Repeat
Admiralty W-Class destroyer ordered from J S
White at Cowes, IoW with the 14th Order in
the
1917-18 Build Programme. She was laid down
on 27th September 1918 and launched
on 16th January 1919 as the 1st RN ship to
carry the name. Build was completed
on 10th October 1919 and the ship joined the
3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the
Atlantic Fleet. The Flotilla served in Home
waters in the early 1920's and then
in the Mediterranean before going to the
China Station in 1926. She was put
into Reserve during the 1930’s when more
modern ships became available. Brought
forward in 1939 and manned largely by
Reservists this destroyer was adopted
in February 1942 by the civil community of
the City of Durham following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign.
At
Toulon 20 April 1930
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-44 - NORWAY 1940 - ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1940
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a field black, A
sinister Leg Gold, couped
at the knee Red.
(Note: Richard
Witherington had
his legs cut off at Chevy Chase and 'fought
upon his stumps' -
the
'Ballad of
Chevy Chase')
M o t t
o
'I
will not fail'
D e t a
i l s o f W a
r
S e r v i c e
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1 9 3 9
August
Commissioned with Reservists for attendance
at Royal Review of the Reserve Fleet in
Weymouth
Bay.
Remained in commission when Fleet mobilised.
War Station allocated for service in 15th
Destroyer Flotilla in Western Approaches
Command.
September
On completion of storing and war complement
took passage to Milford Haven
Deployed with 15th Destroyer Flotilla in
Western Approaches for convoy defence.
Based at Milford Haven and escorted Convoy
GC1.
October
SW Approaches deployment in continuation.
(For details of naval activities in Home
waters see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE
THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)
1 9 4 0
January
Deployed for patrol and convoy defence in
Western Approaches.
16th
Joined inward Convoy HG15 from Gibraltar with HM Sloop WELLINGTON for
escort during
passage into Liverpool.
Detached from HG15 and took passage to
return to join outward Convoy OG15 leaving
HMS
WELLINGTON as escort for final stage.
Deployed with HM Destroyers KEITH and
WHIRLWIND as escort for outward Convoy OG15
during initial stage of passage to Gibraltar
when formed in SW Approaches.
Detached from OG15 on relief by French
warship for onward passage.
Joined outward Convoy OG16 on formation in
SW Approaches as escort with HM Destroyers
WALPOLE and WHITSHED during initial stage of
passage to Gibraltar.
Detached on arrival of two French warships
for remainder of passage.
February
SW Approaches convoy escort and patrol in
continuation
to
March
April
10th
Transferred to Scapa Flow for detached service with Home Fleet after German invasion of
Norway.
11th
Part of the escort for military convoy NP1
during passage to Narvik with H M Cruisers
MANCHESTER,
BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyers
VOLUNTEER, VANOC, WHIRLWIND
and HIGHLANDER.
(Note HM Netlayer PROTECTOR was also in this
convoy.)
Convoy also ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, rms
MONARCH OF BERMUDA,
ss REINO DEL PACIFICO, Polish ss BATORY and
ss CHOBRY).
(Operation RUPERT - See NARVIK by D
Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by
Adams and The Naval Staff History for
details of the disastrous operations off
Norway).
14th
Convoy joined by H M Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruiser VINDICTIVE, H M Destroyers
ACASTA, ARDENT, CODRINGTON, FEARLESS,
GRIFFIN and BRAZEN.
Destination of convoy changed after
instructions to carry out landings at Namsos
were received
(Operation HENRY)
Detached with HMS VALIANT and other
destroyers to escort MONARCH OF BERMUDA and
REINO DEL PACIFICO to Vaagsfjord whilst the
other two troopships took passage to
Namsos.
15th
After arrival at Harstad deployed for convoy
escort between UK and Norway.
29th
Carried out anti-submarine operations with
HM Destroyer HERO.
(Note: Claim to have sunk U50 was disproved
after WW2 when it was shown U50 had been
sunk by a mine some days earlier - See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp)
May
Norwegian convoy defence and support of
military operations in continuation.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to 176.
June
8th
Escorted Group 1 of evacuation convoy from
NARVIK with H M Destroyers WOLVERINE,
ANTELOPE, VISCOUNT and ATHERSTONE from the
Faeroes for passage to Clyde.
July
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence in Western
Approaches.
to
(For details of U-Boat deployments see
U-BOATS IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and
September
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C BLAIR.)
October
3rd
Joined military convoy WS3A in Clyde with HM
Destroyers HARVESTER,
HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK, HURRICANE and VISCOUNT
as Local Escort during
passage in NW Approaches.
10th
Detached from WS3A with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
Taken in hand for refit.
November
Under refit
December
Post refit harbour and sea trials.
Work-up
1 9 4 1
January
11th
Diverted during passage from refit to escort
HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK
during minelay in the Northern Barrage
(Operation BS50).
Detached because of weather conditions.
(Note: This operation had already been
cancelled twice for the same reason).
12th
Joined military convoy WS5B in Clyde with HM
Destroyers BEAGLE, FEARLESS,
LINCOLN, HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER, JACKAL,
LEAMINGTON, VANSITTART,
WATCHMAN and Free French destroyer LEOPARD
as Local Escort during passage in NW
Approaches.
14th
Detached from WS5B with FS LEOPARD and
returned to Clyde.
February
Western Approaches convoy defence in
continuation.
to
November
December
9th
Joined military convoy WS14 in Clyde with HM
Destroyers BEVERLEY, CROOME,
NEWARK,
LANCASTER, SHERWOOD, WESTCOTT,
FOXHOUND, GURKHA, NESTOR
and HM AA Ship ULSTER QUEEN as Local Escort
during passage in NW Approaches.
12th
Detached from WS5B with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
1 9 4 2
January
12th
Joined military convoy W315 in Clyde with HM
Destroyers VANOC, WALKER,
VANQUISHER and VANSITTART as Local Escort
during passage in NW Approaches.
17th
Detached than WS15 with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
February
17th
Joined military convoy WS16 in Clyde with HM
Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
BLANKNEY, BLANKNEY CROOME, DUNCAN,
FIREDRAKE, LIGHTNING, VERITY,
and WALKER as Local Escort for passage in NW
approaches.
22nd
Detached with HMS VERITY and HMS WALKER and
returned to Clyde.
Withdrawn from service for conversion into a
Short Range Escort.
(See V&W DESTROYERS by A Preston).
March
Under conversion
to
(Note: Radar Type 271 fitted for surface
warning. See RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse, Close
August
Range AA armament increased.)
September
On completion of post refit trials worked up
for convoy defence duties.
October
Deployed in Western Approaches.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
(For details of tactics and weapons used in
the Atlantic battle see THE BATTLE OF
THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
24th
Reinforced escort of Convoy HX226 with HM
Destroyer MANSFIELD after heavy
U-Boat attacks.
February
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
March
Part of escort for Convoy HX229.
(Note: This convoy was subjected to
sustained attacks by DRANGER Group of
U-Boats.
For details of the defence of this convoy,
which probably marked the turning of the
Battle
of the Atlantic in the favour of the allies
see CONVOY by H. Middlebrook, U-BOAT WAR
IN THE ATLANTIC and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR).
April
Atlantic convoy defence deployment in
continuation.
to
May
June
21st
Joined HM Destroyers ARROW, BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN.
HAMBLEDON, LEDBURY, MENDIP, VICEROY, WALLACE
and WOOLSTON in Clyde
for Local Escort of joint military convoy
WS31/KMF17 during passage in NW Approaches.
26th
Detached from WS31/KMF17 on relief by
destroyers from Gibraltar and took passage
to
Alexandria for convoy escort of Follow-up
convoys to Sicily in support of allied
assault on Sicily
(Operation HUSKY).
July
9th
Sailed from Alexandria as part of escort for
Follow-up Convoy MWF37 with HM Destroyers
VENOMOUS and WISHART during passage to
Syracuse.
13th
Detached from MWF37on arrival at Syracuse
and
deployed for convoy escort in Eastern
Mediterranean.
August
Mediterranean deployment for convoy escort
and support of military operations
to
October.
November
Deployed in Gibraltar area.
1st
Took part in sinking of U340 with HM
Destroyer ACTIVE, HM Sloop FLEETWOOD and two
WELLINGTON aircraft of 179 Squadron RAF.
48 survivors were recovered later from a
Spanish trawler.
(Note: Despite Spanish claims of
infringement of territorial waters, the
action was justified by
the need for medical aid to the German
personnel.)
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
December
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 4
January
Deployed in SW Approaches for convoy
defence.
to
(Note: This ship was not used for convoy
defence of invasion convoys during the
allied landings
December
in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE), See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY (HMSO) which
records names of escorts involved).
1 9 4 5
January
Convoy defence deployment in continuation.
to
(Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed
through English Channel and U-Boat attack
May
by Schnorkel-fitted submarines was being
concentrated on focal points of convoy
assembly. Additional escorts were deployed
in Channel in view of this threat).
P o s
t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
WITHERINGTON was paid
off and reduced to Reserve status after the
end of the European war .She was
placed on the Disposal List after VJ Day. Sold
to Metal Industries for breaking-up
on 20th March 1947 she was taken in tow to the
Breaker's yard at Charlestown,
near Rosyth but broke adrift on 29th April
1947 and was wrecked.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WITHERINGTON
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/09/39
|
05/09/39
|
RED
1
|
08/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
OB
021
|
20/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
|
27/10/39
|
27/10/39
|
OB
026
|
30/10/39
|
01/11/39
|
|
06/11/39
|
06/11/39
|
OB
031
|
09/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
|
31/10/39
|
10/11/39
|
HXF
007
|
12/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
|
20/11/39
|
20/11/39
|
OB
038
|
23/11/39
|
23/11/39
|
|
08/11/39
|
23/11/39
|
SL
008
|
24/11/39
|
24/11/39
|
|
30/11/39
|
30/11/39
|
OB
044
|
03/12/39
|
03/12/39
|
|
25/11/39
|
04/12/39
|
HXF
010
|
06/12/39
|
09/12/39
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
OB
050
|
11/12/39
|
13/12/39
|
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
OG
010
|
13/12/39
|
16/12/39
|
|
19/12/39
|
19/12/39
|
OB
056
|
21/12/39
|
21/12/39
|
|
18/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
SL
013
|
06/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
|
08/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
OB
069
|
12/01/40
|
13/01/40
|
|
16/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
HG
015
|
19/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
OB
075
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
OG
015
|
22/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
|
27/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
OB
080
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
OG
016
|
31/01/40
|
04/02/40
|
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
OB
086
|
09/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
OB
116
|
27/03/40
|
27/03/40
|
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
NP
001
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
|
24/04/40
|
24/04/40
|
TM
001/1
|
27/04/40
|
27/04/40
|
|
12/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
TC
004
|
21/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
HEBREW
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
OB
173
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
OG
035
|
28/06/40
|
01/07/40
|
|
21/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
HG
035
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
OA
177G
|
02/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
|
07/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
OB
180
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
WS
003A
|
unknown
|
27/10/40
|
|
30/09/40
|
11/10/40
|
HX
077
|
16/10/40
|
17/10/40
|
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
HX
082
|
04/11/40
|
06/11/40
|
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
OB
235
|
30/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
OB
241
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
|
31/10/40
|
15/11/40
|
HG
046
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
|
23/11/40
|
23/11/40
|
OB
248
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
|
14/11/40
|
27/11/40
|
HX
087
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
|
13/11/40
|
27/11/40
|
SC
012
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
|
30/01/42
|
07/02/42
|
NA
002
|
08/02/42
|
08/02/42
|
|
03/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
HX
178
|
07/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
|
05/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
ON
073
|
18/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
|
21/03/42
|
21/03/42
|
NA
006
|
23/03/42
|
28/03/42
|
|
27/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
HX
182
|
30/03/42
|
09/04/42
|
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
SC
079
|
15/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
|
14/04/42
|
14/04/42
|
HX
185
|
18/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
|
08/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
ON
084
|
25/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
SC
083
|
12/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
|
06/05/42
|
14/05/42
|
ON
092
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
BX
019
|
23/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
|
19/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
HX
199
|
23/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
|
13/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
ON
112
|
unknown
|
30/07/42
|
|
31/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
BX
031B
|
02/08/42
|
02/08/42
|
|
04/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
SC
095
|
08/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
|
22/08/42
|
22/08/42
|
SC
097
|
26/08/42
|
07/09/42
|
|
22/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
ON
123
|
unknown
|
03/09/42
|
|
05/09/42
|
05/09/42
|
BX
036C
|
07/09/42
|
07/09/42
|
|
03/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
SC
104
|
10/10/42
|
21/10/42
|
|
02/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
ON
135
|
18/10/42
|
21/10/42
|
|
16/10/42
|
19/10/42
|
SC
106
|
23/10/42
|
05/11/42
|
|
25/10/42
|
02/11/42
|
ON
141
|
04/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
|
19/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
HX
216
|
24/11/42
|
06/12/42
|
|
27/11/42
|
02/12/42
|
HX
217
|
03/12/42
|
14/12/42
|
|
11/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
ON
166
|
25/02/43
|
03/03/43
|
|
23/02/43
|
03/03/43
|
SC
121
|
04/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
|
08/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
HX
229
|
15/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
|
20/03/43
|
29/03/43
|
SC
124
|
31/03/43
|
09/04/43
|
|
24/03/43
|
02/04/43
|
ON
175
|
unknown
|
16/04/43
|
|
01/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
HX
232
|
13/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
28/03/43
|
13/04/43
|
ONS
002
|
14/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
|
18/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMF
017
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
|
30/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
KMS
017
|
07/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
MWF
037
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
MEF
037
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
MWF
038
|
24/07/43
|
24/07/43
|
|
17/08/43
|
08/09/43
|
KMS
025G
|
10/09/43
|
30/08/43
|
|
17/09/43
|
30/09/43
|
MKF
024
|
01/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
|
01/10/43
|
01/10/43
|
RS
010
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
|
13/02/44
|
03/03/44
|
UGS
033
|
04/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
MKS
044G
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
SL
153MK
|
13/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
FURTHER INFORMATION on
HMS
WITHERINGTON
from
James D Witherington, USA
HMS
WITHERINGTON's bell hangs in the council
chambers of the city of Durham, England,
as does a plaque of the ship's
badge. It seems that Durham adopted
her during WW2. When she was sold
for scrap, the bell was retrieved and
presented to Durham. It is still
rung at every meeting so I am
told. All the photographs above are
courtesy of Mr Witherington.
The
postcard (see heading
photographs) states on the back that
the "Shah of Persia is on board the
Witherington as it passes through the
British lines around 1926" - an
important piece of history as it was in
1926 that old Persia went out of
existence, and the modern nation of Iran
came into being.
and
from Harry Hicks - another view of HMS
WITHERINGTON with the Shah on board
THE
WRECK OF H.M.S. WITHERINGTON.
from Chris Lambert, Historian,
Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade.
(Note:
this account is dated 1945, but all
other sources give her loss as 1947.
This has not yet been resolved)
Taken from
"The Shields Evening News", Tuesday
May 1st 1945.
(The paper is kept on microfilm at
North Shields Library Local Studies
Centre and is, in places, not
readable at the places indicate in
the transcript below – C.J. Lambert,
February 2010.)
CULLERCOATS
LIFEBOAT RESCUE.
DESTROYER
WRECKED IN GALE ON TYNE PIER ;
CREW SAVED.
Caught by
the fierce northerly wind which was
whipping up the sea into a fury, a
destroyer on her way from the Tyne to
be broken up in Scotland, parted from
her tow ropes and went ashore on the
rocks at the south of the South Pier
on Sunday night. Her skeleton crew of
Shields men was taken off safely by
the Cullercoats lifeboat.
The men
aboard were Mr. Alexander Mitchell, of
24 Glendale Avenue, North Shields,
transport manager of the firm of
Messrs. Alexander Mitchell and Son, of
North Shields, which provided the
following riggers: Ossie Stoker, 5
Abbotsford Park, Monkseaton, Joseph
Esdale, 48 Vicarage Street, North
Shields, Tom Stringer, 28 Windsor
Gardens, North Shields, Albert
McCurry, Henry Street, North Shields
and
(unreadable) Fothergill of
Prospect (unreadable) .John
Coulson, representing Anchor Line of
Steam Tugs, of (unreadable),
which provided (unreadable) was
also on board.
The vessel
had left the Tyne on her last voyage
to be broken up at Rosyth.
TOW ROPE
PARTED.
She was
pounded so fiercely by the waves that
her tow rope parted off St. Abbs Head.
Mr.
Mitchell told a reporter "When the
rope first parted off St. Abbs at
about 1.30 on Sunday morning, we
drifted helplessly down to Berwick.
Finally the tugs got us in tow again,
but the weather was so bad that we
decided to return to the Tyne and
shelter until conditions improved.
We had
rather a tough time coming south again
as the sea was particularly fierce and
as we were nearing the Tyne our tow
rope parted again.
The tugs
again got us in tow with some
difficulty and several ropes were
secured to the destroyer. As we
reached the harbour, the fierce winds
caught the ship again and all the
ropes parted, leaving us to drift
helplessly until the ship crashed on
to the rocks at the south side of the
South Pier."
The ship
was badly damaged and was being
severely pounded by the heavy seas.
Tugs raced for assistance and the
Cullercoats lifeboat under coxswain
James Taylor put to sea.
After a
good deal of manoeuvring the lifeboat
managed to get alongside and get all
the crew off safely.
Because of
the bad weather the lifeboat was
unable to return to Cullercoats, and
the men had to be landed at North
Shields Fish Quay.
The South
Shields Volunteer Life Brigade was on
duty and fired several line-carrying
rockets to the ship, but the breeches
buoy was not needed.
The
destroyer is lying on the rocks with
the seas breaking over and pounding
her to pieces. She is expected to be a
total loss.
Standing
up to their waists in water a number
of Cullercoats women had to launch
the Cullercoats lifeboat Westmorland
when the alarm was received that a
vessel was in distress off the mouth
of the Tyne. The lifeboat was in
charge of Coxswain J. Taylor.
