Taken 1917
David OXSPRING 1900-41
Graham Robinson
emailed this photo and says:
Hello John,
Here is another photo. This one is of
David OXSPRING. (also see his
MI)
Born About 1900 Wirksworth.
Died 24th Feb 1941 North Atlantic.
Father: David OXSPRING
Mother: Helena OXSPRING (nee WOODHOUSE)
(also see their MI)
David OXSPRING joined the Merchant Navy at an early age.
During the second World War he agreed to serve under the Royal Navy as a
Merchant Navy Auxilliary Radio Officer.
He sadly went down on the MANISTEE, an Ocean boarding vessel
(R, 5,368t, 1920) which was sunk by U-boat torpedo,in the N Atlantic,
24th Feb 1941. The U-boat in question was U-107 commanded by
Admiral Doenitz's son-in-law, Lieutnant Gunter Hessler, who went on to
become Kriegsmarine U-boat arm's Chief-of-Staff, after winning
the Knight's Cross for his exploits off the West African coast.
Regards,
Graham G. Robinson
-------------------------
From:W.G.Williamson
Subject: Photo No 240
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 10:46:22 +0100
To: 
Mr Palmer,
I was advised to look at Photo No 240 on your web site by Prof. Brian Cotton,
Chairman of the Radio Officers Association. As archivist for the ROA, I have
a list of all ROs killed in WW1 and 2. Here is copy of what I sent to Brian
for your information.
Brian,
have looked at picture and I think it is more likely that it was taken in
1917 instead of 1916. If David left school at 16 and did say 6 - 9 months
training he would have been about 17 when photo was taken prior to sea duty.
Have looked up Memorial Register and David Oxspring was on T124 articles on
the Elder and Fyffes cargo-liner Manistee when it got clobbered. She was
HMS Manistee having been requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Ocean Boarding
Vessel. She was 5,360 tons and sunk on 24th Feb 1941, torpedoed by U-107 and
by an Italian submarine Bianchi. Sank in position 59.30N 21.00W. Two other
ROs died, Samuel Gillan Kidson (30) and Edwin McCann (3rd RO and no age
given) Both Oxspring and Kidson are listed as 1st ROs. I don't know if this
is a typing error but it doesn't look like it. A bit strange to have two
1st ROs.
I see Wirkworth is in Derbyshire, so it is possible Oxspring trained in
Manchester. I'll see if I can find him in Exam records when I get back from
Austria. No dob for Oxspring given in memorial register.
I hope this information will be of interest.
Willie Williamson
----------------------------------------------------
From: Graham Robinson
Subject: David Oxspring
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 16:39:14 +0100
To:
Hello John,
Many thanks for your interesting phonecall this morning.
I attach more info, as promised,on David Oxspring.
From the War Graves Commission website:
In Memory of/
DAVID OXSPRING/
Radio Officer/
944612/
H.M.S. Manistee, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (M.N.)/
who died on/
Monday, 24th February 1941. Age 41./
Additional Information: Son of David and Helena Oxspring;
husband of Catharine Barclay Oxspring.
Commemorative Information/
Memorial: LIVERPOOL NAVAL MEMORIAL, Lancashire, United Kingdom/
Panel Number: Panel 16, Column 2.
