Ronald Willows

CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL 58.3

HMS Electra

HMS Electra was a one of nine E-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s. Sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea, Electra was a witness to many naval battles, including the Battle of the Denmark Strait and the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse. On 26 February 1942, Electra arrived at Surabaya from Tanjong Priok, along with HMS Exeter, HMAS Perth, the Dutch light cruiser Java, and the destroyers Jupiter and Encounter. HMS Dauntless, HMS Danae, and HMAS Hobart remained at Tanjong Priok. On 27 February, the striking force left Surabaya, the three British destroyers in the lead, with Electra in the centre, Jupiter to port, and Encounter to starboard; followed by the Dutch cruiser De Ruyter, HMS Exeter, USS Houston, HMAS Perth, and HNLMS Java; followed by two Dutch and four American destroyers.

That afternoon, they made contact with the enemy. At 1715, Exeter received a hit which destroyed a 4-inch (102 mm) gun mount and then exploded in a boiler room, causing her to lose speed. At 1725, seeing that Exeter was in trouble, Electra headed toward the enemy ships, followed by the other two British destroyers, to cover Exeter's escape. After several near misses from gunfire from the Japanese light cruiser Jintsū, Electra fired back, scoring several hits on Jintsū and the destroyer Asagumo disabling her engines, she also managed to score hits on destroyers Minegumo and Tokitsukaze. During this action, Electra sustained several hits, which knocked out A and X gun mounts, wrecked the electrical system forward, cut off all communications, destroyed a searchlight platform, damaged the after boiler room, and ruptured the main steam line.

Electra came to a stop, fired off her torpedoes, and started to list to port. After a fire started under 'B' gun mount and 'Y' mount ran out of ammunition, ‘abandon ship’ was ordered. One surviving whaleboat got away after being loaded with wounded, but it was destroyed by a shell shortly after. Electra sank on the afternoon of 27 February 1942, bow first, with the White Ensign still flying. 119 men were lost including Petty Officer Frederick Job from Lenton and Leading Signalman Ronald Willows from Retford. 54 survivors were picked up United States submarine and taken to Surabaya.

On 29 March 1947, a stained glass window at St. George's Chapel at the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, was dedicated to the crew of Electra. On 19 August 2003, the wreck of Electra was found. It is lying on its port side in approximately 160 feet of water, almost completely covered with fishing nets. Her wreck had been badly damaged by illegal salvagers when an expedition surveyed the site in 2016. (Wikipedia)

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