Richard Allison Wilson

A Petty Officer Cook with H.M.S. Traveller, Richard died on 12th of December 1942 aged 25.

Richard was born at Lowestoft on 18 August 1917, a son of Richard Allison and Vaironica Wilson. Richard's father was a Chief Engineer in the Mercantile Marine and died in 1917. Subsequently his mother remarried (Cooper). Richard was baptised at Christ Church, Lowestoft, on 7 October 1917 and his family lived at Bath Cottage. In 1921 his family lived at 51 Whapload Road. 

In the 1930s Richard joined the Royal Navy for long service.

On 7 November 1939 Richard married Greta de Haan at Saint Andrews’ Church, Valetta, Malta. Richard was a navy cook serving with H.M.S. Vulcan, and Greta a probationary nurse at King George V Hospital, Floriana, Malta. Later Greta lived at Gordon's Bay, Cape Province, South Africa. 

In December 1942 Richard was serving with the submarine H.M.S. Traveller. On 28 November the Traveller left Malta to carry out reconnaissance of Taranto harbour is preparation for Operation Principal, a human torpedo attack. The Traveller had not returned by 12 December, and it is assumed that the submarine had struck a mine and sunk, with all hands, on 4 December.