Location: The Memorial is situated on the Mersey River Front at the
Pier Head, Liverpool, close to and behind the Liver Buildings and the
end of James Street. From the end of the M62 motorway follow the signs
for the City Centre and Maritime Museum. The Liverpool Memorial consists
of a circular column, faced in Portland stone, on a raised semi-circular
platform; on its summit is a device of reflecting lenses, suggestive of
a beacon. The platform is approached from the promenade by a flight of
steps and is surrounded by a wall. At the head of the steps, at each end
of the wall, there is a globe; one side being a celestial globe ornamented
with the signs of the Zodiac, and the other side being a terrestrial globe
showing the countries and seas of the world. Set in recesses in the wall
are the bronze panels that bear the names of over 1300 casualties. At the
base of the column, facing the steps and the promenade, beneath the Naval
badge of the Naval Crown, wreath, and foul anchor, is carved the inscription:
THESE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY DIED WHILE SERVING WITH THE
ROYAL NAVY AND HAVE NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA. 1939 - 1945
Historical Information: It was impossible during the war for the Navy to
man all the auxiliary ships that served with it. Accordingly early in the
war a manning depot was established at Liverpool for dealing with those
men of the Merchant Navy who agreed to serve with the Royal Navy under
the terms of what was known as a T.124 agreement, and became subject to
Naval discipline while generally retaining their Merchant Navy rates of
pay and other conditions. They served in various types of auxiliary vessels,
at first mainly in armed merchant cruisers, but also in armed boarding
vessels, cable ships, rescue tugs, and others on special service. The
maximum number of T.124 officers and men exceeded 13,000. Among ships a
large proportion of whose complement belonged to this service, the
"Rawalpindi" and the "Jervis Bay" won unique renown from the circumstances
of their end; but men from over 120 ships are commemorated on the memorial
which it was decided to erect at Liverpool. The great majority of Merchant
Navy men, who did not serve with the Navy, but with merchant ships, are
commemorated on the Merchant Navy Memorial, on Tower Hill, London. This
memorial was unveiled by the Admiral of the Fleet, The Viscount Cunningham
of Hyndhope, K.T., G.C.B., O.M., D.S.O., on the 12th November 1952.
In Memory of/
Radio Officer DAVID OXSPRING/
H.M.S. Manistee, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (M.N.)/
who died aged 41 on Monday, 24th February 1941.
Radio Officer OXSPRING was the son of David and Helena Oxspring;
husband of Catharine Barclay Oxspring.
Remembered with honour/
LIVERPOOL NAVAL MEMORIAL, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
In the perpetual care of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
I hope that this will be of some help.
With very kind regards,
Graham (Robinson)
--------------------------------------
Dates:1900-1941
Photo taken:1917?
Size:
Source: Graham G. Robinson 7, Pigott Road, Wokingham, Berks. RG40 1PZ
Click on photo for enlargement (on CD only)
Have any more information about this photo? Please e-mail
the author on:
Hello John,
Here is another photo. This one is of David OXSPRING. (also see his MI) Born About 1900 Wirksworth. Died 24th Feb 1941 North Atlantic. Father: David OXSPRING Mother: Helena OXSPRING (nee WOODHOUSE) (also see their MI)
David OXSPRING joined the Merchant Navy at an early age. During the second World War he agreed to serve under the Royal Navy as a Merchant Navy Auxilliary Radio Officer. He sadly went down on the MANISTEE, an Ocean boarding vessel (R, 5,368t, 1920) which was sunk by U-boat torpedo,in the N Atlantic, 24th Feb 1941. The U-boat in question was U-107 commanded by Admiral Doenitz's son-in-law, Lieutnant Gunter Hessler, who went on to become Kriegsmarine U-boat arm's Chief-of-Staff, after winning the Knight's Cross for his exploits off the West African coast.
Regards,
Graham G. Robinson
-------------------------
From:W.G.Williamson
Mr Palmer,
I was advised to look at Photo No 240 on your web site by Prof. Brian Cotton,
Chairman of the Radio Officers Association. As archivist for the ROA, I have
a list of all ROs killed in WW1 and 2. Here is copy of what I sent to Brian
for your information.
