Unshaken Crest

Small Patrol Submarine

 

H.M. SUBMARINE VANDAL MEMORIAL

 

This article was originally on the now defunct Scottish Branch of the Submariners Association website.

This article gives an insight into the activities of the Scottish Branch of the Submariners Association in respect of HM Submarines VANDAL and UNTAMED which sank in the Clyde with total loss of life in 1943. and in particular the Memorials in memory of those who lost their lives.

In 1992 the Branch discovered that two submarines, ‘VANDAL’ and ‘UNTAMED’ had been lost in the Clyde with all hands some fifty years before in 1943 within a couple of months of each other. VANDAL was lost in February 1943 and UNTAMED at the end of May of the same year. Both were newly built boats undergoing their initial sea trials and both lost as a result of accidents rather than enemy action.

The crew of UNTAMED are buried in Dunoon cemetery with the exception of the Chief Engine Room Artificer who is buried in Campbeltown. UNTAMED was subsequently recovered, refitted, renamed VITALITY and was used as a training boat for the remainder of the war. VANDAL was never recovered, and in fact it was the Scottish Branch that initiated its eventual true location.

As far as it could be ascertained, the crews had been simply forgotten and no Memorials had taken place, nor was there any Commemoration Stone or Plaque in existence. We decided to redress that and set forth to have a stone made.

This was made by a stonemason who was a member of the Association namely Tommy Topham who unfortunately passed away last summer whilst attending the unveiling of a stone at HMS Raleigh Submarine School. It is sited in the Castle Gardens overlooking the pier and the Clyde beyond.

Over 60 relatives and their families representing 26 crew members were traced and many came for the early memorials including, in 1997, the dedication of the Vandal Cairn at Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. In addition one of our own branch members, Larry Gaines, was serving in VANDAL but was taken off the boat just prior to sailing due to illness. He still lives near Dundee. We also located many ex WRNS who served in HMS Forth (the Submarine Depot Ship in the Holy Loch) at that time, and also members of the crew of the salvage vessel which raised UNTAMED. One of these WRNS now in her late seventies was detailed off to baby-sit the small children of those lost whilst the widows attended the funerals of the UNTAMED’s Crew. The widow of the master of the salvage vessel handed over UNTAMED's Ensign that he had been ‘given’. That was subsequently handed over by branch to the Submarine Museum in Gosport at the 1994 SOCA Annual Reunion Weekend. The Coxswain who was in charge of the party to remove the dead from UNTAMED has also attended.

That first weekend was so successful that it was decided to continue but on a less formal basis. Coincidentally, our advertising also put us in touch with a Mr Sandy Young who had been researching the loss of a totally different wartime submarine, when the loss of VANDAL intrigued him. His research led him to believe that it was impossible for the submarine to be lying in the position where the records indicated and after a lot of hard work and pushing we, in conjunction with Sandy, eventually persuaded the Royal Navy to investigate the areas he suggested, with the result that in late 1994 the position of VANDAL was located off Lochranza in Kilbrannan Sound and in conjunction with the Submarine Museum in Gosport (Gus Britton) positively identified.

By this time, the then Flag Officer Submarines (Rear Admiral Roger Lane-Knott) was aware of what was cooking, took an interest and we had the good fortune for himself; along, with the Captain of the 1st Submarine Squadron based in Faslane (Capt. John Harris) to partake in the 1995 Memorial Weekend and hold a service over the spot where VANDAL is now known to lie. FOSM declared the Submarine to be a War Grave.

In 1997 a Cairn at Lochranza was unveiled and dedicated by the then FOSM Rear Admiral James Perowne. (How this came about is a story in itself.)

Next year (2002) will be the tenth consecutive year that the branch has held a weekend of memorial services, (with an accompanying social gathering) always based in Dunoon, with some years having a greater profile than others. The National President Rear Admiral Whetstone has often been present and Captain Mike Henry has attended every year.

In Memorium
Crew members in no particular order

Lt. J.S. Bridger
P.O. G. V. Cowlam
L/Sto T.G. Dowde
A.B. K. Allerton
E.R.A. W.C. Andrews
A.B. W.R. Aries
A.B. W. Williams
A.B. E.F. Miller
S/Lt. R.N.V.R. J.H. Hickley
C.P.O. Tel A.C. Hinds DSM
A.B. J. Hutchinson
Tel R.G. Coulhard
Sto L.G. Frappell
O/Sea J.W. Higgs
P.O. J.H. Phillips
L/Sea A.F. Fox
Tel G. Oxley
S.P.O. C.E. Jones
Sto D.J. Wood
Lt. J.B. Portman
O/Sea R.R. Stapleton
L/Sea R.S. Earles
A.B. J.W. Coffee
Sig. W.W.P. Berry
Sto W.H. Stanton
A.B. A. Bettany
TY Lt. R.N.V.R. M.S. Ebel              GM
L/sto T. Dodson RFR
O/Sea F. Revington
P.O. Tel L.D. Jacobs
E.R.A. H.W.J. Shepherd
O/Sea C.J. Menzies
L/Tel J. Firth
Sto T. Jakins
A.B. J.W. Allinson
E.R.A. S. Moss
A.B. H. Shepherd

Vandal was launched by Vickers on 23rd November 1942, she was to survive only three months from that date. On completion of her acceptance trials Vandal sailed arrow on 20th February 1943 to join the 3rd Flotilla at Holy Loch. Two days later John Bridger cast off from the depot ship Forth to carry out a three-day independent exercise in the Clyde area. This exercise programme was performed by all submarines joining the 3rd Flotilla immediately after construction and trials. Vandal’s programme consisted of an independent exercise in Kilbrannan Sound on 22nd and 23rd February. The programme included a deep dive in Upper Inchmarnock on the 24th. Lieutenant Bridger had instructions to carry out a deep dive only if satisfied as to the watertightness of Vandal and the standard of crew training reached by the third day of the exercise. The three-day period was considered of the greatest value and importance. It was regarded as a form of work-up patrol in which a commanding officer could get his new crew together and give them a thorough training. To help simulate war conditions a commanding officer was under no obligation to communicate by W/T, and had a comparatively free hand to use the occasion as he saw fit. Bridger had been directed to anchor as convenient on the nights of 22nd and 23rd February and, on completion of the exercise programme, to return to Holy Loch at about 1900 on the 24th. On the evening of the 23rd Vandal was observed to anchor at Lochranza, a small village in the north of the island of Arran. At about 0830 the following morning Vandal was seen leaving her anchorage. She then disappeared.

Owing to an oversight the failure of Vandal to return to Holy Loch by the evening of the 24th was not known to the officer commanding the flotilla. It was not until the morning of the 25th that the submarine’s absence was recognized. A search was at once put into effect. Another ‘T’ class (Templar) was exercising in Lower Inchmarnock on the afternoon of the 24th. Templar reported having sighted a single white smoke-candle over the sea about 2.5 miles 282 degs North of Inchmarnock. As the smoke-candle was not a distress signal, an investigation was not made by Templar. It is thought that the smoke-candle might have been fired by Vandal. A second report, that of Usurper, states that hull tapping was heard by her at 1630 on the 24th in position 183 degs 1 mile More Light. These two positions were three miles apart. Severn was sent to confirm, but returned with negative results. The area in which Vandal had been exercising contained very deep water, so even if she had been speedily located salvage might not have been possible. Vandal’s crew, and the submarine herself, were considered above average. Twenty-five years old, John Bridger was the son of a doctor. He entered Dartmouth in September 1931, and the Submarine Service in April 1939.

Below are some facts and figures regarding the U-Class Group II Submarines.

H.M. Submarine Vandal started life as Job 837 at Vickers under the 1941 war building programme which included 11 others of the U class Group II, originally she was known only as P.64 and was not named Vandal until 1943.
Her principal officers were:
C.O.: Lt. J.S. Bridger
Lt. M.V. Ebel RNVR
Lt. Portman
S.Lt. Hickley RNVR

(Thanks to Alec Dancer for the above information - ‘Barrow Island, Walney Island.)