James Arthur Richard (son of Arthur Cecil Eley and Ruth Hume) was born 1919, and died 10 Nov 1942 in HMS Martin.
Notes for James Arthur Richard: http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2467101
Name: ELEY, JAMES ARTHUR RICHARD Initials: J A R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Petty Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Martin Age: 23 Date of Death: 10/11/1942 Service No: CH/X 145475 Additional information: Son of Arthur Cecil and Ruth Eley, of Boston, Lincolnshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 51, 3. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
H.M.S. Martin M Class Destroyer G44 Launched 12th. Dec. 1940 Sunk 2:59 AM on 10th Nov.1942 By U Boat U431 off Algiers Africa, with three torpedo’s. 161 lost 63 survivors. (Arthur Hands one of the survivors believes there was 222 members of crew. 4 officers and 59 ratings survived. If this is correct 155 crew were lost. ) Commander C R P Thompson DSO on H.M.S. Martin Commander Donnes on U431 H.M.S. Martin left Gibraltar on Nov. 5th. To join operation Torch H.M.S. Martin was part of Force H, operation Torch ( the invasion of North Africa ) Z71 squadron (RAF) sank U431 Bury in Lancashire adopted H.M.S. Martin Sorry I've taken so long replying to you Scott, I honestly don't know where the time goes. I met Arthur Hands last year he only lives ten miles from me. I spent a pleasant hour or so talking to him. It would seem that so many lost their lives was due to the time HMS Martin was torpedoed , most of the crew would have been asleep. Arthur was on watch on the bridge with several officers, they knew the ship was going down as soon as it was hit and told him to get out, none of them survived. U431 was not aiming for HMS Martin , the torpedo's were aimed at an aircraft carrier and HMS Martin was in it's shadow. I have some reports from survivors that I need to get copied, when I get that done I can mail you them if you would like them. Dave Shean [dave@dshean.fsnet.co.uk]
More About James Arthur Richard: Occupation: Petty Officer Royal Navy.
James Arthur Richard (b. 1919, d. 10 Nov 1942)
Notes for James Arthur Richard: