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212442

Stoker 1st class. Jack Steve Mark Holloway

Royal Navy HMS Sirius

from:11 West Road, Hedge End, nr Southampton, Hampshire, England

(d.17th Oct 1943)

My Uncle, Jack Holloway, was a stoker on HMS Sirius. In October 1943, the ship was deployed from Alexandria to the Scarpanto Strait in the Aegean with HMS Destroyers Pathfinder, Eclipse and Beaufort. Reinforced by HMS Aurora and destroyers in support of military operations.

On the 17th October 1943, HMS Sirius was bombarding Cos harbour with HMS Aurora when they came under heavy and sustained air attack. Jack Holloway was not on duty in the boiler room at this time and was, therefore, manning an anti-aircraft gun. HMS Sirius was hit by a 250kg bomb on the quarterdeck and there were a further 4 near misses causing fires aft. 14 of ship's company were killed and 30 wounded. Unfortunately one of those killed was Jack Holloway. He was buried at sea. There was major damage to armament and radar aerials from splinters and the ship returned to Alexandria.

Additional Information:

Jack was my neighbour when I was a child. I remember him going into the Royal Navy, and I remember when his parents received the news that he had perished. I lived at 9 West Road, Hedge End, Hampshire. I remember him like an older brother next door, as well as his sister. Jack's Dad, Sam Holloway was a keen supporter of my Boys' Club football team and he came to a lot of matches. He always called me out if I did anything wrong. Sam was a massive man and he fashioned a cricket bat for me from a piece of waste timber.I am now 82, living in Sydney Australia, but it was just like yesterday in my memory. I would love to hear from any of Jack's family.

Gerry Grant








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