Jack Etheridge Slaughter DSO, RN
| Born | 21 May 1905 |
| Ranks
Retired: 7 Jan 1956 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Jack Etheridge Slaughter, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Sunfish (N 81) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 25 Sep 1939 | 23 Sep 1940 |
| HMS Wolfe (F 37) | A/Capt. | Submarine Depot Ship | 27 Apr 1944 | Mar 1946 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Sunfish (N 81)
7 Oct 1939
Nearing the end of her refit, HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN), was docked in No.8 dock at the Chatham Dockyard.
Sunfish had been refitting and repairing at the Chatham Dockyard since early March 1939. (1)
9 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) was undocked. (1)
11 Oct 1939
With her refit completed, HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN), started a period of trials off Chatham. (1)
16 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) shifted from the Chatham Dockyard to Sheerness. (1)
20 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Sheerness for Rosyth. She made the passage in convoy. (1)
22 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) arrived at Rosyth. (1)
25 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (1)
26 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (1)
28 Oct 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Rosyth for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea near the Doggerbank.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(1)
7 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Rosyth. (2)
12 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Rosyth for Sheerness. She made the passage together with HMS Sealion (Lt.Cdr. B. Bryant, RN), HMS Shark (Lt. P.N. Buckley, RN) and HMS Snapper (Lt. W.D.A. King, RN). They were escorted by HMS Flamingo (Cdr. J.H. Huntley, RN) until 0900/13 when HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Kingdon, RN) took over the escort. (2)
14 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) arrived at Sheerness. (2)
18 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) shifted from Sheerness to the Chatham Dockyard. (2)
22 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) shifted from the Chatham Dockyard to Sheerness. (2)
24 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Sheerness for Harwich. (2)
25 Nov 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) arrived at Harwich. She departed for her 2nd war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol near Lister, Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(2)
13 Dec 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 3rd war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol off the British east coast.
(3)
14 Dec 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) was ordered to return to Harwich. (3)
15 Dec 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Harwich. (3)
26 Dec 1939
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
3 Jan 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Harwich. (4)
16 Jan 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Texel, the Netherlands.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
23 Jan 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Harwich. (4)
31 Jan 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Texel, the Netherlands.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (4)
8 Feb 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Harwich. (4)
17 Feb 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the north of the Netherlands / Heligoland Bight.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (5)
19 Feb 1940 (position 54.28, 7.11)
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) fired four torpedoes at German U-boat U-14 about 30 nautical miles north-west of Helgoland, Germany in position 54°28'N, 07°11'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
0945 hours - Sighted a 250 tons U-boat in position 54°28'N, 07°11'E. Enemy course was 080 degrees, speed 12 knots, range was 2000 yards. Started attack.
0951 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 3000 yards. No hits were obtained. (5)
27 Feb 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Lowestoft where she was immediately docked.
The date she was undocked is currently not known to us. (5)
10 Mar 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) shifted from Lowestoft to Harwich. (6)
12 Mar 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea to the north of the Netherlands.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (5)
23 Mar 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Harwich. (5)
2 Apr 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (5)
5 Apr 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) was ordered to patrol east of the Skaw, Denmark. (5)
9 Apr 1940 (position 58.13, 11.13)
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) torpedoed and sank the German merchant Amasis (7129 GRT, built 1923) south of Smögen, Sweden in position 58°13'N, 11°13'E.
1700 hours - Sighted a northbound merchant vessel approaching. She was of about 5000 tons. Closed to investigate. No neutral markings could be seen and when closer she was seen to fly the German ensign. Started attack.
When the tubes were ready fired two torpedoes. One hit and the ship started to settle by the stern. The crew started to abandon ship. Closed to indentify the target but had to go deep when an aircraft approached. (5)
10 Apr 1940 (position 58.11, 11.17)
Around 1150 hours HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) (probably) missed the German merchant Hanau (5892 GRT, built 1921) with a torpedo.
At 1520 hours HMS Sunfish (probably) missed the German merchant Leuna (6856 GRT, built 1928) with two torpedoes. The attack does not appear to have been observed.
Around 2000 hours HMS Sunfish torpedoed and sank the German merchant Antares (2593 GRT, built 1937) in the Kattegat in position 58°03'N, 11°00'E.
1150 hours - Attacked but missed a 3000 tons northbound merchant vessel with one torpedo.
