HMT Almond

HMT Almond was a Tree-class trawler naval trawler of the British Royal Navy. Almond was launched in 1940 and served in World War Two, being sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941.

Construction
Almond was laid down on 18 August 1939 at Ardrossan Dockyard, on the south west coast of Scotland. She was launched on 22 May 1940, and commissioned on 20 August that year. At this latter time some crew members were posted to Ardrossan. They were billeted in civilian accommodation, some were joined by their family.

Service
She sailed to Tynemouth in order to have her armament fitted, then to Milford Haven, Wales, to commence minesweeping duties. She had a crew compliment of 20, 19 of whom were killed when she was sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941, at about 2.00 pm, when returning to Falmouth, Cornwall after sweeping duties accompanied by another sweeper, which is currently unknown.

Missing, presumed killed, the crew members who died that day were: Serial No 67 – OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE – The Board of Admiralty regrets to announce the following casualties sustained:


 * Temporary Skipper: J.C.CUTTER, R.N.R.
 * Temporary Skipper: A.E. JOHNSON, R.N.R.
 * ALEXANDER, John W.      Ordinary Telegraphist.         P/JX.174856.
 * BRADBURY, John.            Stoker, 2nd Class,                 LT/KX, 107433.
 * BURNETT, Alfrad              Stoker.                                  LT/KX. 109743.
 * BURNETT, David H,          Stoker.                                  LT/KX. 111489.
 * CLARK, John T                  Seaman.                               LT/JX. 185294.
 * EVES, William.                   Seaman.                               LT/JX. 198767.
 * HOLT, William G.               Second Hand, R.N.R.           LT/X.  20089 A.
 * HOPE, Albert.                    Engineman.                           LT/KX. 111443.
 * KREBS, Emmanuel.          Ordinary Seaman.                 LT/JX. 185294.
 * McCANN, William.             Ordinary Seaman.                 LT/JX. 210652.
 * PARKER, George E.         Ordinary Seaman.                 LT/JX. 198891.
 * RAINSLEY, Frank T.         Ordinary Seaman.                 LT/JX. 193915.
 * REYNOLDS, Reginald J.   Ordinary Signalman.             D/JX. 191114.
 * ROSS, Peter A.                 Seaman                                 LT/JX. 205401.
 * SCOTT, William.               Stoker, 1st Class, R.F.R         C/SS. 125877.
 * WALLACE, James B.        Ordinary Seaman.                 LT/JX. 210659.
 * WARLOW, Thomas G.J.   Stoker.                                   LT/KX. 109957.

WOUNDED.
 * FOSTER, Leo A.               Engineman, R.N.R.               LT/X. 5931. E.S.

Information of the actual incident has been provided by Leo Foster, the only survivor. Photographs of the crew members are available that were taken by the crew members themselves.

A dedication to HMT Almond can be seen at the RNPS Museum, Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. This being the wartime headquarters of the RNPS. There is also a memorial in the adjacent park, Bell View.