Thomas Raymond ‘Ray’ Ingles was the youngest son of Dennis Ingles and Mabel Christina ‘Chrissie’ Ingles (née Newbury) of Church Street, Broadway. He was born in Broadway in 1923.
Ray was educated at Broadway Council School and was a keen sportsman. He played cricket for Worcestershire County Cricket Club, Evesham and Broadway. He was also a handy footballer and played on the left wing for Broadway Football Club.
After leaving school Ray worked for Gordon Russell Limited in the village. He was a member of Broadway’s ATC and Home Guard before leaving Russell’s and joining the Royal Navy in 1942. The same year he married Majorie May Ferris the eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Ferris of Evesham.
The Sinking of HMS Kite
HMS Kite (U87)
Ray served on the sloop HMS Kite (U87). HMS Kite was launched on 13th October 1942 and commissioned on 1st March 1943. On 20th August 1944 she was on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. She was escorting aircraft carriers HMS Keppel and HMS Vindex, which were escorting another convoy to Northern Russia, when German U-Boats were detected in the vicinity. The U-Boats were attacked with depth charges and hedgehogs, resulting in the destruction of three of the U-Boats. However, early on the morning of 21st August, HMS Kite had slowed down to 6 knots in order to clear equipment that had become tangled, this left her vulnerable to attack. Torpedoes fired from the German U-Boat U-344 struck the ship on the starboard side causing HMS Kite to sink beneath the waves.
A total of 217 crew, including Ray, aged 22, lost their lives that day. Of the 60 men who survived the sinking, 14 were rescued from the icy Atlantic waters, 5 of whom died shortly afterwards. Only 9 men survived the attack.
Ray’s body was never recovered from the sea. He is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, the Broadway War Memorial and on Broadway’s Roll of Honour in St Michael and All Angels Church.
Pte Horace George Ingles (1913-1944) and Pte Ronald Herbert Ingles (1915-1944)
Two of Ray’s older brothers also served in the Second World War. A month after Ray’s parents received notice of Ray’s death, they were informed that their eldest son, Private Horace George Ingles (1913-1944), who had also worked at Russell’s, and was serving with the 1st Worcestershire Regiment, had been wounded during the Battle of Normandy following the D-Day landings. Horace died of his wounds on 9th August 1944 and is buried in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, France. Private Ronald Herbert Ingles (1915-1984) was a prisoner of war from 1942, firstly in Italy before being moved to a PoW camp in Germany. Ronald returned home and lived on Springfield Lane, Broadway, after the war.
We will remember them.
Debbie Williamson
Broadway Remembers
Broadway Remembers 