David Frederick Allcroft

Chatham Naval Memorial

David (Frederick) Allcroft

Abel Seaman No. C/JX299044

HMS Curacoa, Royal Navy.

Died at sea 2 October 1942. Aged 32

Remembered with honour on Chatham Naval Memorial. 52, 3.

Born in Alverstoke, Hampshire on 3rd April 1910, the son of William David and Mary Ann (Daisy – Nee Coster) Allcroft.

The Allcroft family farming at The Cedars, Old Hall Street, Malpas in 1942.

David was living at 9, View Road, Highgate, Middlesex at the time of his death.

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The pride of the Cunard Line.

HMS Curacoa was accidentally sliced in half by ocean liner RMS Queen Mary whilst on convoy escort duty.

The Queen Mary had been converted to carry troops during the war and that October was carrying 10,000 American troops to this country.

HMS Curacoa was one of the ships which went to escort her into the River Clyde.

Due to turbulent seas and a fatal misjudgement in navigation, the Queen Mary rammed the Curacoa amidships, cutting her in half. Only 102 men of the cruiser’s 440 men were rescued.

At the time the incident was subject to a news blackout although later it was the subject of a public enquiry.