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Re: HMS Trinidad 13th May 1942
Posted by:
Fred Gould
()
Date: March 24, 2010 08:17PM
I would be very interested to hear about the interview with a former crew member. My grandfather was the officer in charge of the transmitting station on 29th March when the torpedo struck - my namesake, F J Gould, always known as 'Nat' ,lost his life along with 16 others when the TS was flooded with oil.
If you have not already read 'The ship that torpedoed herself' by survivor Frank Pearce, I strongly recommend it, as it provides a comprehensive story of Trinidads short life, including a graphic account of what happened in the TS that fateful day and the later recovery of bodies.I found this particularly moving, for obvious reasons when you read it.
You may be aware that one of the members of the Marine bandsmen who were stationed in the TS, but managed to escape, was George Lloyd who was an accomplished musician and went on to become a composer. His 4th 'Arctic' symphony,is inspired by his time on the Trinidad, and worth listening to. I found out a great deal about him on www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/trinidad in which there is his account of the events in the TS on 29th March,which varies a little from the version in Frank Pearce's book. Again this is very moving indeed.
There is also an account of events on that day written by an Engine Room Artificer which can be found on a BBC web site for wartime memories - article A2737488.
Lastly I recommend a visit to HMS Belfast on the Thames in London. She dates from almost the same time as Trinidad, is of course much bigger than the Trinidad and has benefitted from subsequent refits,nonetheless a tour of this ship gives an understanding of what life must have been like, although one can only imagine what it was really like to be in action in the Arctic.
I have Capt Saunders letter of condolence sent to my Grandmother, presumably written when he returned to Greenock.
I would very much like to learn more.
If you have not already read 'The ship that torpedoed herself' by survivor Frank Pearce, I strongly recommend it, as it provides a comprehensive story of Trinidads short life, including a graphic account of what happened in the TS that fateful day and the later recovery of bodies.I found this particularly moving, for obvious reasons when you read it.
You may be aware that one of the members of the Marine bandsmen who were stationed in the TS, but managed to escape, was George Lloyd who was an accomplished musician and went on to become a composer. His 4th 'Arctic' symphony,is inspired by his time on the Trinidad, and worth listening to. I found out a great deal about him on www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/trinidad in which there is his account of the events in the TS on 29th March,which varies a little from the version in Frank Pearce's book. Again this is very moving indeed.
There is also an account of events on that day written by an Engine Room Artificer which can be found on a BBC web site for wartime memories - article A2737488.
Lastly I recommend a visit to HMS Belfast on the Thames in London. She dates from almost the same time as Trinidad, is of course much bigger than the Trinidad and has benefitted from subsequent refits,nonetheless a tour of this ship gives an understanding of what life must have been like, although one can only imagine what it was really like to be in action in the Arctic.
I have Capt Saunders letter of condolence sent to my Grandmother, presumably written when he returned to Greenock.
I would very much like to learn more.
