Headstone HMS Kelly 1939-45 Cemetery

Hebburn Cemetery

1939-45

Stone

On central panel at rear :
“H.M.S. Kelly”
Here lie
the mortal remains
of twenty members
of the ship’s company
killed in action.

On first plaque:
In respectful memory of
Lord Louis
Mountbatten
later Admiral of the Fleet
the Earl Mountbatten
of
Burma
Captain of H.M.S. Kelly
who was killed at Mullaghmore
Co. Sligo. Monday 27th August 1979.
H.M.S. Kelly

On second plaque:
H.M.S. Kelly
In memory of the 27 men
Killed in Action with “E” boats off
The German Minefields In the North Sea
In the Night of 9th May 1940.
This Memorials was Erected by
Officers and Men of the Ship and
Workmen of Hebburn Shipbuilding Yard.

On third plaque:
Also
9 Officers and 121 men
who lost their lives when
H.M.S. Kelly was sunk
in the Battle of Crete
23rd May 1941

Headstone of three upright panels, the centre one having a curved top.

The centre panel gives the dedication, surmounted by an inscribed anchor whilst the two outer panels bear the names of the dead who are buried there.

In front of these, set at an angle into the ground, are three flat stone panels, each inscribed.

The first, rectangular, commemorates Earl Mountbatten.

The second gives details of the erection of the monument.

The third is dedicated to all who lost their lives when the “Kelly” was sunk.

The whole is surrounded by a low, square wall.

All lettering is in Roman capitals.

1. H.M.S. Kelly suffered damage by torpedo in the North Sea in 1940. The 27 who died were buried at Hebburn.

2 A further 121 were killed when the Kelly was sunk in the Battle of Crete in 1941. Four destroyers were sunk by bombs dropped from aircraft during the Battle of Crete in 1941: H.M.S. Juno (21st May); H.M.S. Greyhound and H.M.S. Kashmir (both on 22nd May); H.M.S. Kelly (23rd May).

2. See also H93.13 and H93.28.

3. On September 13th 1993 the Shields Gazette carried a report that a new design, based on the Hebburn coat of arms is to be unveiled at the Kelly Grave. The design will incorporate the figure of the gryphon’s head and will be a circular plaque, reflecting the shape of the memorial site.

4. 2016 There are a number of flower blocks on the memorial – they all seem to belong to the nearby Commonwealth War Graves.

Photos: C. Sanders; V. Mullen; N. Smith; James Pasby

The Journal
21/08/1999 carries the story including an eye witness account of the damaged ship’s arrival back in harbour.

South Tyneside Council
Collection of photographs and photocopies of news cuttings

“The Kelly” Kenneth Poolman;

Newcastle Central Library
Photo c1939

British Vessels Lost at Sea 1939-1945 first published 1946 by HMSO. Republished by Patrick Stephens ISBN 0 85059 267 4

A Chronicle of St. Cuthbert’s Church, Hebburn, 1872-1966. Alan James.
Durham County Record Office Ref: EP/HebSC 14/293

South Tyneside Council;
P. Thirkell;
C. Sanders;
V. Mullen;
J. Brown;
Norman Smith;
Dorothy Hall

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk