See also
| Husband: | Mervyn Baptist JOHNSTON (1914-1950) | |
| Wife: | Florence JONES ( - ) | |
Mervyn Baptist JOHNSTON, Mervyn Baptist Johnston
| Name: | Mervyn Baptist JOHNSTON | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | Mervyn JOHNSTON (1883-1915) | |
| Mother: | Margaret Ann MOORE (1883- ) | |
| Birth | 1914 | Fermanagh, IRELAND |
| Death | 12 Jan 1950 (age 35-36) | At Sea on Submarine HMS "Truculent" |
| Home address Bridgemary Estate Gosport, Hants, | ||
| Occupation | Stoker Petty Officer Royal Navy | |
| No. C/KX 85491 Mentioned in SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 NOVEMBER, 1945 | ||
| Name: | Florence JONES | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
1950 living in Clanelly, Fermanagh, Northen Ireland
On 12 January 1950, Truculent was returning to Sheerness, having completed trials after a refit at Chatham. In addition to her normal complement, she was carrying an additional 18 dockyard workers. She was travelling through the Thames Estuary at night. At 19:00, a ship showing three lights appeared ahead in the channel. It was decided that the ship must be stationary, and because Truculent could not pass to the starboard side without running aground, the order was given to turn to port. At once, the situation became clear; the Swedish oil tanker Divina on passage from Purfleet and bound for Ipswich came out of the darkness. The extra light indicated that she was carrying explosive material. The two vessels collided and remained locked together for a few seconds before the submarine sank.[2]
Fifty-seven of her crew were swept away in the current after a premature escape attempt, 15 survivors were picked up by a boat from the Divina and five by the Dutch ship Almdijk. Most of the crew survived the initial collision and managed to escape, but then perished in the freezing cold mid-winter conditions on the mud islands that litter the Thames Estuary. Sixty-four people died as a result of the collision. Truculent was salvaged on 14 March 1950 and beached at Cheney Spit. The wreck was moved inshore the following day where 10 bodies were recovered. She was refloated on 23 March 1950 and towed into Sheerness Dockyard. An inquiry attributed 75% of the blame to Truculent and 25% to Divina. - WIKIPEDIA