Bombed and Sunk 11 January 1941
HMS Southampton was a member of the first group of five ships of the "Town" class of light cruisers. She was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank, Scotland and launched on March 10, 1936.
Southampton saw service in World War II, and initially served as the flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron with the Home Fleet. On 5 September 1939 she intercepted the German merchant Johannes Molkenbuhr off Stadtlandet, Norway, but her crew scuttled the ship before she could be captured. The crew was taken off by HMS Jervis, and the Johannes Molkenbuhr was then finished off by HMS Jersey.
Southampton was later damaged on 16 October, 1939 whilst lying at anchor off Rosyth, Scotland, when she was struck by a 500 kg bomb in a German air raid. The bomb was released from only 150 m height by a Ju-88 of I/KG.30, and hit the corner of the pom-pom magazine, passed through three decks at an angle and exited the hull, detonating in the water. There was minor structural damage and temporary failure of electrical systems. She was repaired and at the end of the year she was one of the ships involved in the hunt for the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau after the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi. She then served with the Humber Force until February 1940, and then went to the 18th Cruiser squadron at Scapa Flow. On 9 April 1940, Southampton was operating off the Norwegian coast when she sustained splinter damage in a German air attack. The main battery director was temporarily knocked out. After being repaired, she had anti-invasion duties on the south-coast of England until she returned to Scapa Flow in October.
On 15 November she sailed for the Mediterranean. She participated in the action off Cape Spartivento on 27 November. In December she was moved to the Red Sea to escort troop convoys, and at the same time took part in the bombardment of Kismayu during the campaign in Italian East Africa. On 1 January 1941 she joined the 3rd Cruiser Squadron and took part in Malta convoy operations. In the early afternoon of 11 January both she and HMS Gloucester came under attack from 12 German Stuka dive bombers. She was hit by at least two bombs south-east of Malta and caught fire; the resulting blaze spread from stem to stern and trapped a number of men below decks. 81 men were killed with the survivors being picked up by Gloucester and HMS Diamond. Heavily damaged and without power, Southampton was sunk by one torpedo from Gloucester and four from HMS Orion.
Roll of Honour
"Lest we forget"
Their name liveth for evermore
J.W.B. ANDERSON, ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
S.H. BALBOUR, Lieut-Commander, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.F.C. BARKER-HAHLO, Lieut-Commander, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W. BETTS, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.J. BRERETON, Ck (O), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
V. BRIDGE, ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A.F. BRUNDLE, Mech 1, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
G.T. CHAMBERLAIN, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
C.J. CHEW, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.E. CLARKE, Steward, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.H. CLARKSON, ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
G.H. CLEMENTSON, Stoker, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A.G. COY, Chief ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.D. CURRY, OD, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
G.W. DAVIDSON, Midshipman, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A.W. DAVIS, Mentioned in Despatches, Commissioned Gunner, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
L.S. DEAN, Ck (O), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
H.H.S. DRURY, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
C.E. DUNT, ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.J. DURANT, Ord. Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A. EAMES, Steward, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.J. EBSWORTH, PO Writer, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J. EDGE, Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
B.R.McL. EDMONDS, Leading Seaman, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
C.B. EMERY, Petty Officer, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
D.J. FAIRWEATHER, Surgeon-Lieutenant, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.W. FYFE, Commander (E), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
N. GILBERT, OD, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.W.Q. GRAVES, Petty Officer Steward, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
C.K. GRAY, Sub-Lieutenant (S), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
K.C. GRAY, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.A. GUEST, Lieutenant (E), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.G. HARDY, OD, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.A. HARRISON, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.H. HIMSWORTH, Ordinary Seaman C/JX 189339, H.M.S “Southampton”. Royal Navy. Died 11th January 1941 aged 23 years. Son of Richard and Beatrice Himsworth. Husband of Brenda Mary Himsworth of Eythorne, Kent. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference – 44.3.
A.B. HOLMES, Midshipman (S) H.M.S. Southampton, who died on Saturday 11 January 1941. Age 19. Son of Alfred Kenward Holmes and Winifred Mary Lockington Holmes, of Udimore, Sussex. Cemetery: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL Kent, United Kingdom Grave or Reference Panel Number: 41, 2.
R.K. HUNT, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
L. KENNARD, Leading Cook (O), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton. L.C. KOESTER, Commissioned Gunner, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
D.R. LEEDING, Steward, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.A.M.D. LILLEY, Leading Seaman, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
V.B. LLOYD-SMITH, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: HMS “Southampton”. Died 11 January 1941. Aged 23. Son of Harry Bernard and Annie Lloyd-Smith, of Stoneleigh, Surrey; husband of Elisabeth Esther Lloyd-Smith. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL.
S. McCALLUM, Ord.Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
T. McMAHON, Stoker, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
S.A. MARDLING, Stoker, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.W.L. MINION, Leading Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.M. MOCATTA, Midshipman, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
T.J. MORTON, Surgeon-Lieutenant, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
S.D. MUSPRATT, Chief Stoker C/K 50631, Royal Navy. HMS Southampton. Died 11th January 1941. Age 41. Son of Charles and Flora Muspratt. Husband of Esther Mildred Muspratt of Marden. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent. Panel reference - 46, 3.
F.W. NORRISS, ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
C.H. NORTHRIDGE, Stoker, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A.W. O’SULLIVAN, Chief Petty Officer Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.E. OLIVER, Instructor Lieutenant, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
L.F. PAGE, Sub-Lieutenant, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.H.S. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton. H.C. PLAYER, Gunner, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
E.J.W. POTTER, S.A., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
N.L.C. RICHARDS, Lieut-Commander (S), died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
E. ROYNON-JONES, Midshipman, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A. RUSSELL, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton. G.W.L. SCRIVEN, Steward, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
H.L. SELLERS, OD, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A. SHAW, Chief ERA, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J. SHIELDS, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
W.A. SKUDDER, Chief Stoker, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
R.E. SMITH, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
G.A.E. STRATFORD, AB, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
T.W. SULLIVAN, OD, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
P.J. TAYLOR, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
J.J. THOMPSON, Ord.Tel., died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
A.J. WEST, Canteen Manager, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.
F.J. WHITE, Warrant Engineer, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton. R.C. WILLIAMS, Stoker 1st Class, died 11th January 1941, on board the cruiser HMS Southampton.