Ordnance Artificer 4th Class D/MX 90406 John Connolly

Family details:
Son of Edward and Elizabeth Connolly, of St. Helens, Lancashire; husband of Anne Connolly, of Eccleston, St. Helens.

Census details:
1911 - Sees 1 years old John living at 12 Lewis Street, St Helens with parents Edward (31), Elizabeth (28) and brother Patrick (5). 1939 Register. Not found. Parents are still at 12 Lewis Street, St Helens.

9TH LCT FLOTILLA - THE LOST FLOTILLA. In mid October 1944 the terrible fate of the 9th LCT (Landing Craft Tank) Flotilla was sealed as its craft sailed beyond Lands End in the tow of merchant ships. It was part of Convoy OS92/KMS66 bound for the Mediterranean en route to the Far East. There had been warnings of bad weather but rules and procedures were in place to protect the safety of the craft in these circumstances. However, despite the safeguards over 50 men were lost as 6 craft foundered. Background. After the D-Day landings, the requirement for landing craft shifted to the Far East where the Japanese occupation of so many Pacific islands necessitated seaborne attacks to dislodge them.In command of the convoy was Commodore J. Ratsey RNR in the SS Mantola with a total of 35 merchant vessels with 9 LCTs under tow and 3 submarines. Convoy Escort B23, led by Lt Com. Newey RNVR, comprised 1 sloop, [i]HMS Fowey[/i] and 2 corvettes, [i]HMS Allington[/i] Castle and [i]HMS Knaresborough Castle.[/i] The sinkings. On Tuesday 17th October weather conditions rapidly deteriorated. By this time all the LCTs, badly pounded by the mountainous seas in the force 9 gale conditions, were filling with water and sinking.Allington Castle had rescued the crew of LCT 480 and had sunk the craft. They then carried out search for LCT489.Allington Castle had then rescued the crew from LCT 491 and sunk the craft. Situation was that LCT 489,494, 7015 and submarine Trident unaccounted for, and the convoy badly scattered. LCT 488 had sunk and Knaresborough Castle had picked up all the survivors. Trident was later located safe but the Landing craft had suffered terribly at the hands of the storm. In total 55 men died but well over 100 were saved. (18 Died from LCT 7015 Including John Connelly who was "Missing Presumed Killed".) His body was later recovered and laid to rest in Servel Churchyard. Aftermath. The official enquiry stated that the towing vessels and LCTs should have been heaved to much sooner; at least by nightfall on Tues 17th before the worst of the damage was sustained and then turned to run together before the wind to a safe harbour with an escort in tow. For this delay the Commodore was deemed responsible. They also concluded that when these craft were to be moved in the winter months, when bad weather can be expected, only passage crew should be on board, that no unnecessary gear be carried, that the tank space should be properly decked or plated to stop water ingress and that only one craft be towed. It was also considered that the number of escorts for this type and size of convoy was far too small. The Board commended the escort ships, particularly [i]HMS Allington Castle[/i], for the fine handling of rescue operations in mountainous seas. [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/ConnollyJohn.jpg[/pic][caption]Photo Courtesy Regis Biaux (Fr)[/caption]