24th July 1940, Channel Battle

[Mark Crame]

Hi, I am researching the people named on my village war memorial and am wondering if anyone can help on details about the RAF / Luftwaffe units involved, HM Trawler Rodino or the following incident which occurred off Dover and resulted in the loss of one of the villagers, Jack Read. As much of this information is secondhand I would like to try and confirm it somehow, as well as add details along with anything else that would be of interest. I believe Seaman Read’s brother is still alive and I am hoping to contact him when I have a bit more information. Thanks in advance for any assistance, Mark.

LT/JX 186673 Seaman Jack Read
Jack Read of HM Trawler Rodino, Royal Naval Patrol Service, died aged 32 on 24th July 1940. Jack was the son of John and Annie Read of Haddiscoe, Norfolk, and he is buried in St James’ Cemetery, Dover. A Steam trawler, the Rodino was built at Beverley by Cook, Welton & Gemmel and launched on 25th January 1913 for George Sleight of Grimsby. Weighing 230 tons (gross) and measuring 117 x 22 feet, her port number was GY836. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy in World War 1, the Rodino was used as a minesweeper between 1915 and 1919 before being returned to Sleight in 1919. 20 years later on 25th November 1939 she was again requisitioned by the Royal Navy for use as a minesweeper and was Commissioned by the Admiralty in April 1940, being given the pennant FY840. Her Majestys Trawler Rodino was sunk by German aircraft off Dover on 24th July 1940, a day during which the Luftwaffe attacked several convoys and other shipping traffic along the southeast coast of Britain. Zerstörer Gruppe 210 claimed four steamers sunk from a convoy of 6, with a fifth set alight. Losses recorded are the trawlers Fleming, launched in 1929 and weighing 356 tons, which was sunk in the Thames Estuary, the Kingston Galena, launched in 1934 and weighing 550 tons, and the Rodino, the latter two being sunk off Dover. The Kingston Galena suffered 17 killed including its Captain, Skipper Sidney Jackson of the Royal Naval Reserve, while the Rodina, captained by Skipper J C Winning, Royal Naval Reserve, lost three killed and 5 wounded. The dead were Seaman Jack Read, Ordinary Seaman George Tait and Ordinary Seaman John Watson. The weather in the Channel and Straits of Dover was cloudy with rain in some areas. Shortly before noon a large force of approximately 90 enemy aircraft assembled behind Calais before attacking two convoys off North Foreland and the Downs. Thirty-six fighters from three RAF squadrons intercepted the force, which was turned back after sinking two trawlers and damaging two more. British claims were for 10 enemy aircraft confirmed destroyed (including one by Anti-aircraft fire) and sixteen unconfirmed for the loss of two Spitfires.

[Chris Goss]

Mark: You have answered your question about more info- according to John Vasco's book on ErPrGr 210 (not ZG 210), they claimed 5 ships on this date but lost Uffz Paul Hermann & Uffz Heinz Meinhardt on 2 Staffel whose Bf 110 suffered a direct hit by Flak 30 kms east of Harwich

[Mark Crame]

Cheers Chris, that's very good. Question, what is ErPrGr in longhand? Thanks, Mark.

[en830]

According to FCL and FC War diaries possibly 54 65 or 66 and 610 Sqns clashed with Bf109's of III./JG 26 and a main bomber force of Do17's. 3 Spitfires were lost as a result.
54 Sqn R6812 F/O J L Allen lost in action with Me 109 of JG26 over Margate at 12:30, stalled and crashed at Cliftonville

54 Sqn N3192 Sgt G R Collett Injured following forced landing

66 Sqn N3041 Sgt A D Smith Safe crashed into sea, cause unknown

[Andy Fletcher]

Erprobungsgruppe 210 - Operational Test Group 210

[Mark Crame]

Thanks guys. A great help.