Hugh St. Lawrence Nicolson DSO, RN
| Born | 11 Apr 1899 |
| Ranks
Retired: 7 Jan 1950 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Hugh St. Lawrence Nicolson, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Hyperion (H 97) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 30 Nov 1938 | 22 Dec 1940 |
| HMS Ilex (D 61) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 30 Dec 1940 | mid 1941 |
| HMS Griffin (H 31) | Capt. | Destroyer | 19 Nov 1941 | 24 May 1942 |
| HMS Duncan (D 99) | Capt. | Destroyer | 25 May 1942 | 16 Dec 1942 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Hyperion (H 97)
19 Dec 1939 (position 40.17, -71.05)
The large German passenger ship Columbus (32581 GRT) is intercepted about 320 nautical miles east of Cape Hattaras, USA in position 40°17'N, 71°05'W by HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN). To prevent her capture the ship was scuttled by it's own crew.
10 Jun 1940
On 10 June 1940, the following destroyers; HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN), HMS Havock (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, RN), HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, DSO, RN), HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.deW. Kitcat, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) departed Alexandria for an A/S sweep to the west of Alexandria as far as 25°40'E as it is feared Italian submarines were en-route to their war stations although was was not declared by the Italians until 0001/11 but it was clear war would be decared soon. Around 2230 hours, HMS Decoy, sighted a submarine on the surface. She made three attacks with depth charges and at dawn a two mile long oil slick was seen. The destroyers returned to Alexandria the following day.
The submarine attacked might have been the Italian Diamante as this was very close to the position she was to be in. As this submarine was later sunk with all hands we have no confirmation for this. The submarine however remained on patrol and did not mention damage in a signal sent before she was lost, it is probable that damaged - if any - were slight. (1)
18 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN) and HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for an A/S hunt towards the Kaso Strait, then along the north coast of Crete, then through the Anti-Kithera Strait and finally back towards Alexandria where they were to return around 0800/20. (1)
Destroyer HMS Ilex (D 61)
15 Jun 1941
HMS Ilex (Capt. H. St. L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) was damaged by near misses from Vichy-French aircraft while operation off Syria. She sustained major structural damage was was towed to Haifa by HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN).
29 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ilex (Capt. H. St. L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Said.
Sources
- ADM 199/386
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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