Philip Alexis Cartwright, RN
| Born | 12 Aug 1904 | ||
| Died | 27 Apr 1941 | (36) | HMS Diamond |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Philip Alexis Cartwright, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Diamond (H 22) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 10 Feb 1939 | 27 Apr 1941 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Diamond (H 22)
4 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Singapore for Colombo. She had just completed a refit at Singapore which had commenced in early August 1939. (1)
7 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Colombo from Singapore. (1)
8 Dec 1939
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN), HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Morrow, RAN) departed Colombo for Aden.
On the 13th, HMS Diamond parted company and continued the passage to Aden independently. (2)
14 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo. She departed for Suez later the same day. (1)
16 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Suez from Aden. She commenced the northward passage of the Suez Canal late in the evening. (1)
17 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Port Said for Malta. (1)
19 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Malta from Port Said. (1)
7 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After some repairs HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar. She was to proceed to the South Atlantic Station. (3)
10 Jan 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. She departed for Freetown later the same day. (3)
15 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Freetown from Gibraltar. (3)
19 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Freetown to make rendez-vous with HMS Dainty (Cdr. F.M. Walton, RN). After doing so these two destroyers made rendez-vous with HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN), HMS Ark Royal (Capt. A.J. Power, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. C.F. Tower, MVO, RN).
All ships arrived at Freetown mid-morning.
21 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Dakar. (4)
22 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Dakar for Freetown. (4)
24 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Freetown from Dakar. (4)
21 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Freetown for Dakar. (4)
22 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Dakar from Freetown. (4)
26 Mar 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Dakar to proceed to a position to the south of São Vicente Island, Cape Verde where the cable ship Mirror (British, 1850 GRT, built 1923) was repairing a cable from St.Vincent Island (Grenadines) to Barhurst. (4)
3 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) returned to Dakar. (4)
20 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her refit, HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN), departed Malta for Alexandria. (3)
22 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta. (3)
26 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Alexandria for Haifa. (5)
27 May 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Haifa. She departed again later the same day to return to Alexandria. (6)
28 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived back at Alexandria from Haifa. (3)
2 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. (7)
4 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Malta. (7)
10 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Malta to joined the Mediterranean Fleet at sea.
Shortly after departure an A/S contact was attacked with depth charges in position 9 nautical miles, 92°, from St. Elmo Lighthouse.
17 Jun 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) was near missed and slightly damaged during an Italian air raid on Malta.
Also on this day HMS Diamond and the ASW trawler HMS Coral claim to have sunk an enemy submarine in position 3.8 nautical miles, 92°, from St. Elmo Lighthouse.
18 Jun 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) searched near Malta for the missing submarine HMS Grampus (Lt.Cdr. C.A. Rowe, RN). (8)
23 Aug 1940
Operations MB 1, Bombardment of Bardia.
23 August 1940.
The gunboat HMS Ladybird (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.F. Blackburn, RN) departed Mersa Matruh today to be off Bardia at 0030/24 to conduct a bombardment of enemy positions.
To provide cover for this operation the destroyers HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, RAN), HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. W.E. Wilson, RN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) departed Alexandria with the following objectives; a) to carry out an A/S sweep in direction 300° to reach position 33°26’N, 25°26’E at 2000/23. b) proceed thence to carry out an attack on Bomba seaplane base and/or Jez el Marekeb anchorage at about 0200/24. c) on conclusion proceed to pass through position 31°41’N, 26°18’E at 0815/24 an to carry out an A/S sweep from this position along the coast to Alexandria. Speed of advance 17 knots. d) Fighter protection would be available as of 0800/24 consisting of Gladiators, Huricanes, Morane or Potez. e) HMAS Waterhen was to be detached to be off Bardia at 0001/24 to cover the retirement of HMS Ladybird, subsequently rejoining the destroyers in position 31°41’N, 26°18’E at 0815/24.
The light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) was sailed as further support, steering in the wake of the destroyers A/S sweep and to be at the rendez-vous at 0815/24 and then again proceed in the wake of the destroyers A/S sweep towards Alexandria.
24 August 1940.
The attack was successfully carried out and all ships returned to Alexandria today with the exception of HMS Ladybird which arrived on the 25th. (9)
13 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said for convoy escort duty. They arrived at Port Said later the same day. (8)
14 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Port Said for Alexandria escorting a local convoy (LW 16). (8)
15 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Alexandria with a local convoy (LW 16). (8)
24 Sep 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Suez from escort duty in the Red Sea. She then transited the Suez Canal nothwards. She departed Port Said later the same day for Alexandria where she arrived even later on the same day. The passage from Port Said was made together with HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN). (3)
30 Nov 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Port Said from operations. She proceeded from Port Said to Alexandria later the same day. (3)
29 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Alexandria to operate with the Inshore Squadron along the coast of Libya. (10)
29 Dec 1940
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) and HMS Wryneck (Lt.Cdr. R.H.D. Lane, RN) departed Alexandria for service with the Inshore Squadron. (8)
31 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Alexandria escorting the monitor HMS Terror (Cdr. H.J. Haynes, DSC, RN). (8)
6 Feb 1941
HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Alexandria for duty with the Inshore Squadron.
