Allied Warship Commanders

Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant DSO, DSC, RN

Born  7 Apr 1894


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Ranks

15 Sep 1911 Mid.
15 Jan 1914 A/S.Lt.
15 Jul 1914 S.Lt.
15 Oct 1915 Lt.
15 Oct 1923 Lt.Cdr.
30 Jun 1928 Cdr.
30 Jun 1935 Capt.
25 Jun 1940 Commodore 2nd cl.
7 Jul 1944 Rear-Admiral
13 Jul 1948 Vice-Admiral
26 Jan 1952 Admiral

Retired: 15 Sep 1953


Decorations

8 Mar 1918 DSC
20 Apr 1943 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
21 Dec 1943 CBE
14 Nov 1944 DSO
18 Dec 1945 CB
2 Jan 1950 KCB

Warship Commands listed for Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Despatch (D 30)Commodore 2nd cl.Light cruiser17 Jul 19407 Apr 1942

Career information

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

Events related to this officer

Light cruiser HMS Despatch (D 30)


24 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 24/25 July 1940, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) conducted exercises and trials off Bermuda. On completion of the exercises / trials she set course for Trinidad. (1)

29 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Trinidad from Bermuda. (1)

30 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Trinidad to patrol in the Atlantic up to 800 miles bearing 040° from Trinidad after which she was to patrol towards a position 800 miles bearing 040° from the Windward passage. (2)

5 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Tortola from patrol. These she fuelled from the chartered tanker San Adolfo (7365 GRT, 1935).

6 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Tortola for patrol and then onwards to Bermuda. (3)

11 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from patrol. (3)

14 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Kingston, Jamaica. En-route she first was to escort the Canadian passenger/cargo ship Lady Somers (Canadian, 8194 GRT, built 1929), which had on board the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, to Nassau, Bahama's. (3)

19 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica. (3)

23 Aug 1940
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for Curacao, Dutch West Indies. She was to show herself of the Colombian coast while en-route. (4)

25 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Curacao, Dutch West Indies from Kingston, Jamaica. (3)

27 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Curacao, Dutch West Indies for Kingston, Jamaica. (3)

29 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from Curacao, Dutch West Indies. (3)

1 Sep 1940
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for Aruba, Dutch West Indies. (5)

3 Sep 1940
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Aruba, Dutch West Indies from Kingston, Jamaica. (5)

7 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) proceeded from Aruba to Curacao. (5)

10 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Curacao, Dutch West Indies for La Guaira, Venezuela. (5)

11 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at La Guaira, Venezuela from Curacao, Dutch West Indies. (5)

12 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed La Guaira, Venezuela for Bermuda. (5)

15 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from La Guaira, Venezuela. (5)

16 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Greenock. She was to proceed to the U.K. for some changes to her armament. (6)

25 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Greenock from Bermuda. (5)

29 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Greenock for Plymouth. (5)

1 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Greenock. (5)

2 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Portsmouth. (7)

3 Oct 1940
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Portsmouth from Plymouth where she was taken in hand for a short refit. (7)

1 Nov 1940
With her short refit completed, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Portsmouth for Greenock.

At sea she might have been joined by the destroyers HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Windsor (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Huddart, RN) which had departed Sheerness also on 1 November.

[All these ships were to arrive at Greenock on 3 November so it seems likely they joined company off Portsmouth although there is no confirmation of this in the logbook of HMS Despatch.] (8)

3 Nov 1940
The light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and the the destroyers HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Windsor (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Huddart, RN) all arrived at Greenock from Portsmouth / Sheerness. (8)

22 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN) and HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) departed Gibraltar around 1020A/22 for a patrol with the intention to intercept a Vichy-French merchant vessel. The patrol was discontinued at 0010A/23 and both ships with the Vichy French vessel Charles Plumier (former armed merchant cruiser, 4504 GRT, built 1938) returned to Gibraltar arriving around 0900A/23. The Vichy vessel had been captured in position 35°32'N, 03°05'W. (9)

4 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for Bermuda to rejoin the America and West Indies Station. (10)

13 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Gibraltar. (10)

16 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Kingston, Jamaica. (10)

20 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from Bermuda. (10)

28 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for Nassau, Bahamas. (10)

30 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Nassau, Bahamas from Kingston, Jamaica. (10)

2 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Nassau for Belize. (11)

5 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Belize from Nassau. (11)

7 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Belize for Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island. (11)

8 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island from Belize. (11)

9 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island for Kingston, Jamaica. (11)

10 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) srrived at Kingston, Jamaica from Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island. (11)

15 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica to patrol north of Mona and Sombrero passages to guard the shipping routes between Bermuda and the Carribean. (12)

22 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from patrol. (13)

27 Jan 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Bermuda. (11)

30 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is undocked. (11)

9 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to patrol within 200 miles from position 25°00'N, 65°00'W to cover the independent shipping routes. (14)

13 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from patrol. (15)

16 Feb 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica to conduct exercises with HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN) coming towards from Aruba. They were to proceed to Kingston, Jamaica on completion of these exercises. (14)

22 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for a patrol in the Atlantic to search for a suspected German raider. She is to end her patrol at Port of Spain, Trinidad. (16)

3 Mar 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad from patrol. (17)

11 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Trinidad to patrol in the Atlantic to the south-east of the Caribbean to provide cover for several important individually routed merchant ships passing through the area. (18)

18 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) returned to Trinidad from patrol. (18)

21 Mar 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Trinidad to again patrol in the Atlantic to the south-east of the Caribbean. (17)

26 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) returned to Trinidad from patrol. (18)

28 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Bermuda. (17)

1 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Trinidad.

[No log for HMS Despatch is available for the month of April 1941, so some datails for this month might be missing.] (19)

5 Apr 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to patrol in the Atlantic within 200 miles from position 25°00'N, 50°00'W. This was to try to intercept German supply vessels and possible the German raider that had sunk the armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.A.P. Blackburn, DSC, RN) the day before. (20)

22 Apr 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from patrol. During her patrol she fuelled at sea (once) from the chartered tanker San Adolfo (7365 GRT, 1935).

HMS Despatch was then taken in hand for refit at the Dockyard. (19)

1 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Bermuda. (21)

16 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is undocked. (21)

16 Jun 1941
With her refit completed, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN), conducted gunnery exercises off Bermuda during 16 and 17 June 1941.

In the afternoon of the 17th, a Walrus aircraft crashed off Bermuda and HMS Despatch conducted a search for survivors but none were find. The US submarine USS S-32 (Lt. C.E. Duke, USN) recovered one body which she transferred to HMS Despatch. (22)

19 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to patrol in the mid-Atlantic within 150 miles from position 25°00'N, 40°00'W. (22)

29 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad from patrol. (22)

3 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) proceeded from Trinidad to St. Lucia. (23)

6 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed St. Lucia to patrol east of Martinique. (23)

8 Jul 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) both arrived at St. Lucia from patrol. (23)

9 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad from St. Lucia having departed from there on the 8th. (24)

11 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Bermuda. (23)

15 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Port of Spain, Trinidad. (23)

21 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to conduct a search east of Bermuda near position 32°23'N, 57°58'W where strange lights / distress signals were reported. (23)

23 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) returned to Bermuda after an unsuccessful search. (23)

25 Jul 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to make rendezvous with the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) at 1600Z/27 in position 30°00'N, 52°00'W.

They were then to patrol near position 25°00'N, 40°00'W. The object for the patrol was to intercept German supply vessels.

They were ordered to arrive at Bermuda on 15 August. (23)

1 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) fuelled from the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) in approximate position 33°05'N, 40°40'W. (25)

6 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN), fuelled from the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) in approximate position 28°50'N, 39°40'W. (25)

9 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) are ordered to proceed towards the Amazon estuary to try to intercept a German blockade breaker that had sailed from there. (26)

10 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) topped of with fuel from the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) in approximate position 24°05'N, 42°15'W. (25)

15 Aug 1941 (position 12.14, -43.24)
After the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) had reported a suspicious vessel at 2000/14 in position 10°10'N, 43°43'W, the light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) closed the position and early in the evening she closed the suspicious vessel which turned out to be the German merchant vessel Norderney (3667 GRT, built 1921) which they had been looking for. On being closed the German crew scuttled their ship. The crew was taken prisoner by HMS Despatch. While alongside the German vessel HMS Despatch sustained some minor hull damage.

Shortly afterwards the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), which had also been searching in the area for the German ship, arrived on the scene. She eventually sank the German vessel with gunfire in position 12°14'N, 43°24'W. (27)

18 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Trinidad from patrol. (25)

19 Aug 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Kingston, Jamaica. (25)

21 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Kingston, Jamaica. Here the German prisoners were landed. (26)

23 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for patrol. She was recalled shortly afterwards though as she was to proceed to the Pacific as a German raider was thought to be operating near the Galapagos Islands. (26)

24 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for the Pacific. (25)

26 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal westbound. (25)

1 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the early evening, the light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and the armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Henry (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN) made rendezvous to the west of the Galapagos Islands in approximate position 00°06'S, 94°56'W.

They were to patrol the area in close company to search for a suspected enemy raider that had been operating in the area. (25)

5 Sep 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Talara, Peru to fuel.

HMCS Prince Henry (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN), had parted company with HMS Despatch in the early evening of the previous day. (28)

6 Sep 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Talara, Peru.

Shortly after departure, HMCS Prince Henry (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN), was encountered which then proceeded to Talara to refuel. (28)

8 Sep 1941
HMCS Prince Henry (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN) rejoined HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN).

They however soon parted company again, HMS Despatch then set course to patrol in the Galapagos Islands area while HMCS Prince Henry set course to the Panama Canal. (29)

20 Sep 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Manzanillo, Mexico from patrol. (28)

21 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having fuelled, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN), departed Manzanillo, Mexico for Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. (29)

25 Sep 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. (29)

26 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal eastbound and then set course for Kingston, Jamaica. (29)

28 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from the Pacific. (29)

30 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for Bermuda. (29)

3 Oct 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Kingston, Jamaica. At Bermuda she was taken in hand by the Dockyard for repairs to some defects. (29)

21 Oct 1941
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C.E. Kennedy-Purvis, KCB, RN) departed Bermuda for Kingston, Jamaica. (30)

24 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C.E. Kennedy-Purvis, KCB, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from Bermuda. (30)

26 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C.E. Kennedy-Purvis, KCB, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica to return to Bermuda. (30)

29 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C.E. Kennedy-Purvis, KCB, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Kingston, Jamaica. (30)

6 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 6/7 November 1941, HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN), conducted gunnery exercises off Bermuda. These included night exercises. (31)

7 Nov 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Trinidad via the Sombrero Passage. (32)

11 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad. (31)

16 Nov 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad to visit the following islands; St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. She was to arrive at Bermuda on 23 November. (32)

17 Nov 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at St. Lucia. (31)

18 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed St. Lucia for Antigua. (31)

19 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Antigua from St. Lucia. (31)

20 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) proceeded from Antigua to St. Kitts.

She departed St. Kitts for St. Thomas later the same day. (31)

21 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at St. Thomas.

She departed for Bermuda later the same day. (31)

23 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda. (31)

25 Nov 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to patrol an area between latitudes 20°N, 30°N and longitudes 40°W and 50°W. (32)

5 Dec 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) returned to Bermuda from patrol. (33)

9 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Kingston, Jamaica.

First night encounter exercises were carried out off Bermuda with HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN). (34)

13 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from Bermuda.

After fuelling she departed for the Pacific later the same day. (35)

15 Dec 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal westbound and arrived at Balboa where she joined the US South-East Pacific Force. (33)

20 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Balboa to patrol off the Galapagos Islands. (33)

29 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) returned to Balboa, Panama Canal Zone from patrol. (33)

2 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Balboa to patrol off the Galapagos Islands. (36)

12 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Talara, Peru for fuel and stores. (36)

13 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Talara, Peru to resume her patrol. (36)

20 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone from patrol. (36)

21 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal eastbound and then set course for Bermuda. (36)

25 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda. (37)

26 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Bermuda. (37)

5 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) is undocked. (38)

11 Feb 1942
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda and the America and West Indies Station to proceed to Freetown (but first via the Sombrero Passage to Trinidad) and join the South Atlantic Station.

On leaving the Station Commodore Douglas-Pennant struck his broad pendant and reverted back to the rank of Captain. (39)

15 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad. (39)

17 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Freetown. (38)

27 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Freetown. (38)

2 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Freetown for Lagos. (40)

6 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Lagos from Freetown. (40)

10 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Logos for Freetown. (40)

13 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Freetown from Lagos. (40)

17 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Freetown for Gibraltar. She was to proceed to the U.K. to refit. Due to engine defects maximum speed was limited to 20 knots. (40)

22 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown. (40)

23 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for Greenock. (40)

28 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Greenock. (40)

29 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) departed Greenock for Sheerness. (40)

31 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at Sheerness from Greenock. (40)

2 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After de-ammunitioning, HMS Despatch (Capt. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN), proceeded from Sheerness to the Chatham Dockyard where she was taken in hand for refit. (41)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/111992
  2. ADM 53/111992 + ADM 53/111993 + ADM 199/367
  3. ADM 53/111993
  4. ADM 53/111993 + ADM 199/367
  5. ADM 53/111994
  6. ADM 53/111994 + ADM 199/2552
  7. ADM 53/111995
  8. ADM 53/111996
  9. ADM 53/111996 + ADM 199/392
  10. ADM 53/111997
  11. ADM 53/114071
  12. AMD 53/114071 + ADM 199/402
  13. AMD 53/114071
  14. ADM 53/114072 + ADM 199/402
  15. ADM 53/114072
  16. ADM 114072
  17. ADM 53/114073 + ADM 199/402
  18. ADM 53/114073
  19. ADM 199/402 + ADM 199/2552
  20. ADM 199/402
  21. ADM 53/114074
  22. ADM 53/114075 + ADM 199/402
  23. ADM 53/114076 + ADM 199/402
  24. ADM 53/114076
  25. ADM 53/114077
  26. ADM 53/114077 + ADM 199/402
  27. ADM 53/114077 + ADM 53/114879 + ADM 199/402 + ADM 199/2230
  28. ADM 53/114078
  29. ADM 53/114078 + ADM 199/402
  30. ADM 53/114079 + ADM 199/402
  31. ADM 53/114080
  32. ADM 53/114080 + ADM 199/402
  33. ADM 53/114081 + ADM 199/402
  34. ADM 53/114081 + ADM 53/114116 + ADM 199/402
  35. ADM 53/114081
  36. ADM 53/115761 + ADM 199/647
  37. ADM 53/115761
  38. ADM 53/115762
  39. ADM 53/115762 + ADM 199/647
  40. ADM 53/115763
  41. ADM 53/115764

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


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