Roll Of Honour

Urge (N 17)

Built By:	Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group:	U1
Fate:	Reported lost whilst on passage from Malta to Alexandria on 29th April 1942. Experts believe that the HMS Urge was fatally struck by a German mine shortly after leaving Malta's Grand Harbour, while the vessel was still surfaced. At the time of her loss, the submarine was carrying ten ratings as passengers in addition to the normal crew as part of the evacuation of the 10th Submarine Flotilla from Malta to Alexandria and a War Correspondent.

Look up Urge (N 17) in the Boat Database

C/LD/X 3971

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 24

Baxter, Leslie Gordon (RNVR)

Able Seaman

D/JX 190316

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

Davison, Robert

Able Seaman

C/SSX 20578

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

Day, Frederick

Able Seaman

D/SSX 20989

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Goss, Ronald Henry MID

Able Seaman

P/SSX 32644

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

McDiarmid, Fred

Able Seaman

Extra personnel carried on passage

P/JX 21725

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

O'Neill, John MID

Able Seaman

D/JX 204152

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 24

Parkinson, John Leslie

Able Seaman

C/SSX 21371

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 27

Rowley, John Kenneth DSM

Able Seaman

D/JX 204322

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Wildman, Richard

Able Seaman

D/M 35358

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 38

Toms, Charles Herbert DSM

Chief Engine Room Artificer

P/J 110919

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 33

Jackman, Charley John DSM*, MID*

Chief Petty Officer

C/MX 47775

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 28

Hellyer, Reginald DSM

Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class

D/MX 52497

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 28

Varley, Eric MID

Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class

C/KX 76070

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 26

Harman, Stanley Gordon

Engine Room Artificer 4th Class

Extra personnel carried on passage

C/MX 59915

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 24

Rutter, Ronald Frederick

Engine Room Artificer 4th Class

Extra personnel carried on passage

C/MX 76840

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

White, William Peter

Engine Room Artificer 4th Class

P/SSX 22878

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Chamberlain, Sidney William

Leading Seaman

Extra personnel carried on passage

C/J 101563

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 36

Groves, Laurence Frank DSM

Leading Seaman

P/JX 145545

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Morris, Frederick Harold

Leading Seaman

Extra personnel carried on passage

C/JX 142500

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 23

Norris, Jesse DSM

Leading Seaman

C/JX 134094

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 27

Osborn, Herbert George Arthur DSM

Leading Seaman

C/JX 145120

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Law, Eric Charles MID

Leading Signalman

C/JX 154364

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 20

Leeke, Ronald William

Leading Signalman

Extra personnel carried on passage

P/KX 94635

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 24

Lamb, James Wilfred

Leading Stoker

C/KX 81223

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 29

Wilkes, Samuel Cornelius

Leading Stoker

Extra personnel carried on passage

P/KX 90716

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 24

Woolrich, John Edward

Leading Stoker

D/JX 127562

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 32

Ashford, Harold George

Leading Telegraphist

P/SSX 22031

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Maidment, John

Leading Telegraphist

D/SSX 26082

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Rogers, Roy William George DSM

Leading Telegraphist

Extra personnel carried on passage

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 22

Allen, David Bennett DSC*

Lieutenant

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 23

Poole, James Malcolm Stuart DSC*

Lieutenant

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 26

Ransome, John Sandeman Deane (RNR) DSC

Lieutenant

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 30

Tomkinson, Edward Philip DSO*, MID

Lieutenant Commander

Commanding Officer

C/JX 137747

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 25

Botting, Henry John

Petty Officer

Extra personnel carried on passage

P/JX 129967

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 31

Watts, Henry Roland Joseph DSM*

Petty Officer

D/JX 134000

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 27

Wiseman, Peter Dugdale MID

Petty Officer Telegraphist

P/KX 84490

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 28

Brown, Cyril

Stoker 1st Class

P/K 61633

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 38

Bryant, Albert Edward MID

Stoker 1st Class

D/SSX 32970

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

McMillan, Joseph Cresswell Dixon MID

Stoker 1st Class

D/KX 90258

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 26

Stanger, Marcus

Stoker 1st Class

D/KX 116457

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

Attewell, Robert Henry

Stoker 2nd Class

Extra personnel carried on passage

C/KX 82966

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 28

Ashford, William George DSM

Stoker Petty Officer

D/JX 225829

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 21

Twist, Henry Ernest DSM

Telegraphist

Died: 29th Apr, 1942.

Aged: 26

Gray, Bernard (Civilian)

War Correspondent

Bernard Gray (Journalist) on board for passage to Alexandria. Long story, powerful friends.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

A Tribute To Submariners

I have often looked for an opportunity of paying tribute to our submariners.

There is no branch of His Majesty's Forces which in this war has suffered the same proportion of total loss as our submarine service.

It is the most dangerous of all services.

That is perhaps the reason why the First Lord tells me that the entry into it is keenly sought by Officers and Men.

I feel sure the House would wish to testify its gratitude and admiration to our Submariners for their Skill - Courage and Devotion which has proved of inestimable value to the sustenance of our country.

Winston Churchill

We Will Remember Them

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This list has been made possible by the hard work of Pam Armstrong in the first instance and has lately been refined by Malcolm Blenkinsopp, Honorary Historian at Espana Levante Submariners

In some cases there are different Names and Dates of Birth mentioned in the notes, especially in the First World War, as many young men told lies in order to join early. Their be variations between birth names and the names the men chose to serve under.

The list will continue to evolve as new information comes to light. If you think you can help fill any of the gaps, please use our Contact Us page to get in touch.

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Search by Name

Search by Boat

Search by Rank

Search by Service

Key to Service

RAF	Royal Air Force
RAN	Royal Autrailian Navy
RANVR	Royal Autrailian Navy Volunteer Reserve
RCN	Royal Canadian Navy
RCNVR	Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve
RN	Royal Navy
RNR	Royal Navy Reserve
RNVR	Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
RNZN	Royal New Zealand Navy
RNZNVR	Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve
SAN	South African Navy
USN	United States Navy

Key to Honours

BEM	British Empire Medal
DSC	Distinguished Service Cross
DSM	Distinguished Service Medal
DSO	Distinguished Service Order
GC	George Coss
GM	George Medal
MBE	Member of the British Empire
MID	Mentioned In Dispatches
VC	Victoria Cross

This list has been made possible by the hard work of Pam Armstrong in the first instance and has lately been refined by Malcolm Blenkinsopp, Honorary Historian at Espana Levante Submariners

The list will continue to evolve as new information comes to light. If you think you can help fill any of the gaps, please use our Contact Us page to get in touch.