Some of HMS Firedrake's Last Crew


Stephen Frank Kemp
 Stephen Frank Kemp.
Stoker P.O.
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

Frank Joined the Navy at the age of 16 in 1919.
He joined HMS Firedrake in the Med 1937 after leaving the Cumberland on the China Station Wei-Hai-Wei.
He was a very popular chap on board and was known for being a good hair dresser so had the job of cutting the crews hair. Frank was one of the oldest at 39.
Douglas Farren
 Douglas Farren. Ab.Smn
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

Douglas joined the Navy as boy at 16 when war started he was on the Cumberland and was at the sinking of the Graf Spee. When he was in Boston when the Firedrake was being repaired, Douglas was taken to a show by civilian friends where the movie star Diana Durban was performing, she invited him on stage and they sung a duet together. Douglas sang solo in the choir at St Luke’s Church Barrow-in-Furness as a boy. See P-8

Charles Joseph Maher Ab.Smn
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
A very unflappable soft spoken chap, when the Firedrake was expecting to be attacked after the look outs had seen a spotter plane earlier in the day, when the attacking aircraft were spotted he was sent to the ward room to report it to the officers it is said he stood in the door way and said:- the aircraft’s have arrived sir. See P-6
Lenard A, Robinson
Lenard A. Robinson Tel.
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

A very popular chap he made lots of friend in America he was a great success at parties because he could sing and play the piano.
The Firedrake was being repaired in Boston Massachusetts after being damaged by an Italian bombed in the Mediterranean. Lenard was a pupil of Eaton Manor Boys School. See P-16

Arthur Snelling

Arthur Snelling Able Seaman

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
From Norwich Arthur had many friends and left a wife and son and daughter who miss him very much.
See P-4
Ron Slack
 Ron Slack  Stoker 1.
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942. Photographed here on his wedding day to Iris in August 1942 just three months before Ron was killed. He was very keen on cycling and once attempted to cycle from Kent to Derby.
After the war Ron’s father-in-law who was an accomplished chrysanthemum grower produced a new flower that won the gold medal at the London show, so he named the new flower Firedrake. See P-12

Knobby Hall at "B" Gun
 A.J.K. Hall (Knobby). Able Seaman

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
Photographed here at "B" Gun
Ex-Shotly Boy From Tooting, London, one of John Bridge's mates.
Fred Garner
 Fred P. Garner Ldg Stoker

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
Fred had served on the Sunflower, he'd been offered promotion to leading stoker and took it this brought him to the Firedrake, just very bad luck for Fred. See P-13


Alan F. White
Able Seaman

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942 Alan was an ASDIC rating a big mate of Bert How. See P-8
Harry W. G. Lawrence
Able Seaman

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
Also a good mate of Bert How.
Nigger

Nigger (Nick name only)

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942 See P-8

On other information
Charlie Ireland P.O. Cook
 Charlie Ireland P.O.
Officers Cook

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

From Sherringham Norfolk
and George Walkers boss on the ship. See P-8
Jock Christison

Jock Christison
Leading Steward

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

Jock had been the head waiter at St Andrews Golf Club Scotland before the war. See P-6
Fred Pope
 Fred Pope A/P.O.R.F.R.

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

Fred was mentioned in dispatches when Firedrake sunk the Italian submarine Durbo in the Mediterranean on 18.10.40. See P-8
L. O'Loughlin & R. Fearon

L. J. O'Loughlin Ab. Smn.
R. A. Fearon AB Smn.

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942

This photo taken on the fo'c'sle just as they left Halifax on another convoy duty. See P-3 for more.
Richard Liberty
 R. Liberty Able Seaman.
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.

Richard Joined the Navy in 1927 served on the HMS Ramillies for three years then HMS Whirlwind until he left the Navy in 1933. He Joined the Firedrake after being called up for war service in 1940. Full Story Page 16
Dennis and Barbara Andrews .

Dennis G. Andrews.
Able Seaman.
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.
Dennis was married to Barbara in 1942 after surviving the sinking of HMS Cornwall in April 1942, he had been rescued after 36 hours in the water, he joined the Firedrake soon after. See P-8 for more.
Stanley E. Odell
Chief E R A
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.

Stanley was the youngest of four, he joined the Navy in 1928, and loved the life, he was artistic and had a good sense of humour. He was awarded the Palestine Medal among others.



E.H. Smith (Eddie)
Stoker Petty Officer
A.V. Place (Fishy)
Leading Stoker
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.
Both mates of Dick Conway. See P-4.  Both were lost with the Firedrake when the ship was sunk by a torpedo from U211.
L.J. O'Loughlin
Able seaman

HMS Firedrake

K.I.A. 17th December 1942

Louis James O'Loughlin was from Ireland living in London his relations now live in the USA.

James Rouse
Able Seaman
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.
James was recalled when war broke out he had already done 14 years and had left navy. Little is known of his service record or when he joined the Firedrake other than he had served in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

Alfred W.H. Townsend
(Budge)
Signalman.

HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942.

Born: 2nd October 1921.
Alfred came from Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire

Leslie Murgatroyd  (Les)
Petty Officer (ERA)
HMS Firedrake
K.I.A. 17th December 1942
Leslie Murgatroyd was from Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He joined HMS Firedrake in Boston, USA. Les was deeply mourned by his family and his fiancee. His brother, Frank, has treasured memories of a much loved brother.

   

Other Pages Below
 E-mail John Masters
HMS Firedrake Page 1 The history of HMS Firedrake. The history of HMS Firedrake. HMS Firedrake details. Survivor Donald Coombes Survivor George Walker Joe Curbishley and John Bridge Bert How & Bill Aldous Topsy & Scouse Cliff Vincett, Wiggy Bennett & Reg Furgusson. Stanley Humphries and Henry Timpson. The Coxswain and the Chrysanthemum Memories from the Sunflower Some more of Firedrake's last crew. Robinson, Waliker and Liberty. Capt. S. Norris. DSO. DSC. and Comm. E.H.Tilden DSC. RN. The Mailli Breze Tragedy and J. Wallbank. Adopted by Tynemouth. Edwards, Sym and Pattison. The U39 and Durbo story Dr John Aldren's story Peter Kelly Remembers Lt D.J.Dampier. Survivor Leonard Browne & George Dougal The "F" Class Destroyers Ken Neale OBE. FSA.