{"id":5537,"date":"2025-06-18T14:35:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T14:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/?page_id=5537"},"modified":"2025-09-14T13:44:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T13:44:26","slug":"jr-parker","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wwii\/carliol\/jr-parker\/","title":{"rendered":"JR Parker"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-5537\" data-postid=\"5537\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-5537 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_cuzr670 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_izvx670 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_bryl670   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2><strong>Key Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Name: <\/strong><\/span>John \u00a0Robinson Parker<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>DoB:<\/strong> 25<sup>th<\/sup> May 1918\/1919?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Regt:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>D\/MX 73721 Petty Officer RNVR<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>DoD: <\/strong><\/span>17<sup>th<\/sup> January 1942<\/p>\n<p>Buried\/ Commemorated: Plymouth War Memorial Panel 71 Column 2<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Academic Career<\/strong>: CGS 1929-36<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Other:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Biographical Information<\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_jhjq670 last\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_ym79142 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2199\" height=\"1700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-5888\" title=\"Matabele HMS\" alt=\"Matabele HMS\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS.jpg 2199w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS-1024x792.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matabele-HMS-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2199px) 100vw, 2199px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_efrs247 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_d4fy247 first\">\n                    <!-- module accordion -->\n<div  class=\"module module-accordion tb_9ske247 \" data-behavior=\"accordion\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    \n    <ul class=\"ui module-accordion   gray\">\n            <li class=\"builder-accordion-active\">\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-9ske247-0\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-9ske247-0-content\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n                                                            Family Background                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-9ske247-0-content\" data-id=\"acc-9ske247-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"accordion-content tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_8pln247\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_pjv7247 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_xjcn247   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Family Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mother Lily Robinson b 1889<\/p>\n<p>1911 Mother living with Stepfather Fergus John Bulman (Beer House Keeper) and mother Sarah Ann Bulman 76, Botchergate<\/p>\n<p>1939 Married 270 London road Carlisle<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lily&#8217;s half siblings were born in Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>There is a marriage Liverpool Mar 1\/4 1918\u00a0 between William W Parker and Lily Robinson which would fit<\/p>\n<p>John Robinson&#8217;s probate was to Lily wife of William<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>1939 John apprentice electrical engineer<\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-9ske247-1\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-9ske247-1-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Academic Record                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-9ske247-1-content\" data-id=\"acc-9ske247-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_qpte247\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_qslb247 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_0ykd247   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Academic Record<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00a0<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-9ske247-2\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-9ske247-2-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            War Record                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-9ske247-2-content\" data-id=\"acc-9ske247-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_b254247\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_g45w247 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ccj2247   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>War Service<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>HMS \u201cMatabele\u201d (Engineer) Missing at sea since Jan. 17<sup>th<\/sup> 1942. Now presumed to have lost his life when ship was torpedoed and sunk in Northern waters<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>PARKER, JOHN ROBINSON , Electrical Artificer 4th Class (no. D\/MX 73721), HMS Matabele, Royal Navy, \u202017\/01\/1942, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial Read more at wrecksite: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrecksite.eu\/wreck.aspx?17250\">https:\/\/www.wrecksite.eu\/wreck.aspx?17250<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>MATABELE HMS was a British Royal Navy Tribal Class Destroyer of 1,870 tons built in 1939 by Scotts, Freenock, Yard No 568 for the Admiralty. She was powered by a steam turbine giving 44,000hp and 36 knots. At 22.21 hours on 17 January 1942, HMS MATABELE (g 26), escorting convoy PQ-8, was hit by one torpedo from U-454 in the stern, which caused her magazines to blow up and the ship sank within two minutes off Kola Inlet, Barents Sea. Her depth charges detonated and killed many survivors in the water, while others were frozen to death by the icy waters. 