Richard William Field

An Ordinary Seaman with H.M.S. Jaguar, Richard died on 26th of March 1942 aged 35. 

Richard was born at Lowestoft on 4 January 1909, a son of William James and Ethel Maud Field. In 1911 his family lived at The Hemplands, and by 1921 their home was at 235 Raglan Street. 

On 26 December 1929 Richard married Doris Irene Foreman at Saint Margaret’s Church. Richard was a fisherman living at 235 Raglan Street and Doris was a fish worker living at 7 Factory Court, Factory Street. By 1939 they were living at 1 Sparhams Buildings, and Richard was a dock labourer.  

On 26 March 1942 Richard’s ship, the destroyer H.M.S. Jaguar, was, with a Greek ship, escorting the tanker R.F.A. Slavol. The Slavol was torpedoed by German submarine U-652. The Jaguar came alongside to rescue the Slavol’s crew but was hit by two torpedoes from U-652 and quickly sank, off Sidi Barrani, Egypt. Richard was one of 193 men lost with the Jaguar.