CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (engine room artificer) ROBERT ALFRED WOODHEADS COMPLETE UNIFORM WHICH HE GOT RE ISSUED ON SURVIVING THE SINKING OF HMS PRINCE OF WALES BY JAPANESE AIR ATTACK IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. THIS UNIFORM GROUPING PRESENTS THE UNIFORM HE WORE ON HIS WEDDING DAY WHEN HE MARRIED A LOCAL MUNITION WORKER ON THE 3RD MARCH , 1945. CPO WOODHEAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE DESCRIPTION BY EYEWITNESS SURIVORS USED IN MARTIN MIDDLEBROOKS BOOK ON THE SINKING OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AND REPULSE , THE BOOK TITLED’ BATTLESHIP’ STATES THAT THE EVENTS MARKED THE END OF THE BATTLESHIP ERA. AIR OR SUBMARINE ATTACK MADE THESE LARGE WARSHIPS TOO VULNERABLE. THE SINKING HAPPENED ON 10TH DECEMBER 1941, – STRAIGHT AFTER THE PEARL HARBOUR ATTACK. ROBERT WAS FROM KEIGHLEY , WEST YORKSHIRE AND JOINED UP AT THE WARS OUTSET. HE WAS PRESENT ON THE PRINCE OF WALES WHEN ROOSEVELT MET CHURCHILL TO DISCUSS THE ATLANTIC CHARTER PURSUING JOINT WAR AIMS THAT LED TO THE ALLIANCE BETWWEN THE UK AND USA. ALF GOT BACK TO PEARL HARBOUR WHERE HE AND HIS MATES COMMANDEERED A YACHT BELONGING TO THE SULTAN OF JOHORE! HE WAS HANDED AN ENVELOPE BY A LADY CONTAINING A WHITE FEATHER! HE WENT ON TO JOIN THE SUBMARINE SERVICE POST WAR , THERE ARE MANY PHOTO REPRODUCTIONS. ALL UNDER LAMINATE IN THIS LISTING – (THE FAMILY HAS KEPT HIS ORIGINAL PHOTO ALBUMS AND MEDALS). HIS LAST WISH WAS THAT HIS ASHES WOULD BE BURIED AT SEA ABOVE THE SPOT WHERE THE PRINCE OF WALES SANK WITH 800 LIVES LOST. THIS WAS CARRIED OUT AS CAN BE SEEN IN PICS. A VERY EVOCATIVE GROUPING THAT NEEDS A GOOD HOME. CPO ALF WAS IN A RESERVED OCCUPATION AS A TOOL ROOM FITTER AT WARD HAGGIS SMITH IN KEIGHLEY BUT VOLUNTEERED AFTER COMPLETING HIS GOVT APPRENTICESHIP. HE OBVIOUSLY ENJOYED LIFE IN THE RN AND SERVED POSTWAR ON HMS TRUNCHEON, A SUBMARINE. HE WAS ACTIVE IN KEIGHLEYS ROYAL NAVY ASSCOCIATION ON RETIREMENT FORM THE SERVICE. A PART OF THIS SALE HAS GONE TO ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH. The item “WW2 ROYAL NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS, CAP, JACKET, TROUSERS. HMS PRINCE OF WALES” is in sale since Wednesday, October 2, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Uniforms”. The seller is “marne-attack” and is located in Winchester. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Type: Uniform/ Clothing
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
- Clothing Type: Jackets
- Service: Navy
- Era: 1914-1945