198 killed and 2 survivors. Read more at wrecksite: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrecksite.eu\/wreck.aspx?17250\">https:\/\/www.wrecksite.eu\/wreck.aspx?17250<\/a><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-9ske247-3\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-9ske247-3-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Other                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-9ske247-3-content\" data-id=\"acc-9ske247-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_hez9247\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_7j5q247 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ko31247   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Other:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<p><strong>HMS Matabele (F26)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Career <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Class and type:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Tribal-class_destroyer_(1936)\">Tribal-class<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Destroyer\">destroyer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Name:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>HMS <em>Matabele<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Ordered:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>19 June 1936<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Builder:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock, Scotland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Laid down:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>1 October 1936<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Launched:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>6 October 1937<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Commissioned:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>25 January 1939<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Fate:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Sunk on 17 January 1942 by <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/German_submarine_U-454\"><em>U-454<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<p><strong>General characteristics <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Displacement:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>1,850 tons (standard),<br>2,520 tons (full)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Length:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>377\u00a0ft (115\u00a0m) o\/a<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Beam:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>36\u00a0ft 6\u00a0in (11.13\u00a0m)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Draught:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>9\u00a0ft (2.7\u00a0m)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Propulsion:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Three x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, steam turbines on two shafts<br>44,000 shp<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Speed:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>36 kt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Range:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>524 tons fuel oil<br>5,700 nmi at 15 kt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Complement:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>219<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Armament:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>As designed;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>8 x 4.7 in L\/45 QF Mark XII, twin mount CP Mk.XIX<\/li>\n<li>4 x <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/QF_2_pounder_naval_gun\">QF 2 pdr<\/a>, quad mount Mk.VII<\/li>\n<li>8 x 0.5 in <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Vickers_machine_gun\">Vickers machine gun<\/a>, quad mount Mk.II<\/li>\n<li>4 x tubes for 21 in <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Torpedo\">torpedoes<\/a> Mk.IX<\/li>\n<li>1 x rack, 2 x throwers for <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Depth_charge\">depth charges<\/a><\/li>\n<li>War modifications;<\/li>\n<li>6 x 4.7 in L\/45 QF Mk.XII, 3 x twin mounting CP Mk.XIX<\/li>\n<li>1 x twin 4 in L\/45 QF Mk.XVI, mounting HA Mk.XIX<\/li>\n<li>4 x <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/QF_2_pounder_naval_gun\">QF 2 pdr<\/a>, quad mount Mk.VII<\/li>\n<li>\u22644 x single and twin <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Oerlikon_20_mm_cannon\">20 mm Oerlikon<\/a><\/li>\n<li>4 x tubes for 21 in torpedoes Mk.IX<\/li>\n<li>1 x rack, 2 x throwers for DCs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Motto:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Hamba Gahle: \u201c Go in Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Notes:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Pennant_number\">pennant number<\/a> L26, later F26<br>Badge: On a Field per fess wavy White and Blue, an elephant proper.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>HMS <em>Matabele<\/em><\/strong> was a <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Tribal-class_destroyer_(1936)\">Tribal-class<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Destroyer\">destroyer<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Navy\">Royal Navy<\/a> that saw service in <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/World_War_II\">World War II<\/a>, being sunk by a <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/U-boat\">U-boat<\/a> on 17 January 1942. She has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name <em>Matabele<\/em>, which in common with the other ships of the Tribal class, was named after an ethnic group of the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/British_Empire\">British Empire<\/a>. In this case, this was the Anglicisation of the Ndebele people of <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Zimbabwe\">Zimbabwe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Construction and commissioning <\/strong><em>Matabele<\/em> was ordered on 19 June 1936 under the 1935 Build Programme from the Greenock yards of Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. She was laid down on 1 October 1936 and launched on 6 October 1937. Also launched on this day from Scotts&#8217; yard was <em>Matabele<\/em>&#8216;s sister, <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Punjabi_(F21)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Punjabi<\/em><\/a>. She was commissioned on 25 January 1939 at a total cost of \u00a3343,005, which excluded items supplied by the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Admiralty\">Admiralty<\/a>, such as weapons and communications outfits. She was initially assigned to the 2nd Tribal Destroyer Flotilla of the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Home_Fleet\">Home Fleet<\/a>, which was renamed the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in April 1939.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pre-war<\/strong> Her early career with the flotilla mostly involved port visits and exercises. On 12 May she escorted the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/RMS_Empress_of_Australia_(1919)\">RMS\u00a0<em>Empress of Australia<\/em><\/a> through the English Channel. The <em>Empress of Australia<\/em> was carrying <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/George_VI\">King George VI<\/a> and Queen Elizabeth on their Royal Tour to Canada. In June <em>Matabele<\/em> was assigned to assist in rescue operations for <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Thetis_(N25)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Thetis<\/em><\/a> which had sunk during builder&#8217;s trials in Liverpool Bay. On her release from these duties, <em>Matabele<\/em> resumed her Home Fleet programme with the Flotilla. With war looming, she took up her Home Fleet war station in August, and was deployed for interception and anti-submarine patrol in Home waters.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wartime <\/strong>On the outbreak of the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Second_World_War\">Second World War<\/a>, <em>Matabele<\/em> carried out duties including the interception of German shipping attempting to return to German ports and commerce raiders on passage to attack British shipping in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as patrols to intercept U-boats operating in Home waters. On 25 September she was deployed with <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Somali_(F33)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Somali<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Mashona_(F59)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Mashona<\/em><\/a> to search for the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Submarine\">submarine<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Spearfish_(69S)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Spearfish<\/em><\/a>, which had been badly damaged during a patrol in Heligoland Bight. Having successfully made contact with <em>Spearfish<\/em> on 26 September, they escorted her back to the UK under the cover of major warships of the Home Fleet.<\/p>\n<p>Through October to December, <em>Matabele<\/em> carried out patrols to intercept German ships on passage for attacks on coastal shipping, as well as heading into the Atlantic Ocean for attacks on convoys or for submarine <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Minelayer\">minelayers<\/a>. She also carried out screening duties for major Home Fleet warships. In January and February 1940 she was under repair at <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMNB_Devonport\">HMNB Devonport<\/a> for work which included the replacement of turbine blades, damaged due to excess stress during high speed steaming in inclement weather, and the installation of de-gaussing equipment for protection against magnetic <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Naval_mine\">mines<\/a>. She returned to active service in March, and took part in convoy escorts to and from Norway, as well as sweeps to intercept German warships. Whilst carrying out these duties, <em>Matabele<\/em> came under heavy air attacks on 13 April, and again on 16 April, but escaped undamaged. On 17 April she escorted the cruisers <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Effingham_(D98)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Effingham<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Coventry_(D43)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Coventry<\/em><\/a> to Bod\u00f8. On 18 April she ran aground on Foksen shoal, but managed to re-float with damage to her structure. <em>Effingham<\/em> also ran aground, but suffered serious damage. <em>Matabele<\/em> took off troops and equipment from the stricken cruiser, after which <em>Matabele<\/em> scuttled <em>Effingam<\/em> with torpedoes and gunfire. She continued supporting operations off Norway , and then returned to the UK at the end of May for repairs and a refit at Falmouth. This work lasted until July and involved the replacement of her twin 4.7 inch mounting in \u201cX\u201d position aft with a twin 4 inch HA mounting to improve her defence against air attacks. She returned to active service after post refit trials on 19 August. She continued to serve in Home waters and off Norway. On 4 October she and HMS <em>Punjabi<\/em> sank the German weather ship WBS 5 \/ <em>Adolf Vinnen<\/em> off Stadlandet and on 22 October she and HMS <em>Somali<\/em> attacked a convoy off \u00c5ndalsnes. <em>Matabele<\/em> sank a coaster. November and December were spent operating out of <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Scapa_Flow\">Scapa Flow<\/a>, including forming part of a screen for the search for the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/German_cruiser_Admiral_Scheer\"><em>Admiral Scheer<\/em><\/a> which had been reported on passage to attack