History & Learning

Written by Linda Petchey (daughter)

Alfred William Fowler, known as “Chick” in the Navy, was born on 6th March 1923 in Southend on Sea, Essex. At 17 he tried to enlist in the RAF but because he hadn’t been educated at a Grammar School, he was turned down. He did not like the idea of the Army, so volunteered for the Royal Navy. By 1941 he was an Engine Room Rating, no. C/KX 146467, at HMS Pembroke, Chatham. There he learnt everything there was to learn about engines, boilers, generators and evaporation plants – in fact anything mechanical.

In April 1942, Stoker Fowler was drafted to his first ship – HMS Sheffield – which was to be his home for the next 3 1/2 years. On 20th July he sailed on his first voyage going to Iceland to join up with other ships that would escort the convoys to Russia. Over the years he took part in 3 convoys. He also took part in the North Africa landings, Malta convoys and bombarding of Italian Coast.

In May 1945 he was drafted back to Chatham and later assigned to HMS Fencer. He was demobbed in 1946.

Medals he was awarded: 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, The Arctic Star, 40th, 50th, and 60th Russian Anniversary Medals, Russian Ushakov Medal.

In December 1946 he married Bridget Childs. They went on to have 6 children and were married for 69 years before Bridget sadly died in 2016. Alfred died in 2020 aged 97. In 1982 with the sinking of HMS Sheffield in the Falklands war, Alfred was spurred on to try and contact some of his old shipmates, an idea he had had for a while. He wrote a letter to the Navy News saying he was looking for shipmates from HMS Sheffield to form an association. Within 3 months he had enough people to hold an inaugural meeting and from there the HMS Sheffield Association was born. The Association is still going strong today.

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