Sir Henry Bernard Rawlings OBE, RN
| Born | 21 May 1889 | The Downes, Hayle, Cornwall, England | |
| Died | 30 Sep 1962 | (73) | Bodmin, Cornwall, England |
| Ranks
Retired: 23 Aug 1946 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Henry Bernard Rawlings, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Valiant (02) | Capt. | Battleship | 26 Aug 1939 | 24 Oct 1940 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Battleship HMS Valiant (02)
25 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) is recommissioned at the Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth upon completion of a major reconstruction which had stared in March 1937. (1)
11 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830Z/11, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Plymouth for trials. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Acasta (Lt.Cdr. C.E. Glasfurd, RN) and HMS Ardent (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Barker, RN).
Due to suspected enemy submarine in the area HMS Valiant could not return to Plymouth as had been intended. She went to Portland instead arriving there around 0830Z/12. The destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Grenade (Cdr. R.C. Boyle, RN) had meanwhile reinforced the screen. (2)
13 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Portland during which she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Acasta (Lt.Cdr. C.E. Glasfurd, RN), HMS Ardent (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Barker, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN). (2)
14 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830Z/14, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Portland for Bermuda where she is to work-up as this is though not possible in the U.K. due to the submarine threat. On departure from Portland she is escorted by the destroyers HMS Acasta (Lt.Cdr. C.E. Glasfurd, RN), HMS Ardent (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Barker, RN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Grenade (Cdr. R.C. Boyle, RN).
Around 1600Z/14, the destroyer HMS Escapade (Cdr. H.R. Graham, RN) joined the escort and HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent parted company.
At 1730Z/15, the destroyer escort parted company and HMS Valiant continued her passage unescorted.
(2)
22 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1610PQ/22 (time +3.5), in approximate position 34°20'N, 58°36'W, HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) made rendezvous with the destroyer HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN).
They arrived at Bermuda around 0900Q/25. (1)
3 Jan 1940
Around 1515Q/3, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Bermuda for several days of exercises. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Hunter (Lt.Cdr. L. de Villiers, RN).
They returned to Bermuda around 0800Q/7. (3)
10 Jan 1940
Around 0915Q/10, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Bermuda for several days of exercises. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Hunter (Lt.Cdr. L. de Villiers, RN).
They returned to Bermuda around 1030Q/13. (3)
17 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330Q/17, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Bermuda for several days of exercises. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Hunter (Lt.Cdr. L. de Villiers, RN).
They returned to Bermuda around 1515Q/19.
On return to harbour, HMS Hereward entered the floating dock. (3)
23 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730Q/23, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Hunter (Lt.Cdr. L. de Villiers, RN) departed Bermuda for exercises.
They were joined around 0900Q/23 by the light cruiser HMS Enterprise (Capt. H.J. Egerton, RN).
On completion of the exercises all ships set course for Halifax, Nova Scotia. (4)
26 Jan 1940
Around 1400Q/26, HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and HMS Hunter (Lt.Cdr. L. de Villiers, RN) arrived at Halifax.
HMS Enterprise (Capt. H.J. Egerton, RN) had gone ahead and had already arrived around 0915Q/26.
During the passage from Bermuda HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) had sustained weather damage. Due to this damage she only arrived around 1145Q/27. She was docked for repairs later on the 27th. (4)
27 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
His Majesty King George VI, made a short visit to HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN). (5)
11 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (6)
14 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (6)
18 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200A/18, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) escorted by the destroyers HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Brazen (Lt.Cdr. M. Culme-Seymour, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow. (7)
21 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1900A/21, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0900A/22. During the passage she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Grafton (Cdr. C.E.C. Robinson, RN), HMS Arrow (Cdr. H.W. Williams, RN) and HMS Acheron (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN). (7)
3 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. On completion of these she ran over the DG range a couple of times. (8)
6 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tartar (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN) departed Scapa Flow to provide cover / additional escort for evacuation convoys from Harstad, Norway. (9)
6 Jun 1940
Evacuation of the 'Narvik / Harstad / Tromso area'.
1st troop evacuation convoy from Harstad.
From 4 to 6 June 1940 the troopships Batory (Polish, 14287 GRT, built 1936), Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Georgic (British, 27759 GRT, built 1932), Lancastria (British, 16243 GRT, built 1922), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931) and Sobieski (Polish, 11030 GRT, built 1939) embarked almost 15000 troops in the Andfiord, near Harstad, Norway. They did this one by one and they were then escorted out to sea by the destroyer HMS Arrow (Cdr. H.W. Williams, RN) and sloop HMS Stork (Cdr. A.C. Behague, RN).
On completion of the embarkation of the troops of the last ships they departed on 6 June 1940 from the assembly point escorted by the repair ship HMS Vindictive (Capt. A.R. Halfhide, RN).
They were joined shortly after midnight on the 8th by the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tartar (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN). These additional escorts parted company with the convoy late in the evening of the 8th after the destroyers HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, RN), HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN), HMS Wolverine (Cdr. R.H. Craske, RN), HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN) had joined the convoy coming from Scapa Flow which they had departed around 2300/7.
The convoy arrived in the Clyde on 10 June 1940. (10)
21 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises and DG trails at Scapa Flow. (8)
26 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1900A/26, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Escort (Lt.Cdr. J. Bostock, RN), HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN) and HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Gibraltar where they arrived around 0600A/2. (11)
9 Jul 1940
This photograph show HMS Valiant (nearest to the camera) and HMS Resolution and is most likely taken during an Italian air attack (by SM 79 bombers) against Force H on 9 July 1940. The photograph is taken from HMS Enterprise.
Photograph with thanks to John Hancocks whose father Lt.(E) J.P. Hancocks served at HMS Enterprise during that time.
Sources
- ADM 53/110898
- ADM 53/107297 + ADM 53/107489 + ADM 53/110898
- ADM 53/112425 + ADM 53/113355
- ADM 53/112153 + ADM 53/112425 + ADM 53/113355 + ADM 199/367
- ADM 53/113356
- ADM 53/113357
- ADM 53/113358 + ADM 199/361 + ADM 199/376
- ADM 53/113360
- ADM 53/113360 + ADM 199/361 + ADM 199/376
- ADM 199/361 + ADM 199/376
- ADM 53/113360 + ADM 53/113361 + ADM 199/361 + ADM 199/376
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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