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5th July 1941On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Aldridge Francis. L/Cpl. (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Beaty Thomas. Trainee Butcher. (d.5th July 1941)
- Burrows George Frederick Thomas. Sergeant (d.5th July 1941)
- Cook Norman Wallace. Flt.Sgt. (d.5th July 1941)
- Cook Norman Wallace. Flt.Sgt. (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Daren Nathan. Cpl. (d.5th July 1941)
- Hobbs Cecil. AC. (d.5th of July 1941)
- Holland . (d.5th July 1941)
- Mowatt Alexander Davidson. A/Sgt. (d.5th July 1941)
- Pugh Herbert Cecil. Sqd. Ldr. Rev. (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Reynolds Leslie. Pte. (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Richardson William George. Aircrfm. 1st Cl. (d.5th July 1941)
- Simpson David Cooper. Corporal (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Smith Sidney Charles. Pte. (d.5th July 1941)
- Spurrier Noel. AC1. (d.5th Jul 1941)
- Woods Charles Lewis. LAC. (d.5th Jul 1941)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about the 5th of July 1941? There are:8 items tagged 5th of July 1941 available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Stories from 5th July 1941
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John Haylock. Navy, SS Anslem. My father, John Haylock, was on the SS Anslem when it was torpedoed and sunk. He was one of those trying to 'persuade' the Revd Pugh not to go back down into the hold. Dad was overcome with emotion when he saw the pictures and was reading from this site. He always thought this episode had been thoroughly 'swept under the carpet'. Jill Dighton
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Alfred "" Watson. Royal Navy, SS Anselm. My granddad Alfred Watson was aboard the SS Anselm on the 5th of July 1941 when it was hit by German U-boat U-96. If anyone has any pictures or story's I would love to hear from you.Claire Watson
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Cyril Frank Hepher. Royal Air Force, 95 Squadon. My Dad was a survivor from the torpedo attack and sinking of the SS Anselm on 5th July 1941. He was rescued by the ship Cathay. He did not tell us much about the event. However, he did say he was very lucky as he was below in the hold with the RAF personnel and as it was very sticky he went on deck for some fresh air and it whilst he was on deck the ship was torpedoed. His overriding memory was that of a young man on the deck who had his head removed by a whiplash effect from a rope on the deck, he saw him decapitated, I do not know who the lad was but I do know Dad had bad dreams about seeing it happen. Dad then jumped overboard and thankfully was rescued. Ann Munn
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Sidney George Woodward. British Army, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers . My father Sidney George Woodward was a member of the REME and was on board SS Anselm when she was sunk. Most of the personnel on board were RAF. They were on their way to West Africa at the time. He told me that he was in his hammock when there was a huge explosion, he rolled out and was immediately up to his chest in water,and rising, he was able to dive under the water to get out of their compartment. He managed to make his way to the deck in total darkness and was on the stern, which by this time was rearing up, and dived off into the sea. He clung onto some floating debris for quite a long time. He was eventually picked up by a RN escort vessel, he thought it was a converted trawler. He was the only one to get out from his mess deck. They were taken to Nigeria where he was sent to Kano where he was involved in equipment used in the Western Deserts of North Africa. News of the sinking was kept secret at the time and my mother did not find out about it until about Christmas 1941.
Michael Woodward
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Sergeant George Frederick Thomas Burrows. RASC, . (d.5th July 1941) My father, Sergeant George Frederick Thomas Burrows, R.A.S.C. had been in France in the BEF and managed to get home on one of the little ships at Dunkirk. I would love to know who rescued him. After a convalescent, he was sent out to Africa, not sure quite where they intended to land. His ship was the HMS Anselm and he was one who didn't get off. I was about 6 years old at the time with 'ovaltiney' sisters of 4 and 2 and Mum expecting a baby in the November as Dad was killed in July
He was the sun in my sky and it took me over 60 years to be healed of the grief I felt at his death. This being through my Christian faith and a loving counsellor. War doesn't end with the peace treaty, as I and many others can testify.
I have a Liverpool Echo report of the incident and Padre Cedric Pugh, who, eventually received his well earned medal. It took my local councillors 50 years to get our lost loved ones names put on a monument.I also have many photos of Dad and one of Mum that he carried with him all through the BEF and Dunkirk. Also a small cutting about someone who was rescued from the Anselm. I am not very good with the computer but would be very willing to get good copies if anyone cared to have one.
Sincerely and thanks for the site. I will try and send a donation but am now an OAP and it isn't financially easy in this 'land fit for heroes'. Maureen Bessie Bentley
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A/Sgt. Alexander Davidson Mowatt. Royal Air Force, . (d.5th July 1941) My father joined the RAF in March 1937. In 1941 he was on SS Anselm, part of a convoy going to West Africa. A short time after the escort left the convoy the ship was torpoeded and sank within 20 minutes. Unfortunately, my father was below deck and was unable to get off the ship. His death was presumed on 5th July 1941. I don't remember my father but am comforted by the fact that he did know me. Joan Williams
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Cpl. Nathan Daren. Royal Air Force VR, . (d.5th July 1941) My Uncle, Nathan Daren, was in the RAF being transported to the Far East on HMS Anselm which was torpedoed on 5th July 1941. He was 28 and not married.
