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Whole Crew |
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| Albert Griffiths (my father) is a surviving member of the crew. He served on Liberty as a morse code operator. After the war he went to live in Port Talbot (South Wales). Many of the pictures on this site belong to him. Previously, he served on the 'Hunt Class' destroyer HMS Tanatside. | |
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| Albert Birtwell (right)
is also a surviving member of the crew. He served on Liberty from the
first day (in fact he spent days in a Belfast boarding house that was
owned by a Mrs Crowe who insisted they were all in by 9.30pm) to Sept
1945. After the war returned to his civillian occupation as a tape sizer
in a Cotton Mill. He Married Lily in 1943. They had a daughter Jean who
was born in 1948. They now have 1 Grandchild and 2 Great grandchildren.
Albert & lily are still well and active living in Burnley. Albert is
still in love with Sport (any) but his favourites are Football and
Cricket. Albert kindly contributed photos for this website. The sailor on the left is Lofty Cochrane (from Bolton) who also served on Liberty. He moved to Macclesfield to work as a teacher. |
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| This is Rowland
'Chick' Henderson. He served on Liberty from December 1944 to
September 1945. After the war he returned to his work as a
bricklayer. He married Edith in 1944 and they had three children Robert
(born 1948), Irene Mary (born 1951) and John (born 1958).
Rowland sadly died in 1981. However, he is lovingly remembered by his
family.
Rowland Henderson's family and Albert Birtwell's family have stayed in contact. Rowland's son, John kindly contributed photographs from his father's collection and Albert Birtwell's collection to this website (marked with JH). |
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| This is John
Frederick Smith. He was born in Wakefield Yorks. on 10/04/1924. His
nickname during the war was "smudge" and he acted as rum bosun
on the Liberty. He left the Navy in August 1947 as an Acting leading
Seaman andmoved to Australia in mid 1948. He married Shirley Helene
Buchanan on 18/03/1955. He had 6 children, 1 died soon after birth, his
eldest daughter (my sister) sadly passed away in 1996. His four surviving
children are Martin (44), Andrew (42), Me Dave (39) and Carolyn (37). He
currently has 9 grandchildren, 6 girls and 3 boys and everyone is in good
health. He still enjoys a "tot" and a refreshing ale
occasionally with his lads.
John's son Dave got in touch after seeing this website and kindly contributed scanned versions of his Dad's Liberty photos (marked with JS). They will be appearing on the site in the next few weeks. |
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This photo was sent by Kim Wyatt. She is the niece of William Chapman (Harry) who was aboard the Liberty from 1944-46 as coxswain to the motor launch. After leaving the Liberty he transferred to HMS Atheling and after he was demobbed, he became a painter and decorator and resided most recently in Grays, Essex. He never married. His father died young and being the oldest took over as man of the house and looked after his family. He is marked on the photo with an arrow at top left hand side. He died 21st May 2006. He was sent off in the full Royal Navy tradition. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. |
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Christmas Day 1945 |
Yeo and Ginger |
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Barney |
'Bob Hope' - Smiling Morn |
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Doc |
Eric, Curly, Taff, George & Ginger |
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Ginger |
Jarney O.S. |
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Liberty's coxswain (JH) |
Members of Liberty's football team (JH) Sub Lt. Hinchcliffe (standing-foreground), L/seaman Cochrane (standing-background), Stoker D.F. Locket (standing-background, Stoker 1st Class Rowland Henderson (sitting) |
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(JH) |
On the left is Sir Bruce Fraser Commander in Chief of the British Pacific Fleet who visited Liberty in APril 1944. On the right is Commander Roe, Captain of the Liberty. (JS) |
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GI and Yeoman on the bridge of Liberty. (JH) |
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