Operation VIGOROUS, escorting supply convoys to Malta.
Locally Commemorated:
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
St John's Church, Roll of Honour, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
UK Commemorated:
Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Overseas Commemorated:
-
Buried:
No known grave.
Decoration and Medals:
1939-45 Star. Africa Star. War Medal.
Photographs:
0
Service Records:
No
Death Notice/Obituary:
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, In Memoriam; 12th June 1944 and 12th June 1945.
Family Details:
Son of Joseph and Louisa Kerr. Husband of Eleanor Kerr, of 28 High Street, Newburn on Tyne, Northumberland.
Notes :
Christopher had previously survived being torpedoed twice and up until the time of his death he had served four and a half years in the Royal Navy.
HMS Grove was an Escort Destroyer, launched on 29th May 1941, with a compliment of approximately 168 crew. HMS Grove was escorting the Eastern Convoy MW11, part of Operation VIGOROUS, a supply convoy to Malta. She was hit by two torpedoes from the German U-Boat U77 and sank, North of Sollum, Libya. Two officers and 108 ratings lost their lives, sixty survived.
Sources Used:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Roll of Honour, 20th June 1942.
