My wife and I are researchers for the Jervis Bay Relatives Association, and as such, have a file on each and every one of the crew that was on board the AMC during the action with the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer, and also for some crew members who served on her before the action. My uncle was an RNVR gunner and perished on the ship on 6th November 1940. Our aim is to find a photograph for every crewmember, whether they survived the action or not, and to publish the same, together with any appropriate personal information on www.hmsjervisbay.com, a website kindly hosted, funded and maintained by the New Brunswick Community College in Canada. This is so much better than just a typed name on a list. To this end, we have been attempting to trace living family members of the Jervis Bay men, who we then contact to see if they can help us. We have been incredibly successful so far in our efforts, which have resulted in dozens of previously unknown photos and even some letters and other artefacts being unearthed, but are conscious that time may be running out as the clock ticks inexorably onwards and things get forgotten by each new generation. Please contact me if you think we could help you regarding any information that my wife and I already hold. We would especially like to hear from any Jervis Bay relative with any information, stories or photos that you could add to ours.
An update on the above. Funding is likely to be withdrawn by New Brunswick Community College in the not too distant future - difficult times, I suppose. We have now set up our own website at the same web address, and are busy transferring 15 years worth of information from the old one. Some time in drydock, so to speak. The partial new site went active last night and we hope to complete a total transfer before the end of the year.
An update on the above. Funding is likely to be withdrawn by New Brunswick Community College in the not too distant future - difficult times, I suppose. We have now set up our own website at the same web address, and are busy transferring 15 years worth of information from the old one. Some time in drydock, so to speak. The partial new site went active last night and we hope to complete a total transfer before the end of the year. Just finished watching San Demetrio London (again) and the gallant sacrifice of Jervis Bay.
That was a wonderful film. I've only got it on VHS tape, unfortunately, and my tape player has long since gone to meet its maker.
That was a wonderful film. I've only got it on VHS tape, unfortunately, and my tape player has long since gone to meet its maker. I purchased a DVD copy from the UK for $10.
I purchased a DVD copy from the UK for $10. Wow - based on what you said I've looked on ebay and found the DVD on sale - thanks for that - I only had a copy I taped from the television - never imagined it would be on DVD. Spidge - I get about all over the UK on motorbike rallies - if you need any photos from identified locations for your project just let me know.
Thanks for the offer however I have all 2906 RAAF/RAF Aussies that are buried or memorialised throughout the UK. The result has been fantastic. Cheers Geoff
That is a fantastic undertaking and a great result, Geoff. Re the Jervis Bay men, we have 180 men in our 'photos found' file to date, but are yet to trace living relatives of 4 survivors and 72 of those who perished.
How did you go with the Australian Robert Lindsey Hall? This is one we know very little about: Born 09/10/1914 in Brisbane to parents Henry James and Mercy Lorraine (nee Lindsey). Had a sister Marian who died in 1957. He was an engineer Sub Lieutenant serving on the Jervis Bay under the T124 agreement since 15/09/1939. His name appears on the Naval Memorial at Liverpool, panel 2 column 2. We have no photograph of him, but know that he was 5' 3 1/2 inches tall with grey eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion. We have not yet traced any living relatives, so if you could help on that score it would be of considerable assistance?
2magpies Would you like to share your info on K M Morrison, I am helping a friend try and get as much information on his local war memorial and the name K M Morrison appears not sure if it is the same one.
2magpies Would you like to share your info on K M Morrison, I am helping a friend try and get as much information on his local war memorial and the name K M Morrison appears not sure if it is the same one. Hi Oldman, I have this to add to his "Jervis Bay file however it does not provide where his parents are from. 16 Feb 1935 - YESTERDAY'S WEDDINGS. Cheers Geoff
Hi Oldman, We don't have too much on him, as we are in possession of his photo, therefore not much further research was done. This is what I do have, however: Keith Milner Morrison born December quarter of 1902 Knaresborough West Riding of Yorkshire (Harrogate) Parents: Alexander Morrison and Margaret (Nellie) Morrison nee Milner. Lived in Dorking, Surrey in 1940. Widow Margaret Lawrie Morrison Photo of Lieut. Comdr. K.M. Morrison, R.N.R. here http://www.hmsjervisbay.com/Casualties.OfficersMissing.php clicking on the photo takes you to the unclipped image. Siblings: Alexander William Morrison born 1901 and Colin Duncan Morrison born 1909
Geoff/2Magpies Thank you for your response, I had the details of his parents Marrige and his birth, he is commemorated on the Harrogate War Memorial, if you would like a photo of his name and the memorial let me know.
Geoff/2Magpies Thank you for your response, I had the details of his parents Marrige and his birth, he is commemorated on the Harrogate War Memorial, if you would like a photo of his name and the memorial let me know. Thanks Oldman, Photos would be good for his file. Cheers Geoff
Geoff/2Magpies Thank you for your response, I had the details of his parents Marrige and his birth, he is commemorated on the Harrogate War Memorial, if you would like a photo of his name and the memorial let me know. Yes please - all info is good info. I will pm you my email address.
79 years ago January 21, 1940 Hard to think of a more deserving VC. Captain Fegen was awarded a posthumous VC as a result of this action. The citation for his award reads: "for valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect. On the 5th of November, 1940, in heavy seas, Captain Fegen, in His Majesty's Armed Merchant Cruiser Jervis Bay, was escorting thirty-eight Merchantmen. Sighting a powerful German warship he at once drew clear of the Convoy, made straight for the Enemy, and brought his ship between the Raider and her prey, so that they might scatter and escape. Crippled, in flames, unable to reply, for nearly an hour the Jervis Bay held the German's fire. So she went down: but of the Merchantmen all but four or five were saved."
UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007 Name: Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen Birth Date: 8 Oct 1891 Birth Place: Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire Death Date: 5 Nov 1940 TD
Apologies, canuck, but what relevance has the date to do with the sinking of the "Jervis Bay" on 5th November 1940? What happened ten months before the sinking? We have a holiday home near Almeria so the Admiral Scheer is known thereabouts for its indiscriminate shelling of the city during the Spanish Civil War At dawn on 31 May 1937, the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer and four German destroyers attacked the city of Almeria. The German ships fired 200 shells at the town, killing 19-20 civilians, wounding 50 and destroying 35 buildings. Indalecio Prieto, the Republican minister of Defense wanted to attack the German fleet, but the president Manuel Azaña and the prime minister Juan Negrin were opposed to Prieto's plan because an open war against Germany might have brought the annihilation of the Republic. Due to the heroic sacrifice made by the crews of the Jervis Bay and Beaverford, only four other ships in the now dispersed convoy were able to be sunk, all but one of the rest of the convoy (including the tanker San Demetrio made it safely to port. Their heroic actions prevented a wholesale slaughter of hundreds of merchant seaman and the valuable cargoes. Had the Admiral Scheer succeeded in destroying the convoy, the Battle of the Atlantic may have swung against Britain at that early stage of the War.
This is a JERVIS BAY thread but it is a shame the authorities never recognised the sacrifice of BEAVERFORD in the same action.
