Remembering Today MACKIN, JAMES THOMAS Rank: Able Seaman Service No: D/JX 553072 Date of Death: 30/03/1944 Age: 38 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Laforey Panel Reference: Panel 87, Column 1. Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of James Thomas Mackin and Ellen Mackin; husband of Florence Mackin, of Oldham, Lancashire. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2483757/MACKIN, JAMES THOMAS
Shorty after being completed HMS Laforey joined Force H at Gibraltar and escorted a Malta convoy. The destroyer took part in the most Malta operations in 1941 and 1942. On one of this operations, HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed on 13 November 1941 by the German submarine U-81. The aircraft carrier lost all power and the destroyer went alongside to provide power and assist the rescue and salvage parties, but the carrier foundered shortly before reaching Gibraltar. Similarly, the destroyer rescued survivors from HMS Eagle, which had been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-73 on 12 August 1942 during another Malta operation. Between this operations, in May 1942, HMS Laforey participated in the landings at Diego Suarez, Madagascar. In December 1942, the destroyer escorted the convoy KMF-5, when the merchant Strathallan was torpedoed on 21 December by U-562. The destroyer picked up many survivors and took the ship in tow, but she foundered shortly before reaching Oran. In the spring of 1943, HMS Laforey undertook shore bombardments in Tunisia and participated in the blockade of the Cape Bon area to prevent the escape of the German Army to Sicily. In June 1943, the vessel took part in the bombardment and capture of Pantellaria and Lampedusa and a month later participated in the landings in Sicily. On 23 July 1943, the Italian submarine Ascianghi was sunk by depth charges from HMS Laforey and HMS Eclipse near Augusta. In September 1943, the destroyer participated in the landing at Salerno and was hit by a shore battery. The engine room was damaged, but the ship remained on patrol at a reduced speed. Between October 1943 and January 1944, she took part in various bombardments of enemy positions on the west coast of Italy. HMS Laforey earned the following battle honours: Malta Convoys 1941-42, Diego Suarez 1942, Atlantic 1942, Sicily 1943, Salerno 1943, Mediterranean 1943-44, Anzio 1944. On 29 March 1944 the German submarine U-223 was located by asdic from the British destroyer HMS Ulster, which was carrying out a routine Anti-Submarine sweep together with two other destroyers of the 14th Flotilla, HMS Laforey and HMS Tumult. The U-boat was heavily depth-charged, but managed to carry out many evasive manoeuvres in an attempt to evade destruction. In the early morning on 30 March, the U-boat was forced to surface and was attacked by the destroyers with gunfire, which now included the British escort destroyers HMS Hambledon, HMS Blencathra and HMS Wilton, which had replaced HMS Ulster. Shortly before being sunk, U-223 fired a Gnat and hit HMS Laforey, which sank about 60 nautical miles northeast of Palermo, Sicily, Italy in position 38º54'N, 14º18'E. Among the 189 who lost their lives was the Commanding Officer of Laforey and the 14th Flotilla, Capt. Harold Thomas