- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, History - WW2, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 2022 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In the December 2019 edition of this magazine we ran a ‘Christmas Story’ relating to the naval service of Temporary Lieutenant Ernest Joseph Huson Christmas RANVR.
Lieutenant Christmas was in command of ML 311 during an abortive escape from Singapore in February 1942 in which they encountered a Japanese destroyer squadron and while at action stations in trying to engage the enemy, his ship was sunk with the majority of her passengers and crew killed including the Commanding Officer. At that time no photograph of Ernest was known to exist.
We recently received an email from a cousin Rick Lavender who had been clearing out some material of his father, aged 99, who had died. Rick came across the attached photograph of his cousin Ernest. There was no other family memorabilia or stories except to say Ernest was never known by this name and to the family this gallant young officer was just Bill.