Monday 30th November 1942 FAWCETT, Harry, Ordinary Seaman, RDF, P/JX 270554, killed [BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA] FOULKES, Harry, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 129206, killed [BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA] MANSELL, Joseph E, Seaman, RNR (PS), LT/X 21253A, killed [BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA] Three crew from Isles Class minesweeper HMT Cava were lost on this date. ADM104 just lists them as having 'Died on war service' at Bone and I can't find any information on an incident involving their ship. They may have been killed in an air raid ashore or in an accident, any ideas? Regards, Steve
It appears the ship may have been damaged. The Captain Grenville Mathias Temple was awarded the DSC, which was gazetted 19/12/1944. It is the only award shown on this website after 30/11/1942 to those serving on the ship. See: WW II Awards for RN Minesweeping HMT 145 Cava was active regarding escort duties for Operation Torch, but not shown on this source in November 1942. See: HMS Cava (T 145) of the Royal Navy - British MS Trawler of the Isles class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net Harry Foulkes came from: 67 Jubilee Road, Crosby, Lancashire (now Merseyside). Might be worth a newspaper search? From: Great Crosby and Blundellsands Fallen WW2 – Sefton WW1 Mystery solved via Harry Fawcett: From: Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion : Foldout Oran, another Algerian port, is 377 miles west of Bone (now Annaba). Just why they were not buried in Oran, where there is a CWGC cemetery is unknown. Note the ship can be found using HMS and HMT.
Nice find David. One correction in your post if I may. The Captain of HMT CAVA during Operation Torch was Captain Reginald Llewellyn Petty-Mayor R.N.V.R. I am not quite sure how Grenville Mathias Temple fits in to the command structure but his award of the D.S.C. was for services rendered by HMT CAVA when HMS ABERCROMBIE was mined Aug 21, 1944 and towed to Malta. Regards Hugh
Cdr Grenville Mathias Temple's record can be seen here Name Temple, Grenville Mathias Date of Birth: 31 July 1897 Rank: Retired... | The National Archives (downloadable for free if registered with TNA (also free)). He was serving at M/S Malta with RN Patrol Service. Probably took charge of rescue as DSC was awarded for gallantry and good seamanship in towing damaged ship through a heavily mined area. Some man as he had already been awarded a DSO (Dunkirk) and a Bar (for courage, skill and endurance while Minesweeping in dangerous waters). Tim