He was one of 250 men who died that morning.
He was one of four brothers from a Jewish family from London's East End in the Forces, the others were Alec, Reuben and Sidney. Sidney was badly wounded in an accident in the RAF and was hospitalized for over a year. He never recovered full fitness and died in 1964.
Howard Skolnick
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Flt.Sgt. Norman Wallace Cook. Royal Air Force, 114 Squadron. (d.5th July 1941) I have a photo of the grave of F/Sgt Cook probably taken 1940/50's.
Nigel
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Corporal David Cooper Simpson. British Army, 507 Field Company Royal Engineers. (d.5th Jul 1941) David Cooper Simpson died aged 37, he was born in Jarrow in 1903 and was the husband of Janet Simpson (nee Brady). he is buried in Jarrow Cemeteryand is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall. Vin Mullen
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Pte. Leslie Reynolds. British Army, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. (d.5th Jul 1941) Leslie Reynolds was my uncle he was born in Nottingham in 1920. He served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and died at sea on 5th July 1941 on the ship S.S.Anselm which was hit by a torpedo.
Leslie was the son of Edwin George and Ada Reynolds.
If anyone as any information on the ship and what happened could you please contact me. Jacqueline Davies
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Flt.Sgt. Norman Wallace Cook. Royal Air Force, 114 Squadron. (d.5th Jul 1941) Norman Wallace Cook was the son of William and Lilian Cook (sister of my husband's grandfather) and husband of Murielle Raie Cook. From research it would appear that Sergeant Cook together with his crew of Sergeant W. Jenkins and Sergeant B.W.F. Bates took off in formation to attack floating dock and shipping in Bergen Harbour. His Bristol Blenheim IV was either shot down or crashed. Norman was aged 27 at the date of his death, Bates W.Op/Air Gunner was aged 20. Unfortunately there is no information regarding Sergeant Jenkins. Sergeant Cook and Sergeant Bates rest locally in Mollendal Church Cemetery, Bergen, and Sergeant Jenkins is commemorated at Runnymede Memorial.
Denniese Haynes
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L/Cpl. Francis Aldridge. British Army, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. (d.5th Jul 1941) Frank Aldridge lost his life when the SS Anselm was torpedoed by German U.Boat U96 near Canary Islands on 5th Jul 1941.Frank was one of 254 lost, but over 1200 were saved by escourting R. Navy ships.
Frank was the son of Frank and Ellen (Nellie) Aldridge (nee McGennity) of Hesketh Bank near Preston, Lancs.
Frank was a cousin to my mother Mary (Molly) Lunt deceased of Preston, and formerly of Liverpool.
I discovered this information whilst doing family history research project. I would welcome any other information or photographs of McGennity/Aldridge families. Stephen Lunt
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Trainee Butcher. Thomas Beaty. Merchant Navy, SS Anselm. (d.5th July 1941) Thomas Beaty was my eldest brother. Thomas died on 5th July 1941, 11 days before I was born, the youngest of a family of six. My mother received a telegram stating that her eldest child was missing, presumed dead on the sinking of the Anselm, so unfortunately I didn't get to meet my brother. Therefore, I would be interested in any crew members that knew him or of any stories that are related. Hilda Jones
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Holland. Royal Air Force, . (d.5th July 1941) My uncle was lost at sea on 5th July 1941. He was in the troopship SS Anselm sunk by U96. The Anselm had 98 crew and 1,210 troops - of these 4 crew and 250 troops were lost. My uncle was going to Canada via Freetown for pilot training. If anyone has lost relatives on the Anselm, contact me and I can give them more details and a photo of the SS Anselm.Darrell Holland
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Aircrfm. 1st Cl. William George Richardson. Royal Air Force, . (d.5th July 1941) William Richardson was an Aircraftman First Class. He was a passenger aboard the SS Anselm which was sunk on 5th of July 1941 by a German U-boat. He went down with the ship. He was my grandma's, Elsie Doris Barclay, twin brother and his death affected her deeply for the rest of her life. My grandma was pregnant with my mother, Pamela, at the time of Billy's death and this news was deliberately withheld from her as they feared the shock could have caused a miscarriage.
Billy lied about his age so he could enlist, he was not 19 years old. He did it out of a sense of honour. His brother Leonard had, in effect, deserted the army while training in England. This was a great source of shame for Billy and he felt he had to restore the honour of the family.
I was at my grandma's bedside when she died in 2010 and in her last moments she called out Billy's name. She lived a full and rich life and I miss her so much but I know she is at peace and Billy is by her side. Mark O'Connor
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AC1. Noel Spurrier. Royal Air Force, . (d.5th Jul 1941) Noel Spurrier was my fathers cousin.Sara Smith
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AC. Cecil Hobbs. Royal Air Force, . (d.5th of July 1941) Cecil Hobbs (aged 21) was a RAF Air Mechanic he served at RAF Harwell and was on board SS Anselm and had gone below to write home to his pregnant wife Audrey (affectionately known as Judy) when the ship was struck by a German torpedo and sank. 1210 RAF and military personnel were on board plus the ship's crew.
He died 5th of July 1941 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial . Son of Fredrick William and Emma Hobbs, husband of Audrey Diana Hobbs of Chilton, Berkshire.
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