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Paul Masterson lives in Crosby, not all that far from the Gladstone Dock where
his grandfather, George Lunt, sailed with HMS Camellia and HMS Kite. He very kindly
lent me the scrapbook compiled by George during his naval career. This
one finished before Kite's demise and it is thought that George was doing
another, which possibly went down with the ship. Unfortunately, the scrapbook is
larger than the scanning surface of my scanner, so I have endeavoured to
present as best an aspect as possible.
Memories from the Scrapbooks of Able Seaman George Lunt RN - HMS Kite
13th February 1913 - 21st August 1944
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Mary & George Lunt |
On the 21st August 1944 George Lunt died. He died in a cold, cruel sea when HMS
Kite was torpedoed twice by the U-344. He wrote regular letters home during the
previous 2 months which contained many references to his wife Mary and their
baby daughter. He spoke of sending money home and they had accumulated a fair
amount for those days. In one letter he tells his parents that he has sent Mary
£4, a princely sum then. He spoke of Mary finding a suite that she had really
taken a shine too and his hopes of the war ending and their being able to
set up in their own home. He spoke of a few difficulties due to theirs being a
religiously mixed marriage, Catholic and Protestant. How they came to accept Mary as "one of their
own" and his wishes that all and everyone was enjoying good health. He thought
of others all the time and not of himself.
Page 1 |
George was contacted in April 1941 under the National
Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 to register for enlistment for the Armed
Forces. His registration number was LHB2381. his date of birth listed as
13th February 1913. |
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Page2
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He received a letter dated 6 June 1941 telling him to
report to Dover street High School, Manchester, for his enlistment medical
on 13th June 1940. These images and more annotated by page number refer to
the pages in his scrapbook where these were copied from. |
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Page 3
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He was certified A1 fit on 19th June 1940 and passed A1 fit. G W Rogers
certifying this. |
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Page 4
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On 19th February 1941 George was called up and reported to HMS Raleigh, Training
Establishment. Page 4 of his scrapbook shows images of the namesake ship, HMS
Raleigh and George himself on weekend leave in Torquay whilst training. |
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Page 5
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Page 5 contains 2 postcards that he purchased in Plymouth. |
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Page6
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On the 19th May 1941, George joined his first ship. HMS Camellia. Camellia was a
Flower class Corvette built at Harland & Wolf shipyard in Belfast. She was
launched on 14th May 1940. Camellia survived the war. Page 6 shows
Camellia along with two postcards of Cardiff where he had joined her. Larger
Image (1) Below. |
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Page 7
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The next page of George's scrapbook shows the beginnings of his Royal Naval War
service with a trip to Iceland. George was quite an artist and did several
drawings from the decks of his ship which we shall see later on.
Where the writing by George on each page is too faint to see, I had added the
same text to the photograph or postcard involved.
Central Section reads:
Navy List - HMS Camellia
Lt Cdr RNR A E Wilmott 31 Dec 1940
Temp Lt RNR C.C.V. Cornby (proby) 3 June 1940
Temp Lt RNVR V Connor & DB Ross 13 June 1940
Temp Acting Sub Lt RNVR D S Manning 6 Jan 1941
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Page 8
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Drawings of fjords in Iceland and a small sample of some wild flowers he had
found adorn page 8 of his book. Two small photographs of HMS Aberdeen and HMS
Churchill finish the page off. This was June and July 1941. |
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Page 9
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From Iceland they travelled to Nova Scotia, presumably on convoy escort duties
although, in keeping with the times, the purpose of their travels is not
elaborated upon. Page 9 shows some Halifax postcards George placed in his book. |
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Page 10
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The upper of the two postcards actually opened up into a concertina of
photographs of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The bottom postcard shows the Marconi
Station on Cape Race, Newfoundland. |
Page 11 |
Three postcards of St Johns, Newfoundland dated July 1941. |
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Page 12
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Two cathedrals and an inlet are on page 12, the RC one and the CE one. Bally
Haley inlet is the third card. |
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Page 13
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This shows the Supply Ship HMS Forth and two magazine images of the Foundry and
the Carpenters shop of the same ship. |
Page 14 |
And back to Iceland again where George copied in two magazine items and a
drawing he did of "nearing Reykjavik - August 1941" |
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Page 15
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A complete copy of the Daily Post, an English Newspaper. This one contains news
of a visit by Winston Churchill himself and information on a new German thrust
on Leningrad. Russians claimed over 20,000 Germans killed. Inside more details
on Churchill's visit and, on the back page, an admission by Goebbels that many
Germans listened to the BBC to which he countered that it would soon pass as the
Germans promised, from then on, that all they would speak is the "truth". There
is also a report of a 100 bomber raid on 18th August over Bremen and Duisburg.
