Page 115 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

Sadly, at 04.01 hours on 3rd August 1942, the German U-boat 553 attacked the convoy and
damaged the ship, which then fell out of the convoy and was subsequently sunk by another
U-Boat 607 in the early hours of the 4th August. There were 21 losses from the crew of 53.
Sadly, one of those was Alfred Gray.

In Memoriam: Alfred Gray is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 15

WILLIAM HAYWARD Royal Navy - Chief Armourer HMS Curacoa
1899 - 2nd October 1942

William was the son of George and Sarah of Cray Road, Foots Cray. He married Adela
Sullivan in 1922. He had previously had a career in the Navy, with a rank rising to the
responsible job of Chief Armourer. When war was declared, William was recalled to serve
on the ill-fated HMS Curacoa.

HMS Curacoa was a Ceres Class Cruiser, built in Pembroke dockyard and laid down in July
1916, being completed by February 1918. She was seriously damaged by bombs from
German aircraft off the Norwegian coast on 24th April 1940. The ship returned to port and
was in due course repaired.

In 1942, the 4,200 ton British cruiser was just one of the many ships assigned to the
important and highly dangerous task of escorting the former luxury liner, RMS Queen Mary,
which was now employed in valuable war service and was carrying 10,000 American
Servicemen into the River Clyde. America had no alternative but to enter the War following
the brutal attack on their base at Pearl Harbour by the Japanese Air force in December
1941.

The captain of the Queen Mary was instructed not to travel in a straight line, but to zig-zag
so as to avoid the very real danger of being torpedoed by enemy U-boats. HMS Curacoa
was very anxious to protect the liner and her valuable cargo and her captain decided it was
necessary to sail as close as possible to the former luxury liner. Unfortunately, (as the
enquiry established after the event) there was a crucial misunderstanding between the
captains of the two ships.

As the two ships zig-zagged into position, and with the Queen Mary steaming at 289 knots,
their converging course was misjudged and the Queen Mary struck the Curacoa's stern
pushing her broadside on. As a result, the Queen Mary sliced straight through the Curacoa
amidships and cut her in half.

The Captain of the Queen Mary, under orders never to stop his ship for any reason, was
forced to sail on. If he had done so, he would have put the lives of the 10,000 American
servicemen in considerable danger.

The losses were dreadful - 338 lives, but fortunately 102 men were eventually rescued. Of
the men who were lost at sea a number are buried at Lower Breakish in Skye, Arisaig and
Morar.

William Hayward left the sum of £776 in his Will to his widow, Adela.

In Memoriam: William Hayward is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

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