the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Battle_of_the_Atlantic_(1939%E2%80%931945)\">Atlantic convoys<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In January 1941 she screened minelaying operations off Norway and on 16 January she escorted <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_King_George_V_(41)\">HMS\u00a0<em>King George V<\/em><\/a>, then on passage to the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/United_States\">United States<\/a> carrying <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/E._F._L._Wood,_1st_Earl_of_Halifax\">Lord Halifax<\/a> and senior defence personnel, through the North Western Approaches. Further screening of minelaying operations followed. In March she began to escort convoys, but entered refit again in Vickers-Armstrong&#8217;s Barrow-in-Furness yards on 11 April. This lasted until May and consisted of the removal of the mainmast and the top of the after funnel to improve the arcs of fire for her close range weapons. A Type 286M <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Radar\">radar<\/a> was also fitted. On her departure from Barrow on 5 June to rejoin the fleet, she grounded and sustained major damage to her underwater fittings, including her shaft brackets and propellers. She returned to Barrow for repairs, which lasted until mid August.<\/p>\n<p>On 30 August she was deployed with the aircraft carrier <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Argus_(I49)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Argus<\/em><\/a>, the cruiser <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Shropshire_(73)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Shropshire<\/em><\/a> and the destroyers HMS <em>Punjabi<\/em> and HMS <em>Somali<\/em> on a mission to deliver <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Air_Force\">RAF<\/a> equipment and personnel to North Russia to support Soviet military operations after the <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Soviet_Union\">Soviet Union<\/a> had entered the war. The operation was completed successfully and the ships returned to Scapa Flow on 15 November. <em>Matabele<\/em> spent October to December on patrol, and screening operations off Norway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sinking <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In January 1942 she formed the screen, with HMS <em>Somali<\/em>, for the cruiser <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Trinidad_(46)\">HMS\u00a0<em>Trinidad<\/em><\/a> on Convoy PQ-8 from Iceland to <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Murmansk\">Murmansk<\/a>. The convoy departed on 11 January, and came under <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/Torpedo\">torpedo<\/a> attack on 16 January. On 17 January <em>Matabele<\/em> was hit by a torpedo from <a href=\"https:\/\/military.wikia.org\/wiki\/German_submarine_U-454\"><em>U-454<\/em><\/a> and sank almost immediately. Only two out her complement of 238 survived. Many who were able to leave the stricken ship succumbed in the ice-cold water before rescue was possible. The two survivors were picked up by the minesweeper HMS\u00a0<em>Harrier<\/em>.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-9ske247-4\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-9ske247-4-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Sources                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-9ske247-4-content\" data-id=\"acc-9ske247-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_7ain247\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_yhbi247 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_6um9247   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n\n<\/div><!-- \/module accordion -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_9dka475 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_yabr475 first\">\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_hy5f501 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_2u0g501 first\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_a0ef506 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1501\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-5893\" title=\"rg14_31305_0679_03\" alt=\"rg14_31305_0679_03\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-768x450.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-1536x901.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/rg14_31305_0679_03-2048x1201.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_3mx3717 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_jsy6717 first\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_ksxp721 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2037\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-5894\" title=\"tna_r39_3046_3046f_004\" alt=\"tna_r39_3046_3046f_004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-scaled.jpg 2037w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-239x300.jpg 239w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-815x1024.jpg 815w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-768x965.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-1222x1536.jpg 1222w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/tna_r39_3046_3046f_004-1630x2048.jpg 1630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2037px) 100vw, 2037px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Information Name: John \u00a0Robinson Parker DoB: 25th May 1918\/1919? Regt: D\/MX 73721 Petty Officer RNVR DoD: 17th January 1942 Buried\/ Commemorated: Plymouth War Memorial Panel 71 Column 2 Academic Career: CGS 1929-36 Other:\u00a0 Biographical Information Family Background Family Background: Mother Lily Robinson b 1889 1911 Mother living with Stepfather Fergus John Bulman (Beer House [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":5329,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5537","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5537"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5897,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5537\/revisions\/5897"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}