War Widow Looking for Information

Trincomalee · 09-02-2008, 12:27 PM

This morning I read this letter . and wondered whether anyone has information that could help this war widow ?

"..my late husband , Sgt Roy Stevenson , No. 541565 was posted to Malta at the later part of 1941 . Sometime in 1942 he was wounded and because of his wounds and lack of medicines on the island he was repatriated to England on the HMS Welshman . The ship was torpedoed and I received a telegram telling me he was lost at sea .

I have not been able to get anymore information and to this day it haunts me not knowing the state of his condition . Whether he was capable of trying to live or whether he died quickly ."

Does anyone have any thoughts or any information ?

Linden

syscom_3 · 20-02-2008, 08:53 PM

If we knew what ship he was on, or the date of the torpedoing (approx is ok) then we can deduce what sub sunk her.

MalcolmII · 20-02-2008, 11:25 PM

STEVENSON, ROY MATTHEW Initials: R M Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: (serving in H.M.S. Welshman) Age: 25 Date of Death: 01/02/1943 Service No: 541565 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Stevenson; husband of Freda Stevenson, of Eastcote, Ruislip, Middlesex. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 9, Column 2. Memorial: MALTA MEMORIAL

see
uboat.net - Allied Warships - Minelayer HMS Welshman of the Abdiel class

Aye
MalcolmII

Peter Clare · 20-02-2008, 11:27 PM

HMS Welshman
1 February 1943.
Torpedoed by U 617 45 miles east of Tobruk, mine deck flooded and ship capsized suddenly and sank within 3 minutes, 152 men lost.

Trincomalee · 20-02-2008, 11:42 PM

Thank you both .
I read the letter in the War Widows Association magazine so I will forward this information . I hope it will help .

Is there anywhere that would give information about his hospitalisation on Malta ?
Do you think his service records would tell her any more ? Do you think I should suggest that she send for them ?

Does anyone have a photograph of his name on the Malta war memorial ? I couldn't enlarge the CWGC picture sufficiently .

I feel that your information about how quickly the ship sank will comfort her .

Linden

Peter Clare · 21-02-2008, 11:10 AM

Linden,
Not sure if the service record would give info on hospitalisation, but it would give a good insight into his service in the Navy. I believe its well worth applying for it.

You could start here.

IWM Home Page > Your History > How to trace People's History > Royal Navy > Naval Service Records > Royal Navy

Regards
Peter

ADM199 · 21-02-2008, 07:52 PM

The Welshman sunk by U67 (Brandi)at 17:45hrs position 32:12N - 24:52 E. Hit with two torpedoes which were followed by a Boiler explosion.
The Welshman had been wrongly identified as a Dido Class Cruiser by Brandi.

Trincomalee · 21-02-2008, 07:59 PM

Thank you all .
I've written to her today with all your information and I'm sure it will help .
Linden

Trincomalee · 24-03-2008, 10:19 AM

Today I've received a letter of thanks from this lady .

"The information about HMS Welshman was very helpful , at least I know he could not have lingered in the water . I had no idea he was being repatriated because of his wounds , but I still don't know how very wounded he must have been . My joy quickly turned to sadness when I received the telegram ...
I have several letters but the one piece of the jigsaw is missing . He was such a strong fine man , I conclude he must have been badly injured ."

Malcolm , you seemed to be suggesting that he was serving on HMS Welshman ? His widow thought he was serving on Malta , was injured in some way and hospitalised there , but couldn't be successfully treated so he was on board as a casualty being sent home . She is still trying to discover what was wrong .
Does anyone have any comment / ideas ?

By coincidence , my cousin was on holiday in Malta a couple of weeks ago and she has sent me pictures of Sgt Stevenson's entry on the memorial .

Thank you all again .
Linden

Trincomalee · 20-04-2008, 03:50 PM

Since my last posting my cousin has visited Malta and , thanks to your information , she was able to find the listing on the War Memorial and to take photos . I forwarded them to Sgt Stevenson's widow and have received another letter of thanks .

I thought you might be interested to hear that she has received other information . She has been sent copies of a letter from 1941 , written by a Rear Admiral , praising the crew of the Welshman . It sounds as though this might have been from "The Navy News" .

