Able Seaman Leslie John Gibbs, HMS Capel - My Uncle Les
24/11/2023
HMS Capel, K470:
Frigate escorting SS Leopold in English Channel. Sunk by a torpedo from German U-Boat U-486 26th December 1944. Heavy loss of life.
Eye-witness account: from HMS Moorsom: 'On Boxing day I was on the upper deck, having just drawn the rum ration for the communication mess deck, when there was a terrific explosion on the next ship on our port side. HMS Capel was hidden by a big cloud of smoke.'
Leslie John Gibbs (Able Seaman) - HMS Capel 20 years old.
I would have loved to have known my Uncle Les.