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HMS Vortigern

mollie cross

master brummie
HMS Vortigern was lost with all hands off the Norfolk coast on the 15th March 1942.
My Uncle, Sydney Bromfield was one of those. their names are listed on the Naval Memorial at Portsmouth.
I was just a child at the time, but I'll always remember the photo of uncle Sid that was on top of the piano, it was one of those photos who's eyes seemed to follow you, wherever you were in the room.
When I started to look into my family history , I knew nothing of Sydney apart from his name but thanks to the wonders of the internet, I now have the full crew list ,pictures of the panel on the war memorial which bears his name, and pictures and history of HMS Vortigern.
The only thing which is lacking now is information on his service record and if any medals of any kind were issued to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, can anyone help with info on that?
In addition, I remember looking through a book of my Father in laws' ,it was a book about the second world war in general,can't remember the title, in the book was a picture of the Vortigern sinking,clinging to a porthole was AS Sydney Bromfield,Has anyone by any chance got a copy of that book? I wait in hope.
Mollie.:greatbritainflag:
 
Hi, I have no info about the HMS Vortigern, but know my mums uncle was onboard the poor ship. He died on it, his name was George Johnston,he was either an AS or OS. he was only 20yrs old when he died and is on the Cenotaph along the seafront in Portsmouth. I would love it if you had any info about him or about the ship.
 
Hi Karenza, Not sure if Mollie Cross has posted on the forum lately if not you can find info on HMS Vortigern at these sites. It includes all
the information Mollie mentioned about the ship, crew list and deployment schedules,etc. https://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-03MAR2.htm
https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-09VW-Vortigern.htm On this other site there is information about George Johnston and ever better a photograph of him. You
can sign up on this site for his War Records https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/ViewRecord/ww2_naval_losses/26443
 
Hi Karenza, I got a heads up re your posting about HMS Vortigern.I see your queries have been answered already.
I do hope you will be able to find all the info you require.
If I can be of any further help, please post me.
Regards, Mollie Cross
 
As an addtion to my 2009 post re HMS Vortigern, thanks to this wonderful site I was contacted some time ago by another relative of Sydney George Bromfield who has supplied me with lots of info and photos of Sydney.
The best of all was he was able to send me a DVD taken from an old newsreel of Sydney being interviewed after an earlier shipwreck, HMS Grenville, which was lost on the 19th January 1942. he spent an hour clinging to the porthole of the ship which was in a bows in the air position.This was the picture I referred to that I had seen in my Father in Laws book. there was coverage of him clinging to the porthole and then being interviewed about the experience. so thanks to Bob for all the trouble he went to on my behalf.
such a shame the poor guy didn't survive his second sinking,RIP uncle Sid.
 
HMS Vortigern my grandad was on this ship when it sunk he was one off the survivors we think but are struggling for info any help would be a help
 
Thanks for your help but do you know where I would be able to get the full crew list in order that I can confirm he was on the ship at the time of the sinking
 
I've just done a quick google search on the subject and find there's a lot of stuff about the ship comes up. Why not take a look ?
 
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Thanks for that but ive been through the internet and reserched nearly all avenues but the survivers are not mentioned anywhere, we have all the info putting him on this ship at that time, but proof is all we need to finish his time in the navy.Thanks for your help so far.
 
Thanks for that but ive been through the internet and reserched nearly all avenues but the survivers are not mentioned anywhere, we have all the info putting him on this ship at that time, but proof is all we need to finish his time in the navy.Thanks for your help so far.

Hi, I realize it is a long while back since you posted but I came across the following that may assist you while doing research on an unrelated matter

a) The survivors were picked up by a British patrol sloop HMS Guillemot
b) One of the First Lieutenant's on HMS Guillemot, Nicholas Monsarrat, is the author of The CruelSea. He might have more information for you
c) Quote - "Temporary Midshipman C H F D'Albiac RNR, and Acting Gunner (T) A G J H Watson were wounded. Patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, formerly escorting convoy FS,449, rescued the 14 survivors, but one rating died of wounds."

Best of luck
 
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