Naval Trawler Lost
The Admiralty issued the following last night :-
"The Board of the Admiralty regrets to announce that H.M Trawler FORTUNA, temporary skipper, W.T. M. CHARLTON. R.N.R, is overdue and must be considered lost, next-of-kin informed."
Daily Post, April 16th 1941
H.M.S BONAVENTURE LOST ON CONVOY
H.M.S BONAVENTURE, a cruiser, 5,450 tons has been lost, an official communique stated yesterday,
The Board of the Admiralty regrets to announce that H.M.S BONAVENTURE, Capt H. J. EGERTON. R.N, has been torpedoed while acting as an escort to a convoy. H.M.S BONAVENTURE subsequently sank. The next-of-kin of casualties have been informed.
Capt H. J. EGERTON, a grandson of the 1st Lord BRASSEY is the brother-in-law of Mrs Anthony EDEN. He served in the Grand Fleet throughout the last war in the battleships, AGINCOURT and WARSPITE. And took part in the Battle of Jutland.
One of BONAVENTURES main features was that she carried 10, 5-25inch guns, She was the first vessel in the Royal Navy to be armed with the gun, which attains a high range of fire combined with great accuracy at long ranges, and tremendous hitting power. It was stated at her launch 2yrs ago that the gun was to be far better than any medium calibre gun ever produced for naval purposes.
She had 16 smaller guns and 6 torpedo tubes and carried one aircraft which could be catapulted. Her speed was 30knots, she was completed last year and was one of the Dido class.
The name BONAVENTURE has been long associated with the Royal Navy, DRAKE made his last voyage in a ship of that name and BONAVENTURE carried the flag of the Duke of Cumberland in the Spanish Armada.
The Board of the Admiralty announces that :-
"One of our submarines H.M.S. TIGRIS, Lieut Com H. F. BONE, DSO, DSC, RN, has reported she has sunk an armed and heavy laden tanker of about 10,000tons bound for a port in France."
The TIGRIS belongs to the Triton class, which includes the salvaged THETIS, [now called THUNDERBOLT]. She is officially described as a patrol type submarine for general service, completed at Chatham last year, she is armed with a 4inch gun, 2 smaller and 10 torpedo tubes.
Lieut Com BONE was awarded the D.S.O last November for , Good service in recent successful patrols and operations against the enemy and a D.S.C, a month later for, Courage and resource in a successful action against an enemy submarine.
April 17th 1941
Survivors from HMS BONAVENTURE
Stoker Douglas A. BARTON, son of Mr and Mrs A. BARTON of George Rd, Hoylake has sent a telegram to his parents "Safe and well will write later" BARTON has been in the navy for 4yrs and was on the EXETER during the Graf Spee Battle.
News received at his home, Eaton Rd, West Kirby, that seaman G. EVANS is safe, he was formerly on the EXETER and took part in the River Plate Battle.
7 saved from sinking vessel, Captain's narrow escape
For 4 hours yesterday the crew of 7 of the S.S. EMPIRE CONTAMAI of Maryport Cumberland, stood on the deck of their sinking vessel watching the tide rise until it had reached their chests. The 7 were landed at Fowey, Cornwall, by the local lifeboat after the 244 ton vessel had been driven ashore in St Austell Bay.
The skipper Captain August WILLIAMS, aged 50 of Penzance was saved from death by his chief engineer Philip McDAID of Londonderry, when the lifeboat was thrown on to the deck by a 30ft wave, the engineer jumped forward and dragged his captain back as the lifeboat smashed the deck rails where he had been standing.
Other members of the crew were the mate, Mr K. BOTTERHAM, of Parkestone Rd, Birkenhead, the cook, G. WILLIAMS, of George St, Llanrwst, North Wales, and Able Seamen, J. STEWART, of York St, Liverpool, L. SCANTLEBURY, of Bosvego Rd, Truro and H. FRIDAY of Egerton St, Liverpool
Copyright 2002 / To date