COLLETT Albert

Appears on the Royal Navy casualties list for Worcestershire.

On 10th February 1942 HM Submarine Tempest sailed from Malta to patrol the Gulf of Taranto. The crew of the Tempest were notified on 11th February that Italian ships in the Gulf were aware of a submarine in the area and therefore her patrol had been compromised. Tempest was spotted on the surface by the Italian destroyer Circe on 13th February and immediately attempted to dive below the waves. The crew of Circe moved rapidly and dropped depth charges resulting in damage to the submarine and causing her to re-surface. The crew abandoned ship and were picked up by the destroyer. Rough seas meant the Italians were unable to board the stricken submarine so attempts were made to sink her. She finally sunk beneath the waves stern first with the bows disappearing vertically.

A letter from the Reverend H.W. Glasgow, Kempsey Vicarage, dated 17th May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Stoker Albert Collett, RN, be added to the county roll of honour.

Albert Collett has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.