F11 UNKNOWN SAILOR, ROBERT McMURRAY, HAROLD STOKES

F011 A SAILOR of the 1939-1943 War. Royal Navy. Died 10 January 1941. Known unto God. He may have been on Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious which was bombed.

Some time in early January the word quickly spread throughout the Dockyard that while escorting a convoy to Malta, a big aircraft carrier had been savagely attacked at sea by enemy aircraft and had suffered severe damage and loss of life. The aircraft carrier was hit six times while escorting the convoy in the Sicily channel and was hit a seventh time in another attack as it approached Malta. Despite the savage attack it suffered, and having been hit by more bombs than any other carrier, HMS Illustrious managed to contain its fires, stem the flooding and limp into the relative safety of the Grand Harbour on January 10, 1941. The loss, however, was tragic: 126 crew members had been killed and 91 injured.


F011 ROBERT McMURRAY, Leading Seaman, D/SSX28211 Royal Navy on HMS Mosquito. Born 22 November 1921 at Barton-on-Irwell, Lancashire to Robert and Sarah Elisabeth McMurray, of Winton, Lancashire. Died 1st February 1943 aged 21 years on H.M. Motor Torpedo Boat 264.

At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 11

F011 HAROLD STOKES, Petty Officer Steward, P/LX20450 Royal Navy on HMS Packenham. Born 8 April 1907 at Crewton Derbyshire to George and Alice Ada Stokes. 1911 residing with his parents and siblings at 71 Randolph Road, Ormaston, Derbyshire. Enlisted 9 November 9 November1926 on HMS Victory, civilian occupation dining car attendant. Husband of Queenie May Stokes, nee Fallis of Northend, Portsmouth who he married in Portsmouth 1932. In 1939 residing with his wife at her mother’s residence 47 Orchard Road, Portsmouth. Harold was in the Royal Navy. Died at 90th General Hospital, Malta 18th April 1943 aged 36 years.

All at rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 11