Hugh Joseph Woodward DSO, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 6 Aug 1926 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Hugh Joseph Woodward, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Alaunia (F 17) | Capt. (retired) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 30 Aug 1939 | 1 Oct 1941 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alaunia (F 17)
17 Nov 1939
Convoy HXF 9.
This convoy departed Halifax on 17 November 1939.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Beaverbrae (British, 9956 GRT, built 1928), Beaverburn (British, 9874 GRT, built 1927), Consuelo (British, 4847 GRT, built 1937), Corrientes (British, 6863 GRT, built 1920), Cuba (French, 11337 GRT, built 1923), Fordsdale (British, 11023 GRT, built 1924), Guadeloupe (French, 2815 GRT, built 1936), Lochmonar (British, 9412 GRT, built 1924), Manchester Port (British, 7071 GRT, built 1935), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939), Orduna (British, 15507 GRT, built 1914) and Rimutaka (British, 16576 GRT, built 1923).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) and the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.G. de Wolf, RCN).
Around 0230Q/18, HMCS St. Laurent parted company to return to Halifax.
During the night of 19/20 November 1939, the Manchester Port straggled from the convoy. She rejoined around dawn on 21 November 1939.
Around 1700OP/22, the merchant vessel San Francisco (French, 6013 GRT, built 1930) joined the convoy as arranged.
Around 1100ZA/26, the destroyers HMS Wakeful (Cdr. R.St.V. Sherbrooke, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. H. Gartside-Tippinge, RN) and HMS Warwick (Lt.Cdr. M.A.G. Child, RN) joined.
Around 1150ZA/26, HMS Alaunia parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.
Around 1730Z/26, HMS Volunteer and HMS Warwick parted company taking the Irish Sea / West Coast section of the convoy with them. This section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Lochmonar, Manchester Port and Orduna. They arrived at Liverpool on 28 November 1939.
The other ships made up the Channel / West coast section bound for the Downs. The French ships, except the San Francisco were detached to French ports en-route. HMS Wakeful and HMS Whitehall arrived at Dover on 28 November 1939. (1)
10 Dec 1939
Convoy HXF 12.
This convoy departed Halifax on 10 December 1939.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Akaroa (British, 15130 GRT, built 1914), Bassano (British, 4843 GRT, built 1937), Cairnross (British, 5494 GRT, built 1921), Explorer (British, 6235 GRT, built 1935), Gracia (British, 5642 GRT, built 1921), Manchester Commerce (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), Regent Lion (British (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1937), San Cipriano (British (tanker), 7966 GRT, built 1937) and San Delfino (British (tanker), 8072 GRT, built 1938).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN), destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tisdall, RCN) and the submarine Achille (Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lt.) P.A.G. Terlier).
Around 0750Q/11, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena parted company to return to Halifax.
Around 1100P/13, after thick fog had cleared, it was seen that the Manchester Commerce was missing from the convoy. She rejoined around 0900P/14.
Around 1045ZN/20, in position 50°13'N, 13°35'W, the destroyers HMS Walker (Cdr. W.J.C. Robertson, RN) and HMS Whirlwind (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Rodgers, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 0910Z/21, in position 49°38'N, 08°08'W, the destroyers HMS Veteran (Cdr. J.E. Broome, RN) and HMS Verity (Lt.Cdr. A.R.M. Black, RN) joined.
Around 0930Z/21, the convoy split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / West coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Explorer, Gracia, Manchester Commerce and Regent Lion. HMS Walker and HMS Whirlwind escorted this section. The destroyers arrived at Liverpool in the evening of 22 December 1939.
The remaining ships made up the Channel / East coast section. Around 1300Z/21, the French submarine Achille parted company to proceed to Brest escorted by the minesweeping sloop Commandant Duboc. They arrived at Brest around 0930Z/22. Around 1930Z/21, HMS Alaunia left the convoy to proceed to Southampton where she arrived in the afternoon of 22 December 1939. HMS Veteran and HMS Verity arrived at Dover in the morning of 23 December 1939. The ships of the convoy continued on to the Downs. The San Cipriano was detached to Dunkirk. (2)
28 Jan 1940
Convoy HXF 18.
This convoy departed Halifax on 28 January 1940.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Arthur F. Corwin (British (tanker), 10516 GRT, built 1938), Corner Brook (British, 5767 GRT, built 1925), Craftsman (British, 7896 GRT, built 1922), Daldorch (British, 5571 GRT, built 1930), Darina (British, 8113 GRT, built 1939), Europe (Norwegian (tanker), 8371 GRT, built 1934), Indian Prince (British, 8587 GRT, built 1926) and Manchester Progress (British, 5620 GRT, built 1938).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) and HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tisdall, RCN).
Around 0715Q/29, both Canadian destroyers were detached to return to Halifax.
