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Hi,
I have the following:
GARDEN, Alexander McKay, Chief Engineman, RNR (PS), LT/ 246 EU, Radnor Castle, 18 November 1940, DOW

If DOW = Died of wounds, I have been unable to find any reference to the HMS Radnor Castle, a trawler Minesweeper based at Plymouth, being in any 'action'.

Can anyone offer help on this and the abbreviations?
I know RNR is Royal Navy Reserve, is LT his rank - no idea on PS or EU.
THANK you
Arthur (Australia)

This gives a list of abbreviations, but not all of them, so do a google search for others:
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1005-Abbreviations.htm

For the whole of November he is the only one from Radnor showing up on the list of dead, so some other reason, not a direct action?

Casualty information in order - Surname, First name, Initial(s), Rank and part of the Service other than RN (RNR, RNVR, RFR etc), Service Number (ratings only, also if Dominion or Indian Navies), (on the books of another ship/shore establishment, O/P – on passage), Fate

Name: GARDEN, ALEXANDER MCKAY
Initials: A M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Chief Engineman
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service)
Unit Text: H.M. Trawler Radnor Castle
Age: 46
Date of Death: 18/11/1940
Service No: LT/246 E.U
Awards: D S M
Additional information: Son of John and Isabella McKay Garden; husband of Isabella Garden, of Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. F. Grave 511.
Cemetery: PETERHEAD CEMETERY

From the Commonwealth War Graves site

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2458853


Gwyn

????????
Perhaps his death certificate would tell you more.
Maybe he was wounded then died in hospital on shore?

Deaths Dec 1940

Garden Alexander M .. 46 ..Plymouth 5b 777

Thanks,

Confirmed DOW & found PS=Patrol Service

Looks as though there is research in progress:-

Allied Warships of WWII - MS Trawler HMS Radnor Castle - ...
Commands listed for HMS Radnor Castle (FY 511). Please note that we're still working on this section. Commander, From, To. 1, Lt.Cdr. Cecil Ernest Duggan, ...

uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/7119.html -

Thank you all.
Arthur

Well folks,
I now have Alexander's death certificate - with cause of death as "Due to War Operations", suggesting his death was not accidental. Thinking he may have been killed when a mine exploded or in a straffing attack, but all is open. He was posthumously awarded the DSM, so some kind of "Heroic Action"? He died in Plymouth Naval Hospital, so maybe not action at sea. Was Plymouth attacked on or about 18/11/1940?. Any Ideas on next steps? Would the Hospital have info like this archived? Would the ship's log be available anywhere? Is there a Veteran's Assn with interest in Minesweepers,Trawlers & Drifters.

Thank you all.

Arthur

24 February 2011 Last updated at 10:46 Share this pageFacebookTwitter ShareEmail Print Disposal experts detonate Plymouth WWII bomb at sea
The Plymouth blitz attacks killed about 1,200 civilians and injured thousands Continue reading the main story
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Thank you Ann,

As far as raids on Plymouth around November I only find the following references:
"There was a bad air-raid on Tuesday August 27th 1940"
and
"One of the most serious incidents in the War occurred during the night of Wednesday November 27th 1940."

No mention of anything around the 18th.

Arthur

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peterhead/

This is for people interested in Peterhead.

You would need to register before asking any questions but someone might have access to newspapers or have information about the family

FYI.

There was one line of bombs dropped near Alexandra Road in Plymouth on the night of 17-18 November 1940.