Maurice James Mansergh, RN

Born  14 Oct 1896Brentford, England, U.K.
Died  29 Sep 1966(69)London, England, U.K.


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Ranks

15 May 1914 Mid.
15 Mar 1916 A/S.Lt.
30 Sep 1916 S.Lt.
30 Oct 1917 Lt.
30 Oct 1925 Lt.Cdr.
30 Jun 1937 Capt.
25 Mar 1945 Commodore 1st cl.
5 Jul 1946 Rear-Admiral
30 Sep 1949 Vice-Admiral
18 Mar 1953 Admiral

Retired: 30 Mar 1954


Decorations

1 Jan 1941 CBE
28 Nov 1944 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
10 Apr 1945 CB
1 Jan 1952 KCB

Warship Commands listed for Maurice James Mansergh, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Gambia (48)Capt.Light cruiser25 Nov 194123 Jun 1943

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Light cruiser HMS Gambia (48)


4 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0900A/4, Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) is commissioned at Newcastle on Tyne for her upcoming trials (1)

7 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) is towed from Newcastle on Tyne to North Shields. (1)

17 Feb 1942
Around 1130A/17, Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), departed North Shields for Rosyth where she arrived around 1930A/7. She was escorted by HMS Vivien (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN). (1)

18 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted trials off the Firth of Forth during which she was escorted by HMS Versatile (Lt. D.G.D. Hall-Wright, RN). (1)

21 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted trials off the Firth of Forth which were completed succesfully. On return to Rosyth she was then taken over from the shipyard and placed in full commission. (1)

26 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted D/G and aircraft launching and recovering trials off Rosyth. (1)

1 Mar 1942
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials off Rosyth. (2)

2 Mar 1942
Around 0600A/2, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1710A/2. At Scapa Flow she is to conduct working up exercises before she is ready to be deployed operationally. (2)

9 Mar 1942
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted turning and speed trials at Scapa Flow. (2)

10 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials at Scapa Flow. These were followed by gunnery exercises. (2)

12 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted torpedo firing and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

19 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted range and inclination exercises off Scapa Flow. Before these exercises HMS Frobisher had first conducted speed trials on the measured mile. (3)

23 Mar 1942
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

24 Mar 1942
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) both conducted exercises off Scapa Flow.

HMS Frobisher had first carried out torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (3)

26 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) both conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (3)

28 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)

4 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830A/4, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Greenock. (3)

17 May 1942
Around 0925B/17, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Simonstown for Kilindini / Mombasa. (4)

23 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900B/23, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Simonstown. She now joined the Eastern Fleet. (4)

29 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the afternoon, the battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral D.W. Boyd, CBE, DSC, RN), HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) and the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Colombo.

Rear-Admiral D.W. Boyd, CBE, DSC, RN, had transferred his flag from HMS Indomitable (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN) to HMS Illustrious shortly before departure.

They were escorted until 0150D/31, by the destroyers HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) which then set course for Diego Suarez.

Around 0800D/1, the destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, RN), HMS Lightning (Cdr. H.G. Walters, DSC, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, DSC and Bar, RN) joined coming from Port Victoria, Seychelles.

HMS Warspite, HMS Illustrious, HMS Formidable, HMS Gambia, HMS Laforey, HMS Lightning and HMS Lookout arrived at Colombo around 1700F/5. (5)

28 Jun 1942
Around 1050F/28, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Colombo. (6)

1 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1025F/1 HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for exercises to the south of Ceylon with aircraft. She returned to Colombo around 1440F/2. (7)

22 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000D/22, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Mauritius from convoy escort duty. She departed around 153D/22 for Durban after having fuelled from the chartered tanker British Ambassador (British (tanker), 6940 GRT, built 1924). (7)

25 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1350B/25, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Durban from Mauritius. (7)

26 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900B/26, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Durban for escort duty with convoy WS 20.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 20 ' for 20 June 1942.] (7)

31 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1015D/31, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and the troop transport Striling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936) arrived at Mauritius. HMS Gambia then fuelled from the RFA tanker Olcades (6891 GRT, built 1918).

HMS Gambia and the Striling Castle then departed Mauritius around 1315D/31 to proceed in the direction of Australia.

Around 0945F/6, HMS Gambia turned over the escort of the troopship to HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN). HMS Gambia then set course to return to Mauritius. (8)

11 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1245D/11, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Mauritius from escort duty. (9)

12 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300D/12, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Mauritius for Kilindini / Mombasa via Diego Suarez. (9)

14 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Between 0900C/14, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Mauritius. She departed for Kilindini / Mombasa around 1145C/14. (9)

16 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Between 0800C/16, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Diego Suarez. (9)

4 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115C/4, the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. P. Bekenn, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Diego Suarez where they arrived around 1015D/6. (10)

12 Sep 1942
Around 1115C/12, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from ' Operation Stream '. (10)

13 Sep 1942
Around 1630C/13, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Diego Suarez for ' Operation Jane ' which was the landing of troops at Tamatave.

[No further infomation available on ' Operation Jane ' for the moment, further research is required.] (10)

19 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400D/19, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) returned to Diego Suarez from ' Operation Jane '. (10)

14 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030D/14, the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and the (troop) transports Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929) and Empire Pride (British, 9248 GRT, built 1941) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. They had been joined around 0630D/14, by the destroyer HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) which then escorted them in. (11)

22 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715D/22, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Kilindini / Mombasa where she arrived around 0700C/24. (12)

24 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630C/24, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Bombay where she was to dock. (12)

30 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1145FG/30, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Bombay from Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)

3 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) is docked in the Hughes Graving Dock at Bombay. (13)

9 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) is undocked. (13)

13 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1515FG/13, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Bombay from Colombo. (13)

16 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830FG/16, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (13)

19 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Colombo with HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN) and aircraft. (13)

24 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0945FG/24, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Colombo to join convoy OW 1.

On departure D/G exercises and exercises with aircraft were carried out.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy OW 1 ' for 24 November 1942.] (14)

7 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1615F/7, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from convoy escort duty. (15)

8 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1815FG/8, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN) departed Addu Atoll for Colombo. (15)

10 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115FG/10, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN) arrived at Colombo from Addu Atoll. (15)

11 Dec 1942
Around 1600FG/11, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for Kilindini / Mombasa. On departure exercises with aircraft were carried out. (15)

17 Dec 1942
Around 1315C/17, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Colombo. Before entering harbour 6" gunnery exercises were carried out. (15)

17 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)

Convoy MC 2.

This convoy departed Aden on 17 December 1942.

The convoy was made up of the troop transports Empire Trooper (British, 14106 GRT, built 1922) and Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the minesweepers HMS Poole (Lt. W.L.G. Dutton, RNR) and HMS Romney (Lt. W.E. Halbert, RNR).

Around 1830D/19, HMS Poole and HMS Romney parted company.

Around 1430C/24, the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) and the corvette HMS Fritillary (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Barker, RD, RNR) joined the convoy coming from Diego Suarez. HMS Frobisher then parted company to fuel at Diego Suarez and then rejoin the convoy which she did around 1300D/25.

Around 1530D/28, the destroyers HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) joined.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 31 December 1942.

24 Dec 1942
Around 0715C/24, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez. After fuelling and (dis)embarking passengers she left around 1100C/24, to join convoy MC 2.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy MC 2 ' for 17 December 1942] (15)

9 Jan 1943

Convoy CM 37.

This convoy departed Durban on 9 January 1943.

The convoy was made up of the transports / tankers; British Unity (British (tanker), 8407 GRT, built 1939), Cap Tourane (British, 8009 GRT, built 1923, former French), City of Canterbury (British, 8331 GRT, built 1922), City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907), City of Paris (British, 10902 GRT, built 1922), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929) and Elisabethville (Belgian, 8351 GRT, built 1922).

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the cruisers HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), destroyers HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and the corvette HMS Nigella (T/Lt. L.J. Simpson, RNR).

Around 0645C/10, the corvettes HMS Jasmine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.D.B. Coventry, RNR) and HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1710C/11, the convoy split into two sections;
Convoy CM 37A bound for Aden was made up of the British Unity, Cap Tourane, City of Canterbury, Dromus and Elisabethville escorted by HMS Gambia and possible briefly the three corvettes but it is also possible they were detached around this time.

Around 0800C/17, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura (Capt.(Retd.) H.T.M. Pawsey, RN) relieved HMS Gambia which then set course to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa. The minesweeper HMAS Ipswich (T/Lt.Cdr. J.S. McBryde, RANR(S)) also joined the convoy.

Convoy CM 37A arrived at Aden on 24 January 1943.

Convoy CM 37B bound for Bombay was made up of the City of London, City of Paris, Devonshire and Eastern Prince escorted by HMS Frobisher, HMS Fortune and HMS Inconstant . The two destroyers parted company around 0100C/12.

Around 1100D/16, the cruiser HMS Hawkins (Cdr. M. Everard, RN) took over from HMS Frobisher which then set course to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa.

Convoy CM 37B arrived at Bombay on 25 January 1943.

17 Jan 1943
Around 1800C/17, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. (16)

1 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN). He had already been on board before during last weeks exercises. (17)

2 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300C/2, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Addu Atoll. (17)

7 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1040FG/7, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Kilindini / Mombasa. (17)

10 Feb 1943
Around 1300FG/10, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN) and HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Addu Atoll with the 'Pamphlet' convoy.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Pamphlet convoy, Suez - Sydney, 1 February to 27 February 1943 ' for 1 February 1943.] (17)

13 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900D/13, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) arrived at Mauritius from convoy cover duty. (18)

14 Mar 1943
Around 0915D/14, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) departed Mauritius for Kilindini / Mombasa. (18)

17 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400C/17, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Mauritius. Before entering harbour gunnery exercises were carried out. (18)

8 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0645C/8, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (19)

12 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915B/12, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (19)

18 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000B/18, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Durban for Simonstown. She is to proceed to the U.K. where she is to refit. (19)

20 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1055B/18, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Durban. (19)

23 May 1943
Around 1315B/18, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Simonstown for Bathurst. (19)

1 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Bathurst from Simonstown. (20)

3 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Bathurst for Plymouth. (20)

12 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Bathurst. (20)

15 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Plymouth for Liverpool where she was to refit. (20)

16 Jun 1943
HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) arrived at Liverpool from Plymouth. She was then taken in hand for refit at the Cammell Laird Shipyard (Order No. 9047R at Cammell Laird dated 16-06-1943, Admiralty number ER 7450).

[During this refit she was docked in the Gladstone Graving Dock for some time but the dates are not known to us at the moment.] (20)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/115971
  2. ADM 53/115972
  3. ADM 53/1165948 + ADM 53/115972
  4. ADM 53/116884
  5. ADM 53/115927 + ADM 53/115928 + ADM 53/115974 + ADM 53/115974 + ADM 53/116763 + ADM 53/116764
  6. ADM 53/115975
  7. ADM 53/115976
  8. ADM 53/115976 + ADM 53/115977
  9. ADM 53/115977
  10. ADM 53/115978
  11. ADM 53/115979
  12. ADM 199/115979
  13. ADM 199/115980
  14. ADM 53/115980
  15. ADM 53/115981
  16. ADM 53/117561
  17. ADM 53/117562
  18. ADM 53/117563
  19. ADM 53/117565
  20. ADM 199/2555

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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