Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1945-present
Compiled by Don Kindell

 

1953 -  in date, ship/unit & name order

 

edited Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

Engine Room Artificer Ronald F May, HMS Cumberland, died Malta, 15 August 1953
(Kathryn Jackson, click photographs for enlargements)

on to 1954
or return to Naval-History.Net

 

Notes:

(1) Casualty information in order - Surname, First name, Initial(s), Rank and part of the Service other than RN (RNR, RNVR etc), Service Number (ratings only, also if Dominion), (on the books of another ship/shore establishment, O/P – on passage), Fate

(2) click for abbreviations
(3) if any rank or unit abbreviations are incorrect, please email
 
 

1953

 

KOREAN WAR, started 25 June 1950, ceasefire 27 July 1953 (links – Britains Small Wars)

 

 

Monday, 5 January 1953

 

FAA, 801 Squadron,  Glory, aircraft carrier, Korean War, air crash

 RAYNER, Brian E, Sub Lieutenant (P), MPK

 SIMONDS, James M, Sub Lieutenant (A), RNVR, MPK

 

 

Tuesday, 6 January 1953

 

Armada

 HORTON, Thomas F S, Able Seaman, SSX 869436, died

 

 

Monday, 12 January 1953

 

Pembroke

 HINE, John F, Engine Room Artificer 3c, MX 93441, died

 

 

Wednesday, 14 January 1953

 

FAA, 807 Squadron, Ocean, deck crash

 HICKS, Bryan F, Lieutenant, DOW

 

 

Thursday, 15 January 1953

 

Drake

 PACK, Leslie W C, Engine Room Artificer 2c, MX 64359, died

 

 

Friday, 16 January 1953

 

Fulmar

 WADHAM, Nicholas C, Midshipman, died

 

 

Tuesday, 20 January 1953

 

Seahawk

 BARKER, Frank, Commissioned Pilot, died

 

 

Wednesday, 21 January 1953

 

Fulmar

 EARL, Geoffrey H, Lieutenant, died

 

 

Friday, 23 January 1953

 

Raleigh

 PARRY, John R I, Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic (S.M.), KX 80957, died

 

 

Sunday, 25 January 1953

 

Defiance

 SANDFORD, Michael G, Stoker Mechanic, SKX 875672, died

 

carbon monoxide poisoning at Painswick Hotel, Gloucestershire

 HARDWICK, Francis, Mechanic 3c, KX 770400, Royal Arthur, died

 SALTER, John D, Electrical Artificer (E.A.) 4c, MX 919756, Drake, died

 

 

Monday, 26 January 1953

 

Duchess, explosion

 Dockyard Worker killed, no further information

 

 

Tuesday, 27 January 1953

 

Cheviot

 BELL, Joseph C S, Senior Commissioned Engineering Officer (President), died

 

 

Wednesday, 28 January 1953

 

Curlew

 EYRES, Cyril, Shipwright 1c, MX 54291, died

 

 

Saturday, 31 January 1953

 

Princess Victoria, MV, Stranraer, Scotland to Larne, Northern Ireland ferry, foundered in storm in North Channel

 BILNEY, Douglas A N, Lieutenant Commander (P), (Victory I, O/P) died

 CHILDS, Leslie G, Electrical Artificer (E.A.) (A) 3c, FX 82457, (Centaur, O/P), died

 DINGLE, Violet M, Ordinary Wren, WRNS, 109727, (Sea Eagle, O/P), died

 PRENTICE, Eileen S, Ordinary Wren, WRNS, 110001, (Dauntless, O/P), died

 SHANKLAND, James G, Aircraft Artificer (A.A.) 3c, FX 607134, (Gannet, O/P), died

 WILTON, John A, Leading Telegraphist, SSX 795623, (Sea Eagle, O/P), died

 WRIGHT, Gordon T, Aircraft Artificer (A.A.) 4c, FX 669155, (Gannet, O/P), died

 

 

Sunday, 1 February 1953

 

Modeste

 BAIN, Robert J C, Able Seaman, SSX 843458, died

 

Simbang

 TAYLOR, Arthur, Lieutenant, died

 

 

Monday, 2 February 1953

 

Terror

 RHODES, Arnold G, Lieutenant Commander, died

 

 

Tuesday, 3 February 1953

 

