b. 17/06/1919 Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland. d. 14/05/1942 Barents Sea.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 14/05/1942 Barents Sea.
John G Boddy AM
John Gouldthorpe Boddy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, one of two sons of Commander Robert Henry Gouldthorpe Boddy RN and Elizabeth Grace R Hill. His brother was Captain Robert Rowland Hill Boddy CBE RN. Sadly, their father died when John was 11, and their mother remarried in 1935 to John Russell Cooper.
John had decided by this time to follow his father into the Royal Navy, and entered the RN College at Dartmouth in September 1936. He joined the Cadet Training Ship HMS Frobisher until December 1936. In January 1937, he joined the crew of HMS Ramilies as a Midshipman. Shortly after the outbreak of WWII he rose to the rank of Sub Lieutenant. In February 1942 he was promoted to Lieutenant and joined HMS Trinidad. Sadly, his body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
AM CITATION:
Lieutenant (E) John Gouldthorpe Boddy, Royal Navy, whose ship was heavily attacked by enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Boddy was within a few feet of one bomb when it fell: he was badly shaken by the explosion. About ten minutes later he was seen to raise himself on his hands and knees. There were fires now burning round him, and the way was blocked by debris. Cries were heard from the Stokers’ mess-deck below, and Lieutenant Boddy asked a rating to help him rescue the men below. He was last seen crawling towards the hatch to try to save them. This devotion cost him his life.
BURIAL LOCATION: LOST AT SEA. PLYMOUTTH NAVAL MEMORIAL PANEL 63 COLUMN 1.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HMS SULTAN, PORTSMOUTH.
Acknowledgement:
Carol Pollard – Image of Boddy AM’s name on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.