Not my usual area, but looking for information on actions of HMS Erebus on and after D-Day. I believe they had a HE round explode in the breech on D-Day and then sustained damage from a shore battery while bombarding le Havre in August 1944. Reason is I have a photograph of a grave in Headington Cemetery Oxford - pretty random - only the inscription on the grave of A/B G.Dyer who died 24th September 1944 says, "Memory - the link that binds", which is very much in the area I'm writing about. I presume the John Radcliffe hospital, which is adjacent to Headington Cemetery where he is buried, was a war hospital? Any info on Dyer or Erebus, or anything related all welcome - long shot I know but this is always the best place to start. Many thanks, Brian
Here's a couple of news articles mentioning Erebus. If you also type the same into the search engine here at WW2Talk there appears to be a few threads that also mention it.
amberdog, thank you very much - i was being lazy and hadn't done a proper search of this forum, and will do so now - I think Westkapelle is too late for this chap as he was dead bu then, but interesting nevertheless.
Hi Brian, Glad to have been of some help. Wish I had more time but there are loads of articles at the http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ especially around Aug 44. My subscription is away to run out and my accountant is breathing down my neck to get the the books done or I would have saved more articles for you. Without subscribing to the site you will still be able to see clips of news there. Use Erebus in the advanced search. She was quite a ship!
Brian. CWGC has the date of death of AB Garfield Gilbert James DYER, RN, of H.M.S. Erebus as 29th of Sep 1944, not the 24th. Aged 26, son of Frank and Lily Dyer of Headington, Oxford. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2421648/DYER,%20GARFIELD%20GILBERT%20JAMES regards, Martin
Hi Given when this chap passed away I would suggest that he died from wounds received, rather than killed in action, as HMS Erebus was in Portsmouth undergoing repairs from damage received from a 170mm shell ( that didn't explode) from September 11th'44 whilst engaging a German battery at Le Harve. She remained in dock till early October'44. Prior to the incident of Sept 11th, she was hit on Sept 5th again off Le Harve and again by a 170mm shell which exploded on the port bulge forward of her main turret. The ship took a immediate 3Deg list. She returned to Portsmouth for temp repairs and was back out on station come Sept 8th. Source:Big Gun Monitors by Ian Buxton Regards
Martin - thanks - a transcription error on my part. AndyH thank you also - I think that's the best bet - I was aware Erebus had been hit in action several times on different occasions, it's just that I couldn't find any reference to casualties anywhere. He may of course have died from illness. Apart from the inscription, which initially caught my attention, I think it's always good to be able to say that there is no such thing as an anonymous casualty - it's always someone's son, husband, brother, father - and to be honest, I'm often amazed at the sheer amount of detail that people on this forum can find about individuals.
Hello Brian my uncle was on HMS Erebus and he has written a little about it before he died about 10 years ago. He was on Erebus when his younger brother a Commando was arriving on Sword, he fell slightly inland and is buried in Hermanville. Do you have any info you can share and I can forward my info? Not sure what you are looking for.
Funny how I have the most random of stuff on my PC. I have a copy of this ships log book for June 1944 if that's of any interest?
The second photo was taken in 1944, probably around D-Day while the last dates from 1945 judging by the change of camouflage. 3 & 4 are date from between the wars judging by the lack of AA armament. Can't add anything about the first however.
Hello... Yes I am very interested in log book my uncle Bill Vernon he was radio radar op. His senior officer was Jack etherington ... Can I have copy of this log book please !!!!