Indomitable (right - Maritime Quest), aircraft carrier, cigarette ignited petrol vapour below the island in hangar deck, followed by explosion. Ten gallantry medals including two George Medals awarded for rescue operations. More men died of injuries in succeeding days

 HARMAN, Derek J T, Petty Officer Telegraphist, JX 184648, killed

 PETCHELL, Ivan, Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic, SKX 787826, killed

 SMITH, Terence, Leading Seaman, JX 890493, died

 

 

Wednesday, 4 February 1953

 

Indomitable, explosion

 PUGH, Brian H C, Engine Room Artificer, MX 909118, DOW

 

 

Thursday, 5 February 1953

 

Blackcap

 COLLINGWOOD, Roy E, Commissioned Pilot, died

 

Mercury

 CARTER, Peter W, Leading Signalman, JX 581257, died

 

Seahawk

 BLAKE, George P, Commander, died

 

 

Saturday, 7 February 1953

 

Indomitable, explosion

 HUMPHRIES, Kenneth S, Boy 1c, JX 899584, DOW

 

 

Monday, 9 February 1953

 

Indomitable, explosion

 CANNON, Ronald, Electrician's Mate, SMX 903650, DOW

 

Jupiter

 MCFARLANE, William A, Chief Electrician, MX 893067, died

 

 

Tuesday, 10 February 1953

 

Pembroke

 HOWARD, Andrew E, Lieutenant, died

 

 

Wednesday, 11 February 1953

 

FAA, 801 Squadron,  Glory, aircraft carrier, Korean War, air crash

 BRADLEY, Richard D, Sub Lieutenant (P), MPK

 MACPHERSON, Cedric A, Lieutenant (O), MPK

 

Indomitable, explosion

 ROWLEY, Albert G W, Leading Electrical Mechanic (E.M.), SMX 833584, DOW

 

Siskin

 MAGGS, Alfred W, Chief Airman, FX 882021, died

 

 

Thursday, 12 February 1953

 

Indomitable, explosion

 LAWSON, John H, Boy 1c, JX 905127, DOW

 

 

Saturday, 14 February 1953

 

Eagle

 DRUMMOND, Thomas S, Leading Stoker Mechanic, KX 832331, died

 

 

Wednesday, 18 February 1953

 

Drake

 WARRISS, Peter, Able Seaman, SSX 661569, died

 

Indomitable, explosion

 WALTHAM, John R, Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic, SKX 816094, DOW

 

 

Wednesday, 25 February 1953

 

Diamond

 MEEKS, Frank F, Midshipman, died

 

 

Thursday, 26 February 1953

 

FAA, 719 Squadron, Gannet, air crash

 TEIRNEY, Edward A S, Aircrewman 1c (O), FX 78433, killed

 WREN, Brian D A, Act/Sub Lieutenant, RAN, killed

 

 

Monday, 2 March 1953

 

Modeste

 WHITTLE, Robert, Able Seaman, SSX 862122, died

 

Tyne

 STRETTON, Alan E, Leading Stoker Mechanic, SKX 877122, died

 

 

Tuesday, 3 March 1953

 

Curlew

 MILLWARD, Ernest J, Leading Seaman, SSX 839509, died

 

 

Friday, 6 March 1953

 

Excellent

 BRIDGEMAN, William G, Senior Commissioned Gunner, died

 

Nereide

 COLDWELL, James C, Lieutenant Commander, died

 

 

Wednesday, 11 March 1953

 

Eagle, piloting Attacker, fuel cap panel not replaced, fuel running out, caught fire and aircraft exploded

 REE, Peter G, Lieutenant, died

 

FAA, 809 Squadron, Eagle, two Sea Hornets in collision

 Hornet 1 hit by 2

 RANKIN, John W, Lieutenant, pilot, killed (Aircraftsman E J Dingley baled out and was rescued)

 Hornet 2 collided with 1, pilot lost control and crashed in sea

 MARTIN, Dennis, Commissioned Pilot, baled out but parachute tangled with tailplane, killed

 WAYGOOD, Bernard M, Lieutenant, killed

  

Seahawk, flying Attacker, No.3 in order for take-off, caught in slipstream of plane ahead, flicked to port and hit runway

 BARCLAY, Christopher J M, Lieutenant, died .

