O.Tel. Robert Kemp "Tiny" Liddell
Royal Navy HMS Bellona
My father, Robert Liddell was in class 238 at HMS Royal Arthur in October and November 1943. He went on to serve on HMS Bellona the light cruiser which took part in activities in the Channel, provided bombardment support to D Day, in July 1944 he crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time in an operation to attack the Tirpitz and finally accompanied three convoys to Murmansk. I now realise that the ship also took part in the celebration of Norway's liberation as the crew seem to have marched through Oslo as part of the celebrations as I have seen photographs which appear to show this. My father never mentioned this so I cannot say with certainty that he was there.
My father was in his own words a terrible sailor having no sea legs. Having said that it seems that at least one of the Arctic Convoys hit dreadful storms that almost capsized the escort carrier HMS Campania so perhaps there was some justification for being a paler shade of green for much of the time. He was an Ordinary Telegraphist. His stories of his days in the Navy are now slightly faded as he died in 1970. However, the accounts of the convoys tallies with his recollections including HMS Bellona shooting down at least one German aircraft.
I have copied the names of HMS Arthur class 238 in the hope this will be of help to others.
Left to Right
Back Row: F Harrison, Adaams, J Fraser, Ja (?) Fraser, J Batchelor, A Brockett, R Black, C(?) Bredsk(?), D Horne, W Marnock.
2nd Back Row: Gordon J Hughes, Robert, K Liddell, Gordon J Barclay, A Muir, R Birch, J Blair, J Blythe, Lynas.
3rd Row: Jake Brown (or Boon?), G Franks, S Hemingway, H Leask, Boise(?) Rudy(?) Briggs, J Fraser.
2nd Front Row: Harry Sarah(?), Hamill Bob Cantlay, Ken Carline, Bastow, L/S Gardner, Percy Good, J (or T) Atkinson, Ginger Kelman, P Kelly.
1st Row (Front): A Machicot (?), Bd Burke, Griffin, S Hemingway.
