2nd Clarinet
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In Memory17th September 1939.
On the 17th September 1939, only 14 days after the declaration of war with Germany, the following members of the Royal Marines Band Service gave their lives while serving onboard HMS Courageous.
Musicians L.S Etridge and E.F Humble.
I have posted below, the circumstances of that day.
 
Courageous was built by Armstrong Whitworth, and laid down 18 March 1915. She was launched on 5 February 1916 and commissioned January 1917.
She was converted into a carrier between June 1924 and May 1928.
There were two ships in the Courageous Class. Both ships of the Class were completed originally as Large Light Cruisers mounting two twin 15 inch guns.
When these ships were found to be inadequate and there was a need for fast carriers, both were converted along the same lines as HMS Furious. The eight 15 inch guns were removed from these ships were eventually mounted in the battleship Vanguard.
On 17th September 1939 Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart in the Type VII U-boat U29 torpedoed and sank HMS Courageous in the South-West approaches (Southwest of Ireland), 150nm WSW of Mizen Head, Ireland.
The carrier went down in only twenty minutes and 518 of her 1,200 compliment went with her, including her commander Captain W T Makeig-Jones.
To those names above and the ships crew who also died.....R.I.P.
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