Roll of Honour - Warwickshire - Coventry, Holy trinity, H.M.S. Coventry

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

COVENTRY, HOLY TRINITY, H.M.S. COVENTRY WAR MEMORIAL

Detailed information for Falklands War
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2022

Within the church of Holy Trinity, Coventry, on the edge of a wall of an alcove leading from one of the aisles is a memorial to those men who died while serving on H.M.S. Coventry during the Falklands Conflict. A searchable database containing all those who died in the Falklands Conflict is available search in the Database section here. HMS Coventry was a Type 42 (Sheffield-class) destroyer of the Royal Navy. Laid down by Cammell Laird and Company, Limited, at Birkenhead on 29 January 1973, she was launched on 21 June 1974 and accepted into service on 20 October 1978 at a cost of £37,900,000. She was sunk by Argentine Air Force A-4 Skyhawks on 25 May 1982 during the Falklands War. One name was added tro the memorial in 2023 by the (Royal Naval Association (RNA) and the D118 Association

Extract from The Times, Thursday 27 May 1982:

Coventry remembers crew's kind acts
By Staff Reporters

The city of Coventry where flags flew at halfmast yesterday has been connected with the Royal Navy for more than 300 years. The destroyer sunk in the Falklands was the fifth vessel to bear the city's name. The last, a light cruiser, was also sunk by bombing off Tobruk in 1942.

Councillor Eddie Weaver, the newly installed Labour Lord Mayor, had tears in his eyes when he read a statement within minutes of hearing of the loss of the ship

He said: "The whole of the city is in mourning after the tragic news. This destroyer was the latest in a line of ships especially associated with the city for over 300 years. Only three years ago we were happy to reaffirm this strong link by granting HMS Coventry the freedom of our city.

"We have always had great pride, respect and affection for the sihp which bore our city's name and its crew who have given considerable support to charitable organizations in Conventry. In particular their efforts have helped pay for a canal narrowboat, the Godiva, which provides holidays for disabled people on canals in the Midlands.

"We are more grateful for the selfless way they have helped not only their namsake city but also their country in the present crisis. At this moment we offer our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of all those affected by this tragedy", he added.

Members of the crew last took part in the city's annual carnival in 1980 and they also held a sponsored cycle ride from Portsmouth to raise money for the narrowboat, Since it was commissioned in 1978 it has always had a number of local men on board and it was thought about 20 from the Coventry area were with the destroyer when it was sunk.

The ship also had a special connexion with the catherdral (sic) and it carried a cross of nails, the catherdral's (sic) interntional (sic) symbol of reconciliation, presented by the clergy. The catherdral has a Navy corner in its basement where the survivors of the ship sunk 40 years ago still meet annually for a memorial service.

Daily prayers will be said in the cathedral and a memorial service is to be held at a late (sic) date.

Map (below) reproduced from The Times, Thursday 27 May 1982

IN MEMORY
OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE LOSS OF
HMS COVENTRY
25 MAY 1982

ARMES	Frank Owen	Marine Engineering Mechanic (Mechanical) 1 D170136A, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 21. Born 13 January 1961. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Norwich, Norfolk.
CADDY	John David Law	Acting Chief Weapons Engineering Artificer D075562M, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 34. Born 19 June 1947. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Eastleigh, Hampshire.
CALLUS	Paul Brian	Marine Engineering Artificer (Mechanical) 1 D145600D, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 24. Born 10 January 1958. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Emsworth, Hampshire.
DAWSON	Stephen Roy	Acting Petty Officer Catering Accountant D155633A, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 22. Born 5 June 1959. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Scunthorpe, Humberside.
DOBSON	John Keith	Action Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Radio) 1 D183607L, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 20. Born 9 December 1961. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Exeter, Devon.
FOWLER	Michael George	Petty Officer (Sonar) D094740D, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 37. Born 21 May 1945. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Southsea, Hampshire.
HALL	Ian Peter	Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance) 1 D170776F, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 22 1 March 1960 Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Cowley, Oxon.
HEATH	Rodney Ritchie	Lieutenant C025065S, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 34. Born 23 January 1948. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Gosport, Hampshire.
KYE BEN KWO		Laundryman, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. (Civilian contractor). Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Shaukiwan, Hong Kong.
MILLS	Paul Terrence	Petty officer Marine Engineering Mechanician D120348J, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 29. Born 19 December 1953. Died 29 March 1983. He was in the engine room when it was hit by a thousand pound bomb. He mentioned later that he got a 'knock on the head'. Unfortunately this knock had caused a fracture of his skull that remained sadly undiagnosed for several months. Later that year he fell unconscious a couple of times, the ensuing medical investigation revealed a brain tumour. The rate of growth indicated that the cause was the fracture. He was operated on, but only to buy him a few more months. Resident Swavesey St Andrew, Cambridgeshire. Creamted at Portchester Crematorium, Portchester, Portsmouth. Also commemorated on Swavesey St Andrew War Memorial.
OZBIRN	David John Arden	Action Weapons Engineering (Mechanical) 1 D088253K, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 33. Born 3 July 1948. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire.
ROBINSON-MOLTKE	Glen Stuart	Lieutenant Commander C013530R, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 38. Born 9 February 1944. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Petersfield, Hampshire.
STILL	Bernard James	Leading Radio Operator (Warfare) D183504T, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 26. Born 30 December 1955. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Co. Laoise, Eire.
STOCKWELL	Geoffrey Leslie John	Marine Engineering Artificer (Mechanical) 2 D154502T, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 25. Born 9 May 1957. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Herne Bay, Kent.
STRICKLAND	David Anthony	Acting Weapons Engineering Artificer 1 D138928M, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 29. Born 14 September 1952. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Harrow, Greater London.
SUNDERLAND	Adrian Derek	Able Seaman (Electronic Warfare) D187550T, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 19. Born 20 April 1963. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Sherborne, Dorset.
TONKIN	Stephen	Marine Engineering Mechanic (Mechanical) 2 D192370P, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 20. Born 21 November 1961. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
TURNBULL	Ian Edward	Acting Cook 2nd Class D189147F, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 18. Born 7 February 1964. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Hartlepool, Cleveland.
WHITE	Philip Patrick	Acting Weapons Engineering Artificer 2 D154510D, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 26. Born 10 May 1956. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Pangbourne, Berkshire.
WILLIAMS	Ian Robert	Weapons Engineering Artificer (Apprentice) D178859U, H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy. Aged 21. Born 13 January 1961. Killed 25 May 1982 when his ship was bombed and sunk while operating off the northern coast of West Falkland. Resident Neston, Cheshire.

AND ALL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE
FALKLANDS CONFLICT 1982

THE NATIONS SHALL LEARN WAR NO MORE 15.24

Last updated 27 May, 2025

War Memorials Trust