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Destroyer HMS Defender (H 07)

24 Sep 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) is docked at Alexandria. (1)

25 Sep 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) is undocked. (1)

23 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. HMS Amber (Boatswain H.W. Clark, RN) who was on patrol off Alexandria obtained an A/S contact and attacked it with depth charges. HMS Defender was ordered to investigate. She too then obtained an A/S contact and twice attacked with depth charges. Oil was brought to the surface. (2)

24 Oct 1939
HMS Warspite (Capt. V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral A.B. Cunningham, KCB, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Arethusa (Capt. Q.D. Graham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.R. Moore, CB, DSO, CVO, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Yates, RN), HMS Dainty (Cdr. F.M. Walton, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Diana (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Alexandria. HMS Warspite and the destroyers returned to harbour in the evening. The cruisers remained at sea for night exercises. (2)

26 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) conducted diving operations in the area she had obtained an A/S contact on the 23rd. A sunken merchant vessel was found to have been the A/S contact, no submarine wreck was found. (2)

27 Oct 1939
HMS Barham (Capt. H.T.C. Walker, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Yates, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Diana (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria.

28 Oct 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Alexandria to patrol off Cape Malea, Greece. (3)

31 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed her patrol area off Cape Malea, Greece to make rendez-vous the next day at sea with HMS Maidstone (Capt. P. Ruck-Keene, RN) and HMS Aberdeen (Cdr. H.P. Currey, RN) which were on passage from Alexandria to Malta. (3)

3 Nov 1939
HMS Maidstone (Capt. P. Ruck-Keene, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Aberdeen (Cdr. H.P. Currey, RN) arrived at Malta. (4)

5 Nov 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Malta to patrol in the Otranto Strait. (4)

8 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed her patrol area for Alexandria. (4)

10 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (4)

26 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed her patrol area for Malta. (4)

27 Nov 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Malta. (4)

11 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed her patrol area in the Aegean to return to Malta. (5)

14 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Malta. (5)

23 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed her patrol area to return to Malta. (5)

24 Dec 1939
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Malta from a patrol off Cape Malea, Greece.

At Malta she underwent a short refit. She was to depart for the South Atlantic in early-mid January 1940 but this was delayed due to machinery problems. (5)

29 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. Both departed again later the same day to patrol off the Portugese coast. (6)

2 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Gibraltar after a patrol off the coast of Portugal. (7)

3 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Gibraltar for another patrol off the coast of Portugal. (7)

9 Feb 1940
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Gibraltar after a patrol off the coast of Portugal. She had been ordered on the 4th to stand by the broken down merchant vessel Oregon (6058 GRT, built 1920) which had broken down west of Oporto, Portugal in position 40°57'N, 10°42'W. She parted company with the Oregon, which by that time was in tow of a tug, on the 8th. (7)

13 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Gibraltar for Freetown.

18 Feb 1940
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Freetown. (8)

22 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN), HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Dakar. (7)

27 Feb 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) provided escort for HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) during flying exercises off Dakar. (7)

28 Feb 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) provided escort for HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) during flying exercises off Dakar. (7)

29 Feb 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Dakar with a French submarine. (7)

5 Mar 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) provided escort for HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) during flying exercises off Dakar. (9)

6 Mar 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) provided escort for HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) during flying exercises off Dakar. (9)

9 Mar 1940
The French battleship Provence (Capt. G.T.E. Barois), the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN), the French heavy cruiser Duquesne (Capt. G.E. Besineau) and the British destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Dakar for a patrol in the mid-Atlantic up to the equator between 10°00'W and 20°00'W.

In the afternoon of 14 March 1940, the Portugese merchant vessel Ganda (4333 GRT, built 1907) was intercepted and inspected. A German citizen was removed.

In the morning of 15 March 1940, the Portugese merchant vessel Mouzinho (8099 GRT, built 1908) was intercepted and inspected. Here also one German citizen was removed. (8)

16 Mar 1940
The French battleship Provence (Capt. G.T.E. Barois), the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN), the French heavy cruiser Duquesne (Capt. G.E. Besineau) and the British destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Dakar. (8)

18 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Dakar for Freetown. (8)

20 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Freetown from Dakar. (8)

22 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) conducted an A/S patrol off Freetown. (9)

25 Mar 1940
HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN), HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Freetown for a patrol in the South Atlantic during which they were to provide cover for the whale factory ships Salvestria (British, 11938 GRT, built 1913) and Sourabaya (British, 10107 GRT, built 1915) during their passage to Freetown from the South Atlantic. (8)

