FLOWER-Class
Corvette ordered on 31st August 1939 in the 1939 Build Programme from Lewis SB
of Aberdeen and laid down as Job Number
1064 (Yard Number 154) on 9th September 1940. The ship was launched on 29th
March 1941 and was the 8th RN warship to carry the name, introduced in 1781 for
a 6th Rate. It had previously been borne by a Sloop built in 1915 and sold in
1922. Build was completed on 17th July 1941. Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 had been adopted by the civil community
of Denton, Lancashire now in the Tameside Metropolitan Borough of Greater
Manchester, in March 1942.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
The Admiralty Heraldic Crest
Record does not include any details for this ship.
This is not unusual for a
smaller war time build. As there had been previous RN
warships carrying this name it is
likely she did have a Ships' Badge.,
S u m m a r y 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 1
July
Contractors sea trials and commissioned for
service.
(Note: Allocated for convoy defence
in Western Approaches Command.
17th Build
completion date ands commenced Acceptance Trials
On completion of
trials and string took passage to Tobermory.
August Working-up at Tobermory.
21st Took passage to Join 4th Escort Group on
completion of work-up.
Joined HM Destroyers BOADICEA,
BEAGLE, SALISBURY and WINCHELSEA and HM
Corvette
HEATHER at Greenock for escort duty with Group.
22nd Deployed with Group for escort of
Convoy ON9.
25th Detached and Joined inward Convoy
KX145 for passage to Clyde area.
(Note: HMS SALISBURY lost a man
overboard during this passage.)
September
7th Deployed with Group for escort of
Convoy ON14.
16th Detached from ON14 and joined Convoy
SC42 as escort for return passage.
(Note:
SC42 had already lost 17 ships during a series of attacks during which the RON escort sank
U501 on 10th September. See U-BOATS DESTROYED
by P Kemp and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
27th
At Greenock after arrival of
SC42.
(Note: One ship of SC32 was sunk before arrival of RN ships.)
For
details of dates of all convoys see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by
A Hague.)
October Escorted
Convoy outward Convoy ONS19 and return inward Convoy HX151 with Group.
15th
Provided escort for Convoy ONS26
after carrying out exercises with Group.
. (Note: Air cover was
provided during the transit of the convoy in NW Approaches.
23rd After hand-over of ONS26 to US Navy
escort joined inward Convoy SC49 as escort k during
passage
to Clyde.
November
4th Deployed as part of escort for outward
Convoy ONS33 with ships of Group.
11th Transferred ONS33 to
RCN Escort and joined inward Convoy HX158 as escort for passage to UK.
(Note: ONS33 had been
escorted to Meeting Point by US Navy warships.
24th During escort of outward Convoy ON40
experienced heavy weather.
Remained with ON40
during search for U-Boat by HM Destroyer BEAGLE and Free French
Corvette COMMANDANT
DETROYAT.
(Note: This search was
unsuccessful.)
December On release from ON49 took passage to
Iceland to await transfer of inward convoy.
4th Took passage from Island to join Convoy SC56
with ships of Group.
5th Deployed to round-up ships of Convoy
SC56 some mercantiles which had dispersed due to
to
extreme weather condition during passage from Canada.
(Note
16 mercantiles
of the convoy made an independent passage and one was sunk.)
Returned to UK with
remaining 29 ships of SC56,
Joined outward Convoy ONS47 with HM
Corvettes HEATHER, LOBELIA and
COMMANDANT DETROYAT
24th Transferred
escort of ONS47 to US Navy ships and joined inward Convoy HX165 as escort
during
passage to UK
(Note: HM Destroyer BOADICEA joined
escort during passage to Clyde
HMS BOADICEA
had been under repair.)
25th Detached from HX165 to stand-by ss SHANTUNG which had caught fire and had been
abandoned
by crew.
Mercantile not
found after search with tug TENACITY.
