Remarks: Leading SA. January 1939 to March 1940?

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Remarks: P/SSX 22230 Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?
Joined RN 1937 Died 1981
Only son of Mr and Mrs Walter Ewing of 81 High Street, Portobello, Edinburgh. Grandson - Keith Hunter.
Part of the boarding Party for the Altmark Incident
Joining the ship's company on 14 June 1938 just before she sailed to Gibraltar on 8 July and then on to Malta on 12 July 38. Think he left the Cossack in the spring of 1941. He was on the Manchester probably from her refit in April 1941. So would have been on her rather than the Cossack during the Bismarck Sortie. He was definitely on board the Manchester in July 1941 when she set off for Malta. He was one of the lucky ones to be rescued when she was attacked and scuttled in August 42 - the reason for the gap in his service after this is that he was injured and spent some time back in Scotland convalescing.

Documents:

• Thomas Ewing

Gallery:

Remarks: Leading Steward. (Maltese) (July – October 1941) No number shown. Borne for victual charges only. No pay documents. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Remarks: Telegraphist. P/SSX 28764 Onboard as an Ordinary
Telegraphist at October 1939 (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 20 (single) Son of Alfred and Sarah Ann of Thornton, Leics. Prior to joining the RN he worked at S D Strettons in Leicester. This was a clothing factory before the War.
Received from David Hawes.
“My Grandfather was a close friend of Eric Farmer Telegraphist on HMS Cossack. He wrote to him with an HMS Cossack Christmas card and a photograph of the ship and part of the Altmark flag that he snipped off. Also He sent a Roll up cigarette HM FORCES PAPER.
Also a Photograph of Eric sat in Uniform whilst on leave sat in my Grandfathers shed in the Garden. Eric had worked with my Grandfather who was Home guard and ex RFC. Grandad would have been like a father figure to him. He must have been gutted when he was killed later. The items had been kept safe all these years by my grandmother and since by me. Eric had written a full account later which I have seen online of the Hunt for the Bismarck he obviously had as Telegraphist an insight better than most of the lead up to the sinking of Bismarck” ( Photographs of the items are held in electronic archive)

Gallery:

Remarks: Francis Farrugia (Maltese) P.O. LX. 22311.
Francis, (Known as “Cikku” – Matese fro Francis) date of birth 17th. June 1915, son of Joseph and Lucia Bartolo originally from the little Island of Gozo, Malta.

Francis and Mary nee Grech date of marriage 26th. July 1939, had two daughters Iris, Jeanette and two sons, Joseph and Denis.
Died on 8th. March 1984.

Joined RN on 21.9.37 at Malta as assistant cook. Joined Cossack 9 June 1938 as Cook (Officers) and left for Zulu on 9 October 1940. Left the RN 20.9.59 as PO Cook and joined the Royal Air Force as a civilian at Luqa Barracks Malta till 1976 when he then retired completely.

Three good conduct badges and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 39-45 Star, Africa Star, Atlantic Star, Italy Star, War Medal, Oak Leaf.

Francis lost lost a brother, Joseph Farrugia in 1938/1939; he was employed with the British Royal Army as a civilian transporting personal from Pembroke Barracks Malta to their quarters all over the Island and the story goes that one of the first air raids on the Island of Malta by the Italian air force had a direct hit on their bus and all perished.

His wife’s family also had a history with the Royal Navy as her brother Joseph Grech assistant steward LX 22806 lost his life on the 14th. October 1939 at the age 20 on HMS Royal Oak and he is listed at Plymouth Naval Memorial panel 35 column 2, he was engaged to be married on his return to Malta, on that same day of 1939 his fiancé also lost her father on HMS Royal Oak - his name was Francis Mamo L 6426 and is also listed at Plymouth Naval Memorial.

See more images of Francis in the Gallery on this Ship's Company.

Gallery: