40RM Commando - HMS Queen Emma

On 17th July 1943 HMS Queen Emma was in Augusta Harbour Sicily with 40 Royal Marine Commando on board when there was a bombing raid on the harbour. This caused numerous casualties and damage on board when concussion and shrapnel from a bomb caused a box of grenades to go off on the mess deck. 

Exract from the 40 RM Commando war diary

(Source: National Archive file ref ADM 202 / 87)

15 July 1943

1300hrs -arrive SYRACUSE harbour
1500hrs disembark Syracuse

16 July 1943

1200hrs - Cdo embark - Force11  M.V Queen Emma
1400hrs - sail from Syracuse harbour
1600hrs  - arrive Augusta harbour
1800hrs  - Cdo informed operation cancelled

17 July 1943 

0200hrs - Air attacks on harbour start
0210hrs - M.V Queen Emma suffered near miss; concussion and shrapnel from bomb caused a box of grenades to go off on the mess deck occupied by B and P troops, many casualties occurring. Capt. Stiebel and Surg Lt Cmdr Pryde killed , 13 OR's killed and 58 wounded.

Notes
  • The CWGC record 11 names as being from 40RM Commando. The War Diary entry records 13 OR's killed.
  • The CWGC includes the name of Captain Ford however it is highly likely that Captain Ford was actually attached to 41RM Commando [see record]. Captain Ford is also unusually not mentioned alongside the names of the two officers in the 40RM Cdo. War Diary entry above for 17th July. That entry additionally records 13 OR's as killed. 
  • There are three Marines listed by unit on the CWGC database simply as Queen Emma. This would be correct if they were part of the crew of the ship. However as can be seen there is a difference to the number of OR's killed recorded in the War Diary entry, and those OR's recorded as 40RM Commando by the CWGC.
Those three names are here followed by those recorded by the CWGC as RM Commandos
Cpl. J.C. FISHER
Mne. R.E.L. BALDOCK
Mne. R. JOHNSON
 

BISHOP, Arthur

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Prior Police Service: 
Buckinghamshire Constabulary
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PO/X114618
Born: 
Tuesday, September 26, 1916
Birthplace: 
Tonypandy, Glamorgan
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
26
Marine Arthur Bishop died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Buried at sea.
He was a serving Police Officer in the Buckinghamshire Constabulary who had volunteered for the Commandos and is amongst those commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour located at Thames Valley Police Headquarters, Oxford Road, Gosford, Kidlington.
Extract from the Buckinghamshire Examiner 10 September 1943
"Marine Commando Arthur Bishop a member of the Bucks Constabulary who was stationed at Slough and Colnbrook before joining up in August 1942, has been reported killed in action in Sicily. Aged 25, he was a native of Wales and he attended the Police College at Aylesbury before his appointment to the Slough Division. He was at Slough three years before he went to Colnbrook. He was a member of the football team of the Slough division and he had many friends whilst stationed in this district. In June he was married to Miss Ann Wilson, an Irish girl employed by the A.C.O., Slough, and he left for service abroad the day following his wedding."
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.
Thames Valley Police Memorial images at the IWM ref. 59996.
Report in the Buckinghamshire Examiner 10 September 1943.

Report in the Merthyr Express 04 September 1943.
See Linked Content below.

Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

FALLAS, Robert Scott

Rank: 
Lance Corporal
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PO/X 4043
Born: 
Thursday, December 8, 1921
Birthplace: 
Cummertrees, Dumfriesshire
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
21

Lance Corporal Robert Fallas died at sea whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel in Sicily. Son of John and Jane Fallas, husband of Margaret Fallas, of Tarbert, Argyllshire.

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/130.

Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

FORD, Francis Orme

Rank: 
Captain
Unit / Base: 
41RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
22
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Captain Francis Ford died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of the Revd. Roger Anson Ford and Kathleen Orme Ford.
 
Sources
CWGC.
 