(Note: ss SHANTUNG crew were rescued
by a passing neutral ship and hulk was later bombed
and sunk by Coastal Command aircraft
. Returned
to Clyde independently.
1 9 4 2
January
7th Sailed with Group as escort for outward
Convey ON54 and met heavy weather conditions.
Detached on passage
to escort Rescue Ship DEWSBURY which had insufficient
coal
to
remain with convoy.
15th After rejoining Group ON54 transferred to
RCN ships took independent passage to Clyde.
(Note: Inward
Convoy SC63 to be escorted to UK had been ordered to disperse due to the
weather conditions.
27th Escorted outward Convoy ONS60 with Group
for passage to Ocean Meeting Point in extreme
weather
conditions.
February
1st Escort of ONS60 turned over to RCN Group,
3rd Joined inward Convoy SC66 for escort to
Clyde.
On arrival
immediately deployed to meet inward Convoy SC68 and took passage.
16th Escorted SC68 with Group for return passage
to Clyde.
24th Transferred to newly formed British 3rd
Escort Group (B3).
(Note: Entry of USA into WW2 allowed change of Admiralty policy for the
escort of Atlantic
convoys.
New B3 Escort Group consisted
of Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN (Ex HM Destroyer
NERISSA transferred in October 1940), HM Corvettes NARCISSUS, LOBELIA
and
HEATHER.)
26th Escorted ships of Convoy ON70 with Group for
full passage to Newfoundland.
(Note: The Mid-Ocean Meeting Point
was not used.).
March
10th Detached from convoy and took passage to St
Johns, Newfoundland.
21st Joined inward Convoy SC75 off Newfoundland
for escort to Clyde with Group.
April
1st Detached from SC75 with ships destined for
Loch Ewe.
Returned to Clyde from Loch
Ewe to rejoin Group for escort of outward Convoy ONS84.
(Note: HM
Destroyer HARVESTER commanded by Commander AA Tait
RN joined Group
Commander. Tait became a distinguished figure
in Western Approaches as a successful
U-Boat hunter. Sadly he lost his life when this ship was
sunk in defence of Convoy
HX228
- See below).
23rd On arrival with ON84
off Newfoundland detached and went to new US Base at Argentia.
May
5th Took passage from Argentia,
led by HMS HARVESTER and with the Polish destroyer ORP
GARLAND (Ex HMS
GARLAND) with Group for first tine.
Joined
inward Convoy HX188.
(Note: Air cover was provided till 7th.)
11th Air cover resumed and convoy diverted
to avoid interception by U-Boats.
14th On arrival in NW Approaches detached
from HX188 and took passage to Clyde for refit.
17th Taken
in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Govan.
(Note: Anti-
submarine Mortar (HEDGEHOG) fitted.
For
details of development of this weapon see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann.)
June Carried
out post refit harbour and sea trials.
On completion
deployed temporarily with 43rd Escort Group for escort of outward Convoy
0S35
during Atlantic passage to Freetown.
July
Detached from escort to return to
Clyde due to lack of fuel
(Note: Groups on this
route comprised Sloops and destroyers converted for use on long
passage.)
August Took passage to rejoin B3 Group which was
escorting outward Convoy ON121.
Joined
escort of ON121 in 25 Degrees W.
Returned to Clyde with Group as part of escort for inward Convoy HX202
(Note: No ships in HX202 were lost.)
September
1st Deployed
with Group as escort for outward Convoy ONS126 for passage to Newfoundland.
6th Evaded
interception by U-Boat Group.
12th At Argentia
after detaching from ONS126.
16th Joined
inward Convoy HX207 with Group as escort for return passage to UK.
October Detached on arrival in NW
Approaches.
Deployed with group as Local Escort of outward
Convoy ON136 which had an
uneventful
passage to Newfoundland.
23rd Joined
Inward Convoy SC106 as escort for eastward passage.
26th Convoy SC106 transit delayed by
hurricane strength winds.