Brian,
Hello John, Location: The Memorial is situated on the Mersey River Front at the
Pier Head, Liverpool, close to and behind the Liver Buildings and the
end of James Street. From the end of the M62 motorway follow the signs
for the City Centre and Maritime Museum. The Liverpool Memorial consists
of a circular column, faced in Portland stone, on a raised semi-circular
platform; on its summit is a device of reflecting lenses, suggestive of
a beacon. The platform is approached from the promenade by a flight of
steps and is surrounded by a wall. At the head of the steps, at each end
of the wall, there is a globe; one side being a celestial globe ornamented
with the signs of the Zodiac, and the other side being a terrestrial globe
showing the countries and seas of the world. Set in recesses in the wall
are the bronze panels that bear the names of over 1300 casualties. At the
base of the column, facing the steps and the promenade, beneath the Naval
badge of the Naval Crown, wreath, and foul anchor, is carved the inscription:
THESE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY DIED WHILE SERVING WITH THE
ROYAL NAVY AND HAVE NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA. 1939 - 1945
Historical Information: It was impossible during the war for the Navy to
man all the auxiliary ships that served with it. Accordingly early in the
war a manning depot was established at Liverpool for dealing with those
men of the Merchant Navy who agreed to serve with the Royal Navy under
the terms of what was known as a T.124 agreement, and became subject to
Naval discipline while generally retaining their Merchant Navy rates of
pay and other conditions. They served in various types of auxiliary vessels,
at first mainly in armed merchant cruisers, but also in armed boarding
vessels, cable ships, rescue tugs, and others on special service. The
maximum number of T.124 officers and men exceeded 13,000. Among ships a
large proportion of whose complement belonged to this service, the
"Rawalpindi" and the "Jervis Bay" won unique renown from the circumstances
of their end; but men from over 120 ships are commemorated on the memorial
which it was decided to erect at Liverpool. The great majority of Merchant
Navy men, who did not serve with the Navy, but with merchant ships, are
commemorated on the Merchant Navy Memorial, on Tower Hill, London. This
memorial was unveiled by the Admiral of the Fleet, The Viscount Cunningham
of Hyndhope, K.T., G.C.B., O.M., D.S.O., on the 12th November 1952.
In Memory of/
Radio Officer DAVID OXSPRING/
H.M.S. Manistee, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (M.N.)/
who died aged 41 on Monday, 24th February 1941.
In the perpetual care of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
I hope that this will be of some help.
have looked at picture and I think it is more likely that it was taken in
1917 instead of 1916. If David left school at 16 and did say 6 - 9 months
training he would have been about 17 when photo was taken prior to sea duty.
Have looked up Memorial Register and David Oxspring was on T124 articles on
the Elder and Fyffes cargo-liner Manistee when it got clobbered. She was
HMS Manistee having been requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Ocean Boarding
Vessel. She was 5,360 tons and sunk on 24th Feb 1941, torpedoed by U-107 and
by an Italian submarine Bianchi. Sank in position 59.30N 21.00W. Two other
ROs died, Samuel Gillan Kidson (30) and Edwin McCann (3rd RO and no age
given) Both Oxspring and Kidson are listed as 1st ROs. I don't know if this
is a typing error but it doesn't look like it. A bit strange to have two
1st ROs.
I see Wirkworth is in Derbyshire, so it is possible Oxspring trained in
Manchester. I'll see if I can find him in Exam records when I get back from
Austria. No dob for Oxspring given in memorial register.
I hope this information will be of interest.
Willie Williamson
----------------------------------------------------
From: Graham Robinson
Many thanks for your interesting phonecall this morning.
I attach more info, as promised,on David Oxspring.
From the War Graves Commission website:
In Memory of/
DAVID OXSPRING/
Radio Officer/
944612/
H.M.S. Manistee, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (M.N.)/
who died on/
Monday, 24th February 1941. Age 41./
Additional Information: Son of David and Helena Oxspring;
husband of Catharine Barclay Oxspring.
Commemorative Information/
Memorial: LIVERPOOL NAVAL MEMORIAL, Lancashire, United Kingdom/
Panel Number: Panel 16, Column 2.
Radio Officer OXSPRING was the son of David and Helena Oxspring;
husband of Catharine Barclay Oxspring.
Remembered with honour/
LIVERPOOL NAVAL MEMORIAL, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
With very kind regards,
Graham (Robinson)
--------------------------------------
Dates:1900-1941
Photo taken:1917?
Size:
Source: Graham G. Robinson 7, Pigott Road, Wokingham, Berks. RG40 1PZ
Click on photo for enlargement (on CD only)
Have any more information about this photo? Please e-mail
the author on: