JOHN FREDERICK PRIEST
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from the Evening Star – 24th May 1941
Born: 18th May 1921, Putney, London.
Died: 17th January 1941; age: 19 – at sea.
Residence: 17, Westerfield Road, Ipswich.
Employed: at Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Ipswich.
Rank: Air Mechanic First Class; Service Number: 76454.
Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S. ‘Goshawk’
Memorial Reference:
Bay 2, Panel 5.
Hampshire.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Frederick J. & Mary W. Priest.
Father: Frederick James Priest, born July 1878, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. A Wood Carver.
Mother: Mary Winifred Priest (nee Scoggins), born July 1888, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 49, Ashlone Road, Putney, Wandsworth.
John was 1 month old and lived with his parents and sister.
John Priest, 42 years & 11 months old, an Artificial Limb Maker for J. F. Rowley Ltd. – Artificial Limb Manufacturer, at Roehampton House, Roehampton.
Mary Priest, 30 years & 11 months old, Home Duties.
Freda Kezia Priest, 23 months old, born Ipswich.
John was educated at Dundas High School, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Immigration
On the 8th June 1923, John, his 34 year old mother, Winifred, and his 3 1/2 year old sister Freda Kezia Priest, sailed on the S.S. ‘Montclare’ 3rd Class to Quebec, Canada, to join John’s father, Frederick, at his home – 28, Richmond Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario. Frederick had paid for their tickets. Winifred had the amount of £10 with her and gave their next-of-kin in England as her parents – Scoggins, at 11, Clifford Road, Ipswich.
John passed through Niagara Falls/New York, on the 17th March 1937. He was 5ft 5 ins in height, brown hair & blue eyes. He was a Methodist and had lived at 11, King Street, Ontario, Canada.
On the 29th March 1937, 15 year old John arrived at the Port of London. He had sailed on the R.M.S. ‘Alaunia’ of the Cunard White Star Limited with his parents. They intended to make England their home and proposed to live at 11, Clifford Road, Ipswich.
Frederick Priest, 58, a Wood Carver.
Winifred Priest, 48, a Housewife.
John is also remembered by Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies with entrance gates, dedicated in May 1958, at Ransomes Sports’ Centre, Sidegate Avenue, Ipswich.
17th January 1941
John was 1 of 121 ratings who, along with 21 officers, were assigned to H.M.S. ‘Goshawk’ and en route to the FAA base at RNAS Piarco, Trinidad. They were travelling on the Passenger Steamship ‘Almeda Star’. She was unescorted when the German U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock spotted her about 35 miles northeast of Rockall. U-96 fired a G7e torpedo, and two coups de grâce at the ‘Almeda Star’, but she did not sink; the U-boat surfaced to shell the ship. Small fires were started, which soon went out, so the U-boat fired another torpedo, which hit the forepart and caused her to sink by the bow within 3 minutes. The Master, Harry Cecil Howard, Commodore of the Blue Star Line, 136 crew, plus 29 gunners and 194 passengers, were lost. There were no survivors.
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