I’ve been looking at the case of HMS Minster, which sank on 8 June 1944 near Utah beach after hitting a mine. 58 men were lost, ie most of the ship’s company. 10 have known graves; the other 48 do not, and their names are recorded on the three naval memorials in the UK. I’m wondering what happened to the bodies of the 48. Were they left in the wreck (if so, I haven’t noticed the wreck being called a war grave)? Or were they retrieved and given an appropriate burial at sea (if so, I haven’t noticed any mention of such a ceremony)?
Dear Bart150 My father was a casualty of HMS Minster. According to naval records there was 72 crew lost. The dive sites have listed the wreck as a war grave and warned their members that the French government has banned any interference with the wreck. They may look but not touch. Regards John Connell
According to naval-history.net there were 58 casualties for HMS Minster when she sank after hitting a mine. They are listed here: Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, June 1944 . I think the figure of 72 quoted above includes the survivors but I can find no details. Tim
Minster 1924 HMS - Auxiliary Netlayer - ClydeMaritime Forums - www.clydemaritime.co.uk Most of the crew were below decks at mess and the majority, if not all of the crew, were lost. There were 72 casualties We have not been able to establish total crew on board at the time, though unsubstantiated suggestions of 85 have been made So it seems there is no definitive number as yet Normandie Shipwrecks TD
I had seen that reference, TD, but discounted the figure as there were no details. There were definitely some survivors which included the Captain, A/Lt Cdr W Jackson, RNR. I think the definitive answer lies in ADM 358/4350 - HMS Minster 8June 1944 sunk by enemy action, hit mine off coast of Normandy, Enquiries into Missing Personnel. Tim
Hi Tim, It probably does, but the differences point out that they would have a crew numbering ?? but seem to have collected (possibly) an unknown number of 'extra's', so will a final number ever be known? TD
Gents, my late father-in-law Bill (Charles Willie Adamson) was one of the few survivors from the ship. My research suggests (at least) 3 survivors - Captain (A/LCDR W Jackson RNR, T/Lt F.G. Creswell RNVR and AB C.W. Adamson RN. Killed - 9; MPK 48 and DOW 1. That makes 61 - although (I've previously seen) TD's reference says 72 casualties - wounded, DOWs, MPK and killed. The link to that reference is no longer available. I've attached some documents that might assist, if you don't already have them.
naval-history.net records Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, June 1944 Minster, ship loss (8 June 1944) ANTHONY, Herbert R, Able Seaman, R/JX 532559, MPK ATTWELL, Robert G, Sick Berth Attendant, D/MX 66852, MPK BARNES, Edward G, Stoker 1c, R/KX 108766, MPK BARNES, Ernest, Able Seaman, R/JX 209401, MPK BARTON, George, Able Seaman, R/JX 181454, MPK BELL, Louis E, Stoker 1c, R/KX 525577, MPK BELL, William, Stoker 1c, R/KX 113452, MPK BIGGENDEN, Athol E, Chief Petty Officer Stoker, P/K 21898, MPK BOLGER, John G P, Able Seaman, R/JX 437150, MPK BUTTERY, Joseph E, Stoker 1c, R/KX 162096, MPK CANNELL, Charles, Act/Rigger's Mate, R/JX 180737, MPK CATTO, John, Ty/Lieutenant (E), RNR, MPK CLARK, Edwin R, Stoker 1c, R/KX 604210, MPK COCHRANE, Walter, Able Seaman, R/JX 224840, MPK CONNELL, John, Stoker Petty Officer, R/KX 100771, MPK CONNOLLY, Patrick J, Steward, D/LX 611991, MPK COULTON, Arnold, Engine Room Artificer 2c, D/MX 51860, MPK CRAWFORD, Alfred, Petty Officer, R/JX 202777, MPK CRUMP, Edward H, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR, MPK CULLY, Sidney J, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 648446, MPK DANIELS, Colin, Able Seaman, R/JX 436463, MPK DEAS, David, Steward, C/LX 25464, MPK EARL, Frank, Able Seaman, R/JX 437031, MPK FOWLES, Robert, Act/Leading Stoker, R/KX 102123, MPK FRENCH, Robert, Able Seaman, R/JX 243614, MPK GEORGE, Robert W, Rigger's Mate, R/JX 243620, MPK GILPIN, Henry, Able Seaman, R/JX 213358, killed GOWANS, John, Stoker 1c, R/KX 100235, killed HARGREAVES, Robert, Stoker 1c, R/KX 164782, MPK HART, Alfred W, Ordinary Seaman, R/JX 533463, killed HEARN, Ernest C, Ty/Boatswain, killed HOODLESS, John H, Act/Stoker Petty Officer, R/KX 102151, MPK HOUSTON, William J, Leading Steward, D/LX 22329, MPK KITE, Alfred W, Stoker 1c, R/KX 117351, MPK LADD, Eric, Telegraphist, D/JX 173043, killed LANGTON, James E, Coder, D/JX 293929, MPK LEECH, Stanley, Able Seaman, R/JX 551278, MPK LOWER, Richard J, Engine Room Artificer 4c, D/MX 57158, DOW MARSH, Frank, Stoker 2c, R/KX 664171, MPK MARSH, John S, Act/Stoker Petty Officer, R/KX 125662, MPK MCINALLY, Joseph, Stoker 1c, R/KX 112244, MPK MCININCH, James, Ordinary Telegraphist, P/JX 610015, MPK PARKER, David R, Signalman, D/JX 216047, MPK PORRITT, George W, Ordinary Seaman, R/JX 533406, MPK POWELL, James, Stoker 1c, P/KX 125791, MPK REID, William, Able Seaman, R/JX 418647, MPK ROUTER, Edward B R, Engine Room Artificer 1c, D/M 2175, killed RYRIE, Alexander R, Act/Rigger's Mate, R/JX 181019, killed SENIOR, Clifford, Stoker 1c, R/KX 165935, killed STAPLES, Joseph L, Act/Rigger's Mate, R/JX 222179, killed STEPHEN, Alexander, Petty Officer, R/JX 166966, MPK STEVENSON, James W, Leading Seaman, R/JX 181153, MPK STEWART, William, Leading Seaman, RNR, R/6822 C, MPK THOMAS, Frank S, Act/Rigger's Mate, R/JX 244093, MPK TRIMMER, John F, Act/Petty Officer, C/J 33578, MPK WATSON, David, Petty Officer, RNR, R/X 1407 E, MPK WHEELER, Joseph, Stoker 1c, R/KX 154634, MPK WILSON, Herbert, Able Seaman, R/JX 436822, MPK I haven't counted, nor searched for where buried or commemorated, but did check if any further references to casualties in June 1944 (none). Hope that helps with the "official" details. There is always the possibility of Army or other Services being aboard
My father Bill (Charles Willie Adamson) did tell me they had just picked up some Canadian Rangers that had been put ashore on D-Day. As they were coming off the beach was when they hit an acoustic mine. This could explain the discrepancies in the number of people that were killed.
Sorry if I'm late to this post - but I volunteer for the CWGC and look after 20 sites and 74 war graves - including one to Eric Ladd a telegraphist on HMS Minster - he was 25. It's interesting that his body was recovered and returned for burial in the UK ( Portishead) - I assume given there were some survivors that there was an almost immediate recovery/rescue operation by other ships in the vicinity and that once the bodies had been recovered it was easier to repatriate them than have them buried in Normandy? Would it not though have been the normal practice for them to have been buried at sea?
Apart from one other, Henry Gilpin, who is buried in Portland Naval Cemetery all the other recovered bodies appear to be buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery. I imagine these were either washed ashore or picked up by vessels heading to the beaches. Whereas Ladd and Gilpin were recovered by vessel(s) heading back to UK. I don't think, given the circumstances, they would want to stop for a burial service. Tim
Records that I could find on Fold3 Last two pages are of particular note, discussing casualties, The following two records from the Daily Log of TASK FORCE 128
I'm much indebted for this information. Is there anyway of finding out more about Eric Ladd's actual service record his service number was D/JX 173043.
You need to apply to RN Disclosure Cell - full details in this link. Get a copy of military records of service Good Luck. Steve