Thanks again ,
Linden

09-02-2008, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 120	War Widow Looking for Information This morning I read this letter . and wondered whether anyone has information that could help this war widow ? "..my late husband , Sgt Roy Stevenson , No. 541565 was posted to Malta at the later part of 1941 . Sometime in 1942 he was wounded and because of his wounds and lack of medicines on the island he was repatriated to England on the HMS Welshman . The ship was torpedoed and I received a telegram telling me he was lost at sea . I have not been able to get anymore information and to this day it haunts me not knowing the state of his condition . Whether he was capable of trying to live or whether he died quickly ." Does anyone have any thoughts or any information ? Linden

20-02-2008, 08:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
syscom_3 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County Posts: 63	If we knew what ship he was on, or the date of the torpedoing (approx is ok) then we can deduce what sub sunk her. __________________ "Pilot to co-pilot, what are those mountain goats doing up here in these clouds?"

20-02-2008, 11:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
MalcolmII Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 204	STEVENSON, ROY MATTHEW Initials: R M Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: (serving in H.M.S. Welshman) Age: 25 Date of Death: 01/02/1943 Service No: 541565 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Stevenson; husband of Freda Stevenson, of Eastcote, Ruislip, Middlesex. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 9, Column 2. Memorial: MALTA MEMORIAL see uboat.net - Allied Warships - Minelayer HMS Welshman of the Abdiel class Aye MalcolmII Last edited by MalcolmII; 20-02-2008 at 11:29 PM.

20-02-2008, 11:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Peter Clare Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK Posts: 4,542	HMS Welshman 1 February 1943. Torpedoed by U 617 45 miles east of Tobruk, mine deck flooded and ship capsized suddenly and sank within 3 minutes, 152 men lost. __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

21-02-2008, 11:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Peter Clare Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK Posts: 4,542	Linden, Not sure if the service record would give info on hospitalisation, but it would give a good insight into his service in the Navy. I believe its well worth applying for it. You could start here. IWM Home Page > Your History > How to trace People's History > Royal Navy > Naval Service Records > Royal Navy Regards Peter __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

20-02-2008, 11:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 120	Thank you both . I read the letter in the War Widows Association magazine so I will forward this information . I hope it will help . Is there anywhere that would give information about his hospitalisation on Malta ? Do you think his service records would tell her any more ? Do you think I should suggest that she send for them ? Does anyone have a photograph of his name on the Malta war memorial ? I couldn't enlarge the CWGC picture sufficiently . I feel that your information about how quickly the ship sank will comfort her . Linden

21-02-2008, 07:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
ADM199 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 150	The Welshman sunk by U67 (Brandi)at 17:45hrs position 32:12N - 24:52 E. Hit with two torpedoes which were followed by a Boiler explosion. The Welshman had been wrongly identified as a Dido Class Cruiser by Brandi.

21-02-2008, 07:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 120	Thank you all . I've written to her today with all your information and I'm sure it will help . Linden

24-03-2008, 10:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 120	Today I've received a letter of thanks from this lady . "The information about HMS Welshman was very helpful , at least I know he could not have lingered in the water . I had no idea he was being repatriated because of his wounds , but I still don't know how very wounded he must have been . My joy quickly turned to sadness when I received the telegram ... I have several letters but the one piece of the jigsaw is missing . He was such a strong fine man , I conclude he must have been badly injured ." Malcolm , you seemed to be suggesting that he was serving on HMS Welshman ? His widow thought he was serving on Malta , was injured in some way and hospitalised there , but couldn't be successfully treated so he was on board as a casualty being sent home . She is still trying to discover what was wrong . Does anyone have any comment / ideas ? By coincidence , my cousin was on holiday in Malta a couple of weeks ago and she has sent me pictures of Sgt Stevenson's entry on the memorial . Thank you all again . Linden

20-04-2008, 03:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 120	Since my last posting my cousin has visited Malta and , thanks to your information , she was able to find the listing on the War Memorial and to take photos . I forwarded them to Sgt Stevenson's widow and have received another letter of thanks . I thought you might be interested to hear that she has received other information . She has been sent copies of a letter from 1941 , written by a Rear Admiral , praising the crew of the Welshman . It sounds as though this might have been from "The Navy News" . Thanks again , Linden

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