Thornycroft W-Class
destroyer included in the 10th Order of the 1916 - 17 Programme for build by Thornycroft at Woolston. She was
laid down on 25th April 1917and launched on 27th January 1918 as the first RN ship
to carry the name which had been chosen as a compliment to this shipbuilder who
had been associated with the design and build of destroyers since 1874. Build
was completed on 28th June that year. After service
with the Fleet during WW1 she was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic
Fleet in 1921 .Later the Flotilla transferred to the Mediterranean before being
placed in Reserve. During 1938 she was selected for conversion to an AA Escort
by HM Dockyard Chatham. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK in March 1942 this
ship was adopted by Congleton, Cheshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941 - ARCTIC 1942
-
NORTH SEA 1941-43
- SICILY
1943
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black, a Roman galley, Silver.
M o t t o
Quo majores ducunt: 'Where our forefathers lead we follow'
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
September Under refit and
conversion for use as an AA Escort (WAIR).
(For
details of conversion see V&W DESTROYERS 1917-45 by A Preston).
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to that used by Escort
Destroyers.)
October Post refit
trials and commissioned for service.
November Joined Nore
Command for convoy defence in Channel and North Sea.
December Convoy Defence
in Nore Command in continuation.
1 9 4 0
January Deployed for
convoy defence and patrol in
North Sea and Channel.
to (Note:
Not involved in evacuation of troops from Dunkirk bur retained on convoy.
December defence and
anti-invasion patrol duties).
1 9 4 1
January Nore Command
deployment in continuation.
to (Note:
Detached for defence of Atlantic convoys in Western Approaches).
December For details of
North Sea convoy duties see THREE CORVETTES by
N Monsarrat) .
1 9 4 2
January Nore Command
deployment in continuation.
February Nominated for
detached service with Home Fleet.
Passage to join Home Fleet at
Scapa Flow.
March Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE
V and DUKE OF YORK,
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN. HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS. HM Cruisers BERWICK
and KENYA with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN,
ECHO, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR,
FURY, GROVE, ICARUS, INCONSTANT, INTREPID,
JAVELIN, LANCASTER, LEDBURY,
LOOKOUT, ONSLOW, PUNJABI, TARTAR, VERDUN and
WELLS, covering passage
of Russian Convoy PQ12 and returning Convoy PQ8.
(For details of all Russian convoy operations
see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS
by B Schoefield
and CONVOY ! by P Kemp).
On release from Home Fleet duties resumed convoy
defence in Nore Command.
April North Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January North Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
May
June
Nominated for detached service
in
Atlantic for
defence of military convoys prior
to allied landings
in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).
20th Passage to
Clyde
to join escort for military convoy WS31 during passage to Gibraltar.
21st Deployed with HM Destroyers ARROW, BLANKNEY, BLENCATHRA, BRECON,
BRISSENDEN,
HAMBLEDON, LEDBURY, MENDIP, VICEROY, WALLACE and
WITHERINGTON as part of
WS31 Ocean Escort.
26th Detached from WS31 on arrival at Gibraltar.
July Passage to Bone
Nominated for service with Eastern Support in
Escort Group V.
7th Sailed from Bone as part of military convoy KMF18 during passage to
beach head.
9th Detached from KMF18 to refuel in Malta.
10th Passage to join Escort Group to provide AA defence in anchorage of
beach head and for interception
patrol in support of landing operations.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by Corelli Bamett and Naval
Staff History).
(Note: Major ships in Support Force included H
M Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND, UGANDA,
MAURITIUS, ORION, CARLISLE, COLOMBO and DELHI).
August
On release from HUSKY took passage to
resume duties in Nore Command..
September
Coastal convoy defence in
North Sea in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January North Sea coastal convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
to (Note: Not deployed in support of allied landings
in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
December
See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).
1 9 4 5
January North Sea deployment in continuation.
to (Note: During this period German minelaying and
SCHNORKEL submarine activities
April greatly increased and additional patrols were made
to ensure safe passage
of convoys
including those to
Belgium)
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).
May
After VJ Day
deployed for escort of minesweepers.
14th Provided escort with HM Destroyer WOLFHOUND during clearance of
minefields prior
to
re-occupation of
Stavanger.
June North Sea deployment in support of military
re-occupation of European countries.
to
August
Special Note
This
destroyer, modified in 1939 to provide AA defence for convoys, was another of
the many unsung heroines of the
continuous
struggle against both enemy and weather to ensure safe passage of East coast
convoys. Little publicity was given of
actions against E-Boats and aircraft nor of dangers faced and met with great
courage. It should be remembered that
many convoys arrived without loss.
