John Douglas Harvey, RN
| Born | 10 Oct 1891 | Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo | |
| Died | 16 Mar 1980 | (88) | Devizes, Wiltshire, England, UK |
| Ranks
Retired: 11 Oct 1934 Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for John Douglas Harvey, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Alcantara (F 88) | A/Capt. (Retd.) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 7 Nov 1941 | 16 Jul 1943 |
Career information
Reverted back to the Retired List 24 January 1946.Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alcantara (F 88)
15 Nov 1941
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) is undocked at Simonstown. She departed for Capetown later the same day. (1)
16 Nov 1941
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Capetown from Simonstown. She departed for patrol later the same day. She was ordered to proceed to the ' River Plate ' focal area. (1)
26 Nov 1941
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Samborombón Bay where she fuelled from the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937).
On completion of fuelling she proceeded on patrol. She was ordered to patrol along the east coast of South America while proceeding to Trinidad. HMS Alcantara was eventually to proceed to Norfolk, USA where she was to refit. (1)
10 Dec 1941
Around 0725Q/10, HMS Alcantara (Capt.(Retd.) J.G.P. Ingham, DSO, RN) arrived at Trinidad from patrol.
Around 2005Q/10, having completed fuelling, she departed Trinidad for Norfolk, USA. (2)
15 Dec 1941
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at the Newport News Shipyard where she is taken in hand for refit. (2)
23 Jan 1942
With her refit in the USA completed, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), proceeded from Newport News to Norfolk.
Further work on HMS Alcantara was to be carried out in the U.K. (3)
26 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted trials and exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (3)
27 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted trials and exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (3)
28 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted trials and exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (3)
29 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (3)
30 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Delhi (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, RN) and HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (4)
3 Feb 1942
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Hampton Roads for Halifax.
[No logs are available for HMS Alcantara for the period of February to May 1942 so some details for these months will be missing.] (5)
4 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) picked up three survivors and two dead men from the American tanker W.L. Steed (6182 GRT, built 1918), that had been torpedoed and sunk on 2 February 1942 by the German submarine U-103.
6 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Halifax from Hampton Roads. (5)
11 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy NA 3.
This convoy departed Halifax on 11 February 1942.
It was made up of the troop transport Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939).
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) is also part of this convoy temporarily employed as troopship.
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the destroyers ORP Garland (Cdr. H. Eibel), HMS Montgomery (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) W.L. Puxley, RN) and HMCS St. Francis (Lt. C.A. Rutherford, RCN).
On 14 February 1942, HMCS St. Francis parted company to proceed to St.John's where she arrived on the 16th.
The convoy arrived in the Clyde on the 19th.
19 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived in the Clyde with convoy NA 3. She was then taken in hand to complete her refit in a commercial shipyard on the Clyde. (5)
11 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown to patrol in the Central mid-Atlantic. (6)
4 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) returned to Freetown from patrol.
[ADM 199/647 gives the date of her arrival as 3 May 1942.] (7)
5 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Central mid-Atlantic. (6)
23 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) returned to Freetown from patrol. (6)
26 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown with convoy WS 19.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 19 ' for 11 May 1942.] (6)
29 May 1942
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) topped off the sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) the Hon. V.M. Wyndham-Quin, RN) with fuel. (6)
31 May 1942
Off St. Helena, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) topped off the escort destroyers HMS Belvoir (Lt. J.F.D. Bush, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Hursley (Lt. W.J.P. Church, DSC, RN) with fuel. They rejoined the convoy later the same day.
1 Jun 1942
Around 1500Z/1 (1600A/1), HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), parted company with convoy WS 19 and proceeded on patrol in the South Atlantic.
Towards the end of her patrol she was also to give cover to the troop transport Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914) passing through the area. (8)
9 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
From 9 to 12 June 1942, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), made several attempt to sink the derelict wreck of the transport George Clymer (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942). (8)
20 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530B/20, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), arrived at Capetown from patrol. (8)
24 Jun 1942
Around 0800B/24, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), departed Capetown for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the South Atlantic.
She was also to provide cover for the troop transport Queen Elizabeth (British, 83673 GRT, built 1939) (Convoy WS 19Y) passing through the area.
She also provided cover for cable laying (cable repair) operations near St. Helena. (8)
16 Jul 1942
Around 0930B/16, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Capetown from patrol and other duties. (9)
17 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) proceeded from Capetown to Simonstown. (9)
24 Jul 1942
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Simonstown to join the transport Banfora (British, 9472 GRT, built 1914) which had departed Capetown on this day. They then proceeded towards Durban. When off Durban on the 28th, HMS Alcantara turned back and proceed to Capetown. (9)
30 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Capetown from escort duty. (9)
1 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115B/1, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Capetown for patrol and escort duty in the South Atlantic. (10)
3 Aug 1942
Around 1330A/3, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) took over the escort of the cable laying ship John W. MacKay (British, 4049 GRT, built 1922) from the armed boarding vessel HMS Corinthian (Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR). (10)
10 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) made a brief stop at St. Helena to make good an engine defect. She departed for Ascension later the same day. (11)
14 Aug 1942
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Ascension.
