Gibson, F L (Frederick Lawford)
Gibson, F L (Frederick Lawford)
Petty Officer Frederick Gibson was the son of Frederick Joseph and Louisa Gibson, of Upper Brynamman, Carmarthenshire. He served on H.M.S. Hastings when he died from drowning in the River Foyle, Londonderry.
Frederick was on active war service just before this and his ship had been part of Convoy HX229A. Close by was also Convoy SC122. They were both being stalked by between 29 and 36 U-Boats.
From the night of the 16th of March 1943, the battle ensued and by the 20th (when support arrived), twenty-two merchant ships and one German U-Boat (U-384[1]) were lost with over 300 dead sailors.
Some of the ships lost in convoy HX229A: Elin K from Norway,[2] Zaanland from Netherlands,[3] Southern Princess from the UK,[4] Harry Luckenbach from the USA,[5] Coracero from the UK,[6] Terkoeli from the Netherlands,[7] James Oglethorpe from the USA,[8] William Eustis from the USA,[9] Nariva from the UK,[10] Irenee du Pont from the USA,[11] William Q Gresham from the USA,[12] Canadian Star from the UK[13] and the Matthew Luckenbach, USA.[14]
Petty Officer Frederick Gibson and his ship H.M.S. Hastings survived this onslaught. No further information at present.
Date of Death: 27/03/1943 (Aged 27)
Service: Petty Officer, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Hastings.
Service Number: D/JX 135348
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, C. of E. Plot. Sec. F. Grave 35.
[1] U-Boat U-384, 47 lives lost, 0 survivors.
[2] The Elin K. was a Norwegian ship and was lost with no casualties, all 40 crew were rescued.
[3] The Zaanland was a Dutch Cargo ship and was lost with no casualties, all 53 crew were rescued.
[4] Southern Princess was a British whale factory ship, 4 lives lost, 96 survivors.
[5] Harry Luckenbach was an American merchant steam ship, 80 lives lost, there was no survivors.
[6] Coracero was a British merchant steam ship, 5 lives lost, 53 survivors.
[7] Terkoeli was a Dutch merchant steam ship, 36 lives lost, 61 survivors.
[8] James Oglethorpe was an American merchant steam ship, 44 lives lost, 30 survivors.
[9] The William Eustis was an American ship; it was hit and damaged but did not sink. The Royal Navy ship HMS Volunteer rescued 72 crew before scuttling the ship. There were no casualties.
[10] The Nariva was a British Cargo ship; it was hit and damaged but did not sink. The Royal Navy ships HMS Anemone and HMS Mansfield rescued 94 crew before scuttling the ship. There were no casualties.
[11] Irenee du Pont was an American merchant steam ship, 24 lives lost, 70 survivors.
[12] William Q Gresham was an American merchant steam ship, 27 lives lost, 42 survivors.
[13] Canadian Star was a British merchant steam ship, 29 lives lost, 54 survivors.
[14] The Matthew Luckenbach was an American cargo ship. It was torpedoed and disabled. The crew of 68 abandoned ship and were rescued before another torpedo struck sinking the ship.
