HI all, I am currently researching my grandfather's naval history. I have a sparse amount of information to work with,and sadly my grandfather passed in 1989 so I cant ask him! I have a copy of his Navy certificate which is very basic- no service numbers or anything, just a ship list. I called TNT archives who gave me his service numbers and title- he was a Stoker then became Lead Engine Room Artificer 4th class. I then started to research each "ship" however they are mostly shore establishments i.e. Eaglet in Liverpool and Victory in Portsmouth. Three ships however have remained annoymous: HMS Lucifer (Fidelity)(1941) HMS Byrsa (42/43?) HMS Odyssey (1/10/43-30/06/44)- On board for D Day? I have read that the Byrsa was special ops but again can't clarify. We know that my grandfather was on a ship that was sunk but rescued- again no clarification. And my grandfather told my father that he was on the Fidelity which was later sunk, but again no crew lists. The Odyssey is what caught my eye, yet I cant find anything official. The Veterans Association confirmed that it is most likely the ship not a land base (and there is a list of people killed in action on HMS Odyssey but buried in France- the shore establishment is in Devon I may add), but the only information is from forums, who all go along the lines of combined ops/ secret service and a big involvement with D Day Normandy landings. My grandfather mentioned combined ops once to my father who was very young at the time, but he never really disclosed anything else. Other clues are: my grandfather was French but changed his name to an English name (Jean Charles Dutreuilh to Charles Winston) and a photo of him in a uniform that doesn't appear to be a navy uniform. We believe that it was taken in France. (This has since been confirmed as No1 Barrack Dress by an ex Gurka, and strictly Army issue.) Has anyone heard of anything similar or is my imagination going into overdrive??!! Any help would be wonderful! Natasha PS I have pulled his military records from MoD but have been warned that I may not find out anything new.
Old post, but I thought I’d answer HMS Lucifer (Swansee) HMS Byrsa (Naples) and HMS Odyssey (London) are all shore establishments Naval Shore Establishments HMS Fidelity Crewlist from HMS Fidelity (D 57) (British special service vessel) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net Crewlist from HMS Fidelity (D 57) (British special service vessel) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
Nothing to do with any of the above - except it's about a Wren from HMS Odyssey - Rachel Scott. She is buried in Birkdale Cemetery Southport, where I'm recording 'Additions to gravestones' - commemorations of casualties on family graves, who died elsewhere (so not their graves). Her father, Douglas Murray Scott FAA, is commemorated on the grave (WMR 94485). Her inscription simply reads 'Rachel Scott, WRNS, Died Aug. 27th 1945, Aged 28'. However, in Royal Navy Casualties she is listed as 'Killed'. I cannot find any further references to her to explain what is meant by 'Killed' - and the grave ref. would indicate it wasn't war-related. Anyone know more?
UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Name: Rachel Scott Event: Death Birth Date: 12 Apr 1917 Birth Place: Southport,Lancs Death Date: 27 Aug 1945 Death Age: 28 Heart failure TD Casualty Details | CWGC Can upload the document that says 'killed' ?
Thanks for the response - seems to clear it up. This is the site that gives 'Killed': Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, August 1945 BTW - Douglas Murray Scott, FAA, was her brother, not her father.
