Able-Seaman Malcolm Robertson - HMS Neptune

[Dave Homewood]

While looking through old newspapers on Papers Past I came across some headshots of RNZN sailors missing in action. I had a look to see if they were confirmed killed and discovered they were all onboard the ill-fated ship HMS Neptune, the Leander class cruiser that blew up when it struck mines in the Mediterranean Sea, killing 757 sailors and leaving one survivor.

One of the boys, and he is just a boy, in the headshots was Able Seaman Malcolm David Robertson of Auckland.




I've confirmed that, sadly, he was among those killed. However I discovered he is actually missing from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's online database. I am very surprised to see someone from such a high profile loss as the Neptune has been omitted from CWGC.

He is remembered on the Auckland War Memorial Museum site.
www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C18294

I thought I'd mention him here so he is not completely forgotten. The 75th Anniversary of this disaster - New Zealand most tragic maritime event - is coming up on the 19th of December. Lest We Forget

[errolmartyn]

He's not missing from the CWGC register, Dave. You must have incorrectly entered his name into their search engine?

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

I tried it about ten times in different ways and got no hits