Leading Signalman Thomas Heywood RN was awarded the
1939-45 Star,
Africa Star,
1939-45 British War Medal,
Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal GviR He is remembered on the Chatham Memorial 1939-45: Heywood, Ldg Sigmn Thomas C/J107448. HMS President (Lost in SS Clan Campbell) 23rd March 1942. Age 35.
Thomas Heywood was born on 28th September 1907 in Chorley, Lancs.
On the 13th of June 1923 he enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class
He is described as being 5 feet 10 inches in height, of fresh complexion with a 38 inch chest, brown hair, blue
eyes and a scar on his right leg. His previous occupation was Creeler (Cotton Miller)
He joined HMS Impregnable the Training Establishment for boy seamen at Devonport.On the 5th January 1924 he transferred to HMS Ganges Training Establishment for boy seamen at Shotley for Chatham Ratings
On the 4th November 1924 he joined HMS Ajax Battleship
Then on 3rd January 1925, HMS Danae a Light Cruiser with 1st Cruiser Squadron Mediterranean Fleet.
On 28th September 1925 Thomas signed on for a 12 year engagement. Now 6 feet in height and with a 40 inch chest.
In 17th April 1928 he was at HMS Pembroke I at RNB Chatham,
on 17th July 1928 at HMS Pembroke II he was aboard HMS Malcolm a Destroyer Leader and HMS Torch WWI Destroyer
On
10th October 1928 he joined HMS Godetia a WWI Sloop
On 17th April 1929 he joined HMS Repulse in the Battle Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.
After a spell at HMS Pembroke II and HMS Pembroke I on the
29th April 1932 he joined HMS Cyclops a Repair Ship with 1st Submarine Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet. On
3rd November 1932 he was at HMS St Angelo RNB Malta aboard HMS Keith a Destroyer Leader with 4th Destroyer Flotilla Mediterranean
Fleet.
On 20th July 1936 he is listed as joining HMS Pembroke II, still aboard HMS Keith probably en route back to the UK
15th January 1937 he joined HMS Endeavour, a Survey Ship.
When war broke out Thomas was a Leading Signalman, he transferred on 22nd September 1939 to HMS Terror II a Monitor used as Base Ship in Singapore serving aboard HMS Bagshot a Minesweeper
On the 1st January 1940 he was with HMS Sultan Accounting Base Singapore still aboard HMS Bagshot
15th March 1940 he transferred to HMS Nile an RN Base in Alexandria, Egypt.
Thomas was awarded the Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 10th October 1940.
6th January 1941 he was at HMS Pembroke I and
26th June 1941 he joined HMS Euryalus, a Cruiser on first commissioning. He saw action in the 1st Battle of Sirte
Heywood's Service Record shows he left HMS Euryalus on 27th February 1942, we may presume at Alexandria to board SS Clan Campbell on passage to Malta.
Clan Campbell sailed from Alexandria for Malta on 20th March 1942, as part of Supply Convoy MW.10 and in company with Breconshire, Pampas and Talabot. The close escort was the AA Cruiser Carlisle and the 22nd DD Flotilla consisting of Sikh, Zulu, Lively, Hero, Havock and Hasty. The covering Force was under the Command of Rear Admiral Vian and comprised 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers. Force H was also at sea as well as 6 submarines.
Italian submarines reported sighting MW.10 and 4 cruisers and 4 destroyers set out from Messina whilst the battleship Littorio and 6 destroyers came from Taranto. In addition there were 3 Italian and 3 German U-boats operating.
The Messina Force sighted the British Covering Force on 22nd and tired to entice it onto the Littorio which was also trying to get between the convoy and Malta.
In heavy weather, the 2nd Battle of Sirte took place and, whilst battle damage was suffered by the British ships, both sides suffered more from the heavy seas. The Italians lost two destroyers in the storm. Admiral Vian drove the attacks off from the Messina Force and later, the Littorio Force, whilst inflicting one torpedo hit on the battleship.
Because of the various evasive movements the convoy arrived off Malta just as day was breaking on the 23rd. There they were attacked by Luftwaffe bombers of II Fl.K. when 25 miles from Malta and Clan Cambell was hit by both bombs and a torpedo. Tom Heywood was one of 22 naval and Maritime RA casualties, all On Passage, and nominally on the books of HMS President III. There were also 6 MN casualties including the Master Capt. Vooght.
The probability was that Heywood was on the bridge with the Master. Logically that is where he, as a signalman, even if on passage would probably have been at action stations, and it seems the bridge was hit by one bomb at least.
Of the rest of the convoy, Breconshire was badly damaged and beached. She later capsized when attempts were made to salvage her and after she had suffered further damage. Pampas and Talabot were sunk in harbour after discharging only 5,000 tons of their 25,900 tons of cargo.
