Crest of the V&W Destroyer AssociationCrest of the V&W Destroyer AssociationHMS WRYNECK
Lost and saved



Brian Crabb's list based on research for his book
which includes a list of over a thousand names of army and navy personnel from all ships invvolved in
Operation Demon
The story of the evacuation of British Commonwealth troops from mainland Greece and the tragic loss of the
Dutch troopship Slamat and HM destroyers Diamond and Wryneck in April 1941
Survivors from Wryneck
28 survivors were picked up by HM destroyer Griffin from 0200 on 28 April 1941
The total number of survivors from all ships picked up by HMS Griffin was 49

Brannon, Robert (20) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 893177
Brazier, Thomas Benjamin (21) Stoker 1st Class P/KX 91861
Bumstead, Horace Percy (33) Able Seaman C/J 109831 also C/JX 667723
Cachia, Lorenzo (38) Malta Leading Steward E/LX 20862
Clarke, Denis Maurice (24) Ordinary Seaman P/JX 212305
Checuti, Emmanuele (38) Malta Leading Steward E/LX 21087
Coe, Bertie Arthur (35) Able Seaman C/J 105685
Dixon, Thomas Fred (23) Able Seaman C/SSX 25564
Elkins, Charles Samuel (22) Able Seaman C/JX 169726
Frayne, Albert George (42) Able Seaman D/JX 35244 or D/J 35244 or JX 160151
Gray, Edward (18) Able Seaman D/SSX 32903
Gouldwell, Arthur (26) Acting ER Artificer 4th Class D/MX 61649, also D/MX 856655  
Halliday, Leslie Robert (22) Able Seaman C/SSX 28307 also C/JX 768417  
Harding, George (23) Stoker 1st Class D/KX 106714
 Heath, William (27) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 106323
Johnson, Ralph Harrison (21) Able Seaman C/JX 172149
Keys,John (21) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 94340
Larkin, John George (39) Leading Signalman P/J 69073
Love, Frederick Palin (24) Able Seaman C/SSX 16527
Makin, John Henry (30) Stoker 1st Class P/KX 91525
Noad, Harry Francis (20) Leading Seaman C/JX 152659
Porter, Leslie James (21) Able Seaman C/SSX 28224
Ridley, Roy Leslie (35) Petty Officer Stoker P/K 63869
Russell, Walter (23) Able Seaman C/JX 173972
Sears, Percy Leonard (24) Acting Leading Stoker C/KX 86479
Taylor, Arthur L. (?) Able Seaman RNR C/5775D
Watson, Jack Raymond (24) Leading Seaman P/JX 138280
Wyeth, George Alfred Cicero (30) Able Seaman C/JX 125596

Seven survivors from Wryneck made it to Suda Bay, Crete, in Wryneck's whaler
and, after landing at the rocky island of Anana, joined a small group of men in a Greek motor caique, which towed them to safety.
Stanley Gordine's description of the sinking of HMS Wryneck and their rescue is published on this website

Waldron, Maurice Victor DSC (40) Commissioned Warrant Officer (E) M 18449

Fisk, Robert Lee (29) Leading Seaman C/JX 130534
Fuller, George Robert CGM (23) Leading Seaman C/JX 138669
Gatt, Raymond Paul Joseph (39) Malta Petty Officer Steward E/L 133224
Gordine, Stanley Joseph George (31) Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class RNR, EBX 956 also EAX 2810
Rodney, Denis (23) Stoker 1st Class D/KX 89653
Wass, Edwin (30) Engine Room Artificer P/MX 60349



The names of six officers and 100 ratings lost from Wryneck arranged by family name
Recorded on the naval memorials at Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth

Lane Robert Henry Douglas MID (45) Commander

Davies Ronald Leslie (24) Lieutenant dra 28 April
Griffiths Richard Owen (25) Ty Lieutenant RNVR
Watt George Theodore Robertson (28) Py Ty Surgeon Lieutenant RNVR
Jackson Kenneth Hughes (21) Sub Lieutenant
Peck Philip Basil (18) Midshipman

Abnett Alfred Edgar (37) Petty Officer Stoker C/K 61939
Adams Douglas Percy (20) Telegraphist C/JX 150658
Alden Arthur Leonard (21) Acting Leading Stoker C/KX 94541
Anderson William (21) Able Seaman P/SSX 23363
Armstrong Eric Thomas George (23) Ordinary Seaman D/JX 200973
Astles Joseph (27) Able Seaman C/JX 169718
Ayre William Thomas (20) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 95959
Banks Percy William (27) Ordinary Seaman D/JX 200976
Barnard Leslie Alfred (27) Able Seaman C/SSX 27928
Baron Laurence (21) Telegraphist D/SSX 20415
Batt John Reginald (23) Leading Supply Assistant C/MX 53459
Baulch Francis Harold (32) Petty Officer Stoker C/KX 78259
Biram Alfred Albert Howitt (26) Able Seaman C/JX 171385
Birkett John (27) Acting Petty Officer C/JX 149159
Brooks William George (41) Chief Stoker C/K 40390
Burnett John Frederick Julien (22) Able Seaman C/JX 173859
Burton Ernest James (21) Able Seaman C/SSX 17874
Busby Thomas (24) Able Seaman RNVR   P/CD/X 1971
Calladine Jack (23) Able Seaman C/JX 179364
Carey Dennis Thomas Kenneth (18) Ordinary Seaman C/JX 158612
Carliell Henry Mackenzie (33) Petty Officer Cook (S) C/MX 46423
Clark William John Cranford (34) Petty Officer Supply C/MX 45481
Cobbledick William Henry (44) Stoker 1st Class D/K 29420
Cogger Donald Walter (40) Chief Petty Officer C/J 69276
Coleman Joseph (29) Ordnance Artificer 4th Class D/MX 57686
Davis William (20) Able Seaman C/SSX 20429
Detenon Robert Andrew (26) Stoker 2nd Class C/KX 106302
Digger Leslie William (20) Able Seaman C/JX 152679
Downley James (19) Ordinary Seaman D/JX 150908
Edington Robert (27) Leading Stoker C/KX 83020
Farnaby Robert Allan (24) Cook (S) D/MX 53330
Farrant Frederick George (41) Able Seaman P/J 43714
Farrugia Giuseppe (34) (Malta) Leading Cook (O) E/LX 20246
Ferguson William (31) Ty Acting Leading Seaman RFR  C/SSX 12969
Ford Albert Edward (21) Ordinary Seaman C/SSX 30986
Foster Norman Frederick (30) Able Seaman C/JX 127581
Frost James Robert (28) Leading Seaman D/JX 146338
Fulton John Dawson (23) Stoker 2nd Class D/KX 105416
Goodair George Edward (19) Signalman C/JX 152670
Griffin Eric Ernest (21) Petty Officer P/JX 149295
Hall Lewis Marshall (24) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 95560
Harrington John (21) Stoker 1st Class D/KX 95992
Harris Ronald Frederick (29) Yeoman of Signals P/JX 130065
Hartley Benjamin Thomas (33) Leading Stoker C/KX 75538
Hayes Frank Raymond (21) Able Seaman C/SSX 19034
Heffill John Wiseman (22) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 91753
 Hesse Maurice Stanley (23) Ordinary Seaman P/JX 212310
Hewitt Thomas (25) Acting Leading Stoker C/KX 86687
Higgs John Henry (24) Electrical Artificer 4th Class D/MX 57507
Hoad Charles William (21) Able Seaman C/SSX 30264
Holman Harry Charles Kitchener (26) Joiner 3rd Class C/MX 52922
Holwell Percy (45) Chief Engine Room Artificer P/MX 58489
Hyde Paul (19) Ordinary Seaman C/JX 158123
Jackson George (23) Able Seaman P/SSX 17829
Jennings William George (27) Stoker 1st Class C/KX 106269
Jobson Leonard George (19) Able Seaman C/SSX 29977
John Garrod Henry (34) Petty Officer Stoker C/K 66365
Jones Wilfred (22) Py Sick Berth Attendant RNASBR   D/SBR/X 7544
Lambert William George (38) Able Seaman C/J 95640
Lang John (21) Able Seaman C/JX 175354
Lock Frank Alec Ernest (32) Able Seaman C/JX 137903
Martin Thomas (33) Petty Officer Stoker C/KX 76893
Martin William (37) Able Seaman P/J 109843
Mathers Harold (19) Ordinary Seaman D/SSX 32733
McCracken John William (33) Gunner
McDonald Joseph Michael (23) Acting Leading Seaman D/JX 139701
McDowell Donald (21) Supply Assistant C/MX 61197
McIntyre John George (24) Able Seaman C/JX 140063
McLaren Thomas (20) Able Seaman C/JX 152234
Merritt George (22) Able Seaman C/JX 169537
Mingo Harry George (44) Able Seaman C/JX 187606
Montgomery Joseph Hall (21) Able Seaman D/SSX 32740
Nettleton James Lawrence (28) Petty Officer Telegraphist C/JX 131287
O'Boyle Patrick Joseph (22) Stoker 2nd Class D/KX 105581
Pawsey Edward James (26) Petty Officer C/JX 134783
Perfitt Edward (23) Ordinary Seaman D/JX 200439
Pittaway Cecil Douglas (22) Engine Room Artificer 4th Class D/MX 55566
Poole Cyril Horace Heywood (33) Acting Petty Officer D/J 109856
Rathbone John Ernest Sidney (38) Acting Petty Officer Stoker P/K 66343
Reeve George Ernest (31) Able Seaman RFR  C/J 112019
Robinson Herbert (26) Able Seaman C/SSX 15327
Sargent James Albert (38) Able Seaman P/J 70934
Smith Albert George Victor (31) Signalman C/JX 130758
Smith Bernard (20) Stoker 1st Class P/KX 97190
Smith Harry George (27) Ty Acting Leading Stoker C/KX 88178
Snaith Albert Sidney (20) Able Seaman C/JX 176491
Steadman Ronald Sidney (20) Ordinary Telegraphist C/SSX 29315
Titheridge Leslie Frank (21) Able Seaman C/JX 144713
Tomlinson Albert Edward (29) Able Seaman C/JX 131097
Watson Harry (21) Able Seaman C/SSX 24996
Watson James Henry (40) Able Seaman RFR  C/J 87633
Watson Thomas Henry (43) Engine Room Artificer 1st Class C/M 34692
Wells Sidney (34) Petty Officer C/J 105261
Wheeler Robert Wyndham Charles (21) Able Seaman C/JX 174332
Wilson Ernest (28) Acting Petty Officer Stoker D/KX 80981
Wilson Joseph Harry (21) Able Seaman RNSR  C/SR 8639
Wilson William (30) Petty Officer C/JX 128780
Wright George Thomas Cinderford (27) Acting Petty Officer D/JX 134786
Young Charles Rennie (29) Stoker 1stClass D/KX 104936
Young George Surtees (23) Able Seaman C/SSX 28958




Ian McLeod's list based on his search of
Admiralty records in the National Archives
Contains the names of 105 officers and men recorded as missing and 26 survivors
no attempt has beeen made to reconcile these two lists but Brian Crabb's list is more comprehensive
DOUGLAS PERCY ADAMS TELEGRAPHIST C/JX 150658 MISSING
ARTHUR LEONARD ALDEN L/STOKER C/KX 94541 MISSING
WILLIAM
ANDERSON AB P/SSX 23363 MISSING
ERIC THOMAS GEORGE ARMSTRONG OD D/JX 200973 MISSING
JOSEPH
ASTLES AB C/JX 169718 MISSING
WILLIAM THOMAS AYRE STOKER1C C/KX 95959 MISSING
SAVERIO
BAJARDA CANTEEN MANAGER E/L 12225 SURVIVOR
PERCY WILLIAM BANKS OD D/JX 200976 MISSING
LESLIE ALFRED BARNARD AB C/SSX 27928 MISSING
LAURENCE
BARON TELEGRAPHIST D/SSX 20415 MISSING
JOHN REGINALD BATT L/SUPPLY ASSISTANT C/MX 53459 MISSING
FRANCIS HAROLD BAULCH STOKER PO C/KX 78249 MISSING
ALFRED ALBERT HOWITT BIRAM AB C/JX 171395 MISSING
JOHN
BIRKETT PO C/JX 149159 MISSING
WILLIAM GEORGE BROOKS CHIEF STOKER C/K 40390 MISSING


BRUMMON STOKER C/KX 96025 SURVIVOR


BUNSTEAD AB C/JX 109831 SURVIVOR
ERNEST JAMES BURTON AB C/SSX 17874 MISSING
THOMAS
BUSBY AB P/CD/X 1971 MISSING
JACK
CALLADINE AB C/JX 179364 MISSING
DENNIS THOMAS KENNETH CAREY OD C/JX 158612 MISSING
HENRY MACKENZIE CARLIELL PO COOK C/MX 46423 MISSING
WILLIAM JOHN CRAWFORD CLARK SUPPLY PO C/MX 45481 MISSING
DENIS MAURICE CLARKE AB D/JX 212305 SURVIVOR
WILLIAM HENRY COBBLEDICK STOKER1C D/K 294290 MISSING
BERTIE ARTHUR COE AB C/J 105685 SURVIVOR
DONALD WALTER COGGER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER C/J 69276 MISSING
JOSEPH
COLEMAN OA4C D/MX 57686 MISSING
RONALD LESLIE DAVIES LT XO RN MISSING
WILLIAM
DAVIS AB C/SSX 20429 MISSING
ROBERT ANDREW DETENON STOKER2C C/KX 106302 MISSING
LESLIE WILLIAM DIGGER AB C/JX 152679 MISSING
T F DIXON AB C/SSX 25567 SURVIVOR
JAMES
DOWNEY AB D/JX 150908 MISSING
ROBERT
EDINGTON L/STOKER C/KX 83020 MISSING
ROBERT ALLAN FARNABY COOK (S) D/MX 53330 MISSING
FREDERICK GEORGE FARRANT AB P/J 43714 MISSING
GUISEPPE
FARRUGIA OFFICER'S COOK 2c E/LX 20246 MISSING
WILLIAM
FERGUSON L/SEAMAN C/SSX 12969 MISSING
ROBERT LEE FISK L/SEAMAN C/JX 130534 SURVIVOR
ALBERT EDWARD FORD OD C/SSX 30986 MISSING
NORMAN FREDERICK FOSTER AB C/JX 127581 MISSING
ALBERT GEORGE FRAYNE AB D/J 35244 SURVIVOR
JAMES ROBERT FROST L/SEAMAN D/JX 146338 MISSING
GEORGE ROBERT FULLER L/SEAMAN C/JX 138699 WIA
JOHN DAWSON FULTON STOKER2C D/KX 105416 MISSING
RAYMOND PAUL JOSEPH GATT PO STEWARD P/LX 13224 SURVIVOR
GEORGE EDWARD GOODAIR SIGNALMAN C/JX 152670 MISSING
STANLEY JOSEPH GEORGE GORDINE ERA C/EBX 956 SURVIVOR
RICHARD
GOULDWELL ERA D/MX 61649 SURVIVOR
E
GRAY AB D/SSX 32903 SURVIVOR
ERIC ERNEST GRIFFIN L/SEAMAN P/JX 149295 MISSING
RICHARD OWEN GRIFFITHS LT RNVR MISSING
LEWIS MARSHALL HALL STOKER1C C/KX 95560 MISSING
G
HARDING STOKER D/KX 94936 SURVIVOR
JOHN
HARRINGTON STOKER1C D/KX 95992 MISSING
RONALD FREDERICK HARRIS YEOMAN OF THE SIGNALS P/JX 130065 MISSING
BENJAMIN THOMAS HARTLEY L/STOKER C/KX 75538 MISSING
FRANK RAYMOND HAYES AB C/SSX 19034 MISSING
W
HEATH STOKER C/KX 106323 SURVIVOR
JOHN WISEMAN HEFFILL STOKER1C C/KX 91753 MISSING
MAURICE STANLEY HESSE OD P/JX 212310 MISSING
THOMAS
HEWITT L/STOKER C/KX 86687 MISSING
JOHN HENRY HIGGS EA4C D/MX 57507 MISSING
CHARLES WILLIAM HOAD AB C/SSX 30264 MISSING
L R HOLIDAY AB C/SSX 28307 SURVIVOR
HARRY CHARLES KITCHENER HOLMAN JOINER 3c C/MX 52922 MISSING
PERCY
HOLWELL CERA P/MX 58489 MISSING
PAUL
HYDE OD C/JX 158123 MISSING
GEORGE
JACKSON AB P/SSX 17829 MISSING
KENNETH HUGHES JACKSON S/LT RN MISSING
WILLIAM GEORGE JENNINGS STOKER2C C/KX 106269 MISSING
LEONARD GEORGE JOBSON AB C/SSX 29977 MISSING
GARROD HENRY JOHN STOKER PO D/K 66365 MISSING
R
JOHNSON AB C/JX 172142 SURVIVOR
WILFRED
JONES SBA D/SBR/X 7544 MISSING


KEYS STOKER C/KX 94340 SURVIVOR
WILLIAM GEORGE LAMBERT AB C/J 95640 MISSING
ROBERT HENRY DOUGLAS LANE CMDR CO RN MISSING
JOHN
LANG AB C/JX 175354 MISSING
FRANK ALEXANDER ERNEST LOCK AB C/JX 137903 MISSING
FREDERICK PALIN LOVE AB C/SSX 16527 SURVIVOR


MAKIN STOKER P/K 91525 SURVIVOR
THOMAS
MARTIN STOKER PO D/KX 76893 MISSING
WILLIAM
MARTIN AB P/J 109843 MISSING
HAROLD
MATHERS AB D/SSX 32733 MISSING
JOHN WILLIAM MCCRACKEN WO GUNNER RN MISSING
JOSEPH MICHAEL MCDONALD L/SEAMAN D/JX 139701 MISSING
DONALD
MCDOWELL SUPPLY ASST C/MX 61197 MISSING
JOHN GEORGE MCINTYRE AB C/JX 140063 MISSING
THOMAS
MCLAREN AB C/JX 152234 MISSING
GEORGE
MERRITT OD C/JX 169537 MISSING
HARRY GEORGE MINGO OD C/JX 187606 MISSING
JOSEPH HALL MONTGOMERY OD D/SSX 32740 MISSING
JAMES LAWRENCE NETTLETON PO TELEGRAPHIST C/JX 131287 MISSING


NOAD AB C/JX 152629 SURVIVOR
PATRICK JOSEPH OBOYLE STOKER2C D/KX 105581 MISSING
EDWARD JAMES PAWSEY L/SEAMAN C/JX 134783 MISSING
PHILIP BASIL PECK MIDSHIPMAN RN MISSING
EDWARD
PERFITT OD D/JX 200439 MISSING
CECIL DOUGLAS PITTAWAY ERA5C D/MX 55566 MISSING
JOSEPH
PLUM L/STEWARD E/LX 25458 SURVIVOR
CYRIL HORACE HEYWOOD POOLE PO D/J 109856 MISSING
L J PORTER AB C/SSX 28224 SURVIVOR
JOHN ERNEST SIDNEY RATHBONE STOKER PO P/K 66343 MISSING
GEORGE ERNEST REEVE AB C/J 112019 MISSING
HERBERT
ROBINSON AB C/SSX 15327 MISSING


RUSSELL AB C/JX 173972 SURVIVOR
JAMES ALBERT SARGENT AB P/J 70934 MISSING
PERCY LEONARD SEARS L/STOKER C/KX 86479 SURVIVOR
ALBERT GEORGE VICTOR SMITH SIGNALMAN C/JX 130758 MISSING
BERNARD
SMITH STOKER1C P/KX 97190 MISSING
HARRY GEORGE SMITH L/STOKER C/KX 88178 MISSING
ALBERT SIDNEY SNAITH AB C/JX 176491 MISSING
RONALD SIDNEY STEADMAN O/TELEGRAPHIST C/SSX 29315 MISSING
ALBERT EDWARD TOMLINSON AB C/JX 131097 MISSING
MAURICE VICTOR WALDRON COMMISSIONED ENGINEER RN WIA
JOHN BARRON WALKER AB S-3834 RANR MISSING: SS Slamat
HARRY
WATSON AB C/SSX 24996 MISSING
J R WATSON L/SEAMAN D/JX 138280 SURVIVOR
JAMES HENRY WATSON AB C/J 87633 MISSING
THOMAS HENRY WATSON ERA1C C/M 34692 MISSING
GEORGE THEODORE ROBERTSON WATT SURGEON LT RNVR MISSING
SYDNEY
WELLS PO C/J 105261 MISSING
ROBERT WYNDHAM CHARLES WHEELER AB C/JX 174332 MISSING
VALENTINE LESLIE WILLIAMS AB B-1605 RANR MISSING: SS Slamat
ERNEST
WILSON STOKER PO D/KX 80981 MISSING
JOSEPH HARRY WILSON AB C/SR 8639 MISSING
WILLIAM
WILSON L/SEAMAN C/JX 128780 MISSING
GEORGE THOMAS CINDERFORD WRIGHT PO D/JX 134786 MISSING
GEORGE ALFRED CICERO WYETH AB C/JX 125596 SURVIVOR
CHARLES RENNIE YOUNG STOKER2C D/KX 104936 MISSING
GEORGE SURTEES YOUNG AB C/SSX 28958 MISSING























































Over one thousand men perished when the Slamat, HMS Diamond and HMS Wryneck were sunk on 27 April 1941
Only eight of the 600 men being evacuated by the Slamat survived plus  eleven of the 214 crew and 21 Australian and New-Zealander artillery men.
Of the 166 crew of HMS Diamond 20 were saved and of the 155 crew of HMS Wryneck 27 survived.

Click on the link to read
first hand descriptions by two crew members of  HMS Wryneck




If you want to find out more about the wartime service of a member of your family who served on HMS Wryneck you should first obtain a copy of their service record
To find out how follow this link: http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/servicerecords.html
If you have stories or photographs of HMS Wryneck you would like to contribute to the web site please contact Bill Forster


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