Crew list of Ships hit by U-boats


Alexander Smith Flett

Merchant Navy (R112376). British

Born  4 Nov 1911


Decorations

23 May 1946MBE

Roster information listed for Alexander Smith Flett


ShipTypeRank / roleAttacked onBoat
HopetarnMotor merchantSecond Officer29 May 1943U-198 (1)

Personal information

Alexander Smith Flett from Findochty was taken prisoner by the U-boat that sank Hopetarn, transferred after almost a month to the German supply tanker Charlotte Schliemann on 26 June 1943 and landed at Batavia on 15 July. He was handed over to the Japanese and held in a camp on Java for the first four months, then on Sumatra until May 1945 and was liberated from Changi in Singapore at the end of the war.

Award Citation as published in London Gazette on 23 May 1946:

The Hopetarn sailing alone, was torpedoed and extensively damaged. Two of her boats were successfully launched. The Second Officer was taken on board the submarine and was subsequently interned for over two years in Japan. Mr. Flett displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty in not disclosing to the enemy the presence of his senior officers in the lifeboat and thereby sacrificed his freedom.

Sources

  1. Personal communication

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Crew list for Ships hit by U-boats