Photograph's from Wally's collection entitled HMS Vivacious, William Wallace Stockhill, No. JX 273118.
William Wallace Sockhill
Information and Photographs from Nigel Palmer whose Grandfather served on HMS Vivacious. Nigel's middle name is William, named after his Grandfather. Nigel still has his Grandfather's navy duffel coat.
Nigel tells us, William Wallace Sockhill (1909-1965) of Sheffield, served on HMS Vivacious during the second world war.
William was a volunteer and left his job as head of recruitment and wages at the Sheffield Corporation to join the Royal Navy.
William, known to his shipmates as “Wally”, like many veterans, after the war, spoke little of his time in the Navy. One of the few times he volunteered information was when he looked over my Fathers shoulder at a WWII book he was perusing of an aerial photo of the "Channel Dash" to which he quipped "That’s us down there!"
HMS VESPER COLLIDES WITH HMS VIVACIOUS.
31 August 1942, Destroyer HMS Vesper was in collision with HMS Vivacious causing major damage to Vivacious.
Six months later, "Wally" was on deck when the Destroyer HMS Vesper was in collision with HMS Vivacious causing major damage to Vivacious.
The force of the collision threw him into the shell rack and overboard. By good fortune he landed on the deck of HMS Vesper. He managed to crawl down to the Vesper's sick bay where he was met with a "Who the bloody hell are you?!!"
The impact on the shell rack had caused so much damage to Wally's leg that the medics had to amputate, but of course, had he ended up in the sea he would have never have made it back to Newcastle where my Mum and Grandmother visited him in hospital.
Wally Sockhill
HMS VIVACIOUS
If you have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs please contact us.
Thank you.
Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
RETURN TO SHIP DATABASE.
Click here
RETURN TO FRONT PAGE.
Click here
HMS Collingwood, Royal Navy Shore Base, Portsmouth. Wally is seen arms folded 2nd row far right.
William Wallace Sockhill,s Royal Navy Kit List.
Wally Stockhill
Watch these short videos about the Wildfire Destroyers.
Dunkirk: https://youtu.be/nPD7-guKKWI
The Channel Dash: https://youtu.be/-mtOXFnLVo8
Sheerness Destroyers at D-day: https://youtu.be/iftqjOj89Xg
Merry Christmas from Wally and all the Crew and Officers of HMS Vivacious.