Merchant Seaman George Sidney Jopling

[meekhcs]

George Sidney Jopling 1888-1955, Grandad, was a merchant seaman who served in both world wars in the RNVR, and we have been searching, specifically, for records relating to an accident he had in October 1940.

We know that he was hospitalised from 17 Oct 1940-14 Dec 1940 in Dundee Hospital. Whilst the Hospital have confirmed the dates, his name, and rank (2nd Eng) they will not release any further info as they employ the 100 year rule. He then supposedly spent a period convalescing at Rossie Priory outside Dundee. The Priory wasn't a registered convalescent home but from some Oral histories I found of the area a wing of the Priory was given over by the Kinnaird Family for recovering servicemen. My husband is now 80 and would dearly love to know more.

We understand from Family lore that he was aboard the Heliopolis that was towing a target boat for practice by the Fleet Air Arm, and they shot the wrong boat!

I have visited TNA, and unfortunately his Seaman's pouch is empty. I also looked at the "Incidents" Register for 1940 but it ends with records in September, and I haven't been able to find a register to cover the last 3 months. I did manage to obtain copies of his CRS 10 and CR2 and Register of Seamans entry. The latter states he was engaged aboard the Heliopolis from 29 June 1940 until 12 Nov 1940, whilst he was in Hospital. The CR 2 lists two other vessels he served on in 1939 and 1940.

Please can anybody suggest anywhere else I might search for info. If the above story is true would records be sealed? Is there anywhere that holds RNVR records pertaining to the War years that might have details of the event.

Thank you

Sally

[GrahamSimons]

Heliopolis gets a mention in a file called (excitingly) Various Reports and Battle Reports at TNA, reference ADM 267/126. I can't locate her log books which I think should be there.

Various posts online but I can't find any reference to own goals by the Fleet Air Arm.....

[Rena]

The Canadian government took a lot of UK military documentation when they heard that the UK National Archives intended to destroy records due to their needing more space.

There were previous ships with that name but no mention in the Casnadian archives.

Howver, I see a member of the east coast Flamborough/Bridlington Facebook page has a mention of the ship.

"It is not known how much damage Heliopolis sustained but it was enough for her to put back into port for repairs. Some time after the attack my Dad went below to find a white hot bomb fragment had come clean through the side of the ship and his bunk. Had he been there a few hours earlier this story would have ended here. The 20 year old Bridlington fisherman's son had only been at sea for two weeks."

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlamboroughandBridlingtonthenandnow/posts/3489922184483453/

[meekhcs]

Graham
Thank you for your reply. I looked at ADM 267/126 when I visited TNA but it stopped at September 1940. I didn't have time to request any more documents and I haven't been able to return since. I live  over 100 miles north of London. I think one of my options ,may be to request a search from TNA. I did however find a brief report of the incident in July in ADM 267/126 as found by Rena on FB, and the TNA document describes Heliopolis as a Fleet Air Arm vessel.

Rena what an amazing link, thank you. I will get in touch with the writer as I found details at TNA concerning the attack. Grandad was on the ship at the time as 2nd engineer so would have been in the engine room. He joined the vessel in Southampton 29 June 1940

Many thanks to you both

Sally

[Rena]

I must say that I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw such a long explanation of the event that you were keen to find.

If there are any spelling errors in this offering apparently it is the fault of the

When your online contributions show spelling errors like a missing "e" despite you knowing the original text was correct, it is likely due to technical display or software issues, rather than actual errors in your input, OR :
 
Outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can also cause text rendering problems, which might be fixed by updating them.