MARCH
1940
Canada
- William MacKenzie King,
Prime Minister of Canada was
re-elected by a massive
majority in support of the
government's war policies.
German
Raiders -
Converted from a merchantman
and heavily armed, auxiliary
cruiser “Atlantis” sailed
for the Indian Ocean round
the Cape of Good Hope. In
1941 she moved into the
South Atlantic, and
operations lasted for a
total of 20 months until her
loss in November 1941. She
was the first of nine active
raiders, seven of which went
out in 1940. Only one ever
broke out for a second
cruise. Their success was
not so much due to their
sinkings and captures - a
creditable average of 15
ships of 90,000 tons for
each raider, but the
disruption they caused in
every ocean. At a time when
the Royal Navy was short of
ships, convoys had to be
organised and patrols
instituted in many areas. In
1940 raiders accounted for
54 ships of 370,000 tons.
The first German raider was
not caught until May 1941 -
14 months on.
Battle
of the Atlantic -
U-boats started
withdrawing from the
Western Approaches to
prepare for the German
invasion of Norway. In
preparation for the vital
transport role she, sister
"Queen Mary" and other
fast liners played in the
Allies strategic moves,
the nearly completed
"Queen Elizabeth" sailed
independently on her
maiden voyage from
Scotland to New York for
conversion to a troopship.
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Friday,
1 March 1940
Lord Wakefield
JOHNSON, Henry A, Seaman Cook, C/JX
164379, died
Lynx
CONNELLY, James, Stoker 1c, C/KX
76450, died
Wild Swan
TETT, Ramsay R, Py/Midshipman, RNR,
drowned
Saturday,
2 March 1940
Perth (RAN), light cruiser
SANDALL, Edgar J, Stoker Petty
Officer, 13877 (RAN), illness, died
Speedwell
MACDONALD, Colin, Seaman, RNR (PS),
C/6756 C, died
Victory I
BARWICK, Ernest W, Able Seaman, P/J
58383, illness, died
Sunday,
3 March 1940
FAA, 816 Sqn, Furious, aircraft carrier, air
crash
STERN, John D, Lieutenant (A), killed
STRANACK, Bruce E H, Lieutenant,
killed
WHITE, James W, Naval Airman, FAA/JX
138781, killed
Red Sky
SKEGGS, William I, Seaman, C/JX
180702, died
Monday,
4 March 1940
Nelson, battleship
SPARKS, James E, Sick Berth Attendant,
P/MX 57126, died
Victory
HART, Joseph, Able Seaman, RNVR,
P/ESD/X 427, died
Thursday,
7 March 1940
Aberdeen
HILL, Thomas F, Able Seaman, D/J
98595, illness, died
Dauntless, light cruiser
FALLICK, Frederick, Ordinary Seaman,
P/JX 168831, died
Drake
SMITH, Henry, Ordinary Telegraphist,
D/SR 8243, illness, died
RM Portsmouth Division
HUGHES, Thomas A, Marine, EX 1010,
killed
Friday,
8 March 1940
Abbotsford, steamship
JOHANSON, Stanley, Able Seaman, RNVR,
C/LX 5120, (President III, O/P), MPK
Saturday,
9 March 1940
Akeld, steamship
LAWS, Harold J, Able Seaman, RNVR,
C/LX 4126, (President III, O/P), MPK
Argyllshire
MCHAFFIE, John F, Ordinary Seaman,
RNPS, LT/JX 166984, drowned
Sunday,
10 March 1940
Defiance
ELLIS, Herbert O, Electrical Artificer
1c, D/MX 57297, illness, died
Malcolm
DEAN, William, Stoker Petty Officer,
C/K 19620, accident, killed
Popinjay
CRICHTON, Charles C, Cook, RNPS, LT/JX
183603, drowned
Westward Ho
HUDSON, Leonard, Able Seaman, RFR, D/J
93804 D 128, drowned
Monday,
11 March 1940
11th
- “U-31” was bombed and sunk
by a RAF Blenheim of Bomber
Command in the Heligoland
Bight. She was salvaged and
recommissioned, but finally
lost eight months later.
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Arthur Cavanagh
MELBOURNE, Robert A, Engineman, RNPS,
LT/KX 101260, died
Cyclops
PAGE, Charles H, Ordinary Seaman,
C/SSX 27180, died
FAA, 812 Sqn, Glorious, aircraft carrier,
air crash
FRENCH, Terence W G, Lieutenant,
killed
LAWRENCE, George A, Leading
Aircraftsman, 535681 (RAF), killed
RILEY, John O, Naval Airman 1c, D/JX
143854, killed
Transylvania
DAPP, Trayton V, Leading Seaman,
P/237789, illness, died
Tuesday,
12 March 1940
Cyclops
KELLY, James R, Stoker 1c, C/KX 99616,
died
FAA, 758 Sqn, Raven, air crash
PHILCOX, Philip G, Ty/Lieutenant (A),
RNVR, killed
Mackay
BUTTERWORTH, Arthur, Engine Room
Artificer, D/MX 56780, drowned
Pembroke
SMALLEY, Ernest A, Signalman, C/JX
133605, died
Raven
LEWIS, Douglas, Able Seaman, D/JX
151777, accident, killed
Royal Arthur
BRADLEY, Patrick J, Ordinary Seaman,
P/JX 176241, died
Wednesday,
13 March 1940
Russo-Finnish
War, Conclusion - A
peace treaty on the 13th
brought the war to a close,
with Finland ceding the
disputed territory to the
Soviet Union.
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Berwick, heavy cruiser
PEMBERTON, Henry C, Able Seaman, P/JX
144882, died
Spearfish, submarine
BROWNE, Gordon D, Lieutenant, motor
accident, died
Thursday,
14 March 1940
Eagle (right - NavyPhotos), aircraft
carrier, accident
EVES, Harry R, Able Seaman, P/J 95224,
killed
GRAHAM, Joseph, Leading Seaman, P/JX
131304, killed
HAMILTON, Robert G, Able Seaman, P/SSX
19719, killed
HARRIS, William A, Able Seaman, P/JX
161350, killed
HENDRY, William, Able Seaman, P/SSX
22170, killed
KEECH, Reginald R, Gunner, killed
KENNEDY, Donald, Able Seaman, P/SSX
16040, killed
LAIDLER, Everard C C, Able Seaman,
P/SSX 20079, killed
MCFARLANE, Hugh, Able Seaman, P/SSX
20732, killed
NICOL, James W, Able Seaman, P/SSX
16981, killed
PROBERT, James, Able Seaman, P/SSX
21129, killed
RESTELL, George S, Leading Seaman,
P/JX 132795, killed
WOODS, George E, Able Seaman, P/JX
128665, killed
Exeter, heavy cruiser, Battle of the River
Plate
FREDERICK, James T, Able Seaman, D/JX
143564, DOW
Fareham
DONNELLY, William, Leading Seaman,
D/JX 126358, accident, killed
President III
JONES, Ernest, Marine, PO/210531,
illness, died
Friday,
15 March 1940
Illustrious, fleet carrier
MORGAN, Stuart G, Stoker 2c, D/KX
99107, died
Melrose, steamship
OLIVER, John, Able Seaman, P/JX
167294, (President III, O/P), MPK
Mount Ard
GAYTHER, Albert, Ty/Boom Engineer,
died
Saturday,
16 March 1940
16th
- Home Fleet was bombed in
Scapa Flow and heavy cruiser
Norfolk damaged.
