Simeon Henry Harold Warder

Gunnery Petty Officer

My late uncle was Simeon Henry Harold Warder, b1910 in Monmouthshire, Wales. He deceased sometime in the 1980/1990's. It is my belief that he served on HMS Exeter at the time of the Battle of the River Plate as a gunnery Petty Officer. His service number or official rank/appointment at the time is not known to me. He survived the battle uninjured, but fell down an open hatch whilst clearing up after the battle. This caused a severe knee injury so he missed out on the parade in London and the luncheon at the Guildhall, meanwhile he was sent up to Scotland to receive treatment for his injured knee. After returning to duty I believe he served on a patrol vessel off Iceland which was struck at night and sunk after a collision with an approaching destroyer. Luckily he survived despite being in the freezing water for quite a while. After that he ended up as a gunnery instructor at a shore base. Simeon was not on the Exeter at the battle of the Java Sea and therefore did not end up as a prisoner of the Japanese. Most of the above is anecdotal evidence from his sister (my mother) who is still alive.
I would very much like to find out about his official service record.

We do have a few mementoes of Simeon, such as scarves, a first day cover (Exeter at the NY World's Fair) and a poem he wrote in mum's autograph book which was about the Exeter at the battle of the River Plate.

Best wishes,
Robert Parry. 

Please contact Andy (webmaster) with any information.

Andy Wade (Webmaster)

Information provided by

Robert Parry (Nephew)