Hi,
My Great Uncle Arthur Reynolds was commanding LCI(l) 99 when she was sunk in the Bristol Channel. There are a few bits of family lore (so take with something of a pinch of salt) about this that I could pass on.
Firstly it was very difficult for the rest of the family to actually find out what had happened to the ship as the records appeared to be under some sort of restriction for years after the war, the theory is that U-Boats were not expected to to be operating that close to the mainland and that far up the Bristol Channel.
Secondly is that it was running only a skeleton crew of 9 as it had been undergoing repairs and the trip with the convoy was destined for Falmouth where she would begin operations ferrying material across to Normandy. The requirement for repairs was why she did not take part in the initial landings. As there was a gap in service the married crew were allowed shore leave, with the understanding that they would re-join at Falmouth. The account of the sinking from the US Navy ship in the convoy mentions picking up survivors but our understanding is that all hands aboard were lost.
Lastly, my grandfather always told a story of how, whilst they did take part in the landings on Sicily, his brother at the first attempt managed to land at the wrong beach at a village where there was no enemy, had a quick walk around, got back on board and re-joined the rest of the fleet!
The 9 crew that lost their lives.
House, Gordon Henry Astor, RN 21 Leading Seaman
Jeffries, Ronald, RN 23 Ordinary Telegraphist
Quine, James, RN 21 Able Seaman
Reynolds, Arthur John Francis Patrick, RN 24 Lieutenant
Shacklock, Francis Ernest Dennis, RN 19 Able Seaman
Shields, John, RN Ordinary Seaman
Swatridge, Douglas Edwin, RNVR 25 Sub-Lieutenant
Thompson, Donald Maurice, RN 20 Ordinary Seaman
Todd, William, RN 19 Able Seaman
I initially thought that they were all recorded on the Portsmouth RN Memorial but it seems not, some are at Chatham and some at Plymouth, why would this be?
Andrew.
