Cotterill-John-Charles

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

P/KX 122186

Stoker 2nd Class

John Charles Cotterill

1921 - Born Ashington, Northumberland

Son of John C. Cotterill, and of Jane D. Cotterill

In 1921 the family lived at 66 Ninth Row, Ashington, Northumberland

Royal Navy

HMS Stronghold

Service

Royal Arthur - Class 33

John trained at Royal Arthur which was a prominent Royal Navy shore establishment. Initially operating out of a requisitioned Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness, Lincolnshire. It served as a primary reception and basic training camp for tens of thousands of naval recruits.

Letter to Sister Mary From Royal Arthur

HMS Stronghold

John was a Stoker 2nd Class aboard HMS Stronghold.

HMS Stronghold was an S-class destroyer, and was one of the first vehicles to deploy an unmanned aircraft. Launched on the 6th May 1919, the destroyer was fitted with a simple catapult in 1924, which used a bag of sand as a weight, to launch unmanned aircraft. In total, more than twenty test flights were undertaken before the catapult was removed and the destroyer was fitted out as a minelayer.

In World War 2 the HMS Stronghold was based at Singapore and helped rescue the Supermarine Walrus (fleet spotter) from the Repulse, which had been sunk on the 10th December 1941 by the Japanese.

Supermarine Walrus

The Supermarine Walrus could be fired from a catapult aboard ship. It was used extensively as a Fleet Spotter before radar. The Supermarine Walrus had been launched from the Repulse prior to the Japanese aerial attack on the Repulse off Kuantan, Malaya on the 10th December 1941. The Stronghold took the flying boat in tow back to Singapore.

On the 16th January 1942, the Stronghold formed part of the Far Eastern Squadron, or China Force. led by the light cruisers Danae, Dragon and Durban.

HMAS Vendetta was being refitted in the Singapore Naval Dockyard. On the 2nd February 1942 she was taken in tow by Stronghold to Tandjong Priok, Java. She was subsequently towed by a merchant vessel to Australia eventually arriving Melbourne 4th April 1942 (via Freemantle and Adelaide).

Between the 11th and 13th of February, the HMS Stronghold took up escorting duties escorting the refrigerated cargo ship ‘Empire Star’.

HMS Stronghold was then assigned to an anti-submarine patrol off the coast of Cilacap (Tjilatjap). On the 1st March the HMS Stronghold spotted the Dutch heavily laden evacuation ship ‘Zandaam’ making for Freemantle and HMS Stronghold served as escort, but, being short of fuel the Stronghold had to conserve what fuel it had and reduced speed letting the Zandaam speed off ahead.

On the 2nd March the Stronghold was spotted by a Japanese seaplane who reported the sighting to the Japanese fleet. At 17.05 the Heavy Cruiser Maya, accompanied by two more heavy cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on the HMS Stronghold and at 17.43 found its target with its 8 inch shells. The two Japanese destroyers Arashi and Nowaki also fired with their 5 inch shells. Stronghold returned fire but was completely out gunned. Suffering damage to the forward mess and the engine room, which had to be abandoned. Torpedoes from the two Japanese destroyers crippled the ship and the ship was abandoned as she sunk at 19.00. The lifeboats had been damaged in the enemy action so the survivors in the water clung onto four Carley floats, which soon drifted apart. Fifty were picked up on the 5th March by 'Sigli', an ex Dutch steamer, which was now crewed by Japanese, they were transferred to a Japanese cruiser and shipped to Makassar as Prisoners of War.

Nine officers and sixty-one ratings died in the sinking of the HMS Stronghold

. John died in the sinking of the HMS Stronghold.

1946/01/19 - Reply letter to Mother Jane. From Australian John Murphy who survived the sinking of the HMS Stronghold.