Issue 23 � 1

�Winston Churchill inspecting the survivors of the HMS Hardy on 19 April 1940 at the Horse Guard Parade at Whitehall. Robert McAtamney from Carrickfergus is third from right

Carrickfergus survivor of Battle of Narvik

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�HMS Hardy

Robert McAtamney from Carrickfergus served in HMS Hardy at the first Battle of Narvik in April 1940. He survived ship wreck. With his fellow survivors, he met Winston Churchill and was recognised by a presentation in his home town.

Robert, known as Bobby, was one of six boys from the same family who fought in the war. They became known as the fighting McAtamney’s as they represented the Army, Navy and Airforce. Although three of them were wounded, all came home safe after the war.

Bobby, an Able Seaman at the time of the Battle of Narvik, was only twenty years old at the time. Bobby had a lucky escape when he was hit by RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

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�Tubby Cox taking the parade of survivors.Even after all that they had been through their humour was still high

shrapnel. It took his top lip off but, it could just as easily been his head. He plunged in to the icy waters and as he swam ashore he noticed another ship mate Tubby’ Cox floating unconscious in the water and dragged him to safety. They had a laugh about it afterwards, as Bobby said that Tubby only floated because of his size. After the ship had blown up and he and the rest of the survivors were led to safety, he

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was given a ski suit, and that’s what he wore to come home.

�Presentation in Carrickfergus Town Hall

The McAtamney’s were a well liked family in Carickfergus, and when news of the Battle of Narvik became known, everybody was worried for Bobby and kept asking his parents for any news. When he finally came home, the town was decorated with flags and bunting and all the town’s people lined the streets to welcome him home. At a ceremony at the Town Hall he was presented with a watch and a ring. When asked

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how he felt, he said” that he would look back on this day with pride”.

Bobby Mc Atamney stayed in the Navy until 1960, and rose to the rank of Petty Officer. Although he loved the life, he had got married in 1958 and he found the long separations a bit too much to bear so he left the Navy and went to work at Courtaulds. It was at the factory in 1974 that he suffered a heart attack and died. He was only fifty four years of age. He left a son and daughter, and was sadly missed by many in the town as he was so well liked.

Narvik in a nutshell

Narvik is an iron ore port in the north of Norway and it was one of the key reasons why Germany invaded the country. This did not escape Britain and the waters off Narvik became bitterly contested between the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine in the early phases of WW II.

On April 9 Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrendered. German forces moved north to relieve Narvik which had been

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�Hardy washed ashore

isolated by the allies after the first German landings. In response to reported German movements, units of the Home Fleet including Rodney, Valiant, Repulse, four cruisers and 14 destroyers sailed from Scapa Flow and Rosyth. Accompanying them was a French cruiser and two destroyers. Two more British cruisers and nine destroyers left other duties and headed for Norwegian waters. Next day, on the 8th, they were joined by the four troop-carrying cruisers of Operation 'R4', but after the soldiers had been disembarked back in Britain. More than 20 submarines, including three French and one Polish took up positions.RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

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The first Battle of Narvik commenced on April 10. The 2nd Destroyer Flotilla under command of Capt. Warburton-Lee, with HM Ships Hardy, Havock, Hostile, Hotspur and Hunter, entered Ofotfiord to attack the German ships assigned to the occupation of Narvik. These included 10 large destroyers. Several transports were sunk together with destroyers Anton Schmitt and Wilhelm Heidkamp in Narvik Bay. Wilhelm Heidkamp was the flagship of Kommodore Bonte, Senior Officer Narvik Destroyer Force. The stern was blown into the air, killing Bonte and eighty of his men. In the ensuing battle the Dieter Von Roeder launched eight torpedoes, none of which scored a hit, but she sustained many hits herself, and later caught fire, as did the Hans Luderman. Whilst all this was going on the Hotspur, which had been guarding the harbour entrance, came alone into the harbour and torpedoed two merchant ships.

Since no German warships had been seen outside the harbour, Warburton-Lee thought he had all the Germans in the bag. He didn't realise that there were another five Destroyers nearby. He turned his vessels at high speed and came back into the harbour to have another go at the RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

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merchant ships, blazing away with his guns, sinking and damaging six vessels. Up to now he had been incredibly lucky with only Hotspur suffering any hits, but as Warburton-Lee gathered his forces to depart his luck started to change for the worse.