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Berwick, heavy cruiser
CRANE, Mervyn H, Able Seaman, P/SSX
16141, died
Eagle, aircraft carrier
ROBINSON, Edward, Ordinary Seaman,
P/JX 1551561, accident, DOW
Maida,
ship loss
COOK, Harold, Seaman, RNPS, LT/177173, MPK
INNES, Arthur J, Seaman, RNPS, LT/SR
51910, MPK
NICHOLLS, Victor C, 1st Engineer,
RNPS, LT/KX 99977, MPK
THUBRON, John, Stoker 1c, C/K 67318,
MPK
UTTING, Roland M, Ty/Skipper, RNR, MPK
WYLIE, Claude R E, 2nd Hand, RNPS,
LT/JX 173445, MPK
Norfolk (right - NavyPhotos), bombing
BAXTER, James F, Warrant Engineer,
RNR, killed
BUSK, John W, Midshipman, killed
EVANS-LOMBE, Richard C, Midshipman,
killed
PICK, David B P, Paymaster Midshipman,
killed
Peregrine
WHENHAM, John W V, Act/Sub Lieutenant
(A), illness, died
Victory
SHANNAHAN, Jim G, Chief Petty Officer
Stoker, P/309131, died
TOWNSEND, Arthur J, Petty Officer
Telegraphist, P/J 48376, died
Norway
- In spite of abandoning plans
to help Finland, Britain and
France decided to disrupt
Swedish iron ore traffic to
Germany by mining Norwegian
waters (Operation 'Wilfred').
Plans were also made to land
troops - from south to north,
at Stavanger, Bergen,
Trondheim and Narvik to
forestall any German
retaliation (Operation 'R4).
The entire operation was timed
for 8th April 1940.
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Sunday,
17 March 1940
Mooltan
MURRAY, John, Wiper, T.124 907049, MPK
Osprey
MULLEY, John, Petty Officer, D/215115,
died
Monday,
18 March 1940
Grimsby Town
ANDERSON, William C, Seaman, RNR (PS),
LT/X 20432 A, drowned
Maidstone
MOORE, Joseph E, Able Seaman, P/JX
152828, died
Tuesday,
19 March 1940
Excellent
HAMER, Richard, Able Seaman, P/J
100134, died
Jervis, collision
BARRON, Alexander W K, Boy, C/SSX
27894, MPK
BEAVIS, Charles R, Stoker 2c, C/KX
99718, MPK
BOORMAN, Frederick J, Able Seaman,
C/JX143090, MPK
COLEBROOKE, William, Boy, C/SSX 30051,
MPK
CONDREY, Jack, Ordinary Seaman, C/SSX
26833, killed
COYNE, Frederick, Boy 1c, C/JX 156039,
killed
GODDARD, Reginald M, Able Seaman, C/JX
135636, MPK
HOUGHTON, Jack, Able Seaman, C/JX
137627, MPK
LAIT, Sidney, Able Seaman, C/J 100183,
killed
LAMBERT, Geoffrey, Telegraphist, C/JX
150913, MPK
MORLEY, Walter P, Leading Stoker, C/KX
77081, MPK
NISBET, John F, Leading Stoker, C/KX
83898, MPK
PARKER, Alfred J, Leading Stoker, C/KX
79760, MPK
PARKINSON, George D, Able Seaman,
C/SSX 14728, MPK
PEARL, Wilfred C, Able Seaman, C/SSX
20165, MPK
PITCHER, Sidney V, Stoker 1c, C/K
60950, MPK
SHORTT, Dorrington, Act/Leading
Signalman, C/JX 132580, MPK
SMYTH, Richard T, Stoker 1c, C/KX
89947, MPK
Wednesday,
20 March 1940
20th
- Home Fleet battlecruisers to
the north of the Shetlands
covered a cruiser sweep into
the Skagerrak. German U-boat
“U-44” was sighted and sunk by
escorting destroyer “Fortune”.
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Acheron
HENSON, Frederick W, Ordinary Seaman,
P/JX 169362, illness, died
Hawkins, cruiser
PALMER, Maurice, Stoker 1c, P/KX
84973, accident, killed
Thursday,
21 March 1940
Pembroke
HARDING, Harold J, Able Seaman, C/J
8680, died
Friday,
22 March 1940
Anthony
EASTWOOD, Harry, Engine Room Artificer
1c, P/MX 54077, died
Devonshire, heavy cruiser
RODDA, Cecil F, Air Fitter, FAA/FX
77253, accident, killed
Ranchi
WISSON, Maurice C, Ty/Act/Sub
Lieutenant (E), RNR, died
RM Deal Barracks
HAWKSWORTH, James F, Sergeant,
PO/16101, died
Sparrowhawk
BLACK, William, Air Fitter (O), 77318,
accident, killed
Strathderry
ANDERSON, Archie Y, Stoker, RNPS,
LT/KX 103173, died
Whirlwind
REED, Alfred G, Able Seaman, C/J
77966, died
Saturday,
23 March 1940
Loch Shin
BEATON, Angus, Leading Seaman, RNR,
C/5433 D S 4530, accident, killed
Victory II
HILL, Leonard, Leading Steward, P/L
7456, road accident, killed
Sunday,
24 March 1940
Shropshire, heavy cruiser, both died in road
accident
LAWSON, George A, Surgeon Lieutenant
Commander
STAINTON, Philip G, Surgeon Lieutenant
Monday,
25 March 1940
Daghestan, steamship
BELL, John, Marine, CH/X 20925,
(President III, O/P), missing
Tuesday,
26 March 1940
St Angelo
TURTON, Alfred H, Commissioned Gunner,
died
Thursday,
28 March 1940
Pembroke
MCCARTNEY, William J, Able Seaman,
C/JX 144699, illness, died
Peregrine
PATTEN, Guy, Leading Airman, FAA/FX
77508, died
Friday,
29 March 1940
Ganges
WILLIAMSON, Frederick, Boy 2c, JX
161128, died
Saucy
SHEEPWASH, Bertie, 2nd Engineer,
T.124, illness, died
Saturday,
30 March 1940
Cochrane
JOSS, George, Ty/Boom Engineer, RNR,
illness, died
Shipping
War Loss Summary -
March 1940
2
British, Allied and
neutral ships of 11,000
tons
in the Atlantic from
all causes; 1 U-boat.
43
British, Allied and
neutral ships of 96,000
tons in UK waters; 1
U-boat
Mine
Warfare
- Since September 1939,
430,000 tons of shipping
had been sent to the
bottom by mines around the
coasts of Britain - a loss
rate only second to
U-boats. Now the Royal
Navy slowly countered
magnetic mines with the
introduction of
ship-degaussing and 'LL'
minesweeping gear.
Although mines - contact,
magnetic and later
acoustic remained a threat
throughout the war, they
were never again the
danger they represented in
the first few months.
DEFENCE
OF TRADE - FIRST SEVEN
MONTHS
In
the period September 1939
to the end of March 1940,
much of the Royal Navy's
efforts had been directed
to organising the
protection of trade both
to and from Britain as
well as around the British
Isles. The small number of
U-boats operating out in
the Atlantic in the South
Western Approaches as well
as in the North Sea had
their successes, but
mainly against
independently-routed
shipping. Losses in UK
waters were high from both
U-boats and mines, but
from now on enemy
submarines disappeared
from UK coastal areas for
more than four years until
mid-1944. The struggle to
keep Britain in the war
moved more and more out
into the Atlantic and even
further afield over the
years to come.
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SUMMARY OF ROYAL
NAVY LOSSES -
JANUARY to MARCH
1940
During
this final period of
the "Phoney War",
907 Royal Navy men
died, mainly at sea.
Ships lost included
destroyers Exmouth,
Grenville, Daring,
and submarines
Seahorse, Undine and
Starfish - the
latter two without
casualties. The
March 1940 loss of
115 men was exceeded
in every subsequent
month of the war,
the maximum being
3,780 in May 1941
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