PRIDDEY Alfred James

HMS Charybdis was an anti-aircraft cruiser.  On 20th October 1943 she was assigned to Operation Tunnel, a British Operation aimed at intercepting and sinking enemy ships attempting to get through the Channel.  The British force consisting of Charybdis and a number of destroyers sailed from Plymouth at 19.00 hours on 22nd October 1943.  In the early hours of 23rd October whilst of the coast of Brittany Charybdis was hit by two torpedoes ten minutes apart.  She sank at around 02.30 with the loss of 460 men, 107 of her crew were saved.  HMS Limbourne was also sunk during the same action.

Alfred Priddey is mentioned in the following report in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, Saturday 30th October 1943:
Chaplain and Gunner Missing from Cruiser
The Rev. W. Heading Mitchell, chaplain, R.N.V.R., and Rector of Salwarpe, and Able Seaman Alfred James Priddey, of 9, Winnetta Lane, Droitwich, are missing following the sinking of the Charybdis in a naval action in the Channel in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Charybdis, a light cruiser, exploded and sank after being torpedoed, and Limbourne, a destroyer, was so badly damaged that she had to be sunk by our own forces in a ten minute battle with German E-boats in a Channel fog.  They were making an offensive sweep off the French coast between Ushant and the Channel Islands.  Charybdis was hit by four torpedoes, fire broke out and spread to an ammunition chamber.  The cruiser listed heavily, with her stern under water, before sinking.

The report continues with details relating to the Reverend Heading Mitchell.

A letter from the Reverend W.A. Trippass, St Nicholas, Droitwich dated 23rd May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Alfred James Priddey be added to the county roll of honour.

Alfred Priddey has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Plymouth Naval Memorial.