Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Able Seaman Alfred John MacQuillin. Born on the 29th June 1897 in Walworth, the son of William John and Ellen Elizabeth MacQuillin, née Staples. His father was a Leather Dresser. He was baptised on the 18th July 1897 at St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove, London, SE17, and the family were living at 8 Runham Street, Walworth. The 1901 census shows the family living at 2 Sandover Road, Camberwell and in addition to his parents there were his brothers, William G, aged 9; Frederick Charles Somes, aged 7; George Robert, aged 5; Arthur Wallace, aged 2; and his sister Ellen Elizabeth, aged 3 months. By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 6 Sandover Road, Camberwell and had grown to show four more siblings, Charles, aged 8; Robert Joseph, aged 6; Isabella, aged 4; and Sydney Claude, aged 1.
He joined the Royal Navy on the 5th June 1914 as a Boy I, giving his previous occupation as a Printers Boy. His service number was Portsmouth J31543. On the 29th June 1915, his 18th birthday, he signed on for 12 years and was rated as an Ordinary Seaman, becoming an Able Seaman on the 16th February 1916. After the war he was awarded The 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal 1914-1918 and The Victory Medal whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Vectis. He married Sarah Esther Francis in 1922 in Camberwell and they had two children, Eileen M, born in 1926 and Alfred M, born in 1928. On completion of 12 years service he was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on the 29th June 1927 with a service number of P/JX166195. In September 1928 he was appointed as a Postman in the London Postal Service West. Electoral registers for 1931 and 1932 show that he and his family were residing at 142 Neate Street, London, SE5. On the 27th August 1937 he received his naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
On the outbreak of the Second World War he rejoined active service and on the 5th April 1940 he was serving aboard H.M.S. Glowworm, a G Class Destroyer which formed part of the escort of the battlecruiser H.M.S. Renown, along with her sisters H.M.S. Greyhound, H.M.S. Hero, and H.M.S. Hyperion. The ships covered the mine laying operation in Norwegian waters, Operation Wilfred. On the 7th April 1940, H.M.S. Glowworm was detached from the task force to search for a man lost overboard. On the 8th April 1940, H.M.S. Glowworm was proceeding alone in heavy weather towards a rendezvous in West Fjord, Norway, when she met and engaged two enemy destroyers, scoring at least one hit on them. The enemy broke off the action and headed north, to lead the Glowworm on to their supporting forces. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope, R.N., whilst correctly appreciating the intentions of the enemy, at once gave chase. The German heavy cruiser, Admiral Hipper, was sighted closing the Glowworm at high speed and an enemy report was sent which was received by H.M.S. Renown. Because of the heavy sea, the Glowworm could not shadow the enemy and the Commanding Officer therefore decided to attack with torpedoes and then to close in order to inflict as much damage as possible. Five torpedoes were fired and later the remaining five, but without success.
The Glowworm was badly hit; one gun was out of action and her speed was much reduced, but with the other three guns still firing she closed and rammed the Admiral Hipper. As the Glowworm drew away, she opened fire again and scored one hit at a range of 400 yards. The Glowworm, badly stove in forward and riddled with enemy fire, heeled over to starboard, and the Commanding Officer gave the order to abandon her. Shortly afterwards she capsized and sank. The Admiral Hipper hove to for at least an hour picking up survivors but the loss of life was heavy, only 31 out of the Glowworm's complement of 149 being saved. (Lieutenant-Commander Roope was, for this action, posthumously awarded the first Victoria Cross in the Second World War). Probate was granted to his widow which showed their address as 24 Brymer Road, Camberwell and his effects amounted to £314-14s-6d. As his body was not recovered he is also commemorated on Panel 39, Column 1, on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea Common.
2016: we were contacted by MacQuillin’s son, also Alfred (via Sally Cole’s Facebook). He says the photograph we had found on Ancestry.com is not of his father, AJ, so we have removed it, though it is still on Ancestry, having been posted there by someone with AJ in their family tree. There is a second photo there but we won’t take the risk of using that. Alfred points out an error on our part – for his sister’s name we had given Ellen instead of Eileen – now corrected. We have also changed the phrase “was recalled” to “rejoined active service” since, with information provided by Alfred, that seems a better description of what actually happened.
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