As a Bristolian of 60 years now living in Somerset I suggest
we in the West of England should take time to remember the 69
crewmen (63 Free French and 6 British) of the only Bristol-built warship lost
of the 21 which were completed in the city during World War 2. This month sees the 75th
anniversary of the loss of the Flower class corvette HMS MIMOSA.
The corvette was built by Charles Hill & Sons in their
Albion dockyard and launched in January 1941, subsequently being transferred to
the Free French Navy as the FFL MIMOSA.
Most of the French crew were from the French island of St. Pierre and
Miquelon situated at the entrance to Fortune Bay off the coast of
Newfoundland. Their courage and determination to continue to
fight after the defeat of France helped keep our vital convoy routes
open.
Sadly the ship was torpedoed and sunk on the 9th of June 1942 by U124 while escorting convoy ONS-100 across the North Atlantic. Only 4 French sailors survived. They were rescued by the Canadian destroyer HMCS ASSINIBOINE.
We should not forget.
Sadly the ship was torpedoed and sunk on the 9th of June 1942 by U124 while escorting convoy ONS-100 across the North Atlantic. Only 4 French sailors survived. They were rescued by the Canadian destroyer HMCS ASSINIBOINE.
We should not forget.
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