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Death of William Ribchester 26 January 1945, he was a Canteen Manager, can anyone please tell me what a Canteen Manager was, I am assuming it was to do with Kitchen duties?
He was on the HMS Manners from the looks of it, and is remembered with honour on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Can anyone tell me if the Chatham Naval Memorial is in Chatham England?
Sorry for my ignorance but I have only just found this record and really am ashamed to say I don't know much about it all.
If anyone has any knowledge or info they could share with me it would be much appreciated.
Chris
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From the CWGC site
Name: RIBCHESTER, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Canteen Manager
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Canteen Service
Unit Text: H.M.S. Manners.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 26/01/1945
Service No: C/NX 583288
Additional information: Son of John Robert and Martha J. Ribchester, of Penwortham, Lancashire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 82, 1.
Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Name HMS Manners (K 568)
Type: Frigate (Captain)
Tonnage 1,300 tons
Completed 1943 - Boston Navy Yard, Boston MA
Owner The Admiralty
Homeport
Date of attack 26 Jan 1945 Nationality: British
Fate A total loss by U-1051 ( Heinrich von Holleben)
Position Grid AM 68
Complement 100 officers and men (43 dead and 57 survivors).
Convoy
Route
Cargo
History Laid down as unnamed destroyer escort (DE 523) of the Evarts-class for the US Navy, completed in December 1943 as frigate HMS Manners (K 568) for the Royal Navy.
Notes on loss On 26 Jan, 1945, HMS Manners (K 568) (A/Cdr J.V. Waterhouse, DSO, RN) was hit by one torpedo from U-1051 about 21 miles 280° from Skerries, Isle of Man. The U-boat was sunk in the counter-attack of several escorts from the 4th and 5th Escort Group. The frigate broke in two after the hit, the stern sank with the loss of four officers and 39 ratings, while 15 others were injured. The forepart of the vessel was towed into Barrow-in-Furness and was declared a total loss. On 12 Dec, 1946, the wreck was sold to a Greek ship breaker and scrapped 1947 in Piræus, Greece.
So he was in the Royal navy and was in charge of the Canteen onboard ship. The men that were lost have no graves so they are commemorated on the War Memorial in Chatham Kent.
Chatham Dockyard was a Naval Dockyard until 1984 closure
History:_
Chatham Dockyard - 400 years of naval history
Chatham Dockyard played a vital role supporting the Royal Navy for over 400 years.
From the Spanish Armada to the Falklands Crisis ships built, repaired and manned from Chatham secured and maintained Britain’s command of the world ocean’s and the global position it has today.
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Chatham is in Kent.
Have you been on commonwealth war graves. he is on there. www.cwgc.org
A canteen manager was part of the royal naval canteen service serving goods on board ship. (like a local corner shop)
After ww2 the NAAFI ran this.
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Thankyou Shirley & Brian
Your information is wonderful, it answers all my questions and gives me a greater understanding of what went on and what it was all about. I did get the original information from the CWGC site, but didn't understand what it all meant.
I really do appreciate your input on this matter and cannot thank you enough.
Warm Regards
Chris
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