Type III HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Cammell-Laird on 4th July 1940 under the 1940 War Emergency Program and laid
down as Job Number 3766 on 22nd August that year .The ship was launched on 27th
August 1941 as the first RN warship to carry the name. She was completed on 5th
February 1942 and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign was
adopted by the civil community of Witney in Oxfordshire.
An account of the service of this ship is given in THE LAST DESTROYER by F A
Mason.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1942 - LIBYA 1942
- SICILY 1943 - AEGEAN 1943 - ADRIATIC 1944 - SOUTH FRANCE 1944
H e
r a l d i c D
a t a
Badge: On a
Field barry wavy of 4 White and Blue, in front of
two battleaxes in saltire Black an anchor erect Gold.
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 4 2
January Contractors
trials and commissioned for service.
February
5th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
March Deployed
with Home Fleet
24th Joined
Military Convoy WS17 in NW Approaches with HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, Armed
Merchant Cruiser ALCANTARA, HM Destroyers CROOME and LOOKOUT as part of escort
during passage to Freetown.
27th
Participated in sinking of U587 with HM Destroyers LEAMINGTON and VOLUNTEER west
of
Ushant in position 47.21N 34.00W.
(Note: See U-BOATS DESTROYED By P Kemp.
This
was first U- Boat to be sunk after source of radio signals had been found by use
of
new
wireless direction finding equipment (H/F D/F).
31st HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Destroyers INCONSTANT and JAVELIN deployed
as
Ocean Escort detached from WS17 and took passage to Gibraltar.
April
1st
Detached to refuel in Azores and rejoined WS17 on completion.
6th Detached
from WS17 on arrival at Freetown.
8th Took
independent passage to Durban with HMS GROVE, refuelling off St. Helena.
Called at Cape Town and Durban.
May Passage
from Durban with calls at Mombasa and Aden.
Medical emergency on board. An Appendectomy was carried out by the Doctor from
HMS
GROVE.
13th Arrived
at Alexandria.
Joined 5th Destroyer Flotilla for escort duties and patrol
in
Eastern Mediterranean.
June Deployed
in support of Tobruk garrison.
11th Joined HM
Cruiser COVENTRY as escort for Convoy MW11C with HM Escort Destroyers
AIREDALE, BEAUFORT, CROOME, DULVERTON, ERIDGE,
EXMOOR and HURWORTH
at
Port Said.
(Note: This convoy was made up of four mercantiles each of which towed a Motor
Torpedo
Boat
(HM MTB's259, 261, 262 and 264).
It
was intended to decoy major Italian warships away from the main Malta relief
convoy
(Operation REMBRANDT -The main convoy comprised two parts, MW11A sailing
from
Haifa and MW11B from Alexandria the next day (Operation VIGOROUS).
12th Under air
attacks during which ss CITY OF CALCUTTA was damaged.
13th The three
sections of Convoy MW11 merged
Covering force comprising HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM. NEWCASTLE, ARETHUSA,
CLEOPATRA, DIDO,
EURYALUS and HERMIONE joined convoy.
(Note: The WW1 battleship HMS CENTURION disguised as a KING GEORGE V Class was
part
of Convoy MW11B escort).
14th Under
heavy and sustained air attacks.
(Note: The heavy expenditure of AA ammunition by all escorts became a matter of
concern).
15th Convoy
MW11 ordered to reverse course to East.
In
action against six E-Boats making night attacks on convoy.
(Note: HM Destroyer HASTY and HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE were both hit.
HMS
HASTY had subsequently to be sunk by HM Destroyer HOTSPUR).
Drove
off S58 and S59 with HMS AIREDALE.
Sustained air attacks continued after daylight.
Rescued 133 survivors from HM Escort Destroyer AIREDALE before sinking her by
torpedo.
Convoy MW11 ordered to resume westward passage after Italian threat lifted.
(Note: This was subject to availability of adequate ammunition stocks and fuel
essential for
defence of convoy passage to Malta. This was not the case)
Operation abandoned after further E-Boat and air attacks.
16th Escort of
returning MW11 in continuation
(Note: During attack by U205, HMS HERMIONE was torpedoed and sunk
. For
full details of this disastrous and operation and its ill-direction by the shore
authorities see BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE
THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett) and MALTA CONVOYS by
R
Woodman
17th Arrived
at Port Said with convoy and returned to Flotilla duties at Alexandria.
22nd Resumed duties with Flotilla in Alexandria.
30th Carried
out Anti-submarine patrols off Alexandria after HM Submarine Depot Ship MEDWAY
had
been torpedoed and sunk by U372.
July Deployed
in Eastern Mediterranean with Flotilla.
11th Took part
in bombardment of Mersa Matruh with other ships of Flotilla during which an
ammunition ship was sunk.
20th Escorted
HM Cruisers DIDO and EURYALUS with HM Escort Destroyer DULVERTON
during further bombardment of Mersa Matruh.
29th Bombarded
El Daba with HM Escort Destroyers ERIDGE, CROOME and HURWORTH.
In
action with E-Boats during which HMS ERIDGE was hit by torpedo and disabled.
Towed
disabled destroyer to Alexandria and under air attacks.
August Deployed with
Flotilla in Eastern Mediterranean for patrol and support of Tobruk garrison.
Provided screen for ships of 15th Cruiser Squadron during searches for German
supply convoys
to
North African ports.
September Nominated for
support of assault on Tobruk (Operation AGREEMENT).
12th Joined HM
Escort Destroyers BEAUFORT, EXMOOR and HURWORTH.
Embarked Royal Marines and took passage for Tobruk with HM Destroyers SIKH and
ZULU.
13th Deployed
in support of attempted landings at Tobruk.
Under
heavy and sustained air attacks with shore fire..
14th Detached
to refuel at Alexandria and on completion sent to support return from Tobruk of
damaged destroyer HMS ZULU with HM Escort Destroyer BELVOIR and HM Tug BRIGAND.
Recalled after HMS ZULU had sunk.
(For
full details of this ill-conceived and totally failed operation costing many
lives and several
ships, see MASSACRE AT TOBRUK by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.
October Eastern
Mediterranean support and escort duties in continuation.
November
16th
Part of escort for Convoy MW13 to
Malta (Operation STONEAGE).
18th Under
sustained air attacks during which HM Cruiser ARETHUSA was torpedoed and
badly
damaged with many casualties.
After
return to Alexandria carried out sea burial of some of those killed in HMS
ARETHUSA
during defence of Convoy MW13.
December Deployed with
Flotilla for escort of ships of 15th Cruiser Squadron.
1st Part of
escort for Malta relief Convoy MW14 (Operation PORTCULLIS).
5th Convoy
arrived in Malta without loss.
(Note: Air cover was available from Tunisia.)
On
return to Alexandria escorted merchant ships from Malta..
Escorted Supply Convoy to Benghazi and on completion went to Malta for return of
convoy to
Alexandria.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed on
escort of convoys to Tripoli.
February Eastern
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
2nd
Carried out search for survivors from HM Minelaying Cruiser WELSHMAN which had
been
torpedoed and sunk off Tobruk on 1st February.
March Embarked
army personnel and Maltese civilians at Alexandria for passage to Malta and
deployed in Eastern Mediterranean for anti-submarine and convoy interception
patrols..
(Note: Between December 1942 and March 1943 steamed more miles than any other ship in
the
5th
Flotilla).
April On completion of Boiler Clean and maintenance in
Alexandria embarked Maltese
civilians for
passage to Malta and escorted convoy.
Detached to cover passage of merchant ship with engine trouble to Tobruk.
Grounded in Gulf of Sollum, 160 miles East of Tobruk.
Pulled clear and then was towed to Alexandria
by HM Destroyer JERVIS screened by the
Minesweepers BOSTON and SEAHAM. Taken in hand for repair.
Docking showed damage to shaft and propellers.
Defective items replaced from HM Escort Destroyer
BRIDGE that had been declared a
constructive loss after being damaged in August 1942.
During post repair trials embarked a party of WRNS.
May Took part
in blockade of Cape Bon to prevent enemy evacuation.
To
ensure recognition by allied aircraft upper deck and superstructure amidships
were painted
red
(Operation RETRIBUTION).
Bombarded Kelebia and intercepted Italian Hospital ship carrying troops which
was escorted
back
to Tunisian coast.
Landed party on Island of Zembra, Tunisia and took captured German and Italian
prisoners to
Malta.
June Eastern
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for service with Escort Group P in Support Force East during planned
allied landings
in
Sicily
(Operation HUSKY – See Naval Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de
Winser.)
July
5th Sailed
from Port Said as part of escort for military convoy MWF36.
6th Detached
to refuel.
7th Deployed with Escort
Group P.
8th Lead
convoy of Tank Landing Craft from Malta to beachhead.
9th Carried
out Anti-submarine Patrol off beaches.
10th Deployed off Beach
head with HM Escort Destroyer BEAUFORT.)
Escorted HM Monitor EREBUS for shore bombardment of gun batteries
12th Provided
assistance to HM Destroyer ESKIMO after bomb attack.
Transferred wounded to Hospital Ship ABBA.
13th Escorted
HMS EREBUS with HM Escort Destroyer ROCKWOOD for bombardment of Cap
Da
Croce.
Rescued British Paratroops from rafts after their US aircraft crashed.
14th Deployed
on support and patrol duty off Sicilian coast.
August Sicilian
support and patrol in continuation.
6th Detached
from Escort Group and returned to Alexandria
7th On
passage rescued German airman from raft.
September Deployed with
Force Z for allied occupation of Taranto after Italian surrender.
During passage passed Italian naval units en route to Malta.
Returned to Alexandria for support of military operations in Aegean to prevent
German
replacement of Italian garrison.
October Deployed on
escort of convoys to reinforce British troops in Aegean.
Carried out interception patrols with cruisers and destroyers from Alexandria.
Subjected to sustained air attacks and constrained by fuel limitations.
(For
details of the disastrous attempt to occupy Cos, Leros and other islands see WAR
IN THE
AEGEAN by Peter Smith and E Walker, and THE LAST DESTROYER).
1st Sailed
from Alexandria with Greek escort destroyers THEMISTOCLES and MIAOULIS
for
patrol of Kaso Strait
3rd Due to
shortage of fuel unable to attack invasion craft reported by aircraft and had to return to
Alexandria.
4th Passage
Limassol after refuelling with HMS ROCKWOOD and Greek THEMISTOCLES
and
MIAOULIS for operations in defence of Cos.
8th Deployed on interception patrol in Aegean.
14th Bombarded Alinda, Leros with HM Destroyers PENN and BLENCATHRA.
16th Bombarded Cos with HMS PENN.
Nominated for support of planned allied landings in South France.
(Operation DRAGOON – See Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2001).)
22nd
Deployed with HM Cruiser PHOEBE and HM Escort Destroyer HURSLEY to carry out a
diversionary sweep during reinforcement of Leros garrison.
23rd Embarked
troops from HM Destroyer PETARD for daylight stay in Turkish waters.
24th Landed
troops after nightfall.
November Aegean
deployment in continuation.
13th Passage
to Turkish waters for daylight stay.
14th
Reinforced destroyer force at Leros with HM Destroyers PENN and BLENCATHRA after
daylight stay and bombarded German concentration in Alinda-Gurna area with HMS
BLENCATHRA and HMS PENN.
Under
Glider Bomb attack during subsequent search for landing craft.
Returned to Turkish waters.
15th Carried
out further search for enemy build-up convoys overnight and came under
shore fire after
dawn.
Retired to Turkish waters.
16th Embarked
wounded brought from Cos by small craft.
Covered tow of HM Escort Destroyer ROCKWOOD to Alexandria by HMS BLENCATHRA.
December
4th Relieved
HM Destroyers JERVIS and PENN with HMS EXMOOR as escort for the damaged
Greek
destroyer ADRIAS under tow to Alexandria by HM Tug BRIGAND.
6th Arrived
at Alexandria to massive reception for heroic Greek captain.
Under
repair in Alexandria and resumed local patrol duty.
1 9 4 4
January Transferred
to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla and took passage to Algiers.
Deployed on escort of military convoys in central Mediterranean.
February Convoy
defence duties in continuation.
to
March
April Withdrawn
for refit and maintenance at Haifa.
On
completion returned to rejoin Flotilla at Algiers and escorted convoy from
Alexandria
May Convoy
escort in continuation and deployed for support of operations in Adriatic
to
including attacks on bases for E-Boats which attacked allied shipping.
June Engaged
and sank E-Boat attacking HM Escort Destroyer ATHERSTONE during defence
of
convoy.
July
Nominated for support of allied landings in South of France under US command.
(Operation DRAGOON - For details see INVASION OF SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO).
Deployed as part of escort for convoys to Naples, Syracuse and ports in Southern
Italy in
preparation
for DRAGOON
August Passage to
Naples for convoy escort duty.
13th Sailed
with HM Escort Destroyers BLACKMORE, BEAUFORT, EGGESFORD, BELVOIR,
WHADDON and
LAUDERDALE and the Greek destroyer PINDOS as escort for military
convoy SM2 from
Naples.
15th Arrived
in Assault area.
17th Returned
to RN control at end of first phase of DRAGOON.
Passage to resumed duties in Adriatic with call at Naples.
Resumed deployment in Adriatic with Flotilla.
September Escort and
patrol duties in support of partisan operations in continuation.
Carried out shore bombardments and landed parties for covert missions.
Passage to Malta for
refit.
October
1st
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Malta.
On
completion of post refit trials deployed in Malta.
Embarked Vice Admiral Malta for visit
to Tunis.
Returned to Malta
November Resumed duties
in Adriatic with HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE, AVON VALE,
BROCKLESBY, LAMERTON, LAUDERDALE, QUANTOCK, WHEATLAND, WILTON and Greek
PINDOS.
Carried out Shore Bombardments, interception patrols and support of Partisans.
Under
attack by Explosive Motor Boat near Lusspicoolo which failed.
During Rest and Recreation Period at Ancona deployed for interception of German
Hospital
Carrier BONN which was taken and escorted to Ancona.
(Note: During later search, naval and military personnel were found on board.)
December Adriatic
deployment in continuation.
9th Deployed
with HIS ATHERSTONE for bombardment duties in support of Partisans.
Bombarded target on Rab Island
13th Deployed
with HMS ATHERSTONE for support of Partisans.
Embarked Partisan Senior Officer at Vir Bay.
Bombarded gun battery with (M Destroyer ATHERSTONE at Karlobag and supported a
14th Landed
Partisans at Pag Town. (Operation EXTERMINATE)
During return passage detonated mine in position W.30N 14.50E (NW of Planik Is,
off Velebit
Planina.
Ship
sank quickly with many casualties.
(Note: Out of a complement of 189 only 67 survived.
65
were rescued by HMS ATHERSTONE and one each by HM Landing Craft (Gun) 12
and
HM Motor Launch 1162.
HMS
ALDENHAM was the last Royal Navy Destroyer sunk during WW2.
Free
French LA COMBATTANT (Ex HUNT Class Escort Destroyer HALDON, on loan
to
Free French Navy was
sunk on
23rd Feb. 1945).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS ALDENHAM
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
07/04/42
|
07/04/42
|
AS 002A
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
23/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
TA 044/M
|
25/05/42
|
25/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
03/06/42
|
TA 046/M
|
05/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
MW 011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
MW 014
|
05/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
ME 011
|
09/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
MW 015
|
10/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
MW 016
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
ME 012
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
MW 018
|
02/01/43
|
02/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
MW 019
|
11/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
ME 015
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
MH 003/M
|
26/03/43
|
26/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
ME 016
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
17/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
KMS 014X
|
26/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
GTX 001
|
30/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
31/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
KMS 015
|
14/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
18/06/43
|
18/06/43
|
XTG 002
|
unknown
|
29/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
MWF 036
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
MWF 039
|
10/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
19/08/43
|
19/08/43
|
MKF 022
|
21/08/43
|
09/09/43
|
06/08/43
|
30/08/43
|
UGS 014
|
01/09/43
|
02/09/43
|
30/08/43
|
30/08/43
|
GUS 014
|
01/09/43
|
26/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
MKF 024
|
23/09/43
|
07/10/43
|
15/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
KMF 024
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
XIF 007
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
unknown
|
IXF 007
|
unknown
|
17/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
MKF 028
|
31/01/44
|
07/02/44
|
20/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
SNF 013
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
XIF 008
|
25/01/44
|
25/01/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
NSF 014
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
SNF 014
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
NSF 015
|
20/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
SNF 015
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
KMF 029
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
18/02/44
|
01/03/44
|
UGS 033A
|
03/03/44
|
29/02/44
|
11/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
XIF 011
|
16/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
17/03/44
|
IXF 011
|
21/03/44
|
21/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
unknown
|
XIF 012
|
unknown
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
IXF 012
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
15/05/44
|
15/05/44
|
MKF 031
|
22/05/44
|
29/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
NSF 023
|
27/05/44
|
27/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
SNF 023
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
06/06/44
|
06/06/44
|
NSF 024
|
09/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
SNF 024
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
13/08/44
|
13/08/44
|
SM 002A
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)