Midshipman David St Clair Reid

Family details:
Son of Ronald St. Clair Reid and Marjorie St. Clair Reid; nephew of Miss T. Reid, of Prescot, Lancashire.

Census details:
1939 Register. Not identified.

[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/HMS_Orion_85.jpg[/pic][caption]H.M.S. Orion[/caption] From the Ships Log:- MAY 1941. [b]21st[/b] Deployed with HM Cruisers DIDO and AJAX screened by HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, GREYHOUND and HEREWARD as Force D for patrol between Suda. Bay and Maleme to intercept invasion craft taking German troops to Crete. Despite sustained air opposition made successful attack on caiques and mercantiles NE of Canae. [b]22nd[/b] Continued patrol and returned with Force D to Alexandria to replenish. [b]28th[/b] Deployed with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO, DECOY, .HM Destroyers HEREWARD,HOTSPUR, IMPERIAL, JACKAL and KIMBERLEY as Force "B" to evacuate troops from Heraklion. Under air attack on passage and remained off shore on arrival to embark troops from destroyers. [b]29th[/b] Sailed with 1,900 troops and came under dive-bombing air attacks from daylight until about 100 miles from Alexandria. Sustained direct hits on A Turret and on bridge structure with many casualties(Note: 100 members of the ship's company were killed and 260 troops with 280 troops wounded.) Ship was disabled and fires caused with a loss of all services. After extensive damage control had been undertaken returned to Alexandria at 12 knots HMS Orion was a Leander-class light cruiser which served with distinction in the Royal Navy during World War II. She received 13 battle honours, a record only exceeded by one other ship, and matched by two others. [center][pic2]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Reid_zpsd793a312.jpg[/pic2][/center][caption]The panel on the Plymouth Naval Memorial bearing the name of Midshipman David St Clair Reid[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Midshipman_ReidDS.jpg[/pic] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Midshipman_ReidDS2.jpg[/pic][caption]A dedication to Midshipman David St Clair Reid at St Helens Cemetery (Research and picture courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]