Name  : Thomas ROCHFORD. DSM.
Rank & Number : Chief Stoker. D/X 61034.
Service  : H.M.S.”Charybdis”, Royal Navy.
Date of Death : Saturday, 23^rd October 1943.
Age  : 40.
Cause of Death : Lost at sea.
No known grave.
Commemorated : Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, UK.
Reference : Panel 81, Column 3.

On 23^rd October 1943 the cruiser HMS Charybdis, accompanied by the destroyer HMS Limbourne engaged the German flotilla protecting the blockade-runner Munsterland off the coast of Brittany. During this engagement which was unsuccessful, although the Munsterland was eventually sunk off the Netherlands after other attacks, HMS Charybdis was hit by torpedoes from the German destroyers T23 and T27. The vessel sank 48 59’N-3 39’W with a loss of 30 officers and 432 ratings.

Thomas Rochford was the son of Michael and Mary Ann Rochford; husband of Olive Vera Rochford, of Frome Vauchurch.