Post War Notes
HMS
WOOLSTON was Paid-off and was reduced to Reserve status after VJ Day and was
not redeployed.
She was placed
on the Disposal List in 1946 and sold to BISCO on 18th February 1947 for
demolition by G Brunton at Grangemouth
The
ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on the Forth later that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WOOLSTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
03/11/39
|
03/11/39
|
FS 0031
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39 |
09/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
FS 0034
|
11/11/39
|
11/11/39 |
15/11/39
|
15/11/39
|
FS 0037
|
17/11/39
|
17/11/39 |
19/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
FS 0039
|
21/11/39
|
21/11/39 |
23/12/39
|
23/12/39
|
FS 0058
|
24/12/39
|
24/12/39 |
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
FN 0059
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39 |
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
FS 0063
|
05/01/40
|
05/01/40 |
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
FS 0082
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40 |
05/02/40
|
05/02/40
|
FS 0088
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40 |
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
FS 0105
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40 |
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
FS 0116
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40 |
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FN 0118
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40 |
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
FS 0122
|
17/03/40
|
17/03/40 |
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
FN 0123
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40 |
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
FN 0124
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40 |
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
FS 0132
|
30/03/40
|
30/03/40 |
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
MT 039
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40 |
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
TM 037
|
03/04/40
|
03/04/40 |
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
FS 0138
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40 |
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
FN 0140
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40 |
19/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
FS 0150
|
21/04/40
|
21/04/40 |
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
FS 0156
|
28/04/40
|
28/04/40 |
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
MT 060
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40 |
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
FS 0191
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40 |
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
MT 085
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40 |
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
FN 0194
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40 |
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
MT 089
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40 |
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
FS 0197
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40 |
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FN 0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40 |
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FS 0203
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40 |
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
MT 094
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40 |
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FN 0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40 |
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
FS 0215
|
07/07/40
|
07/07/40 |
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FN 0217
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40 |
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FN 0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40 |
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FS 0221
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40 |
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
FN 0224
|
17/07/40
|
18/07/40 |
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FS 0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40 |
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
FN 0229
|
24/07/40
|
24/07/40 |
31/07/40
|
01/08/40
|
FS 0238
|
02/08/40
|
02/08/40 |
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FN 0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40 |
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
FS 0245
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40 |
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
FS 0252
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40 |
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
FN 0265
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40 |
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
FS 0269
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40 |
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FN 0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40 |
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
FS 0278
|
14/09/40
|
14/09/40 |
14/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
FN 0280
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40 |
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
FN 0283
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40 |
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
FS 0286
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40 |
22/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
FN 0288
|
24/09/40
|
24/09/40 |
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
FN 0298
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40 |
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
FS 0304
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40 |
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
FN 0306
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40 |
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
FS 0311
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40 |
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FN 0314
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40 |
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
FS 0321
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40 |
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
FN 0323
|
01/11/40
|
01/11/40 |
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
FN 0331
|
12/11/40
|
12/11/40 |
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
FS 0335
|
16/11/40
|
16/11/40 |
17/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
FN 0336
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40 |
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FS 0346
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40 |
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FN 0347
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40 |
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FS 0353
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40 |
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
FN 0355
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40 |
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
FS 0360
|
15/12/40
|
15/12/40 |
25/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
FS 0371
|
28/12/40
|
28/12/40 |
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
FS 0385
|
13/01/41
|
13/01/41 |
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
FS 0396
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41 |
29/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
FN 0395
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41 |
04/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
FN 0399
|
06/02/41
|
06/02/41 |
10/02/41
|
05/03/41
|
SL 065
|
07/03/41
|
08/03/41 |
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
OB 297
|
17/03/41
|
17/03/41 |
05/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
HX 113
|
20/03/41
|
21/03/41 |
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
OG 057
|
01/04/41
|
11/04/41 |
27/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
OB 316
|
29/04/41
|
05/05/41 |
03/08/41
|
07/08/41
|
OS 002
|
10/08/41
|
22/08/41 |
24/07/41
|
10/08/41
|
SL 082
|
15/08/41
|
15/08/41 |
01/10/41
|
01/10/41
|
BB 083
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41 |
20/10/41
|
20/10/41
|
BB 091
|
22/10/41
|
22/10/41 |
01/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
PQ 012
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42 |
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
MKF 017
|
30/06/43
|
30/06/43 |
13/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
UGS 010
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43 |
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF 018
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43 |
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS 010X
|
25/07/43
|
13/08/43 |
26/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
MKS 019Y
|
31/07/43
|
31/07/43 |
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
MKF 020
|
04/08/43
|
11/08/43 |
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
MKS 020
|
04/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)