D or DEFENDER-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from
Palmers on 2nd February 1931 under the 1930 Build Programme. The ship was laid
down on 20th June 1931 at the same time as sister ship HMS DUCHESS. She was
launched on the 16th June 1932 as the 12th RN ship to bear the name, introduced
in 1757, although it had been borne by a mercantile
which fought against the Armada. It was last used in
1895 for a cruiser built in 1895 and sold in 1920.Her Build was completed on
21st December that year at cost of £229,502 excluding the Admiralty supplied
equipment such as the weapons and the communications equipment . This ship
served in the Mediterranean and in 1934 refitted at Sheerness for service on
the China Station in 8th (later 21st) Destroyer Flotilla until September 1939.
Battle Honours
ARMADA 1558 - LOUISBERG 1758 - QUEBEC 1759
- PORTO PRAYA 1781 - BURMA 1824-26 - NORWAY 1940
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, a
crescent Moon Silver.
Motto
Certo Dirigo ictu: ‘I aim with sure blow’
D e t a i
l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e a s H M S
D I A N A
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search)
1 9 3 9
September
3rd - Took passage with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, DARING and DAINTY to join
the Fleet in the
Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
(Note: The 8th
Destroyer Flotilla in China was renumbered 21st in April 1939).
October
Arrived in Mediterranean for contraband control and Fleet screening
duties.
November
Taken in hand for repair at Malta to remedy defects caused by corrosion.
December
On completion resumed duty with Flotilla.
Nominated for return to Home
waters and took passage to UK.
1 9 4 0
January
Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet. (For details of naval activities
in Home waters during early 1940 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett
and the Naval Staff History.)
February
Home Fleet screening and patrol duties in continuation.
15th - Escorted HMS DUNCAN under tow by tugs from Invergordon to Forth for repair.
March
Home Fleet screening and convoy defence duties
in continuation.
April
8th - After German invasion of Norway deployed for escort of troop
convoy in Norway.
On arrival deployed with screen for major Fleet units, patrol and
support of shore
operations.
May
1st - Part of destroyer screen for HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM
during evacuation
of allied troops from Andalsnes and Molde.
14th - Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS from Clyde for return to
operations off Norway .
(Operation ALPHABET). Transferred
'leave breakers' embarked at Glasgow back to GLORIOUS.
June
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL from Norway with HM Destroyers
ACHERON
and HIGHLANDER. (Note: For details of the disastrous operations in
Norwegian waters see NARVIK by Donald Macintyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J
Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by T Adams, NORWAY 1940 by F Kersaudy)
and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).)
Future transfer to Royal Canadian Navy under discussion
July to August
Taken in hand for refit and repair in London.
Transfer to RCN approved. Post
Refit trials.
S e r v i
c e a s H M C S M A R G A R E E
September
Transferred to RCN as replacement for HMCS FRASER and renamed HMCS
MARGAREE.
October
Work up for operational service completed.
17th - Joined Convoy OL8 in NW Approaches as escort during passage to
Canada.
22nd - Sank after collision with ss PORT FAIRY
in position 450 miles NW Ireland in position
53.24N 22.50W. 34 survivors
rescued by PORT FAIRY. 142 lives were lost.
(Note: HMCS FRASER (ex-HM Destroyer
CRESCENT) was also lost in collision. She sank after colliding with HM
Cruiser CALCUTTA off the Gironde in the Bay of
Biscay on 25 June 1940 whilst
assisting in the evacuations from French ports.)
S p e c i a l N o t e
This name was carried forward in 1950 for a DARING Class
Fleet Destroyer, originally to be HMS DRUID but renamed. She served with the Fleet at Home and abroad
until 1971 when sold to Peru.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENT of
HMS DIANA
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
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Date convoy
sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
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30/01/40
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05/02/40
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TC 003
|
07/02/40
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07/02/40
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12/02/40
|
13/02/40
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HN 011
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15/02/40
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15/02/40
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23/02/40
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23/02/40
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ON 015/1
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27/02/40
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27/02/40
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28/02/40
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28/02/40
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HN 015
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01/03/40
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01/03/40
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03/03/40
|
03/03/40
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ON 017/1
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
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07/03/40
|
07/03/40
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HN 017
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10/03/40
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10/03/40
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as HMCS MARGAREE
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19/10/40
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19/10/40
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OL 008
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21/10/40
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22/10/40
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(Note
on Convoys)