H M S Daring

Edward Straughan, born 1912, was the son of Edward and Margaret Straughan, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

He was residing with his wife Margaret Scott Straughan, at 43 Lansdowne Road, Forest Hill, Longbenton.

He was a member of the crew, on the D - Class Destroyer HMS Daring.

[D or DEFENDER-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton in the 1930 Programme. The ship was laid down on 18th June 1931 and launched on 7th April 1932. She was the 5th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1801 and previously used by a destroyer sold in 1912. Build was completed on 25th November 1932 for a contract price of £225,536 excluding the Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunition and communications equipment. She joined the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean early the next year. The ship re-commissioned in April 1934 after refit at Sheerness.. In December 1934 she sailed to join the 8th Destroyer Flotilla on the China Station and served there until the outbreak of war. Her captain until arrival at Singapore was the renowned Lord Louis Mountbatten].

During escort of Convoy HN12 from Norway Bergen - Methil, it was torpedoed by U-Boat U-23 and sank very quickly in position 58.39N 01.10W after being hit in the stern and capsizing.

There were only 15 survivors, five of whom were rescued by HM Submarine THISTLE which had witnessed the attack. 157 of ship's company were lost.

U-23 was commanded by Fregattenkapitän Kretschmer who later was responsible for sinking many ships during Atlantic convoy attacks during 1941.

He is remembered at Longbenton in L25.10 page 18 and 19 in the Scout Roll of Honour 1939-1945 and in our List of Ships’ crews

U Boat Net
Royal Navy and Naval History Site
The CWGC entry for Able Seaman Straughan