Noel Bexon
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Noel Bexon was the son of Herbert (d.1933) and Lucy Bexon of 12, Petersham Street, New Lenton. He was the husband of Audrey W Bexon. They lived at 12, Alderney Street in 1939 and 5, Church Grove in 1941 (LT 27 page 19). All addresses were Lenton, Nottingham.
Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 58, Column 1
HMS Grimsby
HMS Grimsby was a British sloop, the lead ship of her class. Grimsby was built in the 1930s, entering service in 1934. Following commissioning and workup, Grimsby was deployed to the China Station, being based at Kong Kong, carrying out patrols along the coast of China seeking to deter piracy. Grimsby remained on the China station until 1939. After a major refit at Singapore, Grimsby was transferred to the East Indies Station, which was responsible for operations in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
Grimsby returned to the United Kingdom on the outbreak of war, joining the Rosyth Escort Force, and escorting convoys on the East coast of the United Kingdom, mainly between the Firth of Forth and the Thames Estuary. Grimsby was sent overseas, joining the Red Sea Escort Force at the end of May 1940, escorting convoys between Aden and Suez through to March 1941. At the end of March, Grimsby transferred to the Mediterranean, carrying out convoy escort duties, including escorting troop convoys to Greece and the evacuation of mainland Greece necessitated by Germany’s conquest.
On 26 April, the British steamer Scottish Prince was damaged by German bombers, and Grimsby, along with the destroyer Vampire, towed Scottish Prince to Suda Bay, Crete on 27 April. Grimsby and the net layer Protector then towed the damaged transport HMS Glenearn from Kissamo Bay, Crete to Alexandria.
On 25 May 1941, Grimsby and the trawler Southern Main were escorting the tanker Helka to besieged Tobruk. It was customary for the RAF to provide fighter cover for such convoys along the North African coast, but this was not provided on that day, and seven Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers of the Italian 239a Squadriglia attacked the convoy, sinking Hekla and damaging Grimsby. A second attack by Ju 87s of the German I/StG 1 later in the day sank Grimsby, killing eleven of Grimsby's crew, including Petty Officer Noel Bexon from Lenton, Nottingham, at the cost of one Ju 87 shot down. (Wikipedia)
Unknown
No photos