Notes
Whilst the CWGC record his unit as 40RM Commando from whom there many casualties during the air attack ,  Raymond Mitchell, author of the book "They Did What Was Asked Of Them"  states that Captain Ford with others from 41RM Commando, were also on board. He records Captain Ford, commanding 'A' Troop of 41RM Commando, was killed and 9 OR's were injured. This account is confirmed by the June 1943  Navy Lists where Captain F.O. Ford is listed as an Officer of 41RM Commando [view the list].
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

MAY, Joseph Coyne

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 110762
Born: 
Sunday, April 6, 1913
Birthplace: 
Gravesend, Kent
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
30
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Marine Joseph May died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of George and Emma May; husband of Edith May.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers Of Reports Of Deaths: Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/134.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

NUNN, Sidney Donald

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 100025
Born: 
Wednesday, August 4, 1920
Birthplace: 
Braintree, Essex
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
22
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Marine Sidney Nunn died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel.
Extract from a report in the Essex Newsman - Saturday 02 October 1943
"On Tuesday Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Nunn, 139 Notley Road, Braintree, received official information that their only surviving son, Sidney Donald Nunn, of the Royal Marine Commandos, had died of wounds received in action off Sicily on July 17, 1943. Marine Nunn, who was 22, was formerly employed at Messrs. Swinbourne's Factory, Braintree, and left with some of his comrades to join the Royal Marines. He had served in the Marine Commandos for over a year, and came through the Dieppe landing without injury. While serving in the Mediterranean he wrote asking his parents send him The Essex Chronicle as he wanted read the home news, and the Paper had been posted to him since. Much sympathy will be felt with Mr. and Mrs. Nunn, who had the misfortune to lose their other son, aged seven years, in a motor accident ten years ago. They have one daughter."
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers Of Reports Of Deaths: Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/135.
Essex Newsman newspaper.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

ROSS, John

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 110710
Born: 
Friday, December 21, 1923
Birthplace: 
Pudsey, Yorkshire
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
19
Cemetery/Memorial: 
John Ross 40 Commando
Marine John Ross died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of Joseph and Bertha Ross, of Pudsey, Yorkshire.
Extract from the Yorkshire Evening Post
"First known Pudsey casualty of the Sicilian campaign is Royal Marine Commando John Ross (19), only son of Mr and Mrs. Joseph Ross of Southroyd Park, who was killed in July. He joined the Marines in August 1942 and volunteered for the Commandos four months later. Before joining up he worked for local engineering firms."
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers Of Reports Of Deaths: Naval Ratings /National Archives file ADM 104/136.
[Image] Report in the Yorkshire Evening Post Thursday 30 September 1943.
Linked Content below.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

STIEBEL, John Edward

Rank: 
Captain
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
22
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Captain John Stiebel died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of Major Charles Alexander Stiebel and Berthe Stiebel; husband of Edith E. Stiebel, of Countess Wear, Devon.
 
Sources
CWGC.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

THOMSON, Ian Henderson

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PO/X 112654
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
21
Marine Ian Thomson died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of James Oliphant Thomson and Isabella Thomson, of Almondbank, Perthshire.
 
Sources
CWGC.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

TURNER, Anthony James

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PLY/X 109504
Born: 
Friday, December 7, 1923
Birthplace: 
Standerwick, Somerset
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
19
Cemetery/Memorial: 

Marine Anthony Turner died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of John and M. E. Turner, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM104/138.
Linked Content below.

Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

WEBSTER, Thomas Henry

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PO/X 3183
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Marine Thomas Webster died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel.
 
Sources
CWGC.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

WOOD, Alexander

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
40RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 105330
Born: 
Tuesday, July 25, 1922
Birthplace: 
Gibside, Durham
Died : 
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
20
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Marine Alexander Wood died during operations in Sicily whilst aboard the HMS Queen Emma during an enemy air attack on the vessel. Son of Robert James and Eleanor Annie Wood, of Stocksfield-on-Tyne, Northumberland.
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Death - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM/104/139.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: