HISTORICAL CONTEXT

He was a crew member on board minesweeper HMS Magic, 40th Minesweeper Flotilla. Together with the minesweeper HMS Cato she cleared mines on the eastern flank of the assault area at Sword beach.

On 6 July 1944 the flotilla was on high alert as they had been warned of a possible German torpedo boat (E-boat) and Neger human torpedo midget submarine attack.

HMS Magic was attacked by a Neger at 03:53 and was hit just aft of amidships on the port side at 03:53 whilst at anchor north of Ouistreham. She sank seven minutes later. Many of the crew jumped into the water to escape and were rescued by HMS Cato.

Some of the crew from HMS MAGIC survived the tragedy of her sinking only to be dealt the cruel fate of becoming a casualty on board HMS CATO when she was attacked by a Neger a short while later and was sunk. It is presumed he was killed during one of these actions.

He has no known place of burial so he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial to the Missing, Hampshire.