John Stanley
Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial
Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Gunner
Home address: Yeovil
Date of birth: 1919
Place of birth: Wolverhampton
Date of death: 19/10/1941
Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Wexford (St. Ibar's) Cemetery, Crosstown County Wexford, Ireland and commemorated on the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 22
Further information:
John was born in Wolverhampton and he enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment in 1939. He was wounded whilst serving in France in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and subsequently volunteered for service in the Maritime Regiment.
On the day of his death John was serving aboard the unescorted Norwegian Steam Merchant 'Rask' on route from Cork to Newport carrying a cargo of ballast. At 18.30 on the 19th of October, 2 miles from the Irish Coast near Tuscar Rock, the vessel was attacked by 3 German aircraft one of which was shot down by the gunners. After 20 minutes a powerful explosion caused the vessel to stop and heel over. The crew managed to get away in 2 lifeboats but one of the boats had been holed during the battle and capsized several times resulting in the death of 3 British servicemen including John and 4 others. The 17 survivors were picked up and landed at Wexford. John was one of 3 bodies found and brought ashore.
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/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11089