Armstrong, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN. http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4206.html Laforey, ship loss ABERNETHY, James M, Seaman, RNR, P/X 10740 B, MPK ADDIS, Richard G, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK ALLEN, David G, Petty Officer, P/SSX 21510, MPK ANDERSON, Stanley, Telegraphist, P/JX 342449, MPK ARMSTRONG, Harold T, Captain, MPK ASHWORTH, Gordon E, Canteen Manager, C/NX 507, MPK AYLMER, Edwin, Petty Officer, P/J 105660, killed BARKER, Ronald, Able Seaman, P/JX 168408, MPK BARTON, David W, Petty Officer Cook (S), P/MX 49259, MPK BECK, Edgar R, Ordnance Artificer 4c, C/MX 54016, MPK BELLERBY, Thomas R, Petty Officer Writer, RNVR, P/ESD/X 942, MPK BLONDEL, Osmond L, Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 81386, MPK BOLGER, George, Stoker 2c, D/KX 524831, MPK BONSER, Eric, Able Seaman, P/SSX 18712, MPK BOYER, Frederick J, Ty/Lieutenant, RCNVR, MPK BRUCE, Daniel, Stoker 1c, P/KX 89445, MPK BUTLER, Stanley A, Able Seaman, P/JX 219731, MPK CARPENTER, Donald S, Able Seaman, D/JX 345168, MPK CATHERINE, George W, Able Seaman, P/JX 325954, MPK CHIVERS, Alfred, Leading Stoker, P/KX 87323, MPK COMMON, Thomas W, Telegraphist, P/JX 309177, MPK COOK, Sidney A, Signalman, P/JX 250291, MPK COOPER, Cyril, Able Seaman, P/SSX 30105, MPK COOPER, Frederick W, Able Seaman, P/JX 136742, MPK COUPERTHWAITE, John M, Able Seaman, P/JX 274182, MPK CUTLER, Aubrey J J, Ordnance Artificer 3c, P/MX 55852, MPK DALGLIESH, Robert M, Petty Officer Radio Mechanic, P/MX 93344, MPK DAVIES, Harold, Able Seaman, P/SSX 23837, MPK DAVISON, George N, Ty/Surgeon Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK DAWE, Ronald B, Coder, P/JX 358647, MPK DAY, Charles, Stoker Petty Officer, P/K 61410, MPK DEWHURST, James, Ty/Act/Leading Seaman, D/SSX 17422, MPK DEXTER, Burnham, Steward, P/LX 26763, MPK DOLAN, Bernard, Electrical Artificer 3c, P/MX 57460, MPK DOLAN, John, Able Seaman, D/JX 305776, MPK DONEY, Clarence H, Able Seaman, P/JX 197713, MPK EEET, Jack, Able Seaman, C/JX 373539, MPK EGBY, John, Engine Room Artificer 3c, P/MX 50777, MPK EVANS, Robert J, Ordinary Telegraphist, P/JX 402083, MPK EVERTON, Kenneth, Stoker 1c, P/KX 119409, MPK FAGELSON, Louis, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 329872, MPK FARNATH, Percival A, Ordinary Signalman, P/JX 261601, MPK FISHER, James G, Stoker 2c, P/KX 161465, MPK FORTEATH, William R, Able Seaman, D/JX 239132, MPK FOSSETT, William E, Stoker 1c, P/KX 152140, MPK FURBY, John W, Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 76851, MPK GATH, Walter D P, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK GOODWIN, John E, Petty Officer Telegraphist, P/JX 150370, MPK GRAHAM, Dennis, Ty/Act/Petty Officer, C/J 113770, MPK GRAHAM, George, Able Seaman, C/JX 350945, MPK GRAY, Charles W H, Chief Petty Officer Stoker, P/KX 62098, MPK GREENER, George, Able Seaman, P/JX 191181, MPK GRIFFITH, Ronald E, Ordnance Mechanic 5c, P/JX 152415, MPK GRIFFITHS, Robert T, Stoker 1c, P/KX 129209, MPK GROVES, George H J, Act/Leading Stoker, P/KX 96773, MPK GURNEY, Frederick R, Able Seaman, P/JX 220349, MPK HAINES, Caleb, Signalman, C/JX 260171, MPK HAMILTON, William, Stoker 1c, P/KX 129213, MPK HARDMAN, Harold F, Ordinary Telegraphist, C/JX 361054, MPK HAYWOOD, Frederick, Able Seaman, P/JX 274711, MPK HICKLEY, James J, Petty Officer Steward, P/LX 25134, MPK HILLIS, William McC, Stoker 1c, P/KX 129028, MPK HUCKLE, Edward A, Stoker 1c, P/KX 147187, MPK HUDSON, Ernest E, Able Seaman, D/JX 195022, MPK HUGGETT, Leslie T J, Able Seaman, P/JX 272760, MPK HUMPHREYS, Edward J, Able Seaman, P/JX 324618, MPK HUTT, Thomas K, Signalman, P/JX 237492, MPK HYDE, George A, Act/Leading Seaman, RNR, P/X 17674 A, MPK INGREY, Norman R, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 518587, MPK IRELAND, Arthur R, Telegraphist, P/JX 341376, MPK JARRETT, John, Able Seaman, P/JX 224212, MPK JAY, Sidney W, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 375425, MPK JOHNSON, Frederick A, Stoker 2c, D/KX 525147, MPK JONES, Hugh G, Engine Room Artificer 4c, P/MX 79886, MPK KAY, William H, Stoker 1c, P/KX 89291, MPK KEANE, Richard, Ty/Act/Leading Stoker, D/KX 86204, MPK KENT, John A A, Leading Supply Assistant, P/MX 121430, killed KETTLEWOOD, Frederick B, Chief Petty Officer, D/J 29440, MPK LAING, William B, Able Seaman, P/J 89844, MPK LAW, Frank, Able Seaman, P/JX 296887, MPK LEES, Newton, Able Seaman, P/JX 264388, MPK LETTICE, Patrick J, Able Seaman, P/JX 307320, MPK LEWIS, James A, Ordinary Telegraphist, C/JX 402545, MPK LEWIS, Wilfred E R, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 565285, MPK LEWIS, William J C, Stoker 1c, C/KX 137938, MPK LOGAN, Robert A, Stoker 1c, P/KX 128917, MPK LONGLEY, James T, Yeoman of Signals, P/JX 138997, MPK MACKIN, James T, Ordinary Seaman, D/JX 553072, MPK MALET, Guy A R, Lieutenant, RNR, killed MCCARRON, Hugh, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 422936, MPK MCCULLOCH, Andrew C, Lieutenant, MPK MCLAUGHLIN, Edward J, Act/Chief Engine Room Artificer, P/MX 47954, MPK MCPHERSON, Donald, Able Seaman, P/JX 366877, MPK MEADER, Peter G, Act/Leading Signalman, P/SR 8372, MPK MEARS, Verdun H A, Able Seaman, P/JX 382011, MPK MILLS, Ernest, Leading Seaman, P/JX 256985, MPK MORETTI, Leonard J, Able Seaman, C/JX 367098, MPK MORGAN, Thomas, Stoker 2c, D/KX 159012, MPK MORGAN, William G T, Act/Electrical Artificer 4c, D/MX 66052, MPK MORRIS, James H, Ordinary Signalman, P/JX 387760, MPK MOUNT, Frederick S A, Ty/Act/Petty Officer, C/SSX 23681, MPK NICHOLLS, John S, Able Seaman, P/JX 263085, MPK NIXON, Lawrence J, Act/Leading Stoker, P/KX 97469, MPK OLDFIELD, Thomas E, Stoker 2c, C/KX 171967, MPK O'REGAN, Joseph M, Signalman, C/JX 269101, MPK ORFORD, Frederick P, Yeoman of Signals, P/SSX 25364, MPK PALMER, Ronald, Able Seaman, C/JX 188127, MPK PARRATT, Philip R, Able Seaman, P/JX 262618, killed PATRICK, George V, Stoker Petty Officer, P/K 56732, MPK PATTERSON, George J A, Canteen Assistant, C/NX 607648, MPK PAYNE, Leonard G, Leading Telegraphist, P/J 100388, MPK PEARSON, John, Engine Room Artificer 4c, C/MX 65795, MPK PETTS, George, Engine Room Artificer 4c, C/MX 506574, MPK PIKE, Seymour C, Petty Officer Writer, RNVR, C/LD/X 4732, MPK PITMAN, Harold, Act/Chief Engine Room Artificer, P/MX 48547, MPK POTTER, Samuel J C, Engine Room Artificer 4c, P/MX 53745, MPK PRESTRIDGE, Albert E, Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist, P/J 87222, MPK RACKETT, Ernie F, Able Seaman, P/JX 160403, MPK REED, Robert, Cook (S), P/MX 109407, MPK REES, Leslie, Cook (S), P/MX 100360, MPK REVELL, Arthur C E, Stoker 1c, P/KX 95916, MPK RHODES, Samuel, Able Seaman, P/SSX 