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Michael John Chivers |
Surname |
Christian Names |
Service Number |
Rank |
Regiment |
Chivers |
Michael John |
P/KX 133519 |
Stoker 1st Class |
HMS Egret |
Born |
Age |
Enlisted at |
Address |
|
21 |
|
|
Date of Death |
Where killed |
Cause of Death |
27/08/1943 |
At sea, 42.10N, 09.22W
off North coast of Portugal |
Killed in action |
Cemetery |
Plot |
Country |
Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
Panel 78 Column 1 |
England |
Next of Kin |
Next of kin address |
Town |
Ruby Joan Chivers |
Hardenhuish |
Chippenham |
Notes |
Son of Michael and Phoebe
Chivers; husband of Ruby Joan Chivers, of Hardenhuish, Wiltshire
Navy: The Royal Navy
Type: Sloop
Class: Egret
Pennant: L 75 / U 75
Built by: J.S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.)
Ordered:
Laid down: 21 Jul, 1937
Launched: 31 May, 1938
Commissioned: 10 Nov, 1938
Lost: 27 Aug, 1943
Loss position: 42.10N, 09.22W ((Just off the coast of North Portugal)
History: HMS Egret (Cdr. C.R.S. Farquhar, RN) was the first Allied warship
to be sunk by a guided missile. 30 nautical miles west of Vigo, Spain she
was attacked by a squadron of Dornier aircraft, one of which carried and
launched the Henschel Hs-293A guided bomb which hit sank Egret in position
42º10'N, 09º22'W, killing 194 of its crew.
On the 23th August 1943 the 40th Escort Group (Cdr. Dallison), consisting of
the sloops HMS Landguard, HMS Bideford, HMS Hastings and the frigates HMS
Exe, HMS Moyola and HMS Waveney were deployed on a u-boat hunt off Cape
Ortegal. The whole operation was covered by the British light cruiser HMS
Bermuda.
On the 25th August the Canadian 5th Support Group (Cdr. Tweed), consisting
of the British frigates HMS Nene, HMS Tweed and the Canadian corvettes HMCS
Calgary, HMCS Edmundston and HMCS Snowberry were deployed to relieve the
40th Escort Group. While this was in progress the ships were attacked at
1415 hrs by 14 Dornier Do-217's and 7 Ju-88's. with the new German weapon,
the Henschel Glider Bombs, (the "Hs293 A-1"). Designed by the German
Professor Herbert Wagner. HMS Landguard and HMS Bideford were the first of
the Allied and RN ships to be attacked and damaged by them. This being the
first time of their being brought into action against Allied ships. Several
sailors were injured on HMS Bideford and one sailor was killed.
Another two days later on the 27th August 1943 the Canadian 5th Support
group was relieved by the 1st Support group (Cdr. Brewer) consisting of the
sloops HMS Pelican, HMS Egret and the frigates HMS Jed, HMS Rother, HMS Spey
and HMS Evenlode. Also the covering cruiser HMS Bermuda was relieved by the
Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan and the British destroyer HMS Grenville.
These ships were also attacked by the Germans. This time with 18 Dornier
Do-217’s also carrying Henschel Glider Bombs. HMCS Athabaskan was heavily
damaged and HMS Egret was sunk with the loss of 194 of her crew. After this
loss the u-boat hunt was called off.
The number of men killed should be 198 as there were 4 RAF signals
personnel on board. These men were connected to the interception of German
signal traffic |
Memorials Commemorated on: |
Chippenham Town War Memorial |
Yes |
Pewsham Street |
Yes |
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Last updated -
14/01/2011
If you have any more details about this person, please
contact me and I will update the page.
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