She departed again later the same day to patrol off the Island for the night returning the following morning. (11)
16 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), departed Ascension to patrol off the island during the night. She returned the following morning. (10)
18 Aug 1942
Around 0430Z/18, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Ascension with the transports American Press (American, 6778 GRT, built 1941) and China Mail (American, 8616 GRT, built 1942).
The two transports joined convoy WS 21 around 1330Z/18. HMS Alcantara did not join this convoy but returned to Ascension arriving back around 0745Z/19. (10)
19 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1150Z/19, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Ascension with the transport James Parker (10021 GRT, built 1939), which she is to escort to Pointe Noire. (10)
23 Aug 1942
Around 1230A/23, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the transport James Parker (10021 GRT, built 1939) parted company near Pointe Noire where the transport arrived later the same day.
HMS Alcantara was to return to Freetown but first she was to search fo an enemy supply ship that had been reported to fuel two U-boats in position 04°18'S, 10°38'E at 0800Z/23.
The Free French destroyer Leopard departed Pointe Noire around 1600Z/23 to team up with HMS Alcantara for the search but she failed to make rendezvous and she returned to Pointe Noire the following day after the search had been called off.
HMS Alcantara then proceeded to make rendezvous with the transport Orestes (British, 7748 GRT, built 1926) to escort this ship to Freetown. She joined the transport on the 26th. (10)
29 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930Z/29, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the transport Orestes (British, 7748 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Freetown.
13 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown as escort for convoy WS 22.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 22 ' for 29 August 1942.] (12)
18 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and RHS Pindos fuelled at Pointe Noire on completion of which they immediately departed to rejoin convoy WS 22.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 22 ' for 29 August 1942.] (12)
25 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and RHS Pindos arrived at Capetown with the Capetown section of convoy WS 22. (12)
3 Oct 1942
Around 1200C/3, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Durban after escort duty with convoy WS 22. (13)
7 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000C/7, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Durban to patrol in the South Atlantic. (13)
20 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1900C/20, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Capetown from patrol. (13)
23 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730C/23, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Capetown for Port Elizabeth. (13)
24 Oct 1942
Around 1600C/24, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Port Elizabeth from Capetown. At Port Elizabeth she is taken in hand for boiler cleaning and repairs to the superheater of her starboard boilers. (13)
17 Nov 1942
Around 1630C/17, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Port Elizabeth for an anti-blockade runner patrol between latitudes 42'S and 44'S and longtitudes 20'E and 22'E.
She was escorted by the corvette HMS Rockrose (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR) until position 37°00'S, 25°00'E. The corvette parted company around 0730C/18.
HMS Alcantara arrived at Capetown from patrol around 0800C/23. (14)
28 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000B/28, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) joined convoy WS 24.
For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 24 ' for 29 October 1942.] (15)
4 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700C/4, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) parted company with convoy WS 24 to proceed to Simonstown. (16)
5 Dec 1942 (position -34.41, 22.40)
In position 34°41'S, 22°40'E, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) picks up 18 (or 19) survivors from the American merchant Jeremiah Wadsworth that was torpedoed and sunk on 27 November 1942 by the German U-boat U-178 about 270 nautical miles south of Cape Agulhas, South Africa in position 39°25'S, 22°23'E. (17)
6 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930C/6, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Simonstown from convoy escort duty. (16)
18 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900C/18, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Simonstown for Capetown where she arrived around 1400C/18. (16)
18 Dec 1942
Convoy WS 25.
The convoy was assembled off Oversay on 18 December 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Britannic (British, 26943 GRT, built 1930, 4955 troops), City of Lincoln (British, 8039 GRT, built 1938), Esperance Bay (British, 14204 GRT, built 1922, 1805 troops), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929, 1882 troops), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930, 1930 troops), Mataroa (British, 12390 GRT, built 1922, 1897 troops), Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935, 5335 troops), Rangitiki (British, 16698 GRT, built 1928, 2598 troops) and Tarifa (Norwegian, 7229 GRT, built 1936).
On assembly the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.W. Kitson, RN), HMS Cheshire (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.D. King-Harman, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Wolverine (Lt. I.M. Clegg, RN), escort destroyer HMS Badsworth (Lt. G.T.S. Gray, DSC, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN).
Around 1700Z/24, HMS Wolverine, HMS Badsworth and HMS Haydon parted company with the convoy to fuel at Ponta Delgada, Azores. They were not to rejoin the convoy. HMS Quilliam and HMS Rockwood had returned from fuelling at Ponta Delgada in the afternoon of the 24th, These two ships were to continue with the convoy to Freetown.
At 1225Z/26, the destroyer HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 2005Z/28, HMS Rockwood parted company to fuel at Bathurst. She rejoined the convoy around 1100Z/30.
At 0900Z/29, HMS Ilex parted company with the convoy to proceed to Freetown. She rejoined around around 0900Z/31.
At 0545Z/30, the corvettes HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) and HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Freetown in the afternoon of 31 December 1942.
