Monday, 5 June 2017

HMS/FFL MIMOSA. The 75th anniversary of the sinking of the only Bristol-built warship lost during World War 2.


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.

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