H.M.S. Neptune - John William Scott
The information on the CWGC records that John was the son of
John William Scott and of J. G. Scott, of Westbourne, Bournemouth, Hampshire.
John was born in 1919, in Swansea. His parents, John William Scott and Jemima G.
Rickard were married in 1918. The
records show that John was James W.!
By the time of the 19121 Census, the family was living at 28
Beechwood Street.
 |
| 1921 Census |
James is now John William is 40, having been born in North Sheilds, he is employed as a Superintendent Engineer Steam Trawling Industry. Jemima Gladys is 25 and John William is 2. Both of whom are born in Swansea.
John would be their only child.
The next piece of information that can be found is the
marriage of widowed Jemima Gladys Scott, to Charles Ernest Hamilton Crabb in
1931. The marriage took place in
Bradpole, Dorset.
By the 1939 Register the couple are back in Swansea and
living at 172 Mayals Road. John is also
living with them. His occupation is
recorded as Estate Agents Clerk, employed by Messrs J. M. Leeder and Son,
Swansea.
 |
| 1939 Register |
When John enlisted in the Royal Navy, isn’t known without
his service records.
However, John served on the H.M.S. Neptune.
H.M.S. Neptune was launched in 1933.
 |
| H.M.S. Neptune before the war credit - uboat.net |
Neptune during the Second World War, had a crew drawn predominantly from the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and the ship had a large contingent of seconded from South African personnel.
December 1939, Neptune was patrolling the South
Atlantic in patrol of the German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee. After Admiral
Graf Spee had been scuttled by the Germans themselves on the 17th
of December the Neptune was still in transit to Uruguay following the Battle
of the River Plate.
In July 1940, Neptune was the first British ship to
spot the Italian Fleet in the Battle of Calabria and was the first ship since
the Napoleonic Wars to send the signal “enemy battle fleet in sight”. During engagement, Neptune was hit and
scored three hits on the heavy cruiser Bolzano.
In 1941 Neptune led a squadron of cruisers. Their task was to intercept and destroy
German and Italian convoys en route to Libya.
The convoys were supplying Rommel’s Afrika Korps in North Africa.
18th December 1941 Neptune intercepted a convoy
bound for Tripoli, after the brief sunset engagement known as the First Battle
of Sirte.
On the following night 19th, Neptune,
leading the line struck two mines, part of the Italian minefield lid by an
Italian cruiser that June. The first mine caused no damage, however, the second
struck the bow hull.
Whilst reversing out of the minefield Neptune struck
a third mine, which took off the propellers, which left the ship dead in the
water. The cruisers Aurora and Penelope couldn’t assist.
Destroyers Kandahar and Lively were sent into
the minefield to attempt to tow the Neptune. Kandahar struck a
mine and began to drift. Neptune sent
a message to Lively to keep clear.
Neptune hit a fourth mine and quickly capsized, 737
crew members lost their lives. Initially,
30 crew survived the sinking, but they died from their wounds and exposure in
the subsequent days.
 |
| The Herald of Wales 3rd January |
 |
| The Herald of Wales 27th June |
The Herald of Wales first reports on the 3rd of January 1942, that John is missing, and it reports on the 27th of June, that John had lost his life on H.M.S. Neptune.
 |
| John William Scott Plymouth Naval Memorial credit - findagrave |
Comments
Post a Comment