| WW2 Memorial Profiles - West Mersea
GEORGE HENRY SAMPSON
Able Seaman C/JX 163287
HMS BEDOUIN, Royal Navy.
Born 1 May 1923
Killed 15 June 1942 age 20, when HMS BEDOUIN was sunk in the Mediterranean.
Attended West Mersea School
Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, West Mersea War Memorial and plaque in West Mersea School.
George was the son of Harry Gale Sampson and Ethel Mary Sampson née Markham, and was born in Wivenhoe 1 May 1923. In 1931 and 1936 they are listed as living at 8, Council Houses, Barfield Road. Harry died March 1937 and by 1939 Ethel Mary had left Mersea.
HMS BEDOUIN. Tribal Class Destroyer built 1937
HMS BEDOUIN was a Tribal class destroyer completed in March 1939 by William Denny and Bros. She took part in Operation Harpoon to resupply Malta and was sunk 15 June 1942 by combined action of two Italian cruisers and a torpedo bomber. 28 of her crew were killed and 213 rescued by the Italian Navy.
Operation Harpoon was an eastbound convoy of 6 merchant ships, of which only two - ORARI and TROILUS - reached Malta. Several warships were also lost. ORARI at the time was commanded by Captain Nelson Rice from Tollesbury.
With thanks to
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Roger Bullen
| 