228037 Driver F. Arnold British Army Royal Army Service Corps (d.10th May 1942) I believe my father was on board when HMHS Somersetshire was torpedoed in 1942. He was Driver F. Arnold of the RASC. Any information relating to where this happened, survivors, passenger lists etc would be welcome. All I know is that he was missing at sea and that his name is inscribed on the Alamein memorial.
Update
Somersetshire was attacked by U-453 at 0317 hrs on 6th April 1942 in position 32.13N 26.34E (off the Egyptian coast). Seven people were killed by the blast of the torpedo and she settled by the head; there were no patients on board at the time and all the crew and medical staff left the ship, 66 being taken off by an escorting Greek destroyer and another 114 went into the lifeboats. On the arrival of a tug, several of the crew returned on board and she was successfully towed to Alexandria and was later repaired (I note that the Commonwealth War Grave list the date of death of Frank Arnold as 10 May 1942 - i.e. a month after the attack on the Somersetshire.) For a photo and her history see: http://www.red-duster.co.uk/BIBBY13.htm
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