"Uncle Bob"

Robert John Skinner was born on 2nd April 1922.
Bob, as he was always know, was born in London. He spent his childhood there until the age of 14 when he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman. He served as a Boy Seaman until his 18th birthday on April 2nd 1940. Whilst a Boy Seaman he was on the Training Ship Warspite, Grays, Essex. On his reports for the Summer of 1937 he was shown as 1st Class Boy Rating with 3 badges. His schoolwork was showing progress and his seamanship was very good. His conduct was also shown as very good and it was stated under remarks he was steady and well liked.

Bob joined HMS York in June 1939 for a 2 and a half year cruise on the American Station. Bermuda for 4 months, and then, as he put it himself - all over the place.
Bob was then transferred to HMS Orion. He had only been aboard Orion for three weeks before she was severely damaged by enemy bombs on May 29, 1941. Bob was amongst the 112 crew members that died that day or died later from wounds received during the attack. Off the 100 soldiers aboard 150 were killed and 300 wounded