STORM AND COMPANY
Master Mariners at War
"This nation owes these people a great deal" ( a WW2 Ministry of War Transport spokeman).
Captain Raymond Storm had family links with many master mariners who were at war in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. The following describes some personal significant events that were not untypical of the hard times experienced by those in the merchant navy service.
Raymond Storm (1892-1971) shelled and sunk aboard the Egyptian Prince in the Mediterranean in WW1. In WW2 was sunk and wounded in an E-boat attack off Great Yarmouth. Sailed in the Malta convoys supporting the North Africa and Italian campaigns.
Richard Storm (1900-1989 ), Raymond's younger brother, torpedoed twice in WW2. As master of the Fort Slave sailed in the notorious Artic convoys to Murmansk. Took part in the Normandy landings of 1944.
William Storm (1904-1942); Raymond's cousin, master of the SS Widestone disappeared in a North Atlantic convoy sailing from Milford Haven to Newfoundland following an explosion.
Robert Dunn Frank ( 1893-1943), brother-in-law of Raymond, fatally injured on the Baxtergate in a heavy storm off Iceland.
Godfrey Storm Frank (1922-1943), Robert Dunn's son, received the King's Commendation for brave Conduct when he a Cadet aboard the Pacific Reliance in 1940.
Roy Chapman (-), brother-in-law of Raymond, sailed from the Tyne in WW1 aboard a brand new ship and was torpedoed just outside the piers.
Lance Chapman (1898-65), Roy Chapman's brother, torpedoed in WW1. Took part in the Dunkirk rescue operation in WW2.Twice commended for action against enemy aircraft and for saving men from stricken vessels.
Wilfred Norman Johnson (1907- ), brother-n-law of Lance, Lieut.Commander RNR, OBE., served Shanghai Customs Service. Captain of LST in WW2. Mentioned in Depatches in 1942 and 1943.
William Rifle Foster(- ), Alan's father-in-law, served his time in sail. Awarded a RNR commission in WW1 and served in minesweepers. WW2 service included attachment as Soviet ice pilot commanding pioneering convoys. On retirement became Chief Air Raid Warden of Tynemouth and elected Mayor.
Thomas Storm (1866-1918) sunk by U-boat.
Zachariah Grainger Storm (1883-1918) lost at sea.
William Emmerson Stubbs (1901-) embarked 1800 British evacuees in the SS Saltersgate in at Cannes when France fell in 1940. Awarded the OBE, and also received letters of appreciation from a number of evacuees, one of them being Somerset Maugham.
Edward Martin Granger (1892-1957) awarded the OBE following an action in WW2.
F.G. Randall (b,1879?), master, and Isaac Mills, chief officer, aboard SS Stonegate captured and ship sunk by the Deutschland in the US Neutrality Zone of the Atlantic 5th October 1939. Well treated as prisoners and eventually put ashore at Tromso, Norway.
William Storm Jameson MBE (c1860-1940), master of the Saxon Prince captured by the German Auxiliary Cruiser Moewe on 25th February 1916 in the Atlantic 620 miles west of Fastnet.. The ship was then sunk by explosives. Returned from captivity in 1918 to find his son Harold, MC., DCM.,& Medaille Militaire, had been killed.
John Newton (b 1906) was master of the ship in the book WE SAILED IN CONVOY, by Maurice Brown, published by Hutchinson c1944. This book gives an account of the life that was not easy at the best of times and was really tough in times of war.