Lt.Cdr. Alfred Edward "Alfie" Flannery
Royal Navy HMS Hunter
from:Cavan, Ireland
My father, Surgeon Captain Alfred Edward Flannery OBE RN, served on HMS Hunter at different times (I believe). He was the Medical Doctor and was on board when H.M.S. Hunter was mined off the coast of Spain in May 1937 - In the Admiralty letter to my Father (Retirement letter) it was mentioned "…. My Lords recall that early in your Service, whilst a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean reported that you behaved with great coolness and efficiency under most trying circumstances on the occasion of the mining of H.M.S. Hunter off the coast of Spain in May, 1937..."
My Father was not on board when H.M.S. Hunter was sunk off Narvik. He received the Haakon award whilst in Skegness in helping Norwegian patients. One story that I know of: My mother was an American (Elizabeth Flannery nee Duffy) and she left the USA (NYC) to marry my father in Malta on 16th. November 1937. One of the things she brought with her was her deep freeze (I did say she was an American:) Well, somehow, my father managed to convince my mother to let him take it on board (H.M.S. Hunter) for the purpose of keeping medications cold. My mother was very happy when my father survived the sinking of H.M.S. Hunter but never let him forget that her deep freeze was now at the bottom of a Fjiord. I heard that story very often. After the sinking of H.M.S. Hunter, my father was in Norway for a while and whilst there he was awarded the Haakon VI Liberty medal for services rendered.
I am including a photo of H.M.S. Hunter (taken in Malta, I believe) after the mining off the coast of Spain. Also included is a photo of my parents' wedding - it includes other Naval Officers that may be recognized - At the time of the wedding my father was serving on H.M.S. Active. Thank you for maintaining this website.
