch - likewise the Petty Officer sitting immediately behind him has the torpedoman's badge of the same era.  The other branch badges visible [stoker - signalman - telegraphist] were in use throughout the period

see:

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/genealogy/RN/Badges/Asdic.html

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/genealogy/RN/Badges/Torpedo.html

Hard to identify the ship, but the mast seems to be mounted ahead of the bridge, which was a characteristic of the first 'Flower' class corvettes

Researching my great grandfather's service record (service number 17650) I can see in the 'Name of Division or Ship.' column in multiple places the abbreviation 'do.' or possibly 'ds.'. It appears very regularly. He was a Royal Marine between 1912 and 1924. Can anyone explain this abbreviation to me?

First post so hello everyone and thanks in advance for any help you can give.

I've been researching my family history lately. My father inherited the photo attached from my grandfather. My grandfather was in the Royal Navy in the latter half of WW2 until 1946. My great grandfather was in the Royal Marines from 1912 to 1924 (service number 17650).

We are unsure even which time period the photo we have is from. We don't believe my grandfather is in it because we could both recognise him and also have other photos from the same era. There are no known photos of my great grandfather however and he died many years before even my father was born. We're wondering if his face might be in the crowd somewhere.

So any information you can give might help us; even just knowing the era.

I noticed that Wikipedia has an article on HMS Nubian (F36). It refers to Nubian being involved in actions at Calabria, in July 1940, Metapan (March 1941), Sfax (April 1941) and Crete (May 1941). I had a look at newspaper articles around these dates. There are some articles about the British Royal Navy around these times (They seem to be fighting the Italians mainly before Crete). But there does not seem to be any names of the particular Royal Navy war ships involve. Other than this Article that mentions the British Destroyer Mohawk was sunk by a torpedo. (But Royal Navy otherwise annihilates enemy convoy).

Advocate, Burnie (Tas), Friday,18, April 1941, Page 1.

Philip L

APA citation
NAVY ANNIHILATES ENEMY CONVOY (1941, April 18). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68502762