Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

My Father is Leading Stoker Albert H. Chatwin

Thank you for the picture. My Uncle Jim Read was Chief ERA on Somali. My father and I met Jim and other survivors at Waterloo Station. They were turned away from The Union Jack Club because they could not prove who they said they were ! They wanted to rest. They were so disgusted that they decided to carry on making their way home. I can supply more info.

My Uncle Joey (Wickenden) was on the Somali - he only joined up in April 1942 aged 20 and he was part of the skeleton crew when she went down in September

My Uncle Cyril Gamblin was an A/B on the Somali and was lost on that fateful night - he was 21.

My father, A/B Arthur Brown was on the Somali, but was rescued and transfered to Aberdeen. He suffered loss of memory and also had his hip replaced.
Dad was transfered to Sherborne, in Dorset. He remained an A/B until he retired from the Royal Navy, some time in the 50's. He served on HMS Vangard on the Royal Tour if South Africa and later we, as a family, were priveledged to see the Review at Spit Head from the deck of a minesweeper. He later went to Buckingham Palace to receive the Royal Victorian medal. A/B Brown died in 1972 but his wife is still living, aged 96. [September 2010]

My father served on the Somali as a signaler and was on convoy duties to Russia. I know that at the end of the war his rank was Yeoman of signals but not sure what rank he held whilst on Somali. I do know he was torpedoed twice so suspect he was on Somali when she was torpedoed in 1942. His name is Francis Henry Spendelow, he is now aged 95yrs. If anyone who remembers him would like to contact him I will be happy to put them in touch with him.

my uncle Frank Mulahy (mazza) was also on the Somali, sadly he died trying to save others RIP.

My father William Cowie Brooks was in charge of the 4 inch gun crew 16 men in all. (Big Bill Brooks from pertculter just outside Abedeen). My dad was on of the crew who volenteered to stayed on somali till she broke her back and sunk. He was metioned in dispaches for his part in the demise. I Built a large model of somali to keep this part of my father life alive. If anyone wants to contact me I have a lot of information on her sinking and crew photos ect.

My uncle Frederic 'Norman' Wood was leading writer and part of the volunteer tow crew when 'Somali sank. He did not survive.
I applied for and received his posthumous Arctic badge from the MoD

My grandad was on Somali when this happened, he was ok his name was "Sydney Alexander Hull", aged 42 at the time and an ordinary seaman, he also lost his medals and belongings, he was a gunner.

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