Able Seaman William James Joseph Fitzpatrick died on 8th November 1942 serving on H.M.S. Walney as the cutter crashed through the harbour boom at Oran, Algeria.
Able Seaman
C/JX 192062
Able Seaman William James Joseph Fitzpatrick (C/JX 192062) served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He was the eldest son of William Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick of 2 Hillview Street, Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim.
Able Seaman Fitzpatrick died on 8th November 1942 aged 22 years old while serving on H.M.S. Walney. The former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter came under heavy fire from coastal batteries after crashing through the harbour boom at Oran, Algeria on the first day of Operation Torch. Having sustained heavy damage, the American-built vessel exploded 6 hours later. Captain Frederick Peters had given the order to abandon ship.
Fitzpatrick has no known grave and his name is on Column 54, Panel 1 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
