LORD STONEHAVEN H103

228,Victoria Rd
Lorry
Aberdeen
Oct 12th 1942
Dear Mr. Chalmers

It is with deep regret that I write in answer to your letter which has been forwarded to me at Aberdeen where I am on survivors leave.
Your son lost his life at his post when the Lord Stonehaven was sunk by E boat after a four hour action on Thursday the 1st and approx. 9pm. We were attacked and at 1am and we were struck by a torpedo and our ship sank in 5secs. 18 lives were lost and 20 were saved and most of survivors were suffering from shock. I was picked up after one hour in the water . I surmise that the men I lost didn't know anything it happened so quickly and every one at their post all heroes.
Ships were sent out to see if there were and more survivors but to no avail .
Your son was a very efficient young man and in all he did was upright and clean, very willing to do anything, never shirking his duty.
In regard to his official number I can say nothing as my records are lost. The mistake must lie with HMTS Paris or Patrols Lowestoft .
I am writing to you in strict confidence as the loss of the ship has not been made official. I intended communicating with you as I requested names and particulars of my men I lost .
Please accept my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in your great loss of a gallant son.
Yours sincerely SK LT. John Main

IN REMEMBERANCE OF CREWMEN WHO DIED AT SEA
Surname	Christian	Age	Vessel	Birth	Occupation	Date of Death	Detail
.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
BLACK	HENRY HARRY	.	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Engineer	02 Oct 1942	.
BUCHAN	JOHN TAIT	25	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Stoker	02 Oct 1942	Son of Gilbert and Christian Buchan, of Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire; husband of Christina Buchan, of Cairnbulg.
CHALMERS	ROBERT GILMORE BUDGE	19	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Ordinary Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Son of Thomas William and Mary A. B. Chalmers, of Maryhill, Glasgow
DASH	JACK SIDNEY	24	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Hilda O. Dash, of Foxton, Cambridgeshire
DOYLE	JOHN PARR	.	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.
FIELD	SIDNEY JAMES	34	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Petty Officer	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Elsie Amy Field, of Salcombe
FLINT	HAZELDINE LESLIE	39	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Stoker	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Alice Irene Flint, of Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire
GAWNE	JOHN WILLIAM	20	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Son of John and Florence Gawne, of Ramsey, Isle of Man
JENNER	ARTHUR SAMUEL FRANCIS	41	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Skipper	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Philomena Maria Jenner, of Cleethorpes
LEWIS	WILLIAM	39	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Cook	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Sarah Lewis, of Belfast
MOBERLEY	GEOFFREY WALTER	19	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	. Son of the Rt. Revd. Robert Hamilton Moberly, M.A., and Rosamund Vere Moberly, of Islington, London
MORRIS	HOLLIS LAWRENCE	16	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.(Served as MORRIS, E. K.). Son of Avrit Bliss Morris and Hilda Morris
MURRAY	JOHN	34	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Son of John and Catherine M. Murray, of Wallasey, Cheshire
OLIVER	WILLIAM GEORGE	42	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Leading Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Son of George and Kate Oliver, of Croydon, Surrey
PENNIE	ALEXANDER	40	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Engineman	02 Oct 1942	.Husband of Margaret Pennie, of Paisley, Refrewshire
STEWART	WILLIAM	37	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Ch Engineer	02 Oct 1942	.Son of William James Stewart and Margaret Ann Stewart; husband of Annie Mary Stewart, of Aberdeen
WRAIGHT	ALBERT GEORGE	23	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Seaman	02 Oct 1942	.Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Wraight, of Whitstable, Kent

Surname	Christian	Age	Vessel	Birth Pl	Occupation	Date/ Scource	Detail
WAR SERVICE CREWMEN
MAIN	JOHN	.	HMT LORD STONEHAVEN	.	Skipper Lieutenant	.	Survivor of the sinking.
.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.

Surname	Christian	Age	Vessel	Birth Pl	Occupation	Date/ Scource	Detail
CREWMEN
.	.	.	.	.	Skipper	.	.
TATCHELL	HARRY	.	LORD STONEHAVEN H103	.	.	.	.
.	.	.	.		.	.	.

Robert Gilmour Budge Chalmers 19


The Parents of Robert G B Chalmers received a Telegram informing them of his loss, Roberts father then wrote to the Navy saying that the service number given on the telegram was incorrect so therefore the casualty could not be his son. The letter was forwarded to his commanding officer who was a survivor of the sinking of the Lord Stonehaven and was on survivors leave, the letter above which has been transcribed below was Lt John Main`s reply. It seemed when Robert received promotion from a stoker his service No was not changed.
228,Victoria Rd Lorry Aberdeen Oct 12th 1942 Dear Mr. Chalmers It is with deep regret that I write in answer to your letter which has been forwarded to me at Aberdeen where I am on survivors leave. Your son lost his life at his post when the Lord Stonehaven was sunk by E boat after a four hour action on Thursday the 1st and approx. 9pm. We were attacked and at 1am and we were struck by a torpedo and our ship sank in 5secs. 18 lives were lost and 20 were saved and most of survivors were suffering from shock. I was picked up after one hour in the water . I surmise that the men I lost didn't know anything it happened so quickly and every one at their post all heroes. Ships were sent out to see if there were and more survivors but to no avail . Your son was a very efficient young man and in all he did was upright and clean, very willing to do anything, never shirking his duty. In regard to his official number I can say nothing as my records are lost. The mistake must lie with HMTS Paris or Patrols Lowestoft . I am writing to you in strict confidence as the loss of the ship has not been made official. I intended communicating with you as I requested names and particulars of my men I lost . Please accept my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in your great loss of a gallant son. Yours sincerely SK LT. John Main Courtesy and ©Ian Neilson