PETER JACK MARTIN
Boy 1st Class C/JX 246267
HMS PHOEBE, Royal Navy
Died 23 October 1942 age 16.
Cemetery: Pointe Noire European Cemetery, Congo

Peter Jack Martin was the son of Charles Herbert Martin and Beatrice Lily Martin of Berwick House, Dawes Lane. Charles was a Ship's Carpenter in the Royal Navy. He had married Beatrice Underwood at East Mersea Church on 31 May 1922. Peter was born c1926. They had another son Keith, and daughters Sybil and Ann.

HMS PHOEBE. Dido Class Cruiser commisioned 1940

23 October 1942, PHOEBE was torpedoed by the German submarine U-161 off the Congo Estuary, while on passage to French Equatorial Africa. After the hit, a corvette coming up from the harbour prevented the U-boat from finishing off the cruiser. About 60 crew members were killed. After temporary repairs, PHOEBE made for New York for complete repairs - a voyage with a large hole in the side of her hull.

Among those killed when HMS PHOEBE was torpedoed was Peter Martin from West Mersea.

31 October 1942

Killed in Action. It is with regret we record the death of Peter Jack Martin (boy first-class) who was killed in action when his ship was damaged by enemy action. The telegram giving the bad news was received by Mrs B. Martin, his mother, on Saturday last, and a letter confirming this has been received since from his Commodore, who said: "There can, I fear, be no hope that your son is alive, and I should, therefore, like to express on behalf of the officers and men of the royal Navy, the high tradition of which your son helped to maintain, sincere sympathy with you in your sad bereavement". Peter, whose home was Berwick House, Dawes Lane, had a sailor father who was retired from the navy and died in the first week of this month. Peter was trained at a naval school, where he went at the age of 12 years, and it was in April this year that he first went to sea at the age of 16 years. His sister, Sybil, is in the WRNS., and is a petty officer, while his brother is also in the Navy and now at sea. There is one younger sister, Ann, still at home with her mother, who is carrying on an insurance agency.

Essex County Standard - October 31st, 1942

Mrs Martin of Berwick House, Dawes Lane, West Mersea has received official intimation of the death of her youngest son Peter who has been killed in action. Peter who was a Boy 1st Class in the Royal Navy, had been at the Naval School at Holbrook since the age of twelve years and had been at sea since last April. He was sixteen years of age. Peter's father died in the early part of this month after a long and painful illness. Another son Keith is also in the Navy.

Essex County Standard - November 7th, 1942

Royal Sympathy - Mrs Martin of Berwick House, Dawes Lane, who recently lost her younger son, Peter at sea through enemy action has now received a letter from the King which reads:- 'The Queen and I offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. We pray that your country's gratitude for the life so nobly given in its service may bring you some measure of consolation. Signed George R.F. Peter who was aged sixteen and was killed on October 23, was Master at Arms Messenger and Boy Server at Communion on board ship when the King and Queen visited Ireland a short time back.

Essex County Standard - 19th October, 1945

Martin - In loving memory of Charles Herbert Martin who died Oct. 6 1942. Also of Peter his youngest son, died of wounds at sea Oct 23, 1942 interred at British Naval Cemetery, Pointe Noire, West Africa.

With thanks to:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Roger Bullen
David Mussett