H.M.S. Lapwing was a Royal Navy Sloop that was built during the Second World War, laid down at the Scotts yard on the Clyde in 1942 and launched on 19th March 1944. Built as a Uboat hunter and after completeing her sea trials she was armed and stored out to first participate in the D-day landing (operation Overlord) June until September 1944 protecting the outer areas of the British and Canadian landing zones.
From September 1944 until 20th March 1945 she was part of the escort group for 9 convoys to Northern Russia, sadly on her 9th escort passage with JW65, she was torpedoed by U968 just 6 miles from their destination of Murmansk. Hit amidships, she broke in half and sank within 12 minutes with the loss of 158 Officers and men out of a total crew compliment of 219.
Our "Friends of H.M.S. Lapwing Association" was set up in 2005, whilst I was researching a particular crew member and managed to trace several survivors, widows and relatives of lost crew members and in March 2006 we had our first reunion in Saffron Walden, the town that adopted Lapwing during "War Week 1941".
We now have our own ships memorial in a beautiful garden in the centre of Saffron Walden at which we hold a special reunion every two years. The next being March 2012.
During our research we have to date established contacts and friendship with
9 survivors
7 widows
75 relatives of crew members
We have also created a fairly accurate profile of Lapwing and her short life, a complete crew list of those who sailed on that last fatal voyage and to their status after the sinking, individual crew member profiles along with their memories and photographs. Several photographs of Lapwing herself and in particular one of the crew taken on board just after commissioning with many of the lads identified. We have information of all of the individual 9 convoys Lapwing took part in and many photographs of our reunions held - 2006 -2008 -2010 at Saffron Walden.
We do have sadly, many of our crew that we have not been able to trace or their families and this is what we really do need help with. So did your father, grandfather, brother or uncle serve in the Royal Navy during the last world war, do you know anything about him?
Do contact us if you feel you may have a connection with our ship and crew, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Hello Les
ReplyDeleteMy Mother's cousin was a stoker on Lapwing and the only member of our family to be killed in action in World War 2. His name was Hubert Sydney Stanley, Stoker, First Class from Whalley, Lancashire and is remembered on the cenotaph on Plymouth Ho. I am pleased to have discovered your blog and would be interested in following news from your Association.
Best Wishes
Stephen Rose
My great-grandfather's brother Charles Arrowsmith was chief stoker on the HMS Lapwing and lost at sea when she was sunk. I'd be very interested to hear from any survivor who recalls him or relatives and finding out when the March 2012 reunion is. Is it on the 20th? thanks
ReplyDeleteLynne
My great-great uncle Frederick George Alec Rogers was the chief Petty officer stoker on the Lapwing. I have been charged with the responsibility of collating the history of my Grandfather's family. I have researched the Lapwing and her fate, for example that she was hit amidships with a magnetic torpedo fired by U-968, captained by the experienced iron cross awarded Otto Westphalen, I don't know all the details and I am unsure that I'm on the right path with this. Frederick has a son that he never met(still living) and has never seen him or a photo so if he could be identified in you crew photo and any other information that could help would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Barry-John Gait
Frederick was my Grandfather.
DeleteHe had two sons, Raymond Alexander who is my dad and his brother Frederick John (my uncle Johnny).
Would love to find out more.
Amanda
My great uncle Leonard John Hursey was a 1st class stoker on the Lapwing. Unfortunately he went down with it. My father was the last in our family to see him alive as my father, who was a boy during the war, carried his suitcase to the train station and waved him off.
ReplyDeleteMy quest is find info about Danny Vaughan from Liverpool who went down on h.m.s.lapwing I think 1942 but not sure, kind regards, Marie Vaughan vmarie295@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy error it was 1945
DeleteMy late father's brother was on board HMS Lapwing on her final voyage. His name was Maelgwyn Owen, he was 19 and an assistant cook. He was not a survivor.
ReplyDeleteIs this site still active,?
ReplyDelete