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Regulus (N88)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: R2
Fate: Lost, possibly mined in the Guild of Taranto 26 November 1940.
Regulus (N88)
Regulus (N88)

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Ex 88R Served in Chinese waters until being sent to the Mediterranean in 1940.

Roll of Honour
55
Died: 26-11-1940
Baker, George Francis Charles  C/M 38805
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 31
Bellamy, Leslie Waeghe  C/JX 141684
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 22
Blair, William Albert  P/KX 86257
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Brown, William  D/KX 88989
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 28
Bulger, Cecil  C/MX 48563
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Burton, John Thomas  C/JX 13005
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Coe-Smith, Harry  C/JX 1282257
Chief Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Born Smith, Harry. Served as Coe-Smith, Harry
Currie, Frederick Basil 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Davis, Frederick James  P/KX 79005
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 33
Dudd, Percy Charles George  D/SSX 17399
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 22
Duffay, Owen Vernon Hugh  D/J 111996
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 32
Fielden, William Ralph  (Ex.M18332)
Warrant Engineer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 40
Forrester, George Wettin  C/KX 84677
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Green, Anthony Moulton 
Lieutenant Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 24
Hackett, Frederick George  C/J 96353
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 36
Hitchcock, Ronald George  D/MX 45291
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 30
Hopcroft, Thomas George  C/JX 134065
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 26
Horwood, Eric Stanley  C/M 38742
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 31
Johnson, Frederick  P/K 61069
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Jones, Stanley Frederick  D/JX 125397
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 30
King, Alfred George  C/JX 111194
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 32
Kirby, Norman Vincent  C/JX 131229
Leading Signalman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Kirby, William Eric  P/JX 133601
Leading Telegraphist Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 27
Leech, Arthur James  D/JX 126602
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 30
Mack, Frank Cecil Howard  P/J 107637
Telegraphist Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 33
Mann, Donald Alfred William George  C/JX 134823
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Manton, Thomas  D/KX 80436
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 28
McAteer, Robert Bateson Pelan  D/MX 48386
Petty Officer Cook Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 28
McCombe, Ronald Booth  D/JX 134852
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
McGhee, Edward  D/KX 81015
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 28
McMilling, James Andrew  C/JX 141127
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 21
Mitchell, Jack Hardy  C/JX 136589
Leading Telegraphist Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Morton, Robert James  P/KX 82410
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 26
Mullens, John Henry  P/M 27287
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 38
Muntz, Sir Gerard Philip Graves 
Lieutenant Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 23
Norris, Phillips William George  D/JX 135340
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Perry, William John  C/J 102887
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 37
Pretty, Roy  C/SSX 17634
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 22
Pringle, Norman  C/KX 77504
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 32
Richardson, Joseph Benjamin Greenly  D/J 112709
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 31
Robertson, Andrew Middleton  C/KX 83546
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 30
Round, Oliver Charles 
Lieutenant Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 22
Shaw, William  C/KX 87397
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 23
Smith, Ernest David  P/JX 128860
Leading Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Smith, John Frederick  C/JX 129001
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Sylvester, Eric  C/KX 81691
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 27
Targett, Arthur Leslie John  P/J 94664
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 37
Tulip, Thomas Edward  P/KX 85026
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 24
Twine, William  P/KX 84010
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Walker, Maxwell  P/MX 49774
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 29
Wescott, Joseph Ernest  D/KX 80657
Leading Stoker Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 28
White, George Francis  P/JX 158379
Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 35
Ex.J100174
Whyte, John  P/KX 84416
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 25
Wilkinson, Walter Leslie  P/J 99821
Able Seaman Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 36
Worsley, James  P/KX 83976
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-11-1940 Aged: 27

Events

17-07-1929 Laid Down
11-06-1930 Launched
07-12-1930 Completed
06-12-1940 HMS Regulus had left Alexandria on 18th November 1940 for a patrol in the Adriatic. Her failure to return on 6th December signalled her loss with all hands. It is believed that she stuck a mine in the Straits of Taranto, although the Italians claimed to have sunk a submarine on 26th November; the former explanation is believed more likely.
Comments

Comment by: Ken Usher on March 16, 2023

Ernest Smith, LS, on HMS Regulus, was my great uncle (who I never knew as I was born in 1961), but heard some great dits about him from my late dad. I was always told that she was sunk, but it seems that she struck a mine.

Would be interested in finding out more about the ship, if possible. Also have a photo of Ernie in rig. PS I'm an ex-skimmer and served as a sparker in the RNR on mine sweepers and on Ark Royal in 1987 for several months (continuous service) so my only direct link with the Submarine service was HMS Drake STC (2nd Sub Sqn) for basic comms training.

WIth thanks, Yours Aye, Ken

Comment by: Gerard Molyneux on October 31, 2017

My Uncle was one of the crew members lost and I was told that the submarine had not been repainted after being in the Far East, which made them an easy target for the Italian air force.

This was confirmed by a interpreter, who had listened in to the Italian messages and she had relayed this information to my family many years later during a dinner party.

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