 

 

Thursday, 12 March 1953

 

Fulmar

 O'DONNELL, Brian, Midshipman, died

 

Seahawk, night flight in Meteor over Mount's Bay, Cornwall, flew into the sea off Loe Bar, Porthleven

 LELAND, Anthony J, Lieutenant, killed 

 

 

Sunday, 15 March 1953

 

Gamecock

 HALSTEAD, Donald R, Lieutenant, died

 

 

Monday, 16 March 1953

 

Pembroke

 HOUGH, Henry, Able Seaman (D), JX 176616, died

 

 

Tuesday, 17 March 1953

 

Excellent

 SCOTT, Geoffrey, Able Seaman, SSX 889057, died

 

 

Tuesday, 24 March 1953

 

Dolphin

 POTTER, Dennis D, Stoker Mechanic, SKX 870894, died

 

Falcon

 THOMPSON, Edward E, Chief Aircraft Artificer (A.A.), FX 75190, died

 

 

Monday, 2 April 1953

 

Terror, RN Base, Singapore, Malaya campaign

 RHODES, Arthur G, Lieutenant Commander, died

 

 

Saturday, 4 April 1953

 

Ganges

 WYNNE, Douglas B, Boy 1c, JX 912033, died

 

 

Sunday, 5 April 1953

 

Royal Australian Navy

 SHARP, Peter J, Sub Lieutenant, died

 

 

Monday, 6 April 1953

 

Dolphin

 BURRELL, Peter L, Engine Room Artificer 3c, MX 637809, died

 

 

Saturday, 11 April 1953

 

Gambia, light cruiser

 DONEGAN, Charles E, Able Seaman, SSX 865677, died

 

 

Sunday, 12 April 1953

 

Tamar

 KWONG, Cheung S, Cook, O/ 2808, died

 

 

Tuesday, 14 April 1953

 

Skua

 THOMPSON, Andrew, Petty Officer, JX 147268, died

 

 

Saturday, 18 April 1953

 

Albatross

 RUSSELL, John M, Radio Electrical Artificer (R.E.A.) 3c, FX 697489, died

 

 

Monday, 20 April 1953

 

FAA, 769 Squadron, Vulture, air crash

 ENEVER, David B, Midshipman, killed

 PRICE-OWEN, David R, Lieutenant, killed

 

 

Wednesday, 22 April 1953

 

President

 LAMPEN, John, Major, RM, died

 

 

Thursday, 23 April 1953

 

Ceylon

 PALMER, William R G F, Leading Radio Electrical Mechanician (R.E.M.) (B), MX 852597, died

  

Indomitable

 VERRECCHIA, Anthony M, Sub Lieutenant, died

 

 

Friday, 24 April 1953

 

Alaunia

 THOMPSON, Gerald, Stoker Mechanic, KX 902761, died

 

Ranpura

 HOWE, Joseph C, Stoker Mechanic, SKX 859541, died

 

 

Saturday, 25 April 1953

 

FAA, 801 Squadron,  Glory, aircraft carrier, Korean War, air crash

 KEATES, Walter J B, Sub Lieutenant (P), MPK

 MCGREGOR, John T, Lieutenant (P), MPK

 

 

Monday, 27 April 1953

 

Gambia, light cruiser

 FORSYTH, James A, Leading Seaman, JX 712 611, died

 

 

Friday, 1 May 1953

 

RN Hospital Chatham

 MCBURNEY, John K, Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer, MX 49285, died

 

 

Monday, 4 May 1953

 

Fulmar

 FORRESTER, Vincent J, Sub Lieutenant, died

 

 

Thursday, 7 May 1953

 

Victory

 MANLEY, James B, Petty Officer, JX 371797, died

 

 

Sunday, 10 May 1953

 

Montclare

 HAILEY, Robert, Ordinary Seaman, JX 889611, died

 

Unicorn, aircraft carrier, Malaya campaign

 MCTAGGART, Thomas J, Stoker Mechanic, KSX 867554, died

 

 

Monday, 11 May 1953

 

Dolphin

 JOHNSON, Victor M, Stoker Mechanic, SKX 770331, died

 

Ocean

 MILLAR, James, Naval Airman 1c, FX 882356, died

 

 

Wednesday, 13 May 1953

 

Cleopatra

 CHESHIRE, Leonard H, Able Seaman, SSX 839181, died

 

Seahawk

 RICHARDS, Peter O, Commissioned Pilot, died

 

 

Friday, 15 May 1953

 

Ariel

 ERRIDGE, Brian M, Radio Electrical Mechanician (R.E.M.) (A) 1c, SFX 885807, died