Time Capsules
County class cruiser, probably HMS Dorsetshire
I just found this photo among my late father's effects - he was in the RAF as a rigger but attached to the Fleet Air Arm during WW2, mainly on HMS Eagle, and had been aboard her on the China station before the War, too. Guess he had probably been on leave in the UK and returned to the Indian Ocean (I know he was in Colombo, Ceylon at some stage) aboard this cruiser. I think it was HMS Cornwall, but could have been Dorsetshire, and the picture background indicates to me possibly Scapa Flow. I have also guessed the date as being 1941, but stand to be corrected - clues are the aircraft hangar, location of the bridge, etc.
The notes he put on the picture are:
1. My sleeping cabin (up to the present)
2. Hangar
3. Lower deck (bottom line of scuttles)
4. Main deck (top line of scuttles)
5. Upper deck
6. Flight and gun deck (level with floor of hangar)
Comments and corrections are welcome!
I have also put this picture on the ShipsandHarbours site in the hope of getting comments there.
Picture added on 30 June 2008
Hi... My uncle was on the cornwall he is now 89years young, he talks to me all the time regarding the day in was sunk I will ask him to have a look at this for you he is on the ball he made me laugh yesterday when he told me when they got sunk everyone that survived had a watch on as they all got 10 shillings for a new one. He hates talking about it and always shyed away from talking about what happened that day I have been helping him to talk more as I am sure he suffers from PSTD He is now telling me more everyday and now enjoying our wee chats You would not beleive the things he has told me. anyway will nget my uncle to have alook and get back to you if you wish me to. Regards Vi Duffy
Added by V,duffy on 07 September 2008
Hello, Vi, I would be very grateful if you could show your uncle this picture. Perhaps he could confirm which ship it is, Cornwall or Dorsetshire, and possible a guess at the location and approximate date, too.
Best regards to you both.
Peter
Best regards to you both.
Peter
Added by Peter Langsdale on 09 September 2008
Hi my uncle served on the HMS cornwall and survied the sinking. He 89yrs old and could never talk about what happened to him during the attack. Last summer I started talking to him about his time on the cornwall he has now opened up and told me loads of stories and the true event of what happened to them while in the watwer after the attack. The newspaper reported some lies. He is still as sharp as I am and can help you with any details you need regarding the ship.
Added by Violet duffy on 27 April 2009
Hello again Violet, my first question is whether this is HMS Cornwall or not - it might be a different ship, and if so, which one?
Added by Peter Langsdale on 27 April 2009
Hi Peter never got your first reply sorry... My uncle said it is not the Cornwall. Looks like the Dorsetshire which joined the Cornwall in the east in 1942.It is the Naval Base in Scapa Flow in Scotland.In 1941 the Cornwall was in the Indian Ocean and he was aboard it then. Hope this is some help to you Regards Vi
Added by Violet on 30 April 2009
Many thanks, Vi.
Marcel, please alter the title to: "County class cruiser, probably HMS Dorsetshire", thank you in advance!
Editor: done!
Marcel, please alter the title to: "County class cruiser, probably HMS Dorsetshire", thank you in advance!
Editor: done!
Added by Peter Langsdale on 30 April 2009
Hi, An old departed friend Sid Wood was on the Dorsetshire when it was sunk by the Japanese off Ceylon. Those who survived were taken to the infamous prison camps.
regards
Alan
regards
Alan
Added by Alan Matthews on 12 February 2010
HMS Cumberland and Suffolk were fitted with hangars. The hull aft of X turret was cut down to reduce top weight at the same time. HMS Cornwall and Berwick were fitted with a hangar, but their hulls were not cut down aft. These four ships had external bulges. The later ships did not have them. So the ship in the photo with external bilges and flush decked is either HMS Cornwall or HMS Berwick
Added by D.Perkin on 11 March 2011
HMS Dorsetshire was not fitted with a hangar.
Added by D.Perkin on 12 March 2011
Alan Matthews, My father was a survivor of the Dorsetshire sinking, he was not taken to a PoW camp, he was rescued by a British vessel, HMS Paladine ?
Added by Nick Benny on 29 March 2011
Unknown