Enemy planes were reported over Hull the same evening. one plane claimed shot
down and "little casualties". |
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Page 16
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Here we have in central place is a cinema ticket which was issued in Reykjavik,
Iceland in August 1941, quite likely to George himself. Three drawings and a
small image of HMS Camellia are on this page. |
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Page 17
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Page 17 shows some images of life aboard a Corvette, similar to HMS Camellia.
Not known if images are actually on George's ship. |
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Page 18
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Page 18 shows an image of HMS Broke, which was later lost in the North Africa
Landings on 8th November 1942. Vichy French guns pounded her till she sank off
Algiers. Also on this page is a copy of George's authorisation from his Captain
to collect the ships mail ashore. Finally, on a visit to Londonderry, on their
way home in November 1941, See Image 2 below |
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Page 19
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This is a copy of a signal message pad in which is noted a submarine sighting.
also annotated on the page is the news that the ship was adopted by Bagshott,
November 1941. |
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Page 20
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George collected four postcards from Londonderry in November 1941 for page 20. |
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Page 21
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Annotations here are, under the left hand image: On the bridge, Ginger Boardman;
Back Row; Myself, Swarbrick Front Row left to right; Phipps, Lucas, Harold,
James. Right hand image: Left to Right, Myself, Swarbrick, Harold, Lucas,
Phipps. On the top of the page: On a Homeward Trip November 1941. |
Page 22 |
Shows HM King George VI on the bridge of a Minesweeper, Gladstone Dock,
Liverpool, December 1941. The second image is of the King clearly leaving the
deck of a corvette but the annotation states he is "boarding". Maybe
the two ships
are side by side? |
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Page 23
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A magazine image of Gladstone Dock, Liverpool marked "our base, Liverpool".
Gladstone dock was also the home of Walkers 2nd Support Group as we shall soon
see. |
Page 24 |
And we find ourselves back in Newfoundland for page 24 with this image of
workers at Argentia waiting in line to cash their pay cheques. also on this page
is, lower right, a 10 cent meal ticket at the Fleet Canteen and what looks like
the empty container for a book of matches labelled USS Prairie, which was a US
Supply Ship. The entire page is dated March 1942. HMS Kite was now only 12
months away. |
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Page 25
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Top Left: "Newfie" Boon (left); "Bris" Shepherd (right) Liverpool, Clarence
Dock, May 1942. Top right: Left to right; Myself, Ginger Bilham, Liverpool,
Clarence Dock, May 1942. Lower Left; The Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport. Lower
right; HMS Belfast. |
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Page 26
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Top Left: Woody, HMS Queen Elizabeth. Top Middle: Dick Harding HMS Orion.
Somewhere in America, Santi Diago? 1942. Top right: Woody HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Tobogganing somewhere in America Winter 1942. Bottom Left: Same as previous
Woody image. bottom middle, Dick Harding HMS Orion, somewhere in the pacific
1942 and finally, bottom right Woody in the snow again. |
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17th February 1943, George Lunt joins his new ship
HMS KITE
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Page 27
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George did this sketch of HMS Kite and has written on the top left: I join my
second ship at Birkenhead, 17th February 1943. Commissioned the next day. |
Page 28 |
A drawing of the Ships Crest by George with George's commissioning card beneath.
See Image 3 below |
Page 29 |
20th February 1943 saw the Dedication And Commissioning Service for HMS Kite.
Page 29 shows the order of service.
A couple of lines are missing off the base, it was too big for the scanner. |
Page 30 |
HMS Kite takes to the sea and undergoes exercises along with the other founding
ships of 2nd Support Group under the overall command of Captain Frederick John
Walker RN who was to become the standard by which other ships set their sights.
Walker's anti submarine tactics are still in use today. HMS Kite, and the other
5 ships were to be so highly trained they could work as one, with the minimum of
signals. Walkers ship was HMS STARLING, (see page 36) but when he flew the
famous General Chase signal, he commanded Kite. |
Page 31 |
Four postcards of Londonderry. It was off shore here that they exercised their
anti submarine skills with British submarine N28. |
Page 32 |
One of Walkers sailors, Robert Collier, wrote an article for the Sunday
Pictorial dated 31 October 1943 shown here on page 32. |
Page 33 - Page 33a |
June 1943 and CinC Western Approaches sent this commendary signal. note that he
addressed it to 2nd Escort Group, and it says "Western Approaches is proud of
you" and is dated 25th June. The newspaper clipping tells us of 2 U Boats sunk
in 9 hours. |
Page 34 |
Left: Award for Captain Walker RN - Top Centre: Three DSM's And "2 Mentions" on
same ship! HMS Kite. Names Chief Yeoman Collins, PO Kelly, Leading Steward
Barton as DSM's and PO Ashton and A/B Mercer. Image shows Barton, Collins and
Kelly. Right image: Battle Flags for Bootle. In the image is Capt Walker.
Annotated at base of page: July 1943, Ship adopted by Braintree & Bocking.
Articles marked as Liverpool Echo, Thursday January 6th 1944. |
Page 35 |
An image of an oil painting showing Catalina's riding at anchor near to a large
tender ship. George has written here that" a trip to Newfoundland - our seventh
and eighth U Boats on the way - Boiler clean at Argentia - November 1943. On the
right an image of Gladstone dock marked "Home to our base-Liverpool (Gladstone
dock) for repairs December 1943 - January 1944". |
Page 36 |
HMS Starling is the only occupant of page 36. There is space for a chart showing
ships (Kite) voyage sheet - May - December 1943, but this is adrift but safe. |
Page 37 |
Top Left: Cruising Watch Station. Quarterdeck HMS Kite. Liverpool (Gladstone
Dock) 25th December 1943. See Image 4 below.Top Centre: U Boat "Tageskarte" dated 7 Nov 41, taken
from U boat sailor. It states "survivor from one of three U boats sunk during
same day in one of our actions in the Bay of Biscay 30th July 1943. Below
centre: Article from Liverpool Evening Express 20th January 1944 regarding
George's previous ship HMS Camellia and harsh conditions in Russian waters. top
right: Taff Nicholls (Quartermaster) Right HMS Kite (HMS Wild Goose alongside)
Liverpool (Gladstone Dock) 25/12.43. |
Page 38 |
Newspaper article is Liverpool Tuesday February 22, 1944 on the subject of total
U boats sunk in war to date. George has hand written here about his last trip
with the Second Support Group 28th January - 18th February 1944 in which they
sank 6 U Boats! Then he goes on to mention four other U Boats sunk, a total of 9
out of 12 reported in the area! Then a fateful entry. "We leave the Second
Support Group and proceed to Greenock to join the Seventh Escort Group." |
Page 39 |
Liverpool Echo reports that Liverpool's No 1 U Boat Killers Group now has 17
Kills. Dated 10th March 1944. Far right, nearly invisible, Capt Walker is
mentioned in Commanding Officer's Who's Who. |
Page 40 |
Left hand: Men of HMS Wild Goose examining dinghy from
a German U boat. Left to right they are: AB V Kilgour of Manchester, CPO J
Westwood DSM, and Leading seaman Albuary. On the left is Leading seaman
Walter Bruce, of Sunderland, a member of the Magpie's Depth Charge Party,
with Sparks, the ships mascot. Next image: Able Seaman Alexander
Burnett, of Glasgow, who fired some of the Starling's depth charges.
Starling is adopted by Runcorn & district. Top: The sloops being
cheered in as they arrived at "a home port" (my speech marks). Right, So
anxious was she to greet her husband that Mrs walker did not wait for the
gangway. And the bottom image: Captain Walker introducing Mr A V
Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, to officers of the Starling. |
Page 41 |
Top left U boat prisoners come ashore. Daily Sketch
20th March 1944. Bottom Left. Article on how Tim Walker wanted to be a
priest. Top Centre: Liverpool men with Walker. Liverpool Echo 20th March
1944. It refers to the word "scousers" as being related to the sea
traditions of the port. It is not, its related to "labskaus" a continental
dish popular in Liverpool. Bottom centre: The victory sign, what the
return of Walkers Sloops signifies to the war effort. Liverpool Echo 20th
March 1944. Top right: Kite hidden by a depth charge attack in the 6 in
one trip attack. Daily Sketch 20th March 1944. Bottom right: Woodpecker -
her torpedoing and subsequent loss. An acoustic torpedo was used, possibly
for the first time. Liverpool Echo 20th March 1944. |
Page 42 |
Top of this page denotes that a diagram of Kite's
attacks on German U boat on Wednesday 9th February 1944 is attached, this
is detached, but safe. It adds that it also shows "creeper attack" carried
out by HMS Magpie. George adds here, "Our first trip with 7th Escort group
17th - 30th March 1944. In collision at end of trip wiith merchant ship, 2
miles from Greenock, at 0105 hrs on 30/3/44. Ship badly holed and starts
to sink, but is eventually saved by flooding tanks and is towed into
Greenock. Put into dock at Govan, Glasgow. |
Page 43 |
Top left: Western Approaches C-in-C Admiral Sir Max
Horton watches escort group exercises from HMS Philante, Group Escort
Training ship. With him is Captain AJ Baker Cresswell DSO, Escort Training
Captain, Western Approaches. New methods of U Boat hunting and destruction
are constantly being tried out from HMS Philante. Top Right: Our Invasion
starting point - Sheerness. Bottom left and Bottom right, possibly two
postcards from Sheerness. |
Page 44 |
Page headed Invasion of France 6th June 1944. I have
some pencilled notes regarding the invasion from George's point of view,
day by day from June 4th. George's report of D Day and after is below. |
Page 45 |
Undated news article about how Navy planes beat U
Boats. 3 sunk, rest driven off. A newspaper article recording the loss of
HMS Kite. Commanded by Lt Cdr ANG Campbell RN (Kites regular CO was in
hospital). The article concludes that this convoy made it both ways
without the loss of a single merchantman. But, we lost Kite. The small
section underneath says that "Sloop HMS kite, lost on Russian convoy
escort duty, commander, nine officers and 207 ratings missing presumed
killed." As George had gone down with his ship, I am presuming this final
fateful page was added by his family, possibly Mary herself. |
George's own account of D Day -1 to
D Day +7
Sunday June 4th
Ship sealed from 1400. 1545. seal
lifted from ships, all invasion orders cancelled owing to bad weather.
Went ashore 1700. Invasion fleet massed outside harbour.
Monday June 5th
1500 Speech of Commanding Officer.
Hope to have a strong foothold on the coast of France by dawn tomorrow. D
Day starts at midnight. All ships company to have a bath and change into
clean clothing, muster all life belts, gas masks and anti flash gear. 2130
All hands to turn in and get a good nights sleep, (??) lie in until 0848.
Ships moving into position, continual passage of aircraft all day and
night towards France. Ships sealed from 1430.
Tuesday June 6th ( D Day)
0900 First news of allied landing at
Caen in France between 0400 0600 by sea landing craft and airborne
troops. 0845 Hands called. Much tension almost all ships company.1130 Left
with convoy from Sheerness. 1220 Action stations closed up. 1400 1500
Passed through Straits of Dover.
