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Light cruiser HMS Birmingham (19)

16 Mar 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted D/G trials off Portsmouth. On completion of these she set course to proceed to Scapa Flow via the Clyde. (1)

17 Mar 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived in the Clyde. (1)

18 Mar 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow where she arrived later the same day and joined the Home Fleet. (1)

19 Mar 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She is to patrol south of Iceland. (2)

28 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Northern Patrol. (2)

31 Mar 1940
Around 2015A/31, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Scapa Flow for an anti-shipping raid along the Norwegian coast.

She was joined around 1220A/1, by the destroyers HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN) and HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, RN) which came from Sullom Voe.

In the afternoon of the 3rd, HMS Fearless fuelled from HMS Birmingham.

In the morning of the 4th, HMS Hostile captured the German fishing trawler PG 365 / Friesland (247 GRT, built 1921, former Hinrich Cordes) north-west of Tromso in position 70°06'N, 17°01'E. A prize crew was put on board the ship, with had a crew of thirteen and one passenger (a women). She arrived in the U.K., in a port in north-east Scotland, on 12 April 1940.

In the afternoon of the 4th, HMS Hostile fuelled from HMS Birmingham.

On the 6th, HMS Fearless captured the German fishing trawler PG 529 / Blankenburg (344 GRT, built 1938) near the North Cape in position 71°05'N, 26°49'E.

On the 7th, HMS Hostile captured the German fishing trawler PG 105 / Nordland (393 GRT, built 1922) north of the Lofoten in position 69°05'N, 14°30'E. (3)

10 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations off Norway. (4)

19 Apr 1940
Around 0445A/19, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow having been detached from escorting the troopship Empress of Australia.

She departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth around 0930A/19. She was recalled for escort duty later and proceeded north to make rendezvous with a troop convoy the following day. (4)

20 Apr 1940
Around 0100A/20, the French transport Ville d’Alger with French troops on board departed Scapa Flow for Namsos. She was being escorted by the French destroyers Bison (Capt. J.A.R. Bouan) and Foudroyant Foudroyant (Cdr. P.L.A. Fontaine).

These ships were joined around 0800A/20 by the AA cruiser HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN) which also came from Scapa Flow.

Around 2015A/20, the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) also joined she remained with the convoy until 2035A/21 when the convoy entered Namsen Fjord. HMS Birmingham then set course for Rosyth.

Around 2315A/21, HMS Calcutta parted company with the French ships and left Namsen Fjord to proceed back to sea. (5)

22 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Rosyth from operations. (4)

29 Apr 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral G. Layton, CB, DSO, RN) and HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations of Norway. (6)

8 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and the destroyers HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN), HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth where they arrived later the same day. (7)

11 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100A/11, the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and the destroyers HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN) and HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN) arrived at Immingham. (8)

20 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Immingham for Rosyth. (8)

21 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Rosyth from Immingham. (8)

23 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030A/23, the light cruisers HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) and HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and the destroyer HMS Gallant (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, RN) departed Rosyth with despatch to make rendezvous with the damaged Polish submarine ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B. Karnicki). After Wilk reported she was able to dive the British ships were ordered to return to Rosyth which they did around 1830A/23. (9)

26 Jun 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) entered No.3 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. The docked is pumped out the following day. (10)

30 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) is undocked. (11)

2 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Rosyth for Sheerness. (11)

3 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Sheerness from Rosyth. (11)

4 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN, struck his flag in HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN) and hoisted it in HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN). (12)

6 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 6/7 July, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) conducted patrol 'M' [Thames estuary]. (13)

10 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 10/11 July, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) conducted patrol 'M' [Thames estuary]. (13)

8 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 8/9 August, the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Campbell (Capt. C.R.L. Parry, RN) and HMS Windsor (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Huddart, RN) conducted patrol 'O' [East of Lowestoft between 52°00'N and 52°45'N]. (14)

20 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2030A/20, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0700A/21. (14)

21 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (14)

23 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (15)

26 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (15)

29 Aug 1940
Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) to HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN). (16)

1 Sep 1940
Around 0001A/1, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN), HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and HMS Southampton (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral M.L. Clarke, DSC, RN) departed Rosyth for the Humber. Around 0140A/1, near Fidra, they were joined by the destroyers HMS Versatile (Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Jauncey, RN) and HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) which parted company again around 0250A/1. HMS Woolston (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Phipps, OBE, RN) was also to have joined later but it does not appear that she actually did, presumably due to the fact that around 0305A/1 the cruisers were recalled and then returned to Rosyth arriving around 0600A/1. The destroyers returned to Methil. (17)

25 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Immingham for Birkenhead (Liverpool) where she was to refit. (18)

27 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Birkenhead. (19)

1 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During her refit, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), is docked at Birkenhead. (20)

3 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), is undocked and moved to the basin to continue her refit. (21)

26 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), departed Liverpool for Scapa Flow. (21)

27 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Liverpool. (21)

28 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (21)

30 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (21)

31 Dec 1940
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted RDF and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow.

[No log for January 1941 is available, therefore some details for this month will be missing.] (21)

2 Mar 1941
Around 1015N/2, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Freetown where she immediately commenced fuelling. She also embarked a replacement Walrus aircraft from the seaplane tender HMS Albatross (A/Capt. W.G. Brittain, RN).

She departed to search for her missing Walrus aircraft around 1815N/2.

She returned to Freetown around 1530N/4, not having found her missing aircraft and its crew. (22)

21 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Capetown after convoy escort duty. (23)

24 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Capetown to overtake the troopship Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) and escort her to Freetown.

Rendezvous was effected around 1800B/26. (22)

29 Mar 1941

Convoy SL 70.

This convoy departed Freetown on 29 March 1941 and arrived in UK waters (Liverpool) on 23 April 1941.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alfred Jones (British, 5013 GRT, built 1930), Ancylus (British (tanker), 8017 GRT, built 1935), Andrea Brovig (Norwegian (tanker), 10173 GRT, built 1940), Barrgrove (British, 5222 GRT, built 1918), Belgravian (British, 3136 GRT, built 1937), Benledi (British, 5943 GRT, built 1930), Bulysses (British, 7519 GRT, built 1927), Chelatros (Greek, 3489 GRT, built 1914), Clan MacBrayne (British, 4818 GRT, built 1916), Clan MacInnes (British, 4672 GRT, built 1920), Colytto (Dutch, 4408 GRT, built 1926), Dagomba (British, 3845 GRT, built 1928), Delius (British, 6065 GRT, built 1937), Denpark (British, 3491 GRT, built 1928), Dornoch (British, 5186 GRT, built 1939), Egda (Norwegian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1939), Elstree Grange (British, 6598 GRT, built 1916), Grangepark (British, 5132 GRT, built 1919), Gunda (Swedish, 1770 GRT, built 1930), Henry Stanley (British, 5026 GRT, built 1929), Industria (British, 4850 GRT, built 1940), Mandalay (British, 5529 GRT, built 1911), Marconi (British, 7402 GRT, built 1917), Meliskerk (Dutch, 6045 GRT, built 1919), Para (Norwegian, 3986 GRT, built 1921), Parklaan (Dutch, 3807 GRT, built 1911), Phidias (British, 5623 GRT, built 1913), Sacramento Valley (British, 4573 GRT, built 1924), Storanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9223 GRT, built 1930) and William Wilberforce (British, 4013 GRT, built 1930).

The rescue ship Zamalek (British, 1567 GRT, built 1921) was also part of the convoy.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), corvette HMS Calendula (Lt.Cdr. A.D. Bruford, RNVR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Kelt (T/Lt. W.T. Hodson, RNVR) and HMS Pict (???).

At 1726N/31, HMS Dragon parted company with the convoy. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN) had joined shortly before HMS Dragon parted company.

Around 1300N/4, HMS Kelt and HMS Pict parted company with the convoy to proceed to Bathurst.

At 1755N/4, HMS Calendula parted company with the convoy to proceed to Bathurst.

Around 1730N/5, the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and the troopship Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) joined the convoy. They had departed Freetown around 1730N/2 to overtake the convoy.

Around 1600N/19, HMS Marsdale (Lt.Cdr. D.H.F. Armstrong, RNR) joined the convoy after which HMS Bulolo parted company.

Around 0900N/20, the destroyer HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 1800N/20, the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Beagle, (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN), HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN), HMCS St.Francis (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Pullen, RCN) and the corvettes HMS Heather (Cdr.(Retd.) J.G.C. Gibson, RN), HMS Orchis (Lt. A.D. White, RNR), HMCS Hepatica (T/Lt. C. Copelin, RCNR) and HMCS Windflower (T/Lt. J.H.S. MacDonald, RCNR) joined the convoy.

At 2105N/20, HMS Birmingham parted company with the convoy to proceed to Scapa Flow.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 23 April 1941. Some of the A/S escorts had already parted company with the convoy earlier.

1 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and the troopship Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) arrived at Freetown. (24)

22 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow after convoy escort duty. (24)

13 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted D/F trials at Scapa Flow. (25)

14 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (25)

17 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. On completion of the exercises she conducted D/G trials. (25)

22 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN) and HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) made a short call at Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands to fuel before resuming their patrol. (26)

31 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol. (25)

2 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock. (27)

3 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (27)

4 Jun 1941

Convoy WS 9A.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 4 June 1941.

On assembly the convoy was made up of the transports; Aagtekerk (Dutch, 6811 GRT, built 1934), Capetown Castle (British, 27000 GRT, built 1938), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929), Empire Condor (British, 7773 GRT, built 1940), Empire Curlew (British, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Empire Egret (British, 7169 GRT, built 1939), Empire Widgeon (British, 6737 GRT, built 1940), Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930), Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Llangibby Castle (British, 11951 GRT, built 1929), Mendoza (British, 8233 GRT, built 1919), Mooltan (British, 20952 GRT, built 1923), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915) and Samaria (British, 19597 GRT, built 1921).

On assembly of the convoy it was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (A/Capt. I.R.H. Black, RN), armed merchant cruisers HMS Ausonia (Capt.(Retd.) G.H. Freyberg, OBE, RN), HMS Dunnottar Castle (Capt.(Retd.) C.T.A. Bunbury, RN) and the destroyers HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO, RN), HMS Maori (Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Sikh (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMS Zulu (Cdr. H.R. Graham, DSO, RN), HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN), HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Ramsey (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Stannard, VC, RNR) and HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN).

At 0130Z/7, HMS Vanquisher and HMS Winchelsea parted company with the convoy.

At 0700Z/7, HMS Ausonia, HMS Cairo and all remaining destroyer parted company with the convoy.

In the afternoon of the 14th the destroyers HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton, DSC, RN) and HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) joined the convoy escort.

HMS Highland was however soon detached for other duties.

In the morning of the 15th the destroyer HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) joined the convoy escort.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 16 June 1941.

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The convoy departed Freetown for South Africa on 20 June 1941.

The composition of the convoy was the same in which it had arrived with the addition of the transports Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913) and Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Birmingham and the destroyers HMS Boreas, HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN), HMS Velox and HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, RN).

At 0700ZA(-0.5)/23, the destroyers parted company with the convoy.

In the morning of July 1st, the transports Capetown Castle, Durban Castle, Eastern Prince, Empire Widgeon, Empress of Japan and Llangibby Castle parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Capetown.

At 1400AB(-1.5)/2, HMS Birmingham parted company with the convoy after the escort had been taken over by the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) which came from Mauritius. HMS Birmingham then proceeded to Simonstown.

The Eastern Prince departed Capetown on 2 July to proceeded independently to Durban.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Durban on 4 July 1941.

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On 5 July 1941, the ships of the Capetown section (minus Eastern Prince, see above) departed there escorted by HMS Birmingham which had come from Simonstown.

On 8 July 1941, the transports Aagtekerk, Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Empire Condor, Empire Curlew, Empire Egret and Thysville (Belgian, 8351 GRT, built 1922) and their escort HMS Hawkins departed Durban to make rendezvous with the Capetown section the following day.

On making rendezvous, HMS Birmingham was detached to return to Simonstown.

At 1415D, the transports Capetown Castle, Durban Castle and Empress of Japan parted company with the convoy to proceed to Bombay. This was known as Convoy WS 9AX. They were escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) which had just made rendezvous with the convoy. They arrived at Bombay at 24 July.

The remainder of the ships continued on to the vicinity of Aden escorted by HMS Hawkins. The convoy was dispersed on 21 July 1941. (28)

11 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Simonstown after convoy escort duty. (29)

12 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) is docked at the Simonstown Dockyard. (29)

17 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) is undocked. (29)

25 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted full power trials off Simonstown. Upon completion of these she ran over the DG range a couple of times.

In the evening she departed Simonstown for Freetown. (29)

1 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Freetown from Simonstown. (30)

4 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Freetown for patrol in the South Atlantic. She was to arrive at Samborombón Bay, Plate area on the 14th. (31)

28 Aug 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Rio de Janeiro from patrol. (30)

30 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Rio de Janeiro to patrol in the South Atlantic east of Pernambuco. (30)

8 Sep 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) fuelled from an RFA tanker (most likely Broomdale) at the Abrolhos Islands. She then proceeded to patrol to the north-east of the Plate area. (32)

18 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) fuelled from the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937) in Samborombón Bay, River Plate area.

She departed for Buenos Aires later the same day. (32)

19 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Buenos Aires. (32)

21 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Buenos Aires to patrol in the Plate focal area. (32)

30 Sep 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Samborombón Bay, River Plate area, where she fuelled from the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937). She departed for patrol the following day. (33)

4 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330ON(+1.5)/4, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) made rendezvous, in approximate position 24°15'S, 44°30'W, with the corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR) and HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR).

HMS Bergamot then commenced to fuel from HMS Birmingham.

Later the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) also joined. (34)

5 Oct 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) and HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) fuelled from the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) to the south-west of Ilhabella, Brazil. HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR) meanwhile conducted A/S patrol nearby.

On completion of the fuelling (and storing) operations all ships proceeded on patrol. (34)

13 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) made rendezvous of the Abrolhos Islands with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN), corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR), HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) and the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937). (34)

14 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
On completion of the fuelling operations with the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937), light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) made rendezvous of the Abrolhos Islands with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN) and the corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR) and HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) resumed their patrol operations in the Abrolhos focal area. (34)

22 Oct 1941
During the day, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) fuelled from the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937), to the west of the Abrolhos Islands. On completion of fuelling HMS Birmingham patrolled off the Abrolhos Islands. (34)

23 Oct 1941
During the day, HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) again made rendezvous with the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937), to the west of the Abrolhos Islands. The corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR), HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) also were in company and fuelled from the tanker. All ships resumed their patrol duties later in the day. (34)

30 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Rio de Janeiro from patrol. (34)

2 Nov 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Rio de Janeiro for patrol. (35)

12 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) fuelled from the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) to the south-west of Ilhabella, Brazil. HMS Birmingham resumed patrol later the same day. (35)

17 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Montevideo. (35)

19 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Montevideo for the Falkland Islands. (35)

21 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. (35)

25 Nov 1941
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Port Stanley, Falkland Islands for Samborombón Bay. (35)

27 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Samborombón Bay where she topped off with fuel from the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937). She then departed for a patrol in the South Atlantic which was to end at Simonstown, South Africa. (35)

10 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Simonstown from patrol. (36)

11 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) departed Simonstown for patrol in the South Atlantic. (36)

Battleship HMS Anson (79)

25 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) is undocked at the Devonport Dockyard.

[Not 100% sure though, entry is difficult to read in the ships logbook.] (37)

7 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted basin trials at the Devonport Dockyard. (38)

21 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted basin trials at the Devonport Dockyard. (38)

31 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Plymouth around 1100A/31 for Scapa Flow.

She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Zodiac (Lt.Cdr. H.R. Rycroft, DSC, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Thorpe, DSO, RN), HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.V.W. Groos, RCN) and ORP Garland (Lt. K. Hess).

They arrived at Scapa Flow around 1500A/2. (39)

10 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted speed and compas swing trials at Scapa Flow. (40)

11 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted D/G and radar calibration trials at Scapa Flow.

She then left Scapa Flow for full power trials in the Pentland Firth. These were followed by a RIX (range and inclination exercise) with HMS Dido (Capt. R.F. Elkins, OBE, RN). (40)

19 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted radar calibration trials at Scapa Flow followed by 14" gunnery exercises and finally an underway refuelling exercise was carried out with HMS Zambesi (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Palmer, RN). (40)

23 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (40)

25 Apr 1945
Around 1730B/25, the battleships HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Malta. They were to continue their work-up programme in the Mediterranean.

They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Barfleur (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSO, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN), HMS Caprice (Lt.Cdr. G.W. McKendrick, RN), HMS Carron (Lt.Cdr. J.V. Wilkinson, DSC, RN), HMS Cavendish (Cdr. R.H. Maurice, DSO, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN).

At 0100B/26, the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN) joined. She had departed Scapa Flow around 1940B/25 to overtake and join the other ships.

Around 0830A/28, the destroyers HMS Caprice, HMS Carron, HMS Cavendish were detached to Falmouth.

Around 1430A/29, the destroyers HMS Malcolm (Cdr. H. Lloyd-Williams, DSO, RNVR) and HMS Wolverine (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J. McCullogh Miller, DSC, RNVR) joined coming from Gibraltar. HMS Barfleur was then detached to proceed ahead to Gibraltar to fuel.

Around 1400B/30, HMS Tuscan, HMS Tyrian, HMS Malcolm and HMS Wolverine were detached to Gibraltar. HMS Barfleur rejoined at the same time.

Around 1830B/30, HMS Sussex was detached to Gibraltar.

At 0700B/2, HMS Tuscan and HMS Tyrian rejoined but they were detached again around 0905B/2 to proceed ahead to Malta.

Around 1245B/2, HMS Barfleur was detached to proceed ahead to Malta.

Around 1430B/2, HMS Anson and HMS Duke of York arrived at Malta. (41)

5 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Malta. (42)

7 May 1945
During 7/8 May 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. (42)

10 May 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN)conducted exercises off Malta. These included a RIX (range and inclination exercise) during which HMS Belvoir (A/Lt.Cdr. W.D. Shaw, RN) served as target. (42)

11 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 11/12 May 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. (42)

19 May 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (43)

21 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
From 21 to 23 May 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (42)

25 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 25/26 May 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. (42)

4 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
From 4 to 7 June 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (44)

9 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (44)

11 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) and HMS Nelson (Capt. C. Caslon, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (45)

16 Jun 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) anchored off Ras el Kanayis. (44)

17 Jun 1945
During 17/18 June 1945, HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) conducted exercises off Ras el Kanayis. These included night exercises. On completion of these exercises she transited the Suez Canal part of the way southbound and arrived in the Great Bitter Lakes early in the afternoon of the 18th. (44)

19 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) proceeded from the Great Bitter Lakes to Suez. (44)

22 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Suez for Colombo. (44)

30 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Colombo from Suez. (44)

2 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (44)

3 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (44)

7 Jul 1945
Around 0630FG/7, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Trincomalee for Fremantle. She first conducted underway refuelling exercises off Trincomalee.

Around 0730FG/7 the light carriers HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) also departed Trincomalee for Fremantle and joined HMS Anson.

They were joined around 1900FG/7 by the light carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) which had departed Colombo around 0800FG/7.

HMS Anson joined the other ships around 0630FG/8.

En-route to Fremantle both destroyers refuelled from HMS Anson.

They arrived at Fremantle around 0800H, 16 July 1945. (46)

16 Jul 1945
Around 1745H/16, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), light carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Fremantle for Sydney.

Around 2100H/16, HMS Anson was detached to fuel at Albany where she arrived around 1430H/17.

Around 1200H/18, HMS Anson departed Albany for Sydney.

All ships arrived at Sydney in the morning of 22 July except for HMS Tuscan which arrived in the afternoon and HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus which entered Jervis Bay in the morning of 22 July.

HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus proceeded from Jervis Bay to Sydney on 23 July. (46)

24 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) proceeded from Sydney to Jervis Bay. En-route exercises were carried out. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN). (47)

25 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) proceeded from Jervis Bay to Sydney. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN). (47)

27 Jul 1945
During 27/28 July 1945, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN) conducted exercises off Sydney. (48)

31 Jul 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) is docked in the Captain Cook Dock, Garden Island, Sydney. (47)

12 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, CB, CBE, RN). (49)

13 Aug 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN) is undocked. (49)

17 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN) departed Sydney for Manus. (49)

21 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN) arriveds at Manus from Sydney. (49)

22 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN) departed Manus for Leyte. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Lt.Cdr. F.G.E. Knox, DSO, RAN). (49)

25 Aug 1945
HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.S. Daniel, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Lt.Cdr. F.G.E. Knox, DSO, RAN) arrived at Leyte from Manus. (49)

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