No. C/SSX 28518, Leading Seaman, Stanley Robert TURNER
Aged 22
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Stanley Rboert Turner was born in Great Wratting? (Risbridge Q1-1920 4A:2157), son of Robert and Annie TURNER (née MAYES ).
In the 1939 Register his parents were at 7 Corporation Cottages, Great Wratting, father Robert TURNER [26/5/1891] a pig carcase dresser; mother Annie [7/9/1892]; brothers Bertram [28/10/192] motor mechanic and Ronald [18/9/1921] slaughter house assistant. It appears there may have been a younger brother Sidney L (1923) |
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There are many unanswered question about HMS Thanet. The Japanese commander, Vice-Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa had received intelligence reports that two cruisers were at Singapore, and he concentrated his forces off Endau. The two cruisers were actually the destroyers HMS "Thanet" and HMAS "Vampire" and Malaya Command ordered them to sea to intercept a Japanese troop transport convoy. They left Singapore at 4.30pm on 26th January, carrying only three torpedoes each Early on 27th January they came across the Japanese warships, consisting of three destroyers and the Japanese cruiser Sendai. "Thanet" was hit in the engine room and Vampire attempted to lay down a smokescreen but was driven off under heavy fire, and managed to escape. "Thanet" sank with heavy loss of life, "Shirayuki" picked up some 31 survivors from HMS "Thanet". They are never seen again. 40 to 60 crew managed to reach the shore, but the fate of many of them is still not known. It seems more than likely that many were executed by the Japanese. CWGC record 38 of them dying on 27th January and they are commemorated on either the Chatham, Portsmouth or Plymouth Naval Memorials, Stanley Turner being one of them.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
