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Chief Stoker Leslie Woon, HMS Jamaica

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posted on 2024-06-05, 19:35 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

the contributor's father (Chief Stoker Leslie Woon) served aboard destroyer on Atlantic. He transferred to pick up HMS Broadwater from HMS Eclipse (originally an American destroyer) in 1940.

It was torpedoed by U-101 in 1941 (Ernest Mungerson was Captain) - 84 crew survived the sinking and were taken to Iceland. After two weeks, the survivors were brought home and then joined HMS Jamaica.

He served aboard HMS Jamaica on Russian Convoys. During Christmas 1942/43, Jamaica was called in to finish off the Scharnhorst with a salvo of torpedoes. He also assisted in the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon.

He later left HMS Jamaica and went to Canada. He travelled across Canada to join HMS Dodman Point and was brought back to Canada through Panama in 1944/45. He was then barracked at HMS Drake.

Corporal Charles Champion, RASC:

Dad's cousin was an Eighth (8th) Army veteran, who served in North Africa, was called up for Royal Armoured Corps. He came back to the UK for D-Day but was held back as an instructor.

History

Item list and details

1. Framed Medals 2. Portrait Photographs 3. German medal

Person the story/items relate to

Chief Stoker Leslie Woon, HMS Jamaica Corporal Charles Champion, RASC

Person who shared the story/items

Barry Charles Woon

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

Son of Chief Stoker Leslie Woon Second Cousin of Charles Champion

Type of submission

Shared at University of Plymouth, Plymouth on 15 November 2023.

Record ID

108531 | PLY004