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The convoy departed Freetown in the same composition on 3 January 1943.
The convoy was now escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), HMS Cheshire destroyer HMS Quilliam, escort destroyer HMS Rockwood, corvette HMS Crocus and the minesweeper HMIS Baluchistan (Lt. D.A. McDonald, RIN).
Around 0715A/6, the corvette Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves joined the convoy coming from Takoradi.
Around 1900A/6, the Highland Brigade was detached to Takoradi escorted by the Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves and HMIS Baluchistan. they arrived at Takoradi on the 7th.
Between 0850A/9 and 1300A/9, HMS Quilliam was fuelled by HMS Alcantara.
At 1000A/9, HMS Crocus was detached to Pointe Noire.
Between 1330A/9 and 1915A/9, HMS Rockwood was fuelled by HMS Alcantara.
Around 1920A/9, HMS Alcantara parted company with the convoy to return to Freetown.
Around 1830C/14, the destroyer HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Quilliam then parted company to proceed to Simonstown.
Around 1600C/14, HMS Quilliam rejoined the convoy after having fuelled at Simonstown. By now HMS Rockwood had also parted company with the convoy to proceed to Simonstown after having been relieved by the corvette HMS Genista (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR). On HMS Quilliam rejoining the convoy HMS Genista was detached.
The convoy arrived at Durban on 18 January 1943. (18)
19 Dec 1942
Convoy CF 10.
This convoy departed Capetown on 19 December 1942.
The convoy was made up of the (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930), Largs Bay (British, 14182 GRT, built 1921) and Straat Soenda (Dutch, 6439 GRT, built 1939).
On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the destroyer HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN).
Around 0655B/21, HMS Fortune parted company with the convoy to proceed to Simonstown.
Around 1400A/27, the corvette HMS Hydrangea (A/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Woolfenden, RD, RNR) joined the convoy.
Around 1615Z/28, the escort destroyer HMS Holcombe (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Pinchin, DSC, RN) and corvette Commandant Drogou joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Freetown on 29 December 1942.
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The convoy departed Freetown on 1 January 1943 but now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), destroyer HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN), escort destroyer HMS Holcombe and corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR).
Around 1940Z/1, HMS Ilex was detached to participate in an A/S hunt off Dakar.
Around 1120Z/2, the corvette HMS Bellwort (A/Lt.Cdr. N.F.R. Gill, RNR) joined, having departed Bathurst on 1 January.
Around 1930Z/3, HMS Ilex rejoined the convoy. At the same time the Largs Bay escorted by HMS Woodruff parted company. The Largs Bay was to proceed to New York escorted part of the way by the corcette. HMS Woodruff arrived at Bathurst on 10 January.
Around 1800Z/4, HMS Holcombe parted company to proceed to Bathurst where she arrived on 6 January.
Around 0800Z/5, the sloops HMS Sandwich (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) and HMS Erne (Lt.Cdr. E.D.J. Abbot, RN) joined.
Around 0840Z/5, HMS Ilex and HMS Bellwort parted company to proceed to Bathurst where HMS Ilex arrived on the 6th and HMS Bellwort on the 7th.
Around 1200A/8, the convoy merged with convoy MKF 6. (19)
3 Jan 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown as part of the escort of convoy WS 25. On departure the destroyer HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN) came alongside to pass a message and while doing so she hit the crane of HMS Alcantara which was trained outboard. The crane was heavily damaged rendering it inoperable. It was therefore impossible for HMS Alcantara to operate her two aircraft.
For more info on this convoy see the event ' convoy WS 25 ' for 18 December 1942.] (20)
14 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800Z/14, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Freetown from convoy escort duty. (20)
21 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Freetown for Kingston, Jamaica. They were to proceed there to escort the newly constructed floating dock AFD 24 from New Orleans to Freetown.
While en-route they were ordered to proceed to Trinidad instead. (21)
28 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) was fuelled at sea by HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN). (20)
31 Jan 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Trinidad from Freetown.
By now it became apparent that the sailing of AFD 24 from New Orleans had been delayed. It was decided to employ both ships for anti blockade runner patrols in the meantime. (20)
4 Feb 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Trinidad for anti blockade runner patrol in the area between Trinidad and Natal.
On 9 February, HMS Woodruff was fuelled at sea by HMS Alcantara. (22)
12 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Recife from anti blockade runner patrol in the area between Trinidad and Natal. (23)
14 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Recife for Trinidad conducting an anti blockade runner patrol en-route.
On 18 February and 25 February and 3 March, HMS Woodruff was fuelled at sea by HMS Alcantara.
While on patrol they had been ordered to remain on patrol as long as endurance allowed and to arrive at Trinidad not later then March 9th. (24)
7 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Trinidadfrom anti blockade runner patrol. (25)
22 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Trinidad. (25)
25 Mar 1943
Passage of floating dock AFD 24 from Trinidad to Freetown.
On 25 March 1943, the dock in tow of the tugs HMS Frisky and HMS Zwarte Zee departed Trