HMS Royal Oak - Remembering 92 Royal Marines killed - The Youngest 15

Royal Oak in Scapa Flow

At 01.16 hours on 14 October 1939 U-47 fired a spread of three torpedoes at HMS Royal Oak (08) and the British seaplane tender HMS Pegasus lying at anchor in the harbour of Scapa Flow, then turned around and fired a stern torpedo at 01.21 hours.

Marines John Stevenson, aged 23

At 01.23 hours, the U-boat fired a second spread of three torpedoes which hit HMS Royal Oak (08) on the starboard side and caused a magazine to blow up. The battleship rolled over and sank in 19 minutes.

Band Corporal Walter Clive Bonner, Godalming Surrey, 1913-14.10.1939

Branded the ‘first great tragedy’ of the war, the sinking claimed the lives of 834 men, of the 1,234 crew were lost, including 135 boy sailors, not yet 18 years old, the largest ever such loss in a single Royal Navy action and 92 Royal Marines.

Royal Marine Ronald Schofield (top right)

Royal Marine George Edward Myers

Drummer Aubry John Priestley Royal Marines

Marine Ronald Thomas Parker

Aubry John Priestley, and likely Mountford, H.C.L. the two boy buglers on the Royal Oak

Royal Marine C F (Frank) Hemsley

Royal Marine Kenneth Hall, 19

You can find their names and some background to individuals on the Royal Marines Roll of Honour & War Graves Database;

Royal Marines Roll of Honour & War Graves Database

If you have images or stories of Royal Marines lost on the Royal Oak, or any RM missing from the the Roll of Honour data base then I would be delighted to hear form you.

Related Royal Marines 'Dits'

1. Sinking of the Royal Oak

2. RM People - Sgt John Joseph 'Ian' Coombes