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Those known to have sailed in HMS Electra during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Buss S. A.. Cmdr
- Buss MVO DSC, MID Stuart Austen. Commander (d.13th November 1943)
- Chambers Douglas Haig. CPO
- Chapman Frank. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Chilton C. B.. Sub Lt.
- Coale Eric. Lt. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Craven George Albert . Stoker
- Crawford Eric Richard.
- Fraser Robert. Able Seaman. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Jasper Charles Albert. Able Sea. (d.1942)
- Langley Harry. Able Seaman. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Lee T. S..
- May Cecil Wakeford. Cmdr
- McDougall E. C..
- Renew Ernest Joseph. Able Sea. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Seymour William Richard Dunham.
- Smith Charles Richard. PO. (d.27th Feb 1942)
- Stafford Herbert William. Able Sea.
- Trowbridge Harry. C.P.O.
- Woodward David. Able Sea. (d.27th February 1942)
- Woodward David. Able Sea. (d.27th February 1942)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of HMS Electra from other sources.
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Want to know more about HMS Electra? There are:3 items tagged HMS Electra available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Lt. Eric Coale HMS Electra (d.27th Feb 1942) I have just inherited my Great Uncles Naval
sword, medals, paperwork and photos, and I was wondering if
you have any information about him or his crew. I have a book which mentions him.
Eric Coale, Age 23, Rank Lieutenant, Died 27 February at the battle of Java.
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Able Seaman. Robert Fraser HMS Electra (d.27th Feb 1942) In Memory of
Able Seaman Robert Fraser
C/JX 190268, H.M.S. Electra, Royal Navy
who died age 22
on 27 February 1942
Son of Peter Mackie Fraser and Frances Mary Fraser; husband of Winifred Joyce Fraser, of Brockley, London.
Father of Malcolm Robert Fraser (deceased), Grandfather to Ian Robert Fraser and Great-Grandfather to Vincent Robert Fraser.
My Grandfather, Robert Fraser, able seaman, was presumed killed in the 'Battle of the Java Sea'.
The crew's names can be seen at the Chatham Maritime Memorial, Chatham, Kent, I recently took my son to see his great grandfathers name, emotional. If any one has any information please contact me.
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Frank Chapman HMS Electra (d.27th Feb 1942) My Mother's first husband went down in the Battle of Java with HMS Electra. His name was Frank Chapman - Able Seaman.
We understand that he was in the torpedo room at the time of the battle and that he was probably killed instantly. He was only 21 and he left behind him a loving wife and a child of 12 months.
My sister is now 63 and would love to hear anything aobut the Electra. We also know of the niece of the Captain of HMS Electra.
If anyone has any information to add, we would love to hear from you. Are any survivors of HMS Electra still alive? It would be great to hear from them.
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William Richard Dunham Seymour HMS Electra My father was "the doc" on board The Electra when she sent down in The Battle of the Java Sea. His name is William (Bill) Richard Dunham Seymour. He is now 90 and was the ship's surgeon. He qualified in medicine at his home town of Belfast, N. Ireland, and volunteered (was known as "the wavey navy" as his strips were wavey to indicate he volunteered - no conscription in Ireland at that time - 1941). He joined up 4.4.1941 & went onto Electra, based at Scapa Flow and covering the N. Atlantic convoys before going out East. Luckily, was picked up after the Battle of the Java Sea by the Yanks and came home via Australia. Went to Haslar, then to King George V. and ended up being one the first specially chosen dozen to land in Japan after the two A bombs. We are still in touch with one or two survivors from the Electra.
Richard Coale was asking about people who may have known his grandfather who had been killed at the sinking of Electra in 1942. Could Richard please contact me?
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C.P.O. Harry Trowbridge HMS Electra
My Uncle was Acting Stoker, P.O., Harry Trowbridge, he served on board HMS Electra, and I have a small HMS Electra ID. booklet showing his name, rating, part of ship, Mess No. and religion.
Following the sinking of the Electra, my Aunt was extremely concerned for his wellbeing and wrote to the Admiralty requesting information on the 25th of March 1942. A reply was received in April 1942 stating that my Uncle was confirmed as a survivor from HMS Electra and had been landed at Fremantle, Australia.
Following that my Uncle was “loaned” to the Australian Navy and in July 1942 my Aunt wrote to the Admiralty to enquire of the exact position. In September 1942 she received a letter from the Admiralty confirming that my Uncle was “on loan” to the Australian Navy but that his case and the cases of other ratings similarly placed, necessitated enquiries being made of the Australian Naval Authorities.
I have a postcard with a photograph of a ship set in the outline of Australia – it looks like a destroyer and has the number J186 printed on its side. I believe my Uncle stayed with the Australian Navy for approximately 2 years.
I am pleased to say that my Uncle continued to serve the British Navy until the end of the War. I have a photograph of him when he served on HMS Royal Oak and he also served on HMS Foxhound and T.S.S. Athenia sunk by a German submarine on 3rd of September, 1939.
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Stoker George Albert Craven HMS Electra My Grandfather, George Albert Craven, was a Stoker on HMS Electra. He was working in the engine room when it was struck by enemy fire and was blinded by the blast, which had blown the retinas away from the back of his eyes, and was also badly burnt on his upper body. He was helped off the ship and into the water by his shipmates and was subsequently rescued by a US Navy submarine. He was eventually shipped home towards the end of 1942 after several months in hospital where he underwent surgery to repair the damage to his eyes. His eyesight was restored although he had to wear spectacles for the rest of his life. He didn't talk much about his wartime experiences but he did tell me a few things, like what it was like on Russian convoy escort, how they had expected to pick up many crewmen from the Hood but were shocked to find only three and how disturbed he had been by what he saw and heard during the sinking of the Repulse.
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CPO Douglas Haig Chambers HMS Electra My late father, CPO Douglas Haig Chambers, was an engineer aged 23
aboard HMS Electra when it was torpedoed. He did survive, and was one
of the crew who got the General Verspeck steamed up to travel to
Fremantle, Australia. Dad died in 1994.
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Able Sea. David Woodward HMS Electra (d.27th February 1942) David Woodward is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent.
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