Bernard Snellgrove "HMS Melbreak"

Bernard R Snellgrove

Leading Writer Royal Navy HMS Melbreak

Service Number: C/MX 119643

Died 10 July 1943, aged 31 years

Buried at Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Sec. C. Cons. Grave 18104.

Husband of Edith, Son of Reginald and Gladys Snellgrove, 76 Great Bushey Drive, Totteridge

Before the war, Bernard studied to be an accountant and was registered as an articled clerk.

Bernard's service number was C/MX 119643, with the prefix "C" indicating he was registered through the Royal Navy's Chatham Division, one of the three main manning ports of the Royal Navy during this period. Bernard served aboard HMS Melbreak, a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy.

The position of Writer in the Royal Navy was a specialised clerical rating with significant responsibilities. Writers were primarily responsible for administrative matters, including legal documentation, pay administration, welfare concerns, and career management for the ship's crew. Their role was vital to the functioning of naval operations, ensuring the administrative backbone of the vessel remained strong.  Writers could also be assigned to damage control parties, passing crucial information to combat floods and fires.

As a Hunt-class destroyer, HMS Melbreak was designed for escort duties and coastal forces operations. The ship initially served in the English Channel after commissioning. Still, by 1943, it had been deployed to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, reflecting the expanding scope of naval operations during the middle years of World War II.

On 10 July 1943, HMS Melbreak was engaged in a surface action against enemy forces. During this engagement, the ship sustained damage and several crew members, including Bernard Snellgrove, lost their lives. Records from the National Archives confirm that HMS Melbreak was damaged during enemy action on this date.

.Bernard Reginald Snellgrove's sacrifice is commemorated in several official records. His name appears in the Roll of Honour 1939-45 for Articled Clerks at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which notes: "Bernard Reginald Snellgrove, Totteridge, Herts, Leading Writer R.N. H.M.S. Melbreak, killed in action, 10th July 1943".