Ordinary Signalman Charles James Flowers Travell Royal Naval Patrol Service
1939-45 Star. Atlantic Star. War Medal 1939-45.
The Man Charles James Flowers Travell was born on Wednesday 13th September 1922, son of Charles John Flowers a London Postman and long serving Territorial Army Sergeant and Kathleen Mary nee Gannon. He was one of eight children, Frederick Charles Flowers (1923 - 1957), George Edward Flowers (19th February 1925 - 2013), Eileen S M (1927- 1963), Kathleen L (1928- ), Margaret Elizabeth Travell (1931–), John R (1933 - ) and David Kenneth (20th February 1936 – 1985).
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Charles was aged 17 and just old enough to enlist into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Signalman with service number D/JX 233510. Signalmen were responsible for setting up a beach communications station between ships and shore - using the semaphore light (able to be seen from afar) and Morse code to pass messages from land commanders to ships offshore. The signalman with the telescope read the ships' semaphore signals and passed them on.
Following his initial training Charles joined the ships company of His Majesty’s Trawler Bedfordshire, this belonged to the Royal Naval Patrol Service, a fleet of ships that had all been converted from fishing trawlers. Together they were affectionately known as Harry Tate’s Navy. Harry Tate was a famous musical hall performer who’s act always went wrong. His catchphrase was ‘Goodbyeeee’ which inspired the famous WWI song. HMS / HMT Bedfordshire was built in 1935, a 443 ton ship taken over by the Admiralty in 1939 and fitted with a four inch gun.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941, submarines along the East Coast of the United States were a serious threat with many ships being attacked. The US Navy had no specific anti-submarine fleet and following Pearl Harbour was concentrating its strength in the Pacific, thus 24 ships from the Royal Navy, including Bedfordshire were sent to assist with patrol and escort duties and safeguard the eastern coast of the United States.
On the 11th May 1942, HMT Bedfordshire and HMT St Loman were sent out from their base at Morehead City in North Carolina to look for a German U-boat that was suspected to be operating near Ocracoke Island.
Unfortunately for the Bedfordshire, the two ships had already been spotted by the U-558, commanded by 27-year-old Gunther Krech. That evening, Krech though they’d been detected by one of the trawlers and launched an attack on the St Loman, but it’s torpedoes were spotted and the St Loman managed to avoid them. At 5.40am on the 12th of May, the U-558 fired on the HMT Bedfordshire and with a direct hit sent it to the bottom, with the loss of everyone on board, including Charles.
Charles’ body was never recovered, but he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 68, Column 1 and at the British Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, United States of America, thus his name liveth on.
Following the war, letters of administration were passed to his Father, Charles James Flowers, leaving £22.00 and he was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star and War Medal 1939-45 which were sent to his father following the war.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Charles was aged 17 and just old enough to enlist into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Signalman with service number D/JX 233510. Signalmen were responsible for setting up a beach communications station between ships and shore - using the semaphore light (able to be seen from afar) and Morse code to pass messages from land commanders to ships offshore. The signalman with the telescope read the ships' semaphore signals and passed them on.
Following his initial training Charles joined the ships company of His Majesty’s Trawler Bedfordshire, this belonged to the Royal Naval Patrol Service, a fleet of ships that had all been converted from fishing trawlers. Together they were affectionately known as Harry Tate’s Navy. Harry Tate was a famous musical hall performer who’s act always went wrong. His catchphrase was ‘Goodbyeeee’ which inspired the famous WWI song. HMS / HMT Bedfordshire was built in 1935, a 443 ton ship taken over by the Admiralty in 1939 and fitted with a four inch gun.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941, submarines along the East Coast of the United States were a serious threat with many ships being attacked. The US Navy had no specific anti-submarine fleet and following Pearl Harbour was concentrating its strength in the Pacific, thus 24 ships from the Royal Navy, including Bedfordshire were sent to assist with patrol and escort duties and safeguard the eastern coast of the United States.
On the 11th May 1942, HMT Bedfordshire and HMT St Loman were sent out from their base at Morehead City in North Carolina to look for a German U-boat that was suspected to be operating near Ocracoke Island.
Unfortunately for the Bedfordshire, the two ships had already been spotted by the U-558, commanded by 27-year-old Gunther Krech. That evening, Krech though they’d been detected by one of the trawlers and launched an attack on the St Loman, but it’s torpedoes were spotted and the St Loman managed to avoid them. At 5.40am on the 12th of May, the U-558 fired on the HMT Bedfordshire and with a direct hit sent it to the bottom, with the loss of everyone on board, including Charles.
Charles’ body was never recovered, but he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 68, Column 1 and at the British Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, United States of America, thus his name liveth on.
Following the war, letters of administration were passed to his Father, Charles James Flowers, leaving £22.00 and he was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star and War Medal 1939-45 which were sent to his father following the war.
|
|
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Ocracoke Briths Cemetery, North Carolina
Charles James Flowers Travell's Posthumous World war II Medal Award Box, addressed to his father.
|
|
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Atlantic Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Charles John Flowers TRAVELL
Go to next Page: George Edward Flowers TRAVELL
Go to Previous Page: Charles John Flowers TRAVELL
Go to next Page: George Edward Flowers TRAVELL
This page last updated 14 Oct 24
