Roydon Gilbert Milsom
Memorial: Bitton - St Mary's Church
Regiment: Merchant Navy
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Second Officer
Parents: Samuel Gilbert and Agnes Ellen Milsom
Marital status: Married
Home address: Parents: Caerphilly Glamorgan Roydon and Rose: 5 Brockham Terrace, Willsbridge, Bristol
Date of birth: 1911
Date of death: 20/09/1943
Buried/Commemorated at: Lost at sea. Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial London and St Mary’s Church War Memorial Bitton
Age: 32
Further information:
Merchant Navy S.S Fort Longueuil.
Roydon was the son of a Welsh coal miner and the youngest of 4 children. He was 3rd in command of the S.S Fort Longueuil when on 19 Sep 1943 the unescorted ship carrying a cargo of Phosphate set sail for Australia. The following day it was torpedoed by U-532 southwest of Chagos Archipelago and sank immediately. Out of a crew of 59 only 2 survived and came ashore in Malaya after about 4 ½ months at sea. They lived on fish and rainwater. One of the 2 survivors reported initially seeing Roydon on another of the 3 life rafts that were launched. Roydon was listed as “missing supposed drowned or died of exposure” and his death was not officially registered until 1946.
Roydon received the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct 1943, MBE, New Year’s Honours list, 1943.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
http://www.glosgen.co.uk/warmem/bittonwm.htm
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3069.html
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/merchant-seamens-campaign-medal-records-1939-1945/
http://fortships.tripod.com/survivors_reports.htm