115561 CPO (GI) William Sherwood Brown Royal Navy HMS Forfar from:Chatham, Kent (d.2nd Dec 1940) CPO (GI) William Sherwood Brown was my grandfather, born in 1897, he joined the Royal Navy at 16, having run away from home to do so. He served during the First World War, mostly on bug gun warships including HMS Ceres. In 1919, HMS Ceres was sent to the Baltic to support the White Russians in their struggle against the Bolsheviks, in which Ceres conducted a Naval gunfire Support Mission. At the end of the First World war my grandfather then joined the Mine Clearance Service, working on a variety of Fleet Minesweepers and converted fishng boats clearing the sea mines laid by all sides. After a varied career, including time at HMS Ganges as an instructor, time on HMS Kent on China Station, and working on a Yangtse River gunboat my grandfather was retired in 1936. Finding no work, he became a Royal Marine Officers Batman at the Royal Marine Barracks in Chatham. This lasted until the outbreak of war when he was recalled to the colours. As a trained Gunner he was placed in charge of the armamaent on the Q ship HMS Forfar. In December 1940, the Forfar was hit by torpedoes fired by the U Boat nicknamed "The Golden Horseshoe". The Forfar being filled with empty barrels, stayed afloat for a long time and all the personnel are believed to have safely embarked into the ships boats. The Golden Horseshoe then came back and machine gunned the survivors. My mother never forgave the Germans. I am proud to serve in the Royal Navy, as did my father. He, my grandfather and I have all served on an HMS Ceres.
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