HMS ORPHEUS (1929 - 1940)


ORPHEUS ORPHEUS Crest

HMS ORPHEUS (Lt Cdr J A S Wise) was operating off the coast of North Africa in June 1940. The Italian destroyer Turbine claimed to have depth charged and sunk an enemy submarine off Tobruk on 16 June which was believed to have been ORPHEUS, but she subsequently made radio contact on 18 June and was given orders to sail for Alexandria, patrolling off Benghazi en route.

However, she failed to arrive at Alexandria and nothing more was heard from her. It is now believed that she struck a mine off Benghazi on about 19 June. There were no survivors.

PEOPLE WHO DIED WHILE SERVING IN THIS UNIT

3 May 1932 (1)
TYRWHITT R Sub Lt
8 September 1934 (1)
KNIGHTS E PO
29 June 1940 (54)
ALLEN D J AB
ALLEN S C LS
ARMSTRONG J D ERA 3
AYERS W F AB
BEVIS P A L Tel
BIDDULPH P PO Tel
BURTENSHAW C W Sto 1
BUTLER L W L Sto
CRITCHELL W J G LS
CROSS E K Warrant Eng
DANCE J W ERA 2
DAVIES C T Lt
DOLTON L H L Sto
ELLISON J W L Tel
EVANS J L Sig
FAWKES P F Lt
FOREMAN C H E L Sto
FORRESTER W J L Ck

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1 responses

Martin Burrell

18 March 2023, 12:32pm

Photo Of My Grandfather, SPO James Frederick Burrell, K60008 (Front With Cap Between Feet) Back Of Picture Says, China Station 1937 So By Looking At His Service Record. He Was Serving On HMS Orpheus At This Time. Looking At The Other Two Crew Members, I Can't Help But Thinking They Look So Much Alike, Almost Brothers ? Kind Regards Martin Burrell