Trafford

Article in the 05/12/41 edition of the local newspaper, states that he had
now served for 6 years in the RN and had recently been involved in an
incident whilst serving on H.M.S. Hermes, for which he had been "Mentioned
in Despatches".    The incident happened at Dakar - he was one of a party
on a small motor boat that went out and crippled the French warship
Richelieu.

H.M.S. Hermes was sunk at about 11.15hrs on 09/04/42 off Batticaloa,
Ceylon, in position 07.50N 81.49E, by aircraft from Japanese carriers
Akagi, Hiryu, Shokaku & Zuikaku, which scored over 40 hits with 500lb bombs
- 307 men lost. It was an aircraft carrier built between 1918 & 1923, it
had a displacement of 10,805 tons and a complement of 700 personnel.

His younger brother Vincent, had been killed in the Middle East last year.

Photo in 17/04/42 & 01/05/42 editions of the local newspaper.