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1520 hours - Attacked but missed a 3000 to 4000 tons northound German merchant vessel with two torpedoes (She was seen to fly the German ensign).
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1720 hours - Sighted eight German A/S trawlers to the westward heading 350° in line ahead. Distance was about 7000 yards. Heard Asdic impulses but we were not hunted. They were possibly on passage.
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1940 hours - Sighted a darkened merchant vessel, northbound. Closed to attack but the vessel zigged away. Another merchant vessel of about 3000 tons was sighted close astern and this was attacked at 2000 hours with one torpedo which hit. The enemy went slowly down by the stern in position 58°11'N, 11°17'E.
Six A/S trawlers were then seen to close the sinking ship.
2200 hours - Sunfish surfaced about a mile from the sinking wreck and managed to escape on the surface to the south and then to the west. The wreck was seen to sink at 2230 hours. (5)
12 Apr 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) attacked but missed the German "Q-ship" Schiff 40 / Schürbeck in the Kattegat (near Maseskär, Sweden).
0415 hours - Sighted a merchant ship of about 4000 tons heading south. Closed and attacked. Asdic impulses were heard coming from this ship.
Just after firing a torpedo this ship made a large alteration of course and the torpedo missed. The ship finally made off the the northward. (5)
13 Apr 1940 (position 58.01, 11.20)
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) torpedoed and damaged the German "Q-ship" Schiff 40 / Schürbeck in the Kattegat in position 58°01'N, 11°20'E.
1200 hours - Came to periscope depth for routines. Sighted a 3000 tons southbound merchant vessel with no ensign or markings. She was giving out A/S impulses. Started attack.
1222 hours - Fired two torpedoes. One hit was obtained forward. The crew abandoned ship and she drifted towards Grönskären rocks with her propeller still moving. The ship was not observed to sink but is undoubtedly a total loss. (5)
14 Apr 1940 (position 57.50, 11.15)
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) torpedoed and sank the German naval auxiliary Schiff 35 / Oldenburg (2312 GRT) in the Kattegat in position 57°50'N, 11°15'E.
1945 hours - Sighted a large lightly laden merchant ship of about 6000 tons. She was zigging on a mean course of 290° and giving out A/S impulses. Attacked with two torpedoes. Both hit. The ship sank rapidly in position 57°50'N, 11°15'E (5)
19 Apr 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Harwich. (5)
28 Apr 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, RN) departed Harwich for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below. Only positions from 1 May 1940 onwards can be displayed as there is no log available for April 1940. Besides that no position is noted in the May 1940 log for 4 May 1940.
(5)
15 May 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Harwich. (5)
26 May 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) departed Harwich for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(5)
2 Jun 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 11th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)
10 Jun 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) was docked at Rosyth. (7)
12 Jun 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) was undocked. (7)
18 Jun 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) departed Rosyth for her 12th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea north of the Dutch coast.
For the daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
(5)
27 Jun 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 12th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)
4 Jul 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) departed Rosyth for her 13th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the south-west coast of Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(5)
11 Jul 1940 (position 58.58, 4.48)
At 1934 hours, while in position 58°58'N, 04°55'E, HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN), sighted an tanker of 8000 tons in ballast. She was escorted by two destroyers. An attack was started but had to be abandoned after a large alteration of course by the enemy.
At 2148 hours Sunfish surfaced in position 58°58'N, 04°48'E. An aircraft was sighted at 2152 hours and she dived again. When passing 30 feet a bomb exploded very close causing some damage to Sunfish. (5)
16 Jul 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 13th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)
27 Jul 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) departed Rosyth for her 14th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Lister, Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below.
(5)
7 Aug 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 14th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)
16 Aug 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) was docked at Grangemouth. (8)
1 Sep 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) was undocked at Grangemouth. She then returned to Rosyth. (9)
2 Sep 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) departed Rosyth for her 15th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the central North Sea.
For the daily positions of HMS Sunfish during this patrol see the map below. No position is currently known to us for 12 September 1940.
(5)
16 Sep 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) ended her 15th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)
20 Sep 1940
HMS Sunfish (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Slaughter, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (9)
Sources
- ADM 173/16157
- ADM 173/16158
- ADM 173/16159
- ADM 199/1842
- ADM 199/1927
- ADM 199/2571
- ADM 173/16561
- ADM 173/16563
- ADM 173/16564
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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