27 Mar 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) parted company with HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN) and HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN) and set course to return to Freetown where they arrived later the same day. The cruisers then continued their patrol. (8)

2 Apr 1940
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) conducted exercises off Freetown. (8)

7 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Freetown. (8)

8 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) is sent out from Freetown to assist in a submarine hunt after two A/S trawlers reported a contact. The contact was later classified as non-sub. (8)

10 Apr 1940
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Freetown to make rendez-vous with the cable ship Mirror (British, 1850 GRT, built 1923) and escort her to Freetown. (10)

12 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and the cable ship Mirror (1850 GRT, built 1929) arrived at Freetown. (8)

17 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) briefly escorted a small outbound convoy in the approaches of Freetown. She returned to Freetown later the same day. (8)

18 Apr 1940
The destroyer HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Freetown for Gibraltar.

Later this day the light cruiser HMS Neptune (Capt. J.A.V. Morse, DSO, RN) also departed Freetown for Gibraltar.

Destroyer HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) departed Dakar on the 19th to make rendez-vous with the other ships later on the 19th near Dakar after which they were to proceed to Gibraltar in company. (8)

23 Apr 1940
HMS Neptune (Capt. J.A.V. Morse, DSO, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown / Dakar.

HMS Decoy then departed Gibraltar for Malta but she was recalled shortly after sailing. (8)

24 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The repair ship HMS Resource (Capt.(Retd.) D.B. O’Connell, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta. She was escorted by HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN). (10)

27 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Resource (Capt.(Retd.) D.B. O’Connell, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Malta. (10)

30 Apr 1940
The destroyers HMAS Stuart (Cdr. H.M.L. Waller, RAN) and HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) and later the light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN) and the destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Malta to join the British battleships HMS Malaya (Capt. I.B.B. Tower, DSC, RN), HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN), French battleships Lorraine (Capt. L.M.L. Rey), Bretagne (Capt. L.R.E. de Pivian), Provence (Capt. G.T.E. Barois), French heavy cruisers Tourville (Capt. A.J.A. Marloy), Duquesne (Capt. G.E. Besineau), French light cruiser Duguay Trouin (Capt. J.M.C. Trolley de Prevaux) that were escorted by the British destroyers HMS Velox (Cdr.(Retd.) J.C. Colvill, RN), HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN), Australian destroyers HMAS Vendetta (Lt. R. Rhoades RAN), HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) and the French destroyers Lion (Cdr. J.J.A. Vetillard), Lynx (Cdr. A.M. De Gouyon Matignon de Pontourade) and Forbin (Lt.Cdr. R.C.M. Chartellier). These ships were en-route to Alexandria to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet.

HMS Velox, HMS Watchman, HMAS Vendetta and HMAS Waterhen were detached and arrived at Malta on 2 May 1940.

4 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Port Said having split off from the Squadron they have been escorting the day before. (10)

5 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) transited the Suez Canal southbound and arrived at Suez. (10)

7 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Suez for Aden. (10)

10 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Aden. (10)

17 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The British battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN), the French heavy cruiser Suffren (Capt. R.J.M. Dillard) and the British destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) passed the Suez Canal northbound and then set course for Alexandria. (10)

18 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The British battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN), the French heavy cruiser Suffren (Capt. R.J.M. Dillard) and the British destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (10)

29 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) is taken in hand for docking and repairs at Alexandria. (10)

9 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) is undocked. (10)

14 Jun 1940
HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Alexandria. She returned on the 19th. Presumably she had been on patrol near Alexandria. (11)

5 Sep 1940
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Alexandria from operations. Her Asdic dome was damaged and a docking for repairs was needed. She had already been briefly docked at Malta but repairs could not be made there due to lack of spares. HMS Defender was out of action for about a month. (10)

15 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Port Said. (12)

18 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Port Said, transited the Suez Canal southbound and set course for Aden. [It is not clear to us what was the porpose of her being sent to the Red Sea. Convoy traffic through the Red Sea had increased around this time but she did not escort any.] (12)

21 Oct 1940
Around 1910C/21, HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Aden. She had picked up two wounded RAF members at Kamaran Island earlier in the day. (13)

22 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Aden for Suez. (10)

26 Oct 1940
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Suez with convoy AP 3½. (10)

28 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Defender (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (10)

Destroyer HMS Juno (F 46)

17 Nov 1940
HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said. She arrived at Port Said early the following day. (14)

18 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Port Said for Suda Bay. Most likely she was escorting the merchant vessel Ethiopia (British 5575 GRT, built 1922). (14)

20 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Suda Bay. Most likely she had been escorting the merchant vessel Ethiopia (British 5575 GRT, built 1922) from Alexandria to Suda Bay.

HMS Juno departed Suda Bay for Alexandria later the same day. (14)

21 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Alexandria. (14)

29 Dec 1940
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN) and HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall A’Deane, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for an A/S sweep westwards along the coast.

The A/S sweep was covered by light cruiser HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and the AA cruiser HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN). HMS Coventry however soon had to turn back due to a serious defect to her bow sustained in the heavy seas.

HMAS Perth and the destroyers returned to Alexandria on 30 December having made no contact. (15)

29 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN) and HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall A’Deane, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for an A/S sweep.

Cover was provided by the light cruiser The sweep was covered by light cruiser HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and the AA cruiser i>HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN). HMS Coventry however soon had to turn back due to a serious defect to her bow sustained in the heavy seas.

HMS Perth and the destroyers returned to Alexandria on 30 December having made no contact. (15)

19 Jan 1941
HMS Ilex (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Hereward (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Suda Bay from operations in the Aegean.

It appeared they departed again later the same day but HMS Ilex and HMS Juno returned to Suda even later on the same day. HMS Mohawk arrived at Alexandria on the 20th and HMS Hereward arrived at Port Said on the 21st after convoy duty. She then also went to Alexandria arriving later on the 21st.

21 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall-A’Deane, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Suda Bay for Malta.

22 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall-A’Deane, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta from Suda Bay.

31 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said. They were to proceed to the Red Sea. (16)

1 Feb 1941
HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Port Said.

3 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) departed Suez for Aden.

5 Feb 1941
HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Aden. They departed later the same day to join the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) which was operating off Somalia. They joined the carrier at 1830 hours. (17)

6 Feb 1941
Around 0825C/6, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Aden. (18)

10 Feb 1941
Around 1100C/10, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) departed Aden for exercises and an air attack on Massawa on the 13th. (17)

12 Feb 1941
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) is still conducting flying exercises off Aden with her destroyer escort.

At 0500C/12, HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) was detached to Aden to refuel. She rejoined around 1000C/12 after which HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) also detached to refuel at Aden. HMS Griffin rejoined around 1500C/12. Course was then set to enter the Red Sea. (17)

14 Feb 1941
Around 0745C/14, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) returned to Aden from exercises and an operation against Massawa. (17)

18 Feb 1941
Around 0930C/18, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Aden for exercises. She is being escorted by HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN). (19)

20 Feb 1941
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) is still at sea exercising. Around 0700C/20 she is joined by HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) coming from Aden. HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) is then sent to Aden to refuel. She rejoined Formidable and Griffin around 1600C/20 after which the ships set course to proceed north up the Red Sea to the Suez area. (19)

21 Feb 1941
Eight (or seven, sources vary) Albacore aircraft from HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), which is being escorted by HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) and on passage from Aden to Suez, conducted a dawn air strike on Massawa. (20)

23 Feb 1941
Around 0700B/23, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Suez. They were to transit the Suez Canal northbound but could not do so due to enemy mining.

They departed again around 1930B/23 for Port Sudan to await the opening of the Canal there. (19)

25 Feb 1941
Around 1700B/25, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Port Sudan. (19)

6 Mar 1941
Around 0530B/6, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) departed Port Sudan for Suez. (21)

7 Mar 1941
Around 0830B/7, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Suez. (21)

8 Mar 1941
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) transited part Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Ismalia. They had been joined for the passage of the Suez Canal by the AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. T.C. Hampton, RN).

The next they they continued on to Port Said and then left for Alexandria. (16)

10 Mar 1941
Around 1100B/10, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Carlisle (Capt. T.C. Hampton, RN) , HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Port Said.

At 1200B/10, A/Rear-Admiral D.W. Boyd, CBE, DSC, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Illustrious (A/Capt. G.S. Tuck, RN) to HMS Formidable. (16)

16 Mar 1941
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of A/Rear-Admiral D.W. Boyd, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for exercises. She was escorted by HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN).

They returned to Alexandria the next day having been joined earlier at sea by an additional destroyer; HMS Ilex (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN). (16)

11 Apr 1941

Operation MBD 3

Offensive sweep along the Cyrenaican coast.

Around 2000B/11 the light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.D. Pridham-Whippell, CB, CVO, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Alexandria. The destroyers were to conduct an offensive sweep along the Cyrenaican coast during the night of 12/13 April 1941.

Cover for this operation was provided by HMS Orion along with the light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, RN) and HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) which had come from the Aegean. They joined HMS Orion and the destroyers around 1300B/12.

Around 1700B/12, HMS Jaguar and HMS Juno parted company, followed half an hour later by HMAS Stuart and HMS Griffin. These destroyers were detached to conduct the sweep while the light cruisers remained to seaward as cover. HMS Hasty remained with the cruisers for A/S protection.

The destroyers swept in pairs; HMS Jaguar and HMS Juno from Ras Toyones to Ras Tolmeita, HMAS Stuart and HMS Griffin from Ras Tolmeita to Ras el Hilal. Two more destroyers, from the Inshore Squadron joined to sweep along the coast from Ras el Hilal to Ras el Tin, these were HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN).

The sweep was continued until about dawn but nothing was sighted. The destroyers then rejoined the cruisers minus HMAS Vendetta and HMAS Waterhen which rejoined the Ishore Squadron.

HMAS Perth and the destroyers then set course to Alexandria while HMS Orion and HMS Ajax proceeded to a position to the west of Crete to provide cover for convoys to and from the Aegean.

HMAS Stuart and HMS Griffin were detached P.M. on the 13th for duty with the Inshore Squadron.

HMS Perth, HMS Hasty, HMS Jaguar and HMS Juno arrived at Alexandria around 0600B/14. (16)

23 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN) and HMS Juno (Cdr. St. J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) departed Malta to intercept and attack an Axis convoy which had departed Naples for Tripoli. This convoy was made up of transports Arcturus (German, 2576 GRT, built 1937), Castellon (German, 2086 GRT, built 1935), Giulia (Italian, 5921 GRT, built 1926) and Leverkusen (German, 7382 GRT, built 1928). They were escorted by the destroyers Folgore, Saetta, Strale and Turbine. Cover for this convoy was provided by the light cruisers Giovanni Delle Bande Nere, Luigi Cadorna and the destroyers Maestrale and Scirocco.

The destroyers first encountered and sank the Italian transport Egeo (3311 GRT, built 1927) which was en-route from Benghazi to Tripoli. The convoy was not sighted.

The destroyers returned to Malta the following day. (16)

28 Apr 1941
The transport Breconshire (9776 GRT, built 1939) departed Malta for Alexandria. She is escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN), fast minelayer HMS Abdiel (Capt. Hon. E. Pleydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. St. J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN). This last destroyer had just completed major repairs at Malta.

HMS Jaguar and HMS Juno later split off for other duties.

HMS Dido and HMS Abdiel arrived at Alexandria around 1300C/30 apparently having parted company to proceed ahead of the other ships.

Breconshire, HMS Jervis and HMS Imperial arrived at Alexandria around 2135C/30. (22)

13 May 1941

Operation MD 8.

Bombardment of the El Fateyah airfield near Derna.

The light cruisers HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, RN), HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and the destroyers HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) and HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria to bombard the El Fateyah airdrome near Derna during the night of 13/14 May 1941.

The bombardment could not be carried out due to navigational difficulties as the forces position could not be fixed accurately.

The force returned to Alexandria very early on the 15th. (16)

15 May 1941
At 2000 hours the AA cruiser HMS Coventry (A/Capt. W.P. Carne, RN) and the destroyers HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) and HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria to take up a position to the north of Crete via the Kaso Strait.

They were joined at sea the next morning by the light cruiser HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral I.G. Glennie, RN) and the destroyer HMS Juno (Cdr. St. J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) also coming from Alexandria. This group of ships was known as 'Force C'.

On the 17th, ' Group C ' came to the assistance of the hospital ship Aba (7938 GRT, built 1918) which was attacked by German aircraft to the south of the Kaso Strait. HMS Coventry suffered some casualties when she was strafed by enemy aircraft.

' Force C ' was then recalled to Alexandria arriving on the 18th. (16)

Destroyer HMS Tartar (F 43)

26 Mar 1943
HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) picks up 14 survivors from the French armed trawler FFS Sergent Gouarne that was torpedoed and sunk by U-755 about 25 miles north-east of Alboran Island.

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