Embedded Files
Matilda Herring's inquiry project on cultural identiy
Photo Credit: picture taken by an unknown highschool photographer of my grandfather, Russell Herring, in his last year of highschool before joining the war efforts.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
My grandfather, Russell Herring, enlisted in the army when he was just 17 years old. He was living in Rhodesia (now, Zimbabwe) at the time but joined the Royal Navy. Rhodesia was a commonwealth country and there was a lot of pride in Britain there so many men sailed to Britain — like my grandfather — to join the war effort.
On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), my grandfather was stationed on the Normandy beach on the ship, His Majesty's Ship (HMS) Frobisher. The Frobisher was bombed by a torpedo while fighting on the Normandy shore in WWII. My grandfather recalls being thrown into the ocean and almost drowning as he fought to swim up to the surface and reach the beach. From the crashing waves to the gunfire ashore, nowhere was safe for him or his fellow comrades. Although my grandfather made it out of Normandy alive, many other soldiers (on both sides) did not. My dad remembers his dad crying as he remembered all of his friends and brothers in arms that he lost during the war. My grandfathers and my family’s legacy is a testimony to how much it takes for one to go to war.
THE SHIP /// HMS FROBISHER
THE SHIP /// HMS FROBISHER
Photo Credit: image taken by Paul Simpson (Navy Photos)
The HMS Frobisher was a heavy cruiser armed battleship of the Cavendish Class fighting for the Royal Army during World War Two. It was in commission from September 20, 1924 to until early 1945 when it was changed into a training ship for cadets to later be scrapped on May 11, 1949.
During WWII, Frobisher was assigned to be a part of Operation Neptune as efforts to end the war were increasing. Neptune’s mission was for heavy artillery ships to be ready for cross-channel warfare. This would later become a reality at the Battle of Normandy.
Frobisher was led by captain James Frank William Mudford and commander Markham Henry Evelegh with a crew of 800 (ish) sailors. The name ‘Frobisher’ comes from the variant form 'furbisher’ meaning a person who makes weapons and armor. HMS Frobisher was a heavily armored warship used to make and hold larger-than-average weapons.
Photo Credit: Cavendish Class Heavy Cruiser (article)
This warship was a part of the Cavendish Class (also known as Hawkins) along with ships, Hawkins, Raleigh, and Effingham. This class was first built to contend with rumors that the German Navy was mounting 7.5 guns on their ships (heavier than ever before). Prior to the war, their only job was to protect British ships from commerce raiders. Commerce raiding was a form of naval warfare where small and fast moving ships would attack merchant shipping rather than engaging in active combat to hinder the opposing side’s resources and stability of the country.
During D-Day, it was armed with seven 190 mm guns, six 210 mm torpedo tubes (two located below waterline and four above), four 76,2 mm anti-aircraft guns, three 76,2 mm guns, and two 40 mm guns.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN: THE BRITISH
World War Two started on September 1st, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. On September 3rd, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany marking the start of the war between the Allied and Axis powers. At the time, the allied powers' main troops consisted of Britain, France, and Poland. The Axis powers main troops consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan.
In May of 1943, Allied powers got together to hold a conference in Washington in order to plan a final invasion. They had planned for May of 1944 but due to difficulties in assembling troops, June 5th was the decided date for the Battle of Normandy and later pushed one day back due to harsh weather conditions.
Operation OVERLORD put their training into action on the night of June 5th. By early morning, approximately 160,000 Allied soldiers landed on five beaches code named, Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah. British and American paratroop and glider forces landed inland as well to prepare to force the Axis powers further inland of France.
Right away, things went badly for the Allied powers at Omaha and Utah beach but the western beaches quickly went to the Allies. In the end, D-Day (Battle of Normandy) concluded with the Allies remaining victorious on August 30, 1944, the same day Operation Overlord was also disbanded.
WWII officially and legally ended on September 2, 1945, however, with the signing of The Potsdam Agreement which happened in August of that year.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
Photo Credit: image taken by Bert Brandt
Photo Credit: image taken by Andrew Gustafson
HMS FROBISHER AT THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY (A TIMELINE)
an infographic made by me using Canva. Reads left to right on the top and then left to right on the bottom.
CONCLUSION
HMS Frobisher, a heavy cruiser warship put into active duty during World War 2 and its 800 crew members, was present on the Normandy beach in France during the end of the war. My grandfather was among those on the ship. It was D-Day when Frobisher took its last battle and was later out of commission due to heavy damage sustained. D-Day is bitter sweet as around 10,000 soldiers died that day (8 of those being on Frobisher), but it ended much more bloodshed with the treaty signed and places restored through the end of the 2nd World War. By remembering the Battle of Normandy including its ships, troops, planes, and many many soldiers present we honor their legacy and sacrifice for both sides of history.
Photo Credit: Picture taken of my grandfather by Mark Herring
remembering his life...
Photo Credit: picture taken by Cheryl Herring of my grandfather, dad, and older brother, Jason, just before my family immigrated to America.
Photo Credit: picture taken by Jay Herring (my grandmother) of my grandfather teaching my dad how to sail a small boat!
Photo Credit: picture taken by Jay Herring of my grandfather and father just before my dad left Zimbabwe (due to a war going on, it was unsafe to stay) and lived with a family in South Africa for a year.
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