Able Seaman D/JX 266378 Joseph HARROP
Royal Navy H.M.S. President III, DEMS Gunner M.V. Aldington Court
31 Oct 1942 aged 31
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 65, Column 2.
Frank Harrop and Maud Young were married at St.Thomas's in 1908 having two children with Joseph being the eldest. Joseph married Nellie Hodder at Brinksway, St Augustine in 1931 and they lived in Edgeley with their two sons. His Father is probably the F. Harrop on Stockport's war memorial who was killed 9 Apr 1916 whilst serving with 8th Cheshires in the Middle East.
At 22:21 hours on 31 Oct 1942 the unescorted Aldington Court (Master Alfred Stuart) was hit below the bridge and just forward of the engine room, by two G7a torpedoes from Type IXC U-172 (Kapitänleutnant Carl Emmermann) west of Port Nolloth, South West Africa.
Of the 44 on-board 34 died with 10 survivors (7 crew and 3 gunners) who were picked up by The City of Christiania on the 13 Nov after 13 days afloat.
M.V. Aldington Court (photo from Uboat.net)
