John Strachan OMT (1942-1946) and the tragedy of the Affray
On the Thursday closest to Remembrance Sunday, each November the school gather at 11 am in its annual act of Remembrance. As part of the ceremony, those in the Great Hall will file past the Roll of Honour recording the names of those former pupils and staff who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The scale of the losses in these two conflicts had a profound impact on the School and it is appropriate that not only should the names of the fallen have a permanent place at the heart of the School building and that the Old Boys’ clubhouse now located here at Sandy Lodge is also a permanent tribute of the sacrifice of OMT’s.
However, as those who have served will tell you, the loss of life is not confined to conflict but an everyday risk for all those across the armed services. Former pupils of Merchant Taylors’ have lost their lives at times of peace and one example was John Strachan, who attended the school between 1942 and 1946. John lost his life aged just 21, when the submarine HMS Affray sank in 1951 with the loss of all 75 on board.
John Strachan (centre) in the 1946 photo of the Manor of the Rose
John Strachan was a member of the Manor Boarding House, a House prefect and appeared in the Taylorian having performed well in House swimming. He went on to a career in the Navy where he rose to the rank of Sub Lieutenant. He was serving on HMS Affray, one of sixteen submarines constructed in 1945 intended for service in the pacific.
HMS Affray in 1946
On 16th April 1951, the submarine set out on a simulation of a war mission with a reduced crew of 50 and 25 other servicemen who were either training on submarines or on exercise. The aim was to drop the latter on an isolated beach in Cornwall under the cover of darkness, and then to return to dock for maintenance on a faulty battery tank. After making contact to signal the intention to dive, all contact was lost with the vessel. When Affray failed to make the usual morning report at 8am on the 17th April, she was declared missing and a search began.
The search was national news, both in the newspapers and Gaumont British news. Click on the image below to view news footage of the time.
Sadly, the vessel could not be located until two months later when it was found using sonar, 17 miles to the northwest of Alderney. There was only limited evidence that the crew had been able to do anything to escape or get themselves out of the perilous situation that Affray found itself in. The debate over what caused the loss has never been fully resolved, though it seems likely that a faulty ‘snort mast’ (the device that allows air in and exhaust fumes out) may have led to the submarine being flooded; and as the crew had been reduced and the extra passengers would have got in the way of attempts to flow the leak, the flooding could not be remedied. Many questions over the loss remain a debate today and the internet has many theories for those wishing to know more.
The crew, including John Strachan, OMT, remains entombed in the wreck of HMS Affray to this day and there is a memorial on the island of Alderney. As we mark remembrance, we pay tribute to all victims of conflict and those who gave their life when serving in times of peace.
