T Company,40 Commando & HMS Fidelity

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/12/2017 13:24:51

In December 1942 this company of RM Commandos were at sea aboard the ship H.M.S Fidelity,when it was attacked and sunk by German U boats.
The commando lost all their men,a total of 53 are shown to of perished.

There seems a discrepancy with the dates,several naval reference show the attack as the 30 Dec.1942,while the Commonwealth War Graves Commission(CWGC) have the date of death as 1 Jan 1943.

The CWGC show on the casualty detail that their unit is Royal Marine,no reference to commandos.

Were these men Commandos or Royal Marines?

Graham

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/11/2014 17:25:50

Hi Graham

As regards the date they did not all die immediately after the sinking of the vessel. According to this report many died in later stormy weather:

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2560.html

Certainly the ship appears to be a Special Service vessel and there are numerous references on the internet to it being involved in SOE operations. It might be one that you should speak to the RM Historical society on in particular to the role of T Company 40RM Commando.

There is a write up from the son of one of those who died here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/20/a7804820.shtml

Pete

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 16/11/2014 20:10:04

Hi,
The RM Historical Society published a book about HMS Fidelity, "Fidelity Will Haunt Me Till I Die"

Still available here http://shop.nmrn.org.uk/collections/royal-marines/products/fidelity-will-haunt-me-till-i-die

Regards

Danny

My copy of British Warship Losses states that she was sunk by U 435 off the Azores on 30/12/1942.

Hello All
This body of men are a real mystery.

They appeared to have gone to Achnacarry,in late April 1942 for 13 weeks training( Fidelity will haunt me to I die),this does not reflect with the course date at Achnacarry,although the Free French.and the French Navy were there within the period.

There appears there are no references to why T company was formed,

I have noticed that those who died with the sinking of H.M.S.Fidelity,are not recorded within the C.V.A. Rolls of Honour,
is there a reason for this,and if not can they be included.

Regards

Graham

All 53 members of 'T' Company are now fully recorded on our Roll of Honour for 40RM Commando. Links to that ROH can be found here. Remember, on our website, if a word or name is highlighted click on it to access additional information.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/HMSFidelity

75 years ago this week HMS Fidelity sank and among the casualties were the entire compliment of 40RM Commando 'T' Company.

Read more about HMS Fidelity and the Commandos who died in our archive http://www.commandoveterans.org/HMSFidelity

We will remember them.