[We have unfortunately not been able to find much information on the operations of the inshore squadron.] (11)
10 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN), which was at Tobruk, reported that her stern glands were leaking badly. HMS Hereward (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) was sent out immediately from Alexandria to replace her in the Inshore Squadron. (11)
12 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) departed Tobruk for Alexandria. She was escorting HMS St. Issey and the damaged merchant vessels
23 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy ANF 29.
This convoy departed Alexandria on 23 April 1941 for Alexandria for Suda Bay where it arrived on 25 April 1941.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Delane (British, 6054 GRT, built 1938), Pennland (Dutch, 16082 GRT, built 1922) and Thurland Castle (British, 6372 GRT, built 1929).
Escort was provided by the AA cruiser HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wryneck (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H.D. Lane, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN).
Later the destroyer HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN) joined the convoy escort at sea. (11)
25 Apr 1941
The merchant vessels Pennland (Dutch, 16082 GRT, built 1922) and
Thurland Castle (British, 6372 GRT, built 1929) departed Suda Bay for Megara (to the west of Athens) where they were to embark troops that were to be evacuated from mainland Greece (Operation Demon).
The were escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wryneck (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H.D. Lane, RN) and HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) and HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN).
Pennland was hit and badly damaged en-route by German aircraft south of the Gulf of Athens in position 37°10'N, 23°50'E. She had to be scuttled by HMS Griffin which then took the surviving crewmembers to Suda Bay.
Thurland Castle was also damaged by bombing but was able to continue.
The destroyers HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN), HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, RN), and HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN) were also sent to support the Megara force. All these destroyers embarked troops at Megara.
A total of 5500 troops were evacuated during the night of 25/26 April 1941.
Cover for this evacuation was provided by the light cruisers HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.D. Pridham-Whippell, CB, CVO, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. G. Grantham, RN), HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and the destroyer HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, RN) which had departed Suda Bay around 2300B/25.
26 Apr 1941
Operation Demon continued, more troops were to be evacuated from mainland Greece during the night of 26/27 April 1941.
From the Raphina and Raphtis area;
Landing ship HMS Glengyle (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.H. Petrie, RN) and the transport Salween (7063 GRT, built 1938). They were escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. T.C. Hampton, RN) and the destroyers HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN) and HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN).
HMS Glenearn was bombed en-route to the pick up zone. She was towed to Kissamo Bay by HMS Griffin. From there she was taken in tow to Alexandria, first by the sloop HMS Grimsby (Cdr. K.J. D'Arcy, RN) and later by the netlayer HMS Protector (Cdr. R.J. Gardner, RN).
To replace the troop carrying capacity of the landing ship HMS Glenearn, the light cruisers HMS Orion (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN), HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and destroyer HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) were disposed.
From the Nauplia and Tolon area;
landing ship HMS Glenearn (Capt.(Retd.) L.B. Hill, OBE, RN), troopships Slamat (Dutch, 11636 GRT, built 1924) and Khedive Ismael (7290 GRT, built 1922), AA cruiser HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN), and destroyers HMS Isis (Cdr. C.S.B. Swinley, DSC, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN), HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, RN).
Slamat was late in leaving Nauplia in the early morning and delayed the convoy's sailing. Slamat was then bombed and wrecked south of the Argolic Gulf in position 37°01'N, 23°10'E shortly after 0700 hours. Destroyer HMS Diamond was then left behind to rescue the survivors which she did. At 0925 hours HMS Diamond signalled that she had picked up most of the survivors and that she had set course for Suda Bay. She had also fired a torpedo into the blazing wreck and Slamat sank shortly afterwards.
The destroyers HMS Wryneck (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H.D. Lane, RN), HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) were then sent out to assist the Nauplia group. Of these HMS Wryneck was ordered to assist HMS Diamond. Wryneck arrived just as Slamat capsized. Both destroyers were then attacked and sunk in the early afternoon by German aircraft (9 German aircraft Ju.88, probably of I./KG.51 (Hpt. Heinrich Hahn)) with heavy loss of life. Only 27 survivors (another source gives 24 survivors) were picked up the next day by HMS Griffin. HMS Diamond was lost with 7 officers and 141 ratings while HMS Wryneck was lost with 7 officers and 98 ratings.
From the Kalamata area;
Transports City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907), Costa Rica (Dutch, 8055 GRT, built 1910), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936). These were escorted by the light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. G. Grantham, RN), destroyers HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN) and HMS Hereward (Lt. W.J. Munn, RN) and the sloop HMS Flamingo (Cdr. R.J.O. Otway-Ruthven, RN).
HMS Defender had also embarked the Yugoslav crown jewels for transport to Alexandria.
The destroyers HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) and HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN) were also operating in the Aegean area but their exact whereabouts are for the moment unknown to us.] (11)
Sources
- ADM 53/108314
- ADM 53/108314 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Vampire for December 1939 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Voyager from September 1939 to March 1940
- ADM 199/2552
- ADM 199/380
- ADM 53/112872
- ADM 187/7
- ADM 187/8
- ADM 199/387
- ADM 199/386
- ADM 187/10
- ADM 199/414
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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