Wednesday June 7th
0400 hrs turned into swept channels.
1130 arrived off French coast at Caen. Action stations fell out. 1200
short range weapons defensive watch closed up, Air action started three
times during afternoon. Kept last dog watch. 1900 left with empty
transports for Portsmouth. 2230 action stations closed up.
Thursday June 8th
0245 fired star shell. Ships found to
be our own. Large convoy passed from 0100 to 0300. 0450 arrived off
Portsmouth. Action stations fell out. Red watch off short range weapons
defensive watch closed up. Fell out. 0630 Inside the boom for rest of day
and night. Make and mend. Turned in until 1800. Two destroyers presumed
lost.
Friday June 9th
0705 Action stations closed up. 0730
Action stations fell out. Closed up Red watch short range weapons
defensive watch. 0815 Fell out, left Portsmouth for Newhaven. Arrived
Newhaven 1230. Action report 4 Hun destroyers engaged by British Forces.
Two sunk in 10 minutes, in Western Channel other two making eastwards
towards us. Anchored in waiting patrol with two destroyers and three
frigates. Kept first part of first dog watch short range weapons defensive
watch, Red watch. Kept short range weapons defensive watch, red watch,
from 2200 2300, 2330 weighed anchor and proceeded. 2330 Action stations
closed up, another all night session. 0300 fired star shell, ships proved
to be ours, tank landing craft.
Saturday June 10th
0500 Action stations fell out. 0630
arrived at France, at Caen. Kept afternoon watch short range weapons
defensive watch, red watch. Bombardment of French coast by Belfast and
another cruiser. 1430 left France with convoy. Arrived Portsmouth 1945.
Had pictures on board, saw The Yellow Canary.
Sunday June 11th
In harbour, received mail (learnt
that my cousin had been killed in RAF**). Wrote to Mary and Mother.
Monday June 12th
1500 Embarked 50 soldiers. 1530 left
with troop convoy. Soldiers of Pioneer corps, mostly from 1st
Arm, approx 28 of them. All that was left out of their whole company of
200 odd since campaign in north Africa and France lost 9 during their
first landing attempt on D Day. 2315 Action stations closed up.
Tuesday June 13th
0600 action stations fall out. During
night much activity. E Boats reported as well as aircraft. Ball of fire
trailing across sky. Presumed to be aircraft shot down. Opened fire with
star shell, ships proved to be our own. 1500 left with convoy home. Kept
most of afternoon watch, depth charge party of Red watch. 2000 Arrived
Portsmouth. Turned in at 2030 had tea and biscuits in bed, had a good
nights sleep felt very tired with having no sleep last night.
**June 11th. In a letter home he
states that his cousin was shot down in the Bay of Biscay.
Corvette K31 HMS Camellia - Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Quarterdeck of HMS Kite in Gladstone Dock December 1943
Image 4
Image 6
George Lunt is the sailor sitting behind the newspaper reader on the right.
The accordion player is , I believe, a German U Boat survivor.
Small Souvenir off a German U Boat Survivor. July 1942 the writing on the
bottom says
"survivor
from one of three U boats sunk during same day in one of our actions in the Bay
of Biscay 30 July 1943"
George Lunt's drawing of HMS Kite
HMS Kite, on the River Mersey, off Gladstone Docks, Wallasey in the
background
Gladstone Dock - Home
When servicemen wrote home, the Government Censors read
everything, deleting anything that could possibly be construed as fuel for the
enemy spies, or so they thought! I am sure that many sailors did what George
Lunt did in his letters home. Code. George had a code which told his wife where
he was when he posted the letter. Here is a sample of one such letter with the
code clearly defined:
And, the news which every wife dreaded, George's beautiful
wife Mary would have been devastated to receive this:
The following is a letter from the late Clem Bray to Mary
in 1988:
My thanks, again, to Paul Masterson, for this
unique and valuable information.
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