228021 Daniel James Sullivan Royal Navy BYMS 72 (J872) Royal Naval Patrol Service (d.12th November 1943) The British Yard Minesweeper - BYMS 72(J872) - was captured on 12th November 1943 off Kalymnos in the Aegean. Three of the crew - Stoker I Yuill (Glasgow), L/wireman C Crichton and Seaman H Mariner managed to swim ashore. Yuill and Crichton made it back to Alexandria but Mariner had to
be left in a cave as he had leg wounds (he was sighted in the UK in 1945).
On 11th November 1943 (11/11/is always very special day) a glider bomb had hit the 72 and devastated it. Those who had been placed in hospital then became POWs when the Germans invaded and captured the island. Stoker A.S. Hudson (Newcastle) was separated from the others and placed on a hospital ship which was boarded by the RN and Stoker Hudson was taken off. The Admiralty decided that he was still to traumatised and sent him
back to the UK.
While I have the full story of the 72, I am following up the lives of those who survived and what they did after 1945/6. I have made contact with 16 of the survivors' families so far.
The Commander of the 72 was E.H. Taylor ex-HMS Ligny) and he came from Sunderland. Unfortunately the address I have no longer exists.
My father was killed when the 72 was captured. I would be very grateful for any assistance given with the above.
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