James Nelson Royal Navy
James W. C. Nelson, b 1926
James worked in the stores on HMS Sefton during 1945-46, mostly in the Far East.
Service Record WW2
Certificate of Service Details: James W. C. Nelson, trade, apprentice letter-press printer. Port Division, Portsmouth, volunteer-date, 25 July 1944 (aged 17), service commenced 30 July 1944. Signed on for present emergency. Description, 5 foot 8 inches, 32 and 3/4 inch chest, eyes blue, mole on base of spine. Official Number P/MX72249
Character was rated as very good, signed Captain A G C. Bishop and H. Stanley???
Decorations: "Victory"-CIV
Certificate for crossing equator, latitude 0o - Longitude 96:E, Good Ship, "Sefton", signed ???H Smith, Nauticus, His Majesty's Scribe and W. D. Ruseell, Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main. Dated 9th October 1945.
Order for Release from Naval Service (Class A), 14 November 1947
Name of ship Substantive Rating Dates
Royal Arthur Supplies Entry Routine?? Duke Supplies 25 Jul 44 - 21 Sep 44 Demetrius Supplies 22 Sep 44 - 3 Dec 44 Victory Supplies 4 Dec 44 - 10 Dec 44 Eaglet (Sefton) Supplies 11 Dec 44 - 20 Mar 45
Sefton Supples 21 Mar 45 - 5 May 46 Victory Supplies 6 May 46 - 14 Jan 47
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
HMS Sefton
HMS Sefton was a United States Maritime Commission C1 type ship, 173 were built between 1940 and 1943, by Consolidated Steel Corporation (U.S.A). The C-1-S-AY1 type, were modified transports (for loading and transporting infantry) produced for Great Britain. The Sefton, one of 13 of this class, was launched 23.11.1943, laid down as the Cape Comorin, transferred to the Minister of War Transport on completion under the Lend/lease terms and renamed the Empire Gauntlet serving as a mercantile LSI(L). She was transferred to the Royal Navy in October 1944 and renamed the Sefton. The Sefton was returned to the Minister of War Transport in September 1946 who in turn returned her to the U.S. Navy. Displacement 11,650 tons, Armament 26 mixed calibre guns, complement 250. Carried 20 LCA Landing Craft. As Empire Gauntlet was part of Force U at Utah Beach, during D-Day Landing. In East Indies Fleet, went on tour to Far East, Apr 1945-May 1946. (see detailed list below) Returned to Far East later in 1946, returning Italian POWs to Naples and then bringing back senior army ranks who fought with Indian and African Troops. Returned to GB via Red Sea and Mediterranean, finishing in Glasgow. Second voyage was only part Royal Navy, the crew this time was mainly Merchant Navy.
Said to have been renamed USS Cape Comorin in 1947, served with US Marine corps. In December 1964 she was scrapped in Portsmouth, Virginia, US.
|
|||||
Key: A=Ashore NL=No Leave D=Docked (not offshore)
Thanks to many who replied to my advert in Navy News, August 2002. In particular Alan Golden, organiser, of the annual reunion of the ship's crew.
Also to: Bill Latham, Tony Myers, Don Howard, Bill Humphries, C.W. Fox, Ron Birch, Basil Drew, Ivan Bell et al.