The British Destroyers laid down a thick smoke screen to hide their departure, but as they headed out across the Fjord they ran into the five other German Destroyers as they charged into the Ofotfjord. The Georg Thiele and Bernard Von Armin came from Ballanger, and the Erich Giese, Erick Koellner and the Wolfgan Zenker sailed in from the Herjangfjord, surrounding the British Force in a pincer movement. In a fierce battle the five German destroyers fought the five British destroyers with sustained and rapid gunfire. Most of the German gunfire targeted the British Flagship Hardy, which came under fire from two ships, most notably the George Thiele. The Hardy sustained several direct hits and soon burst into flames. When the bridge took a direct hit, Warburton-Lee was severely injured, but before he collapsed he ordered his Flotilla to 'keep on engaging the enemy'.

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Other than Warburton-Lee, nearly everbody on the bridge had been killed except for Paymaster Lt. Geoffrey Standing, the Captain's Secertary. He awoke from the fearful blast to find his foot wounded, the ship out of control and heading for the shore at thirty knots. Since the wheel house was below him and nobody was answering his increasingly desperate orders to put the wheel over, he managed to hop down a ladder to the wheel house and alter course, enough to stop hitting the shore. When he regained the bridge helped by some seamen, he saw that they were now heading for two German destroyers. Since he could not slow down he decided to ram one of them. Luckily for all those left alive on board, whilst he was deciding which one to have a go at, one of the boilers was hit and the engines ground to a halt.

Capt Bernard Warburton-Lee RN was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

The Second Battle of Narvik commenced on April 13. The battleship Warspite and nine destroyers were sent into the Narvik fiords to finish off the remaining German ships. Submarine U-64 was surprised and sunk by Warspite's Swordfish catapult aircraft as it scouted ahead. The eight RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

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surviving German destroyers were all destroyed or scuttled. The British “Eskimo” and “Cossack” were damaged. By the 13th, the first British troop convoys had left the Scottish Clyde for Narvik, but some ships were diverted to Namsos. German forces were well-established in the south and centre of Norway and had control of the air.

The first Allied landings took place between the 14th and 16th. In the north, British troops occupied Harstad in preparation for an attack on Narvik. They were reinforced by French and Polish units. They managed to recapture the town in May 1940 – a success that is regarded as the first defeat of German forces on land in WWII. It was not to last, though. Royal Marines led British and French troops into Namsos ready for an attack south towards Trondheim. The British went ashore in the Andalsnes area to try to hold central Norway with the Norwegian Army. Neither of these operations proved possible and on the 27th April the decision was taken to pull out of central Norway.

By May the war had started raging the heaviest in France rather than in Scandinavia. It had got closer to Britain’s doorstep; and the evacuation from Dunkirk was imminent. So the British

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withdrew from Narvik again shortly afterwards, on 8 June, just leaving a cache of rifles and ammunition for the Norwegians to fend for themselves with. On 10 June, Norway had to surrender Narvik to Germany again.

RemembranceOn the 1st of March 2008 HMS Hunter was located by HNOMS Tyr of the Royal Norwegian Navy, after a 14-hour search of the fjord using some experimental equipment, whilst taking part in an exercise with ships of the Royal Navy. A memorial service was held on Saturday 8th March in the waters above the wreck.

The memorial service consisted of synchronised ceremonies on the deck of each ship present and wreath laying over the site of the wreck. After the ceremony, the ships, HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, HMS Cornwall, RFA Mounts Bay and NOCGV Andenes, all turned in formation and steamed over the wreck, toasting the crew who perished with a tot of rum poured over the side. As they sailed away, they signalled back by Morse: "Farewell, we'll meet again."

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ROLL OF HONOUR WW1CARRICKFERGUS, WHITEHEAD AND

WHITEHOUSE

BEW, John VincentRN. RND. Chief Petty Officer. Dev/167694. Anson Battalion. Born Carrickfergus 19/05/1876. Died 06/05/1915. Aged 39. Son of late Charles and Elizabeth Ann Bew. Helles Memorial, Turkey

BOAL, JamesRN. Petty Officer Stoker. 287397. HMS Valerian. Died 17/05/1919. Age 33. Born Belfast. Husband to E. Boal, Warwick Row, Carrickfergus. Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent

BODELS, SamuelGunner HMS Westmoreland. Prospect St., Carrickfergus. First Carrickfergus PCI-RH

BOYD, HenryRMLI. Lance Corporal.14258. HMS Lady Cory Wright. Sunk by UC-17 shortly after sailing from Devonport. The Captain and 38 to 41 men were lost. Died 26/03/1918. Ebenezer Villa. Whitehead - PCI RH. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 28.

BROWN, WilliamRNR. Stoker. S444956. HMS Hampshire. Died 05/06/1916. Foster son of Elizabeth O’Neill, Whiteabbey. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 28

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 13CHAMBERLAIN, Henry NevilleRN. Lieutenant. Died 16/7/1918. Age 31. Serving on HMS Anchusa, a mine-sweeping vessel, which was torpedoed by a German submarine, U54, off the North Coast of Ireland. He lived in Carrickfergus before joining the Royal Navy. Son of the Rev George and D M Chamberlain of The Rectory, Castledawson. Brother in law of Rev Manning, CF, MC., later Archdeacon of Down. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 29. RBAI WM. Carrickfergus WM.

CHAMBERS, BernardRNR. Stoker. 3353S. HMS Invincible. Died 31/05/1916. Aged 24. Bernard was one of 1026 crew killed on board HMS Invincible when it was sunk during the Battle of Jutland. Only 6 crew survived. Obituary in Carrick Advertiser 16/6/1916. Son of William and Catherine Chambers, Irish Quarter South, Carrickfergus. Roman Catholic Church, Barns Mills RH. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 23. Carrickfergus WM

COEY, John SmileyRN. Midshipman. HMS Formidable. Died 01/01/1915. Age 16. Son of Edward and Mary R. D. Coey, Merville, Whitehouse. Chatham Naval Memorial. Whitehouse - PCI RH & Larne, Gardenmore - PCI RH

DONALD, Marriott Robert (Martie)RN. Stoker 1st. SS/107927. HMS Hawke. Died 15/10/1914. Born Carrickfergus 25/10/1886. Son of Isabella Donald of Red Brae Cottage and the late Robert Donald. Husband to Bella Donald. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 5. Carrickfergus WM

DONNAN, JohnBallycarry. Redhall lodge 206. Masonic RH

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 14DOWNIE, ThomasRN. Stoker 1st Class. SS114250. HMS Retriever. Died 02/04/1920. Age 24. Born Belfast. Husband of Ellen M. Downie, Fair Hill, Ballycarry. Belfast City Cemetery

FERGUSON, WilliamTrimmer. HMS London Bell. Died in hospital. Rockview. Whitehouse - PCI RH

FERGUSON, William JosephRNR. Trimmer. 7543/TS. HMS Pekin. Died 13/12/1918. Age 19. Son of Joseph and Margaret Ferguson, of Whitehouse, Belfast. Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery.

GARDNER, James ThomasRN. AB. 123062. HMS Bulwark. Accidental explosion in Sheerness harbour. Died 26/11/1914. Aged 46. Son of late Thomas and May Gardner, Soberton, Hants. Husband of Bertha Gardner, Albert Drive, Carrickfergus. Father of two children. Portsmouth Naval Memorial

GRAHAM, DavidRN. Stoker 1st. Class. 307260. HMS Hogue. Died 22/09/1914. Age 36. Born Whiteabbey. Son of David and Lizzie Graham, Whiteabbey, Belfast. Chatham Naval Memorial

HAGAN, MichaelRNR. Trimmer. 1955ST. HM Trawler Neptunian. Died 27/10/1918. Age 32. Son of James and Bridget Hagan; husband to D. Hagan, Eden, Carrickfergus. Born Greenore, Co. Louth. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 31

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 15HUNTER, AndrewRNR. Leading Seaman. 3341/C. SS Karnak. Died 14/01/1918. Aged 35. Husband to Nelly Hunter, Nicholson St., Glasgow. Son of Andrew and Annie Hunter, Carrickfergus. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 31

MAXWELL, JamesRN. Stoker 2nd Class. K24593. HMS Princess Irene. Died 27/05/1915. Age 20. Born Belfast. Son of Joseph and Catherine Maxwell, Barbour St., Greencastle, Belfast. Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 12. Whitehouse - PCI RH

McALLISTER, AndrewStoker 1st Class. SS103005. HMS Hawke. Died 15/10/1914. Age 24. Born Carrickfergus 1/3/1887. Husband to Susan McAllister, Patterson's Row, Woodburn, Carrickfergus. Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 5. Joymount - PCI RH

McDOWELL, WilliamLeading Seaman. 211344. HM Submarine E5. Died 11/03/1916. Age 33. Born Templecorran, County Antrim. Son of Eliza McDowell, of Milebush, Ballyhill, Carrickfergus, and the late William McDowell. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Carrickfergus WM

McMAW, RichardRNR. Stoker. HMS Queen Mary. Jutland. Died 31/05/1916. Son of Walter McMaw, Eden, Carrickfergus; husband to Elizabeth McMaw, Eden. Carrickfergus WM. Bully Grennay Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

McMILLAN, WilliamRNR. Leading seaman. 2855C. SS Henry R James. Died 16/07/1917. Age 39. Son of Annie M McMillan, Schomberg RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 16St., Carrickfergus. Husband to late Sarah McMillan, Carrickfergus. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 27

McMULLAN, WRN. Leading Seaman. Carrickfergus.

McMURRAN, HenryRN. Stoker 1st Class. SS103004. HMS Cressy. Died 22/09/1914. Age 27. Born Whitehead. Son of James and Margaret McMurran, Sullatober, Carrickfergus. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 5. Carrickfergus WM

SMYTH, DavidRNVR. Sub-Lieutenant. Whitehead. Sinclair Seamen’s - PCI RH

WALLACE, JohnRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus WM

WOODSIDE, DavidRN. Stoker 1st Class. K/19058. HMS Hannibal. Died 30/12/1918. Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery. First Islandmagee - PCI RH

WOODSIDE, ThomasRNR. Seaman. 3681C. HMS Fisgard II. Died 17/09/1914. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 6. First Islandmagee - PCI RH

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

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WW1 THEY SERVEDCARRICKFERGUS, WHITEHEAD AND

WHITEHOUSE

ANDERSON, W HRN. Stoker. HMS Serbol. Cranmore Terrace. Whitehouse - PCI RH

BARRY, JohnRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

BELL, SRMLI. Private. Wounded Zeebrugge. Abbeyville Cottages, Whiteabbey

BELL, WilliamRM. Private. Whiteabbey. Whiteabbey - PCI RH

BOYD, JamesPetty Officer. HMS Rugby. Wounded. Whitehouse. Whitehouse - PCI RH

BOYD, RobertRN. Sub.Lieutenant. Redhill Masonic Lodge 260, Ballycarry

BOYD, SamuelStoker. HMS Ophir. Barbour Street. Whitehouse - PCI RH

BURNIE, SamuelGunner. HMS Centurion. Greencastle. Whitehouse - PCI RH

CAITHNESS, WillRN. Surgeon Probationer. Whitabbey. Whiteabbey - PCI RHRN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 18CARROL, George A.RN. Lieutenant. HMS Alecto. Submarine service. Masonic Lodge 41, Larne. Whitehead - PCI RH

CHARLTON, JohnFireman. HMT St. Aubyn. Erskine's Terrace. Whitehouse - PCI RH

CLOSE, JosephHMS Impereuse. Green Street. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

CONNELL, SamuelRN. Officer. HMS Vendetta. Whitehead - PCI RH

COULTER, SamuelRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

CRAIG, RobertRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

CRAWFORD, JamesStoker. Duchess of Devonshire. Ivy Row, Whitehouse. Whitehouse - PCI RH

CREIGHTON, William DavidRNAS. Russian Armoured Car Division. Petty Officer. Rosebank, Whitehead

DACE, HerbertStoker. HMS Mantua. Erskine Terrace. Whitehouse - PCI RH

DAVIDSON, SamuelRNR. Captain. DSC. Masonic Lodge 43, Carrickfergus

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 19HAMILTON, Harry SCarpenter. Carrickfergus Masonic Lodge

HAMILTON, JohnChief Writer. HMS Zetland. West Street. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

HAMILTON, JohnBaker. HMS Macedonia. Nelson Street. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

HAYTER, Henry HIslandmagee Masonic Lodge 162

HILL, HughRNR. Second Islandmagee - PCI RH

JACKSON, John CRN. Artificer. Masonic Lodge 162. Islandmagee

KEMP, William F.RNAS. Lieutenant. Holywood. High Street - PCI RH

KERR, DavisRNR. Lieut. in Command. Second Islandmagee - PCI RH

KERR, HughRN. Lieutenant Commander. Masonic Lodge162, Islandmagee. Second Islandmagee - PCI RH

