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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

Last updated - 14/01/2011

 

 


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