X 22 (Exploit)
| Built By: | Markham and Co (Derbyshire) |
| Build Group: | X |
| Fate: | The Submarine was under tow by HMS Syrtis in the Pentland Firth on Monday 7th February 1944 when the Officer of the Watch (Lieutenant Charles Blythe, RNR) was washed overboard from the bridge of HMS Syrtis. The Commanding Officer of HMS Syrtis (Lieutenant M H Jupp, Royal Navy) reversed course in an attempt to rescue his ‘man overboard’ and accidentally collided with Submarine X-22. Submarine X-22 sank at once and Lieutenant MacFarlane and his crew of three were all lost. |
Unofficailly named Exploit
Roll of Honour |
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| Died: 07-02-1944 | |||||
| Ludbrook, Cyril P/MX 116413 | |||||
| Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | Died: 07-02-1944 | Aged: 21 | |||
| from Stockton on Tees, County Durha | |||||
| The son of Walter Scott Ludbrook and Jane Anne Ludbrook The Submarine was under tow by HMS Syrtis in the Pentland Firth when the Officer of the Watch (Lieutenant Charles Blythe, RNR) was washed overboard from the bridge of HMS Syrtis. The Commanding Officer of HMS Syrtis reversed course in an attempt to rescue his ‘man overboard’ and accidentally collided with Submarine X-22. Submarine X-22 sank at once with all hands. |
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| MacFarlane, Brian Mahoney (RANVR) | |||||
| Lieutenant | Born: 30-06-1919 | Died: 07-02-1944 | Aged: 24 | ||
| from Cremorne, New South Wales Australia | |||||
| 'Brian Mahoney was appointed to HMS Varbel (12th Submarine Flotilla) at Loch Striven on 1st Aug 1943 and for X-22 in Command. The Submarine was under tow by HMS Syrtis in the Pentland Firth when the Officer of the Watch (Lieutenant Charles Blythe, RNR) was washed overboard from the bridge of HMS Syrtis. The Commanding Officer of HMS Syrtis reversed course in an attempt to rescue his man overboard and accidentally collided with Submarine X-22. Submarine X-22 sank at once with all hands. Brian Mahoney was the son of Commander John Clement MacFarlane, RAN and Mrs Irene MacFarlane and the husband of Jeannie MacFarlane of Petersham, Surrey.' |
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| Marsden, William Jack | |||||
| Lieutenant | Born: 10-07-1917 | Died: 07-02-1944 | Aged: 26 | ||
| from Kalgoorlie Western Australia | |||||
| He was appointed to HMS Varbel (12th Submarine Flotilla) at Loch Striven on 1st August 1943 and for X-22 as First Lieutenant. The Submarine was under tow by HMS Syrtis in the Pentland Firth when the Officer of the Watch (Lieutenant Charles Blythe, RNR) was washed overboard from the bridge of HMS Syrtis. The Commanding Officer of HMS Syrtis reversed course in an attempt to rescue his man overboard and accidentally collided with Submarine X-22. Submarine X-22 sank at once with all hands. |
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| Pretty, John P/J 113298 | |||||
| Able Seaman | Died: 07-02-1944 | Aged: 34 | |||
| John Pretty was the son of William and Minnie Pretty. He was a submariner before joining X Craft and, on 16th February 1942 he had been serving in Submarine HMS Thrasher. The Submarine was under tow by HMS Syrtis in the Pentland Firth when the Officer of the Watch (Lieutenant Charles Blythe, RNR) was washed overboard from the bridge of HMS Syrtis. The Commanding Officer of HMS Syrtis reversed course in an attempt to rescue his man overboard and accidentally collided with Submarine X-22. Submarine X-22 sank at once with all hands. |
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Events
| 07-02-1944 | X22 was involved in towing exercises with HMS Syrtis when heavy seas and gale force winds washed Syrtis’s Officer of the Watch overboard. The towing submarine immediately turned to rescue the officer and in doing so collided with X22. The small X-craft sank almost immediately. |
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