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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Laytown on Thursday 13 August 15 15:47 BST (UK)

Title: Naval Mystery
Post by: Laytown on Thursday 13 August 15 15:47 BST (UK)

Hi All,
With the VJ anniversary falling at this time - I've remembered a family member telling of his visit to Yokohama and the sites of the destruction at Hiroshima & Nagasaki Christmas 1945.
I've been attempting some research but failing as I cannot trace his ship The HMS Maidstone being in the area at that time.
Can anyone confirm where the Maidstone was Christmas 1945 and if any other Royal Navy Vessels
would have been near the site of the atom bomb explosions at that time.
Any help would be appreciated.
Laytown

Title: Re: Naval Mystery
Post by: cemetery friends on Friday 14 August 15 11:04 BST (UK)

On Wikipedia it is stated that HMS Maidstone arrived at Portsmouth in November 1945 from her far east war service having docked at Simonstown in the Cape on the voyage. Whilst there may be other records to show she was off Japan this seems unlikely from this entry on Wikipedia see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Maidstone_%281937%29

Title: Re: Naval Mystery
Post by: Laytown on Friday 14 August 15 19:12 BST (UK)

Thanks for this-  I can only Agree.
I am totally puzzled.
I am wondering if he was transferred to another vessel.

Title: Re: Naval Mystery
Post by: IMBER on Saturday 15 August 15 08:20 BST (UK)

Could he have transferred temporarily perhaps to one of the submarines supported by Maidstone?

Imber