- Contributed by听
- csvdevon
- People in story:听
- Michael Matthews
- Location of story:听
- Africa and Northern Waters
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A4988938
- Contributed on:听
- 11 August 2005
HMS Salopian
Michael Matthews joined HMS Salopian in October 1939. He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford in June 1939 and lived in Northam. Michael volunteered for the RNVR as he was a Math's graduate.
He was told, when in Oxford collecting his degree, that he wouldn't get into the Navy so was encouraged to join the army, which he did in Exeter. But Michael was called into the Navy before the papers came for the Army, so he informed the Army of his inability to join them as he was off to the sea the next day.
Three years later his honourable discharge caught up with him in Colombo (Ceylon).
His first ship was HMS Salopian, a converted cruiser. His first trip was to Freetown in West Africa, then the ship was on Northern Patrol up near the ice.
The ship was sunk by German torpedoes on May 13th 1941 but the crew was rescued by HMS Impulsive. They were taken to Iceland and quartered with the Army before repatriation to the UK. Michael later joined HMS Repulse and was sunk again.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo