Allied Warship Commanders

Philip Henry May DSC, RN

Birth details unknown


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Ranks

1 Feb 1939 S.Lt.
1 Jun 1940 Lt.
1 Jun 1948 Lt.Cdr.

Retired: 9 Feb 1958


Decorations

7 Oct 1941 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
20 Apr 1945 DSC

Warship Commands listed for Philip Henry May, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS H 43 (N 43)Lt.Submarine2 Apr 1943May 1943 ?
HMS Umbra (P 35)Lt.Submarine19 May 19436 Oct 1943
HMS Sibyl (P 217)Lt.Submarine13 Jan 194419 Jan 1944
HMS Tantivy (P 319)Lt.Submarine19 Aug 1944

Career information

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

Events related to this officer

Submarine HMS H 43 (N 43)


2 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Lt. May took over command of HMS H 43 from Lt. Swanston. HMS H 43 then conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

3 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

15 Apr 1943
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departed Rothesay for Blyth (still with only one main engine operable). She is escorted by HMS Kihna (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.R.W. Sayle, RD, RNR). (1)

17 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) put into Loch Eriboll. (1)

20 Apr 1943
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departed Loch Eriboll to continue her passage to Blyth. She is still escorted by HMS Kihna (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.R.W. Sayle, RD, RNR). (1)

23 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) arrived at Blyth. (1)

6 May 1943
HMS H 43 (Lt. P.H. May, RN) is taken in hand for refit at Blyth. (2)


Submarine HMS Umbra (P 35)


1 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMCS Athabascan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN), HMS Cattistock (Lt. R.G.D. Keddie, DSC, RN), HMS Cambridgeshire (T/Lt. H.F.B. Ashby, RNVR), HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR), HMS Victrix (T/Lt. J.D. Craighead, RNR) and HMS Kingston Andalusite (T/Lt. W.S. Lowe, RNVR). (3)

2 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with aircraft. (3)

3 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with aircraft. (3)

5 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted deep dive trials off Plymouth. (3)

7 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMS Lord Stanhope (A/Skr.Lt. W.R.A. Hicks, DSC, RNR), HMS Olvina (A/Skr.Lt. J. Howson, RNR), HMS Grimsby Town (Skr. W.A. Cormack, DSC, RNR) and Notre Dame de France (A/Skr.Lt. J. Coxall, RNR). (3)

8 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with aircraft. (3)

10 Aug 1943
With her refit completed, HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN), departed Plymouth for Rothesay to join the 7th Submarine Flotilla (training flotilla). She was escorted during this passage by HMS Rowan (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.O. Moore, RNVR). (3)

12 Aug 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (3)

14 Aug 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown from which port she was to participate in A/S exercises. (3)

15 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR). (3)

16 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR) and HMS Spaniel. (3)

17 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR) and HMS Spaniel. (3)

18 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR). (3)

19 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR). (3)

20 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR). (3)

22 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR). (3)

23 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR). (3)

24 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR). (3)

25 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR) and HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR). (3)

26 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR) and HMS Spaniel. (3)

27 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR). (3)

29 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (3)

30 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Spaniel.

31 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR). (3)

1 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR) and HMS Spaniel. (4)

2 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. A. McKay, RNR). (4)

3 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR) and HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR). (4)

5 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR). (4)

6 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR). (4)

7 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR). (4)

9 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR). (4)

10 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR). (4)

13 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS Altair (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.R.T. Clements, RNR). (4)

14 Sep 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (4)

15 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR) and HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR). (4)

17 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR) and HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR). (4)

19 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. A. McKay, RNR). (4)

20 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with aircraft. (4)

21 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with aircraft. (4)

22 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with aircraft. (4)

24 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with aircraft. (4)

27 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS Altair (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.R.T. Clements, RNR). (4)

28 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS Spaniel. (4)

29 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (4)

30 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. A. McKay, RNR). (4)

1 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. A. McKay, RNR). (5)

2 Oct 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay. (5)

4 Oct 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departed Rothesay for Fishguard. (5)

5 Oct 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. P.H. May, RN) arrived at Fishguard to participate in A/S exercises with aircraft. (5)


Submarine HMS Sibyl (P 217)


13 Jan 1944
HMS Sibyl (Lt. E.J.D. Turner, DSO, DSC, RN) ended her 15th war patrol (13th in the Mediterranean) at Beirut. (6)

14 Jan 1944
HMS Sibyl (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departed Beirut for Port Said. (7)

15 Jan 1944
HMS Sibyl (Lt. P.H. May, RN) arrived at Port Said. (7)

16 Jan 1944
HMS Sibyl (Lt. P.H. May, RN) is docked at Port Said. (7)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/17804
  2. ADM 173/17805
  3. ADM 173/18331
  4. ADM 173/18332
  5. ADM 173/18333
  6. ADM 199/1875
  7. ADM 173/18734

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


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