LAIRD, David RE. Naval Div. Sapper. Second Islandmagee - PCI RH

MANN, JamesRN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 20RNR. Sub - Lieutenant. Second Islandmagee - PCI RH

McATAMNEY AlexanderRNR. Captain. Masonic Lodge 43. Carrickfergus

McCLINTOCK, John William LeopoldRN. Second son of Vice Admiral Sir Leopold McClintock, whose efforts resulted in the discovery of the fate of the Franklin Expedition in the 19th century. A channel in the Arctic is named in honour of Vice Admiral McClintock. JWL McClintock, who died in 1929, served continuously at sea during the First World War and was President of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich at the time of his death. Redhall House. Memorial in St John’s Parish Church, Templecorran, Ballycarry

MILLAR, WilliamRNR. Lieutenant. Fairymount. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

MILNER, FredRNR. Lieutenant Commander. Masonic Lodge162, Carrickfergus

MOIR, George RRNAS. Captain. Masonic Lodge 313, Whitehead

REID, ThomasRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

REILLY, RobertRN. HMS Dublin. Whitehouse, Belfast

REILLY, W JRN. HMS Pelorous, HMS Argyll. Whitehouse, BelfastRN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 21ROBINSON, GeorgeRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

ROBINSON, JohnRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

SAUNDERSON, ThomasRN. Jordanstown. Whiteabbey - PCI RH

SEMPLE, Adam, Jun.RN. Commons, Carrickfergus. Raloo - PCI RH

SLOAN, KyleRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

STEWART, EdwardRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

WALLACE, JohnRN. Seaman. Carrickfergus. Joymount - PCI RH

WATSON, CharlesSeaman. HMS Impereuse. Green Street. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

WILLIAMSON, W ARN. Lieutenant Commander. HMS Canopus. Invalided. Ballycraigy House. Whitehouse - PCI RH

YOUNG, PaulStoker. HMS Buttercup. Agnes Street. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 22YOUNG, ThomasRNAS. Born Carrickfergus 1895. Governor’s Place Carrickfergus. First Carrickfergus - PCI RH

ROLL OF HONOUR WW IICARRICKFERGUS, WHITEHEAD AND

WHITEHOUSE

CLENDINNING, David Alexander RN. Able Seaman. C/SSX 13199. HMS Whirlwind. Died 05/07/1940. Age 30. Son of Robert Alexander and Agnes Clendinning, Whitehead. Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 35

CRAWFORD, Samuel SloanOS. P/UDT1273. HMS Victory. Died 02/02/1940. Aged 27. Died Portsmouth RN Hospital. Husband to Margaret, Concrete Rd, Whiteabbey. Carnmoney cemetery

DUMIGAN, John BeattieRN. Convoy Signalman. C/JX 234041. S.S Fort Bellingham. Died 25/01/1944. At 00.16 hours on U-360 (Becker) fired a spread of three FAT torpedoes at the convoy JW-56A in the Barents Sea north of North Cape in 73°45N/24°48E and heard three hits. In fact, the only ship hit was that of the convoy commodore Cmdr I.W. Whitehorn RN, the Fort Bellingham (Master James Ninian Maley).It fell behind the convoy, where she was sunk by U-957 with a T-3 torpedo at 06.53 hours the same day. The master, the commodore, four naval staff members, 22 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by HMS Offa (G 29) (LtCdr R.F. Leonard, RN) and landed at Murmansk. Two crew members were taken prisoner by U-957. 18 crew members, 16 gunners and two naval staff members were lost including JB Dumigan. Son of John and Martha RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 23Dumigan; husband of Rhoda M. Dumigan, Carrickfergus. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 76

FITZPATRICK, William James JosephRN. AB. C/JX192062. HMS Walney.Died 08/11/1942. Age 22. HMS Walney, a former US Coastguard cutter, took part in Operation Torch, the landings in French north-west Africa. Walney was taking part in the bombardment of Oran and had crashed through the harbour boom when it came under heavy fire from the defence batteries. The ship was damaged badly and had to be abandoned, exploding six hours later. The captain of Walney, Captain Frederick Peters, received a posthumous Victoria Cross. Son of William and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Whiteabbey. Chatham Naval Memorial.

