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Those known to have sailed in HMS London during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Benton Albert Frederick.
- Clack Harold George. AB
- Flood Douglas. Petty Officer
- Owens William George. Stokers Mate
- Powell Robert. Telegraphist.
- Prest Stanley.
- Robinson Robert Benjamin. PO.
- Smith Frederick. PO
- Smith Richard Rothwell. PO.
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 London from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
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Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about HMS London? There are:1 items tagged HMS London 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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Albert Frederick Benton Turret Gunner HMS Mauritius/HMS London I learned recently that my wife's uncle - Albert Frederick Benton - served in the Royal Marines (turret gunner) on HMS Mauritius and on HMS London. I would love to know more, as would his son who never managed to talk to Bert about his war service.
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PO. Richard Rothwell Smith HMS Cairo Dad, Richard Smith joined the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent in 1935 at the age of 15 and a half, he served for 15 years. He was a PTI.
His ships were:
HMS Ramilies,
HMS Iron Duke, HMS Hood, HMS London, HMS Coventry, HMS Cairo, HMS Montclare
and HMS Glasgow.
He was on HMS Cairo at the time she was torpedoed while on Operation Pedestal
He died in 1996.
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PO. Robert Benjamin Robinson HMS Pembroke My grandad, Robert Robinson, was in the Royal Navy from 1933 until discharged in 1945. He was sunk twice. He was mostly on board HMS Pembroke but also served on
HMS Apollo, HMS Calliope, HMS Ferret, HMS Valiant, HMS Ramillies, HMS Dolphin, HMS St Angelo, HMS London and HMS Asphodel from his hand written certificate of service.
Bob had scarring on his lungs from the bronchitis caused by his time adrift after being sunk and this contributed to his death in 1995.
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AB Harold George Clack HMS London I served in Royal Navy on HMS London between 1942-1946. I had about 12 duties to carry whilst serving these included Electrician, Crane driver. I was also with the Anchor crew but mainly worked as an Electrician.
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Stanley Prest HMS London My dad, Stan Prest, joined HMS London at Chatham as a 17-year-old in 1941. He was on Russian convoys to Archangel, receiving the Atlantic Star and I'm in the process of applying for the Arctic Star. He was also awarded the Burma Star for their work in the Pacific and steamed down to Perth or Freemantle for a refit. I have pictures of the Japanese surrender at Sabang and a photo of what my dad called the big four in Alexandria. He definitely got around.
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Telegraphist. Robert "Sandy" Powell HMS London Robert Powell is a survivor of the terrible tragedy that occured on 27th of March 1943. As of today's date (30 January, 2015) is very much alive and well - living in Christchurch, New Zealand.
HMS Dasher was built in the USA as a merchant ship, but converted to an escort aircraft carrier and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 2 July 1942. Dasher had a complement of 555 men and carried 15 Sea-Hurricane aircraft.
After doing some aircraft ferry operations in the Mediterranean, Dasher sailed to the Clyde in March 1943 and, having had her flight-deck lengthened by 42 feet, she embarked Fairey Swordfish aircraft. She escorted one convoy successfully, but shortly after leaving with the second, Dasher suffered engine trouble and turned back. Shortly after getting to the Firth of Clyde on 27 March 1943, she suffered a major internal explosion and sank.
Dad survived the sinking by leaping into the sea when the Dasher was almost upright. He found a cannister amongst debris which kept him afloat in the cold, rough waters until he was eventually picked up. The most terrible memories for him are the moments he spent under the water, trying to surface; the horror when the fuel on the water ignited - killing so many of his colleagues; and the task of trying to identify bodies in the days that followed. He was just 19 at the time.
Dad did as he was told and never really spoke of the Dasher however, for his 80th birthday, I gave him a journal. As a result we learned so much about my father that he had not spoken of. What became very clear was that he wanted to go home; and he wanted very much to visit the site of the sinking of the Dasher. Dad had until then, never returned to the UK since leaving in 1960.
In 2009 at almost 86, we sent him by himself, to the UK. He joined one other survivor in Ardrossan for the annual commemorative service, hosted by the HMS Dasher Association and he would dearly love to go back one last time. We are hopeful for next year.
In April 2013, Dad very proudly attended my son's Passing Out Ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand. He was asked to sit with the VIPs that day - I think that only fitting.
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Petty Officer Douglas Flood Seamans Branch (Gunnery) HMS Nigeria My Father Douglas Flood, served in the Royal Navy on board both HMS London (Dec.1940-Feb.1943) and HMS Nigeria (Sep. 1943-Mar.1946). He is now 83 and living in Ontario, Canada. He has a lot of photographs and notes from the war. We have visited many websites about the Royal Navy and are looking for information on any surviving members from both ships, who may be living in Canada. My father served in the Seamans Branch (Gunnery) and left the Navy as a Petty Officer. If there are any reunions or gatherings in the near future please let us know.
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