Sub Lieutenant (S) John Richard Biddulph SIDEBOTHAM RN
HMS Dorsetshire Royal Navy

Date of birth: 9th July 1920
Date of death: 5th April 1942

Killed in action aged 21
Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 63 Column 1
He was born at Epsom, Surrey on the 9th of July 1920 the son of John Biddulph Sidebotham CMG MA (OKS), an Assistant Secretary at the Colonial Office, and Mary (nee Blaschek later Campbell) of 8, Rose Hill, Dorking, Surrey.

He was educated at Windlesham House Preparatory School and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1934 to March 1938 where he was in School House and was a scholar.

On leaving school he passed into the Royal Navy with a Paymaster Cadetship on the 1st of September 1938. He was promoted to Paymaster Midshipman on the 1st of September 1939.
He was posted to the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (40) where he served as secretary to Captain Augustus Willington Shelton Agar VC DSO RN.

At the beginning of April 1942, HMS Dorsetshire was undergoing a refit at Colombo in Ceylon, in order to increase her anti aircraft armament, when she was ordered to put to sea as British Intelligence had warned that a Japanese battle fleet was approaching Ceylon from the east. At 10pm on the evening of the 4th of April 1942 HMS Dorsetshire, and the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall, set sail from Colombo and headed towards the Maldives where they were to rendezvous with other ships at 4pm the following day. At dawn on the 5th of April 1942 they were sailing in waters some 300 miles to the south west of Ceylon when action stations were rung. At 1pm a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft was spotted which was followed a short time later by fifty Japanese “Val” dive bombers which began to attack out of the sun at 1.40pm. In spite of fierce resistance from the crews of HMS Dorsetshire and from the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (56), both ships were sunk. Captain Agar survived the sinking but two hundred and twenty seven of his crew did not. The survivors of both ships were in the water for some thirty hours before being picked up by the cruiser HMS Enterprise and the destroyers HMS Paladin and HMS Panther.

His mother received the following telegram: -

"From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that it is now confirmed that your son Paymaster Sub Lieutenant J.R.B. Sidebotham RN was serving in HMS Dorsetshire at the time of loss and that his death must now be presumed."

In a letter dated the 9th of June 1942, Captain Agar wrote: -

"I have just returned home to England, and am writing to tell you how much I grieve for you in the loss of your son who was my secretary in "Dorsetshire" when she was sunk."The Sec" as we called him, and I were devoted to each other-at least I was devoted to him, apart from his duties. he was the most lovable and unselfish creature that ever lived, and had such a fine character. Everybody on board liked him, and his loss means not only a lot to me but the Service as well. Where he actually was when the ship sank I don't know, but he must have been in the Cypher Room at his Action Stations. The attack was over very suddenly, and from the beginning to the time we sank could not have been more than 10 to 20 minutes, so those who met their end on board must have done so very quickly which in a way was merciful. There were some of us in the water for 30 hours afterwards, but he was not among these. It is not easy to write this letter telling these details, but I feel that when one knows this the worst is over. Of all those I lost on the ship I can candidly say I have felt his loss the most. He gave his life for his Country, and no man can do more. We who are left behind can but carry on and wait until we meet again on the other side."

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Brockham and on the memorial in St Stephen’s Church at Shottermill in Surrey. He is also commemorated on the memorial at Windlesham House Preparatory School.

School House

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