November Deployed with Group for escort of
SC106
2nd
Convoy diverted to avoid U-Boat
attack in NW Approaches.
Detached
from convoy after air cover became available.
16th Carried out anti-submarine exercises in NW
Approaches with Group.
(Note: HM Destroyer HARVESTER, ORP GARLAND, HM Corvettes ORCHIS, LOBELIA,
Free French Corvettes ROSELYS and ACONIT of Group
took part with British submarine as
target.)
18th Escorted
outward Convoy ONS146 for westward passage with ships of Group.
During passage off
Newfoundland, following interception of radio signals carried out
search
for U-Boat which was unsuccessful although sighted briefly.
After detached from
CNS1M6 escort took passage to St Johns for routine docking.
December
Rejoined
Group at St John's after docking.
10th Deployed
as escort for inward Convoy HX218 with Group.
13th ORP
GARLAND rescued survivor from Landing Craft which had floated off sinking
mercantile ss
BARBARY on which it had been upper deck cargo.
BARBARY had been
sunk 17 days earlier 600 miles south of Greenland !
Convoy had been
re-routed on passage to avoid attacks from U-Boat Group
. Leave period at
Greenock during Boiler clean.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed
with Group as escort for outward Convoy ON157-
(Note: m Frigate SWALE was attached to
replace HM Destroyer VIMY).
Detached
on arrival off Newfoundland.
18th Sailed with Group to join inward Convoy
SC117.
Encountered
heavy weather with icing on upper deck structures.
(Note: Convoy was
scattered and weather made any attempt to assemble an impracticable
requirement.
HM Destroyer WITCH and HM Corvette LOBELIA
both had to return to
Newfoundland because of
storm damage and icing.)
27th Ships
of convoy had been re-assembled.
February Arrived in Clyde.
(Note: Two ships of
this convoy were lost during passage, presumably due to the atrocious
weather conditions.).
14th Deployed
for escort of outward Convoy ONS167 with HM Destroyers HARVESTER,
ESCAPADE,
Polish destroyers ORP BURZA and ORP GARLAND.
21st Under
U-Boat attack during which two mercantiles were sunk.
Rescued seven US Navy gunners, who were
survivors from Panamanian mercantile
H H
ROGERS.
(Note: Rescue Ship RATHLIN rescued 96 other survivors from this snip.)
22nd Two
U-Boats driven off by ORP BURZA.
24th Detached
from ONS167 to escort mercantile ss SUERTE to St
John.
(Note: Numbering
System for North Atlantic convoys changed.
Fast
and Slow convoys given separate identities instead of using same
number for two separate groups of
mercantiles.)
March
6th ,Joined outward Convoy HX228 as escort with same destroyers
of Group.
(Note: Escort Aircraft Carrier USS
BOGUE with screen of two US Navy destroyers
were also deployed to provide air
cover during passage.
For
details of the improvements in convoy defence made possible by presence
of this type of warship see BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine,
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre,
SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackman , U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO)
and HITLER’S U –BOAT WAR by C
Blairr.)
9th Convoy course changed by Admiralty after
decryption of ENIGMA traffic.
(Note: This
instruction was decoded by the German decoding service, B-DIENST and U-Boat
Group NEULAND was instructed to carry
out attacks on HX228.
10th Under sustained
U-Boat attacks after nightfall by NEULAND Group.
Six ships of the 60
mercantiles in this convoy were torpedoed.
11th During defence of the convoy HMS HARVESTER
rammed U444 and sustained serious damage
to one of her two propeller shafts.
U444 was forced to
surface and sunk by the Free French corvette ACONIT.
Disabled
HARVESTER was then sunk by U432 whilst returning to HX228.
U432 was then
located by ACQUIT, forced to the surface by depth charge attacks and sunk
by
surface gunfire
. (Note: Rescued 34 survivors from HMS HARVESTER.
One of
the many who lost their lives was Commander
AA Tait, Royal Navy,
Senior
Officer of B3 Escort Group whose contribution to defence of Atlantic convoys
cannot be measured.
USS BOGUE appears to have done little to
assist the defence of convoy and had only
recently commenced operational service.
Some
sources record her departure on 10th March and others March 14th.
This
aircraft carrier was stationed at a position within the convoy which may have
prevented use of aircraft due to inability to manoeuvre.
For full details of the tragic events see above references and
Special Note below.)
15th Detached from
HX228 after arrival in NW Approaches.
(Note: The defence
of HX228 took place when the Battle of the Atlantic
was at a most critical
stage. See above references.)
28th Part of escort for
outward Convoy ON174 with HM Destroyer KEPPEL, which replaced HMS
HARVESTER
as Senior Officer's ship, HMS ESCAPADE and HM Corvette AZALEA.
April After safe transit despite foul weather
including blizzards and fog during the second week when
approaching Newfoundland.
(Note: Presence of
icebergs made passage a hazardous undertaking.
6th During passage to
join inward Convoy HX232 sustained damage to underwater ASDIC
Dome and returned
to St Johns
9th Passage to rejoin HX232.
11th Under attack by LERCHE Group of
U-Boats during which three snips of the 48 ships in convoy
were
sunk.
(Note: Amongst the 158 survivors rescued by HMS AZALEA were eight
women, which made
the already cramped conditions in s ship with a complement
of about 90, somewhat of a
problem. HMS AZALEA was detached to make independent passage
to UK
12th Further attacks on
convoy were prevented by air cover from Northern Ireland.
20th Detached from Group
and took passage to Loch Eil for refit
. 23rd Under refit at Corpach
near Fort William.
(Note: Two repair
facilities were established for refit and repair of escorts, both in isolated
areas on the west coast of Scotland.).
May Under refit at Corpach in Floating Dock.
June
5th On completion took passage to Greenock and
embarked Admiral HR Stark, Commander. US
Naval
Forces, Europe for passage to Londonderry to visit RN Base.
6th Rejoined B3
Escort Group at Londonderry.
(Note: Group has
been reinforced by HM Escort Carrier BATTLER, escorted by HM Destroyers
TUMULT and TYRIAN
to provide air cover in future convoy operations.)
Group transferred
for escort of outward OS series convoys to West Africa and inward SL
series.).
9th
Deployed with HMS KEPPEL, ORP BURZA and five other corvettes as escort
for outward
Convoy OS49 Convoy
during passage to Freetown
. (Note: Cruiser
cover was provided by HMS GAMBIA during passage in Bay of Biscay where a
known threat of attack by German destroyers was possible.
This
convoy was combined with Convoy KMS16 destined for Gibraltar which detached
during passage.)
19th Destroyers detached from OS49 to
refuel in Dakar and rejoined later.
22nd Carried
out convoy defence exercises with Motor Launches from Freetown
. 23rd Escorted Freetown section of convoy after Takoradi section detached.
28th Deployed as part of escort for inward Convoy
SL132 from Freetown with same ships.
U-Boat detected
during departure from Freetown and attacked by HMS KEPPEL and French
corvette
ACONIT
July
1st
Mercantiles from Dakar joined SL132.
6th
Remained with SL132 when HMS
KEPPEL detached to search for U-Boat reported by
aircraft ahead of
convoy.
11th
Convoy MKS16 from Gibraltar merged with SL132.
Defence supplemented by B1 Escort Group,
Including HM Destroyer HURRICANE.
(Note: HM Canadian Destroyer
IROQUOIS also
joined convoy later for the passage
in Bay of Biscay.)
15th
Additional escorts detached.
19th Detached from convoy on arrival In
Clyde.
August B3 Group returned to North Atlantic convoy
defence duties.
Part of escort for
outward Convoy ONS15 with Group.
(Note: During passage exercised transfer of
depth charges to replenish stock carried.
The practice of carrying replenishment
in mercantiles was a new procedure
recently
introduced because of the extensive use of these weapons during attacks
on submarines. See above references.)
18th
Arrived at Argentia
with ONS15.
24th Passage from Argentia
to St Johns with ships of Group to join inward Convoy HS253 as
escort for return
passage to Liverpool.
September
1st
Detached with HM Corvette
ORCHIS to join escort for another convoy in the NW
Approaches.
Nominated for escort of
outward Convoy ONS18 after return.
Joined ONS18 with HM Destroyers KEPPEL and
ESCAPADE, Frigate TOWY and
four other corvettes.
(Note: The withdrawal of U-Boats from the
North Atlantic in May 1943 had been made
necessary because
of the increasing effectiveness of escorts. The development of
new weapons
encouraged the U-Boat Command to begin a new offensive against
other Atlantic convoys. The introduction of a torpedo
designed to detect the noise
made by rotation
of ship's propellers was believed to be of major importance
(T5 ZAUNKONIG Acoustic
Torpedo. See above references.)
19th Following an Admiralty assessment of
threat by LEUTHEN Group of U-Bcats ONS18
was ordered to
alter course to NW.
Additional escort was also to join convoy.
(Note: LEUTHEN
Group U-Boats had however made contact and escort had been
deployed to make attacks on
submarines detected.)
During these
operation HMS ESCAPADE was badly damaged by explosion of
HEDGEHOG mortar
missiles.
20th Convoy ONS18 and ON202 merged on orders
from Admiralty.
Detached to investigate U-Boat whose
presence had been detected by transmission of
of radio signals
. After unsuccessful search ordered to
return to convoy
21st Detected U-Boat during passage to rejoin
convoy but depth charge attack failed, as did
a counter attack
by torpedo from the submarine (U260).
Deployed for rescue of survivors from HM
Canadian Destroyer ST CROIX and HM
Corvette POLYANTHUS
which had been sunk by U-Boats of LEUTHEN Group.
22nd During continuation of sustained attacks
on joint convoy HM Frigate ITCHEN hit
by T5 torpedo and sunk.
23rd LEUTHEN Group attacks ceased.
(Note: During defence operations three
attacks were made by ship.
In all six ships in convoy were sunk and
three escorts for the loss of three
U-Boats.
For further details see
above references and Special Note.)
30th At St. Johns after arrival of joint
convoy.
(Note: Boards of Inquiry into the losses
of the three warships were held in this
stop-over
period.)
October
4th Sailed from St Johns with ships of
Group to join inward Convoy HX259 east of
Newfoundland.
Returned to Clyde with convoy after an
uninterrupted passage
(Note: Before deployment for another North
Atlantic convoy fitted with FOXER
equipment which
had been developed to provide defence against T5 weapon.
This decay was towed astern of escorts
and consisted on metal tubes to produce low
frequency noise to
divert attacks by T5 weapon. See above
references.)
25th Joined outward Convoy ON208 as escort
for Atlantic passage with HM Frigate TOWY and
five corvettes of B3 Group.
(Note: HM Sloops KITE and WHIMBREL also
joined and support was provided by ships of
7th Escort Group.
7th Support
Group
included HM Escort Aircraft Carrier BITER, HM Sloops
PHEASANT, CRANE and
CHANTICLEER.)
November Detached from ON208 on arrival and
returned ships of Group as escort for inward Convoy
SC146 with support from
7th Escort Group.
On
return to Clyde Group nominated for service in support of Gibraltar
convoys.
December
2nd
Deployed with HMS TOWY,
Polish destroyer ORP BURZA and four other corvettes of B3
Group as
escort for outward joint convoy OS61/KMS35 to Gibraltar
.
(Note: HM Canadian Anti-aircraft Ship PRINCE ROBERT was
deployed to provide
additional defence against air attacks.
12th HM Escort Carrier FENCER Joined convoy
for air support.
17th
HMS FENCER detached after
Bay of Biscay crossing.
21st Detached from convoy on arrival at
Gibraltar.
24th
Sailed with Group from
Gibraltar as escort for inward Convoy MKS34/
26th Merged with Convoy SL143 from
Freetown for passage to Liverpool.
29th
HM Escort Carrier STRIKER, HM Frigate TWEED
and HM Destroyer WATCHMAN
joined
to
supplement defence during
Biscay crossing.
30th 6th Canadian Escort Group Joined for
support after threat from BORKUM U-Boat Grou had
been assessed by Admiralty.
1 9 4 4
January
3rd 6th Escort Group detached.
6th Detached on arrival of convoy in UK.
14th Deployed with ships of Group for escort
of Joint Convoy 0S65/KMS39 for Atlantic passage.
to Gibraltar.
26th Detached with ships of KMS39 as escort
for passage to Gibraltar.
February
1st Sailed from Gibraltar with HMS TOWY and
HM Corvette ORCHIS as escort for inward
Convoy MKS38.
2nd Inward Convoy SL1478 from Freetown
merged with MKS38.
(Note: 2nd Escort Group which was deployed
in area provided support for Biscay crossing.)
8th Ships of 2nd Escort Group sank U762.
9th Ships of 2nd Escort Group sank U238.
(Note: For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC,
RELENTLESS PURSUIT and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC,)
11th Detached from Joint convoy as escort of
Loch Ewe Section.
(Note: These snips were to take passage
to London via Pentland Firth.)
. 23rd Deployed with ships of Group as escort
for Joint Convoy OS69/KMS43 during passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note:
HM Escort Carriers NAIRANA and ACTIVITY provided air defence during the
Biscay crossing.)
March
5th Detached from OS69 with ships of KMS43
as escort during passage to Gibraltar.
6th KMS
43 arrived at Gibraltar
(Note: Heavy weather during passage made
air operations especially hazardous and cost five
aircraft during
landings.
15th Deployed
with Group as escort for inward Convoy MKS42 and merged with Convoy SL151
from Freetown.
24th Joint Convoy arrived at Liverpool.
(Note: 7th Support Group provided
additional defence during Biscay crossing.
Sea Inspection was carried out during
passage
April
3rd Deployed with Group as escort for Joint
outward Convoy OS73/KMS47 to Gibraltar
16th Detached with KMS47 as escort for
passage to Gibraltar.
17th Arrived at Gibraltar with KMS47.
(Note: This
convoy of 32 ships arrived without incident.).
22nd Returned as escort for inward Convoy
MKS46 during passage to Liverpool
(Note: This convoy included Landing Craft
being redeployed in Home Waters from
the
Mediterranean for Normandy landings.)
23rd Convoy SL155 from Freetown merged with
KMS46 for passage to Liverpool
29th Detached
with HM Frigate ANGUILLA and HM
Corvette ANCHUSA as escort for
Landing Craft and mercantiles
to Bristol Channel.
(Note: B3 Escort Group which had included
ships manned by both Polish and Free French
naval
personnel was disbanded after this escort duty.)
Nominated for refit and took passage to Troon.
May Taken in hand for refit by commercial shipyard at Troon,
Ayrshire.
Nominated for convoy
escort in support of allied Landings in Normandy.
(Operation
NEPTUNE)
Allocated
for service with Support Force L based in Thames Estuary
. On completion of refit took passage
via Pentland Firth to Sheerness with call at Methil on
Firth of Forth.
Joined
HM Destroyer COTSWOLD and HM Corvette ORCHIS in Force L1 and designated
Escort Group 134.
June Deployed at Sheerness
(For details of naval activities
before and after D Day see OPERATION NEPTUNE by
K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
June1944 (HMSO) and for information about all
mercantiles
and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser)
4th. Operation postponed for 24 hours.
5th Sailed from Sheerness as escort for Convoy
L1 with EG134.
(Note: L1 Convoy comprised:
11 Landing Ships (Tank) and seven
Landing Craft Infantry (Large).
During passage to Solent under fire
from German coastal battery which fired one round and
missed.
On arrival in Solent joined by a
Landing Ship (Dock), 12 Coastal Cargo ships, two
Landing
Ships (Tank) and two Landing Ships Infantry (Large)
(Note: Landing Ship (Dock) had Army
Staff Officers embarked.)
HM Trawler DAMSAY and HM Destroyer AVON VALE joined L1 as
additional
escort.
6th Took
passage from Solent with Convoy L1 and above escorts.
After passage through swept channel
assault craft look-up assigned station off JUNO Beach
Head.
Deployed with HMS
ORCHIS as escort for Convoy FLT1 for passage to Sheerness.
7th Commenced escort of Build-up
Phase convoys to Beachhead.
(Note: This duty was continued until end
of Build-Up Phase on 24th June.)
July Retained in Nore
Command for escort of military convoys in support of military operations
to in France.
August
September Transferred to Plymouth for convoy
defence in SW Approaches.
Deployed for escort of Inward convoys in
Channel from west of Lands End and in St
Georges
Channel for outward convoys from west
coast ports.
October Coastal convoy escort in continuation
based at Plymouth including Convoy ON268
to in November.
December
1 9 4 5
January Deployment in SW Approaches In
continuation for coastal escort to and from Western
to Approaches.
April
May After VE Day retained at Plymouth for
local duties.
Nominated for reduction
to Reserve status.
21st Escorted 6 surrendered German
minesweepers during passage from Plymouth to Brest.
26th On completion of de-ammunitioning at Milford Haven took passage to Preston.
(Note: During this visit
members of ship's company want to Denton in order to express
their thanks to
the civil community for the many gifts received since the adoption
and for their
interest in the ship during its service.)
June Paid off and reduced to Reserve status.
P o s t W a r N o t e
HMS NARCISSUS laid-up in Reserve until 1946 when placed on the
Disposal List. The ship was sold on 5th April that year for use as a mercantile and renamed ESIE.
During 1960 whilst still being used for Trade the ship was again renamed and
became ss PLANETA. On 27th June 1969 she was wrecked
near Bahla at Ilheus
in Brazil.
S p e c i a l N o t e
Further details of the war service of this ship are recorded in
THE ECHO OF A FIGHTING FLOWER by Peter Coy who served on board as an RNVR
officer from 1942 till 1944. It is an excellent record of the ship's service
and contains graphic accounts of operations during WW2 by the ship.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
NARCISSUS
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
|
|
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|
|
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20/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
ON 009
|
25/08/41
|
25/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
26/08/41
|
HX 145
|
30/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
07/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
ON 014
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
30/08/41
|
16/09/41
|
SC 042
|
20/09/41
|
20/09/41
|
21/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
ON 019
|
27/09/41
|
07/10/41
|
22/09/41
|
01/10/41
|
HX 151
|
05/10/41
|
07/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
ON 026
|
20/10/41
|
29/10/41
|
11/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
SC 049
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
04/11/41
|
ON 033
|
11/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
13/11/41
|
HX 158
|
17/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
26/11/41
|
ON 040
|
30/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
22/11/41
|
06/12/41
|
SC 056
|
09/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
ON 047
|
23/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
HX 165
|
27/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
06/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
ON 054
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
ON 060
|
02/02/42
|
15/02/42
|
23/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
SC 066
|
08/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
04/02/42
|
16/02/42
|
SC 068
|
20/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
26/02/42
|
ON 070
|
11/03/42
|
15/03/42
|
18/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
SC 075
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
ON 084
|
22/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
03/05/42
|
06/05/42
|
HX 188
|
14/05/42
|
16/05/42
|
12/08/42
|
13/08/42
|
ON 121
|
17/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
09/08/42
|
17/08/42
|
HX 202
|
21/08/42
|
21/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
30/08/42
|
ON 126
|
13/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
16/09/42
|
HX 207
|
24/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
04/10/42
|
ON 136
|
19/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
23/10/42
|
SC 106
|
05/11/42
|
05/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
ON 146
|
29/11/42
|
08/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
HX 218
|
19/12/42
|
21/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
ON 157
|
08/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
SC 117
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
ON 167
|
28/02/43
|
08/03/43
|
28/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
HX 228
|
14/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
22/03/43
|
ON 174
|
02/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
HX 232
|
16/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
04/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
OS 049KM
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
OS 049
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
SL 132
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
SL 132MK
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
SL 132S
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
06/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
ONS 015
|
17/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
HX 253
|
03/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
12/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
ONS 018
|
25/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
ON 202
|
25/09/43
|
01/10/43
|
28/09/43
|
04/10/43
|
HX 259
|
12/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
25/10/43
|
ON 208
|
02/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
SC 146
|
22/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
OS 061KM
|
19/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
KMS 035G
|
21/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
24/12/43
|
24/12/43
|
MKS 034G
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
SL 143MK
|
06/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS 037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
OS 065KM
|
26/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
KMS 039G
|
28/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
MKS 038G
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
SL 147MK
|
11/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
OS 069KM
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
KMS 043G
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
MKS 042G
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/44
|
SL 151MK
|
24/03/44
|
24/03/44
|
03/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
OS 073KM
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
KMS 047G
|
17/04/44
|
17/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
MKS 046G
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
SL 155MK
|
29/04/44
|
03/05/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETM 005
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
FTC 009
|
17/06/44
|
17/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
ETM 014
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
FTM 014
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
ETC 015
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
ETM 019
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
FTM 022
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
ETM 024
|
03/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
FTM 027
|
05/07/44
|
05/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
ETC 031
|
09/07/44
|
09/07/44
|
10/07/44
|
10/07/44
|
FTC 032
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
ETC 036
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
FTC 037
|
16/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
ETC 051
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
FTC 052
|
31/07/44
|
31/07/44
|
15/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ON 260
|
18/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
HX 312
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
27/10/44
|
SL 173MK
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
ON 263
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
20/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
HX 315
|
04/11/44
|
03/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
ON 265
|
11/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
30/10/44
|
11/11/44
|
HX 317
|
13/11/44
|
13/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
ON 268
|
27/11/44
|
10/12/44
|
14/11/44
|
28/11/44
|
HX 320
|
30/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
11/12/44
|
17/12/44
|
MKS 070G
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
ON 274
|
26/12/44
|
08/01/45
|
14/12/44
|
26/12/44
|
HX 326
|
29/12/44
|
27/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
07/01/45
|
MKS 074G
|
10/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
05/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
MKS 075G
|
13/01/45
|
14/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
13/01/45
|
MKS 076G
|
20/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
MKS 077G
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
26/01/45
|
26/01/45
|
ON 281
|
29/01/45
|
12/02/45
|
18/01/45
|
29/01/45
|
HX 333
|
03/03/45
|
01/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
OS 112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS 084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
03/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
OS 114KM
|
06/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
MKS 086G
|
09/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
OS 117KM
|
21/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
HX 343
|
unknown
|
24/03/45
|
27/03/45
|
27/03/45
|
ON 293
|
30/03/45
|
15/04/45
|
27/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
OS 119KM
|
31/03/45
|
04/04/45
|
26/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
MKS 091G
|
03/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
02/04/45
|
ON 294
|
04/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
ON 297
|
20/04/45
|
02/05/45
|
08/04/45
|
22/04/45
|
HX 349
|
unknown
|
23/04/45
|
27/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
OS 125KM
|
30/04/45
|
01/05/45
|
25/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
MKS 097G
|
03/05/45
|
03/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)