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HMS TROOPER (1942 - 1943)

TROOPER TROOPER Crest

HMS TROOPER (Lt J S Wraith) sailed from Beirut on 26 September 1943 to patrol west of the Dodecanese in the Eastern Mediterranean and later to the east of the island of Leros. No messages were received from her, and she failed to arrive back on 17 October. Her loss was considered to be due to striking an enemy mine. There were no survivors.

TROOPER was Lt Wraith's second command. He had previously been a successful commanding officer of HMS UPRIGHT and had conducted a morale boosting tour of factories in the UK after leaving UPRIGHT prior to assuming command of TROOPER.

In October 2024 it was reported that the wreck of HMS TROOPER has been discovered at a depth of 253 metres in the Icarian Sea. The UK Ministry of Defence, being the authority for recognition of the identity of RN submarine wrecks, has confirmed that this is the wreck of HMS TROOPER.  See this RN News article.  There is a detailed report here, and a remotely operated vehicle video here.

There is a Facebook page for families of those lost in TROOPER here.

PEOPLE WHO DIED WHILE SERVING IN THIS UNIT

2 January 1943 (1)
COOK H F Lt
17 October 1943 (64)
ADAM P M SPO
ANDERSON A W Sub Lt
BENGOUGH I D SPO
BROTHERTON A Sto 1
CARLING T M AB
CARROLL L Sto 1
CHARNOCK F LS
CHIVERS R S AB
COLVILLE J AB
COPE H C Sig
CORNELIUS J ERA 4
CROSSLAND F Tel
CURRY T A L Sto
DAVIES G Y Sto 1
FARNELL J B AB
FENN W C E CERA
FISHER F E AB
FLEMING S AB
FORSTER M A/ERA 4

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8 responses

Andrea Dyer was Bengough

28 January 2026, 9:10pm

My father in law's brother died in Trooper, Ivor Donald Bengough. Very sad but submarine found after all these years .

Adrian Falks

2 December 2024, 8:53pm

My father, the late Archie Falks, his fellow submariners Ralph Kent and Jack Philip Nicholls served in submarines from mid-1920s, Jack and Ralph later returned to surface vessels. All three of them told me about HMS Trooper and it brought home to me how incredibly dangerous things were. All three of them served in the Mediterranean. Whilst at Gosport, Ralph and my father acted as bearers at the re-burial of the crew of L55 in 1931 when the Soviet authorities released the bodies. I hope and pray the relatives of those who died in HMS Trooper will now find consolation.

Wendy Hutton

13 November 2024, 6:57am

My Uncle Fred Tripp was on this Submarine it brings great sorrow but finally know what happened. I just wished I could've told my Dad where his elder brother was and what happened but sadly passed away in 2018. We always remembered Fred he was never forgotten. RIP Uncle Fred. Always in our hearts.

Allan Adam

12 November 2024, 2:15pm

My father, Peter Milne Adam was a PO on Trooper. Regrettably he never saw me as I was born in April 1943 but was aware of my birth. At least we are now aware of exactly where Trooper met her fate and this will allow us some closure after such a long time.

Christopher Scott

1 November 2024, 8:04am

I came across this Story, The Fate of The HMS TROOPER and the 64 Crew Lost. I do not know why it took so many, many, years for the Truth to be Found. I am sure the Mines were removed from that Area after the War why wasn't the Submarine not located then ?...I can only Hope that now the Submarine has been found that their Souls may now rest..Amen

Anthony Ruston

16 October 2024, 12:20pm

Benjamin T Ruston was my uncle. We knew he had been killed but didn't know how or where also his brother William was killed during the war.

Michael Fitzgerald

2 October 2024, 10:15pm

Leading Stoker Harold Graham Horton was on board HMS Trooper that fateful day. He was my mother's 1st cousin. My mother was named after his mother Ida. Sadly he was never found like the rest of the crew. I would love to know where i could go and lay flowers and spend some quiet time.

David Rich

1 September 2024, 6:25pm

My father Frederick Rich was a CPO on board the Trooper. He was supposed to sail on that voyage but developed flu and was removed from the boat.