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| 660 messages posted to the guestbook |
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 Helen Davies from Middlesbrough, England said... | 13/03/2001 |
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 ALBERT EDWARD FELLOWS |
 Hi like many others who have left messages on this site I am hoping that someone will remember a relative. I have recently started researching my family tree and my nana and great auntie have told me about two of their cousins who died in WW2. ALBERT EDWARD FELLOWS was one of the ones who were tragicaly killed that night. I would love to know if anyone remembers him so that I can relay stories to my nana and auntie. I don't know much about his role on the ship but I think he was 21 when he was killed. If anyone remembers him please email me. |
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| Brian Leonard Merrifield from Poole, Dorset UK said... | 10/03/2001 |
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| Leonard Shiers |
| I searched for HMS Barham whilst trying to locate records for my uncle Leonard Shiers, Stoker 1st Class who was lost with the ship. I was delighted to find this website, which enabled me to locate his War Graves Commission record, as I had been unsure of the spelling of his name. Although I never knew him personally, my mother spoke of him frequently and mourned his loss to the day she herself died in 1995. I have pictures of Uncle Len and would like to have this added to your photo gallery. He is pictured with another sailor, whose name is unknown to the family. Perhaps someone may recognise him? |
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| Stephen F. Radford Jr. from Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. said... | 08/03/2001 |
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| Stephen (Harold) Radford |
| Thankyou for this wonderful web-site. My father was also one of the survivors of the Barham. He is listed as Stephen Radford, but he went by his middle name Harold. I have always been told that he was the youngest survivor. Fortunately for our family he also survived the sinking of the Bonaventure and the Kelly. Dad passed away in 1980, but we do have some momentos about the Barham.. One is a hand-sewn item made by one of grandparent's neighbors which hangs on our livingroom wall. The other is the following newspaper article from the Durban Daily News. There is a photograph with a picture of dad and 8 other survivors in it. The Jan.28,1942 article reads as follows: STORIES BY BARHAM SURVIVORS--MEN WHO HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF DURBAN The British battleship Barham of 31000 tons, which visited Durban some months ago, was sunk in the late afternoon of November 25. The survivors, among whom was Vice-Admiral H.D. Pridham-Whipple and certain members of his staff, were picked up by the escorting destroyers. Some of them were in the water for about three-quarters of an hour. Officers and men of The H.M.S. Barham passed through Durban recently and were stationed for a short time at a local military camp with survivors from H.M.S. Prince of Wales, H.M.S. Repulse, and H.M.S. Galatea.----JUST A CUP OF TEA----In an interview with a representative of the Daily News, engine-room Artificer John Dennis Muskett said "I was just pouring myself a cup of tea when the ship started to sink. I made for a shaft of light which was coming through an open hatch just aft of the forrard 15-inch gun turret. This was pretty well choked with chaps trying to climb out. There was no question of panic, but everyone was trying to leave as quickly as possible. I dived into the water and swam on for some time and came accross one of our chief engine-room artificers who was in difficulties. I swam with him as far as a float and got him into it. On the way we passed another engine-room artificer who was also in difficulties. He had no lifebelt and could not swim. I collected four or five floating nearby and fastened them to him. By this time two destroyers came up and began rescuing survivors. It was about three-quarters of an hour after their arrival that we were picked up. The sun was going down and the water was really cold." Seaman H. Radford told the Daily News the story of his miraculous escape from the sinking battleship. "I was down below and had to go through two manholes and up a ladder before I was out on deck. It was a matter of luck who got through the manholes first. I discarded most of my clothing and dived in. I was sucked right down as the ship sank. I felt as though I was being taken down for at least 40 feet, because I thought I would never come to the surface again. Actually I don't suppose I was taken down very far, but when I struggled to the top again I was just about half dead."----OVER SO QUICKLY----"The oil in the water aroud us made it impossible to swim. Luckily,I was just then picked up by some other fellows on a raft...dead or alive. The whole thing was over so quickly that I scarcely had time to think. I was so dazed and have only a hazy recollection of the last moments of the Barham. When she finally went down she was almost completely obscured by a thick pall of smoke which hung over her. We weren't on the raft long before we were picked up by an escorting warship. It was good to be in safety once again." Seaman Radford said that he had also been a survivor of the cruiser H.M.S. Bonaventure when she was sunk. Engine-Room Artificer J. Fulton told the Daily News that two patches of fuel oil lay on the...and although it was...enough to float in it, it was difficult to make any headway "I tried to get as far from the ship as possible before she took her last plunge," he said. Unfortunately I do not have the rest of the article. My family does not know the names of the men who pulled dad from the water, but we will forever be grateful for saving him. Thankyou Sara for this site. |
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| Jeff Andreoli from San Diego CA said... | 07/03/2001 |
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| To whom this may concern: I was reading about sea battles during WWII and came across the story of the HMS Barham. It was a short but interesting story. I want to commend those of you who have put up this outstanding web page to the memory of those valiant men of the Barham. Your good work here will help keep the memory of the Barham alive forever. Jeff Andreoli 2115 Waterside Dr Chula Vista CA 91913 |
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| Sara O'Donoghue from Effingham, Surrey, United Kingdom said... | 27/02/2001 |
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| Alan Matthews has contacted me asking that all those interested in the Barham and in particular in protecting martime graves look at a newsflash. You can find it at http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ |
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| Michael Rattray from ELLON, Aberdeenshire said... | 27/02/2001 |
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| I am trying to find out any information about the HMS Barham when it used to visit Shetland in the late 1930's. I am trying to trace the crew members when it visited Lerwick in October 1937. Any piece of information would be helpful. |
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| Angela from Stockton, UK said... | 24/02/2001 |
| http://www.wartimememories.co.uk |
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| What a lovely website and a great memorial. Here`s a web site which may interest you. If you remember world war two, how would you like to be part of a book on the subject? The Wartime Memories Project is an International project collecting every day memories of world war two, to be preserved in the form of a book for future generations. Recollections form both sides are welcome. Dont let your memories go with you when you finally pass on, record them with the project and let them live on. Call by the web site and fill in an online form or send your musings by e-mail. They are also looking for photographs. the address is: http://www.wartimememories.co.uk |
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| Rachel Parry from Southampton, uk said... | 10/02/2001 |
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| ROLAND JOHN HILL |
| My grandad ROLAND JOHN HILL served on the Barham and I was wondering if anyone had any photos of the Barham crew as I have no pictures from that part of my grandads life, most people called him Jack and he was very tall! thank you. |
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| Donald Boyle from Melbourne, Australia said... | 10/02/2001 |
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| Your web site is a magnificant example in the preservation of our Naval heritage. Don Boyle President, Victoria Chapter. The Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. |
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| James Mc Allister Simpson from Godalming, Surrey said... | 10/02/2001 |
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| My Uncle perished on the Barham, I was given his name when I was Christened. I knew very little about The Barham. I am humbled by the heroism of the crew. I have a copy of a ChristmasNew Year card sent by Bill to Reginald Barrett the card is dated 7.11.41 |
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