LOUGHLIN, Hamilton RN. Able Seaman. D/JX 181582. Died 14/07/1941. Age 27. H.M.S. President III. Son of Hamilton and Robina Loughlin, Carrickfergus; husband of Johanna Mary Loughlin, Carrickfergus. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 47

QUINN, Vincent RN. Able Seaman. D/JX 156549. Died 09/04/1942. Age 20. HMS Hermes. Son of Sophia Quinn, Whitehouse. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 35

ROBB, James RN. Able Seaman. D/JX 191463. Died 11/01/1942. Age 38. HMS President III. Husband to Margaret Robb, Carrickfergus. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 88

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 24SHANKS, James RN. Gunner. Died 27/04/1941. HMS Diamond. Son of Matthew and Elizabeth Shanks, Whiteabbey, Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 45

SMITH, William James Wilson RN. Able Seaman. D/SSX 21645. Died 10/01/1941. Age 21. HMS Valiant. Son of Francis and Mary J. Smyth, Whiteabbey. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 48

STEWART, Andrew RN. Able Seaman. D/SSX 18344. Died 01/04/1942. Age 22. HMS Croome.. Son of Andrew and Margaret Stewart, Whiteabbey. Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery

THEY SERVED - WW IICARRICKFERGUS, WHITEHEAD AND

WHITEHOUSE

ERSKINE, Colin Jack

RN. Naval Airman, b. 29th May, 1925. Son of J. Erskine, Greenisland. Campbell College

HARDY, Alexander NorthRN. Lieutenant. Commanded HMS Valena, a minesweeper, used to sweep French beaches on 05/06/1944 in heavy weather prior to D Day. At the end of the war, he and the crew of HMS Valena found themselves in the Low Countries, where he took part in a VE-Day parade with Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Earlier in the conflict, he had served on escort

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 25duty during the Battle of the Atlantic. Worked for a shipping company in Birmingham before the war. Whitehead.

KING, James OsborneRNVR. Lt.-Commdr.,  DSC. b. 8th October, 1914. Son of J. King, Castle Chester, Whitehead.  Campbell College

McATAMNEY, George HRN. AB.

McATAMNEY, Robert SamuelRN. Petty Officer. Survivor of First Battle of Narvik 1940. One of six sons of William & Jane McAtamney who served in WW 2. Born 18/03/1920 at 24 Davys Street Carrickfergus. Brother of George and Thomas. D 1954Daniel McAtamney L. Cpl. R.A.FFrancis McAtamney Flight Segt. R.A.F.Robert Samuel (Bobby) McAtamney Petty Officer R.N.George H. McAtamney A.B. R.N.Thomas McAtamney O.S. R.N.William McAtamney Sergt. Royal Inniskillings

McATAMNEY, ThomasRN. OS.

TWINNING, Kathleen ElizabethWRNS. Born Carrickfergus. Served as a signaller in North of England communicating with vessels entering or leaving harbour. There she met Ted. Married 03/05/1953 in St Nicholas Parish Church, Carrickfergus. Lived in Newry. Emigrated to Canada 1957 to North Vancouver. B 25/06/1922. Died 02/12/2013

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance

Issue 23 � 26HELP REQUESTEDPlease send names of Ex RN/RM/WRNS who served in either of the world wars. Details also appreciated.

CIRCULATION - Please share ‘Brave Report’ with your former service colleagues - and we will post direct to them if they simply send an e-mail to: houston.mckelvey@btinternet.com, placing Brave Report in the message bar, and give their name and former arm of service, and if they are members of the RNA or RBL, having knowledge of their branch would be appreciated. There are specific areas where we need information from!

PUBLICATION NOTES Please note all the material in Brave Report is copyright. Brave Report is collated and published by The Very Rev. Dr Houston McKelvey, OBE QVRM TD.

Dr McKelvey served as chaplain for 29 years with 102/105 (Ulster & Scottish) Regiment, Royal Artillery TA; for 20 years as Chaplain to the RBL - Northern Ireland Area, and for a period as chaplain to the Belfast Branch of the Burma Star Association. He was involved in the life of HMS Caroline and HMS Hibernia.He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the RNR. He is a Past President of QUB Combined Services Club.

RN Northern Ireland - In Remembrance