Remembering today: Stanley Johnson Petty Officer Cook C/LZ20344 Royal Navy, HMS Curacoa Died: 2/10/1942 Commemorated: Chatham Memorial Son of Fred and Mary Johnson; husband of Frances Ivy Johnson, of Shirley, Birmingham. Remembered with honour.
Remembering today: Stanley Johnson Petty Officer Cook C/LZ20344 Royal Navy, HMS Curacoa Died: 2/10/1942 Commemorated: Chatham Memorial Son of Fred and Mary Johnson; husband of Frances Ivy Johnson, of Shirley, Birmingham. Remembered with honour. Details of the above loss. 2 October 1942 Off Bloody Foreland the liner Queen Mary on a trooping voyage from North America rammed and sank the cruiser HMS Curacao. 338 men died.
Several threads on HMS Curacoa on WW2Talk including this one: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-sea/46142-ship-sunk-sequel.html
Thanks, Mike. PO Johnson is a recent addition to the men from my local memorial and the Curacoa story is all new to me. What a tragic end. Keith
Keith, few stats from 'Queen Mary and the cruiser': Queen Mary, 81,237 tons. Carrying 10,239 passengers (mainly American troops) and 900 crew. At time of collision QM was travelling at 28.5 Knots. HMS Curacoa, built 1918. Conversion to AA cruiser completed June 1940. 4290 tons, crew 27 Officers and 412 men. Speed at collision 25 Knots. 338 dead, 101 survivors. QM was instructed not to pick up susvivors due to large number of passengers carried. News of the sinking was not published until May 1945. There were several inquiries and court cases held to decide responsibility for the collision and eventually blame was apportioned about 50/50. As QM was under requisition by MoWT and Curacoa was obviously Admiralty there was perhaps little point in further investigation. Stanley Johnson is listed among the lost as 'Officers' Cook' service number C/LX20344 (not C/LZ as in your first post). Let me know if you would like me to scan any pictures from the book.
Skip, there appears to be no Savage listed in the ship's company, do you have any further information?
Stanley Johnson is listed among the lost as 'Officers' Cook' service number C/LX20344 (not C/LZ as in your first post). Let me know if you would like me to scan any pictures from the book. Mike, A typo on my part. C/LX20344 is indeed correct. Yes please to your offer to scan pictures. I'd love to see them. Keith
Here you are Keith. Not of the greatest quality I am afraid. I think Cally has some good photos of Curacoa, but you would have to ask for the right year (post refit).
Mike L - sorry dont know what I was thinking when i posted that. Savage is the other side of the family. The uncle lost from the Curacoa was Alfred Kenneth SAUNDERS, C/MX 71662 Supply Assistant. Hoping to source a photo of him to post from another family member soon.
Skip, Alfred Saunders is listed as one of the ship's company, would like to see a photo (or several) if you can find them. My Grandfather served on Curacoa in the 1920s, thankfully well before her unfortunate loss.