Life story shared by Paul Beecroft
C.T. ALLUM
STOKER 1ST CLASS R.N.
D/KX. 164452
H.M.S. “JAMAICA”
24TH APRIL 1944 AGE 19
A beautiful memory dearer than gold
A son whose worth can never be told
Cecil Temple ALLUM was born in Reading on 14th November 1924. His father was Ashley Temple ALLUM and was born in South Stoke. By trade he was a Blacksmith/Shoeing Blacksmith. During World War I he served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. His mother was Ellen Elizabeth NEWMAN who was born in Reading and lived at 29, Francis Street. They were married in Reading in 1920. In 1921 Ashley is shown to be living at 107, Great Knollys Street but by the time Cecil is born his parents were living at 89, Linden Road where they would remain for many years. Cecil had three siblings, Reginald Stanley (1922), Ronald Ashley (1926) and Grace (1929).
Cecil was educated at Redlands School and was keenly interested in swimming, boxing and football. On leaving school he was employed at Huntley, Bourne and Stevens in the transport department.
In early 1943, at the age of 18 he joined the Royal Navy. He trained as a Stoker which is actually an old term that was used when ships were using coal and he therefore worked in the engine room. He became a Stoker 1st class and although the date is not known, he was drafted to H.M.S. Jamaica. H.M.S. Jamaica was a Fiji-class cruiser which was named after the island of Jamaica. H.M.S. Jamaica spent most of the war on Artic convoy duties protecting the Merchant ships carrying much needed supplies. This was a hazardous role and conditions were often described as being awful in heavy seas and freezing cold temperatures.
In December 1943 H.M.S. Jamaica was involved in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst during what was known as the Battle of North Cape. Following this, a few days later the ship returned to Scapa Flow to a tumultuous reception from Home Fleet ships and then in early January 1944 went into Rosyth for battle damage repairs.
It was around this time that Cecil became unwell and was transferred to the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Hospital Park Prewett in Basingstoke. He became seriously ill and passed away on 24th April 1944. His cause of death was given as Malignant Lymphosarcoma.
Division 41, Row A, Plot 5