Bad weather was encountered during the passage and several ships straggled from the convoy during the passage but were able to rejoin later. However at the time the local A/S escort joined (see below) the Arthur F. Corwin and Europe were not in company and did not rejoin the convoy.
Around 1200N/6, in approximate position 50°00'N, 14°00'W, the destroyer HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, RN) and sloop HMS Deptford (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Thring, DSO, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Alaunia parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax shortly afterwards.
Around 1300N/6, the merchant vessel Narragansett (British (tanker), 10389 GRT, built 1936) joined the convoy. She had been westbound but had picked up survivors of the torpedoed merchant vessel Beaveerburn. She returned to the U.K. (Falmouth) to land the 75 survivors she had picked up.
The convoy was split up later on 6 February 1940.
The Irish Sea / West Coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Corner Brook, Craftsman, Indian Prince and Manchester Progress. They were escorted by HMS Deptford which arrived at Liverpool on 8 February 1940.
The remaining ships made up of the Channel / East Coast section which was escorted by HMS Antelope which arrived at Plymouth on 8 February 1940. (3)
17 Feb 1941
Convoy BHX 110.
This convoy departed Bermuda on 17 Febraury 1941.
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelcrown (British (tanker), 11999 GRT, built 1929), Athelnight (British (tanker), 8940 GRT, built 1930), Baron Elphinstone (British, 4635 GRT, built 1937), Bente Maersk (British (tanker), 5772 GRT, built 1928), Brasil (Norwegian (tanker), 8130 GRT, built 1935), British Fusilier (British (tanker), 6943 GRT, built 1923), Clavella (British (tanker), 8097 GRT, built 1939), El Grillo (British (tanker), 7264 GRT, built 1922), Elusa (Dutch (tanker), 6235 GRT, built 1936), F.J. Wolfe (British (tanker), 12190 GRT, built 1932), Ferncourt (British (tanker), 9918 GRT, built 1938), Hindustan (British, 5245 GRT, built 1940), Holmside (British, 3433 GRT, built 1930), Juno (Dutch, 1753 GRT, built 1908), Koenjit (Dutch, 4551 GRT, built 1929), Lavington Court (British, 5372 GRT, built 1940), Torvanger (Norwegian, 6564 GRT, built 1920), Trader (British, 6087 GRT, built 1940) and Vimeira (British, 5728 GRT, built 1927).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN).
Around 1730P/23, in position 43°31'N, 48°03'W, convoy BHX 110, coming merged with convoy HX 110 coming from Halifax.
HMS Alaunia did not join convoy HX 110 but set course to proceed to Halifax. (4)
29 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy BHX 130.
This convoy departed Bermuda on 29 May 1941.
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Amastra (British (tanker), 8031 GRT, built 1935), Athelduchess (British (tanker), 8940 GRT, built 1929), Athelprince (British (tanker), 8782 GRT, built 1926), British Courage (British (tanker), 6952 GRT, built 1928), British Dominion (British (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1928), British Engineer (British (tanker), 6993 GRT, built 1922), British Tenacity (British (tanker), 8439 GRT, built 1939), Cape Wrath (British, 4512 GRT, built 1940), Donax (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), D.L. Harper (British (tanker), 12223 GRT, built 1933), Iroquois (British (tanker), 8937 GRT, built 1907), Laurits Swenson (Norwegian, 5725 GRT, built 1930), Narragansett (British (tanker) 10389 GRT, built 1936), Nyholt (Norwegian (tanker), 8087 GRT, built 1931), Refast (British (tanker) 5189 GRT, built 1914), Samuel Bakke (Norwegian, 4719 GRT, built 1929), San Arcadio (British (tanker), 7419 GRT, built 1935), San Ernesto (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1939) and Scottish Heather (British (tanker), 7087 GRT, built 1928).
Convoy BHX 130 had been escorted from Bermuda to the rendezvous position by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) which then parted company to proceed to Halifax.
Around 2135Q/30, when in position 32.50'N, 64.00'W, HMS Alaunia sighted a darkened tanker which subsequently collided with the D.L. Harper. Due to the damage sustained the D.L. Harper was ordered to proceed to Halifax where she arrived on 3 June 1941.
Around 1050P/4, the San Ernesto was detached to Halifax due to a broken piston. She arrived at Halifax on 7 June 1941.
Around 0900P/5, convoy BHX 130 merged with the convoy HX 130 coming from Halifax. (5)
Sources
- ADM 53/107363 + ADM 53/111026 + ADM 53/111050 + ADM 53/111100 + ADM 53/111159 + ADM 199/52
- ADM 53/107364 + ADM 53/110956 + ADM 53/110982 + ADM 53/111059 + ADM 53/111157 + ADM 199/52 + Patrol report of Achille
- ADM 199/48 + ADM 199/53
- ADM 199/1215
- ADM 53/113541 + ADM 53/113542 + ADM 199/1215
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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