35614, MPK RICH, Arthur J, Able Seaman, P/JX 273788, MPK RITCHIE, William J, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 379831, MPK ROBBINS, Mervyn, Stoker 2c, P/KX 525470, MPK ROBINSON, Henry, Able Seaman, P/JX 219272, MPK ROBINSON, Maurice C, Able Seaman, P/JX 262650, killed ROGERS, Jack, Able Seaman, P/SSX 22970, MPK RUTTER, Charles, Stoker Petty Officer, P/K 67246, MPK RYAN, Thomas B, Writer, P/MX 105569, MPK SALMON, George A, Coder, P/JX 230366, MPK SALT, Joseph E, Able Seaman, C/JX 375194, MPK SARGENT, Samuel H, Leading Seaman, P/JX 153784, MPK SAVAGE, Harold G, Stoker 2c, P/KX 526874, MPK SAXBY, Frank W, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 417090, MPK SCHOFIELD, Donald D, Act/Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 92713, MPK SHEPHARD, Geoffrey R, Ordinary Telegraphist, D/JX 389923, MPK SHEPHERD, Robert J J, Telegraphist, P/JX 282633, MPK SIMPSON, James, Able Seaman, C/JX 377562, MPK SMITH, Albert E, Stoker Petty Officer, P/KX 528586, MPK SMITH, Arthur F, Stoker 2c, P/KX 84472, MPK SMITH, George W, Lieutenant, killed SPENCER, Albert E, Chief Yeoman of Signals, P/J 90111, MPK STANDING, Alfred E, Able Seaman, P/JX 298320, MPK STARSMORE, Bertie W, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 519700, MPK STEEL, Albert, Able Seaman, D/JX 304068, MPK STEWART, John H, Able Seaman, C/JX 379853, MPK STOREY, Derrick W, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 378852, MPK STRATTON, William R H, Telegraphist, RNV(W)R, P/WRX 459, MPK SUCKLING, Alfred W, Able Seaman, P/JX 203501, MPK SUMNER, Herbert F, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 394585, MPK SUTHERLAND, Joseph, Leading Seaman, P/JX 155662, MPK SWEENEY, Bernard, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 556066, MPK TARLING, Albert G, Able Seaman, P/JX 329137, MPK TARRANT, Sidney E, Supply Petty Officer, P/MX 57050, MPK TAYLOR, Eric, Telegraphist, P/JX 229047, MPK TAYLOR, Frank T, Able Seaman, P/JX 276196, MPK TAYLOR, Gordon G, Able Seaman, P/JX 190378, MPK THOMPSON, Dennis C, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 398850, killed THURBIN, Thomas J, Stoker 1c, C/KX 134313, MPK TICEHURST, Gordon L, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK TYRRELL, John H, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 555924, MPK WADE, Barrington, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 379869, MPK WALKER, Leonard G, Ty/Leading Seaman, C/SSX 31974, MPK WALMSLEY, Basil, Able Seaman, C/JX 315639, MPK WANBON, Roy E G, Able Seaman, C/JX 379885, MPK WATSON, Alexander G, Able Seaman, P/JX 277652, MPK WEBB, Robert A, Able Seaman, P/JX 324089, MPK WHEELER, Robert C, Able Seaman, RNVR, P/CD/X 3086, MPK WHITCROFT, Geoffrey C S, Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK WHITE, George M, Yeoman of Signals, P/JX 128785, MPK WHITE, Victor C, Able Seaman, P/JX 329112, MPK WHITEHOUSE, Walter, Stoker 1c, P/KX 101422, MPK WICKS, Frank L, Ordinary Seaman, C/JX 395211, MPK WILLENBERG, Albert B, Stoker 2c, D/KX 178264, MPK WILLIAMS, William G, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 520982, MPK WOOD, John, Joiner 4c, D/MX 74966, MPK WORKMAN, Leonard S, Stoker 2c, P/KX 555593, MPK YARNOLD, Frank W, Stoker 1c, P/KX 129389, killed http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1944-03MAR.htm
