Charles Donovan Smith DSC, RD, RNR
| Born | 28 Sep 1908 |
 | Ranks
Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Charles Donovan Smith, RNR
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Godetia (ii) (K 226) | Lt. | Corvette | 6 Jan 1942 | 14 Mar 1942 |
| HMS Nasturtium (K 107) | Lt. | Corvette | 29 Mar 1942 | 15 Sep 1943 |
| HMS Fishguard (Y 59) | Lt. | Sloop | 1 Oct 1943 | Jul 1945 |
| HMS Trent (K 243) | Lt.Cdr. | Frigate | 5 Jul 1945 | 27 Dec 1945 |
| HMS Snowflake (K 211) | Lt.Cdr. | Corvette | 27 Dec 1945 | 18 Jun 1946 |
Career information
Charles Donovan Smith was involved in the RNR training from 1933 was mobilized for active service in September 1938 and then was demobilized in Oct 1938. He was again mobilized in August 1939.
After six months examination service ha was sent from Malta to HMS Chakla 6 Dec - 31 May 1941 which was an Armed Boarding Vessel but of some significance for troop movements to Greece and supplying and towing ships in the Mediterranean. This ship was praised by Admiral Cunningham for its work in towing and saving the Desmoulea a new motor tanker.
On the 29 April 1941 HMS Chakla was dived bombed in Tobruk harbour and sunk. Charles Donovan Smith was on board at the time. All crew were saved and he was awarded the DSC around this time, apparently for his efforts on this day. The Australian War Museum on internet has a picture of this event reference 127950
He was also on Periwinkle and Hibiscus about three weeks each before getting his first command, the Godetia 6 Jan 1942.
Events related to this officer
Corvette HMS Nasturtium (K 107)
8 Aug 1942
HMS Nasturtium (Lt. C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) picks up 14 survivors from the British merchant Anneberg that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-379 in the North Atlantic in position 56°30'N, 32°14'W.
10 Aug 1942
HMS Nasturtium (Lt. C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) picks up 24 survivors from the British merchant Cape Race that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-660 south of Iceland in position 56°45'N, 22°50'W.
HMS Nasturtium and HMS Dianthus (Lt.Cdr. C.E. Bridgman, RNR) together pick up 65 survivors from the British merchant Empire Reindeer that was also torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-660 south of Iceland in position 57°00'N, 22°30'W.
HMS Dianthus and HMS Nasturtium together pick up 39 survivors from the British merchant Oregon that was also torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-660 south of Iceland in position 57°05'N, 22°41'W.
23 Sep 1942
HMS Nasturtium (Lt. C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) picks up 7 survivors from the British tanker Athelsultan that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-617 in the North Atlantic South-East of Cape Farewell in position 58°42'N, 33°38'W.
Nasturtium also picks up 12 survivors from the British merchant Tennessee that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-617 in the North Atlantic southeast of Cape Farewell in position 58°40'N, 33°41'W.
Sloop HMS Fishguard (Y 59)
3 May 1944
Boarded U-852 after British aircraft fatally damaged her as she beached near Ras Mabber, off the Somali coast on 3 May 1944. British forces captured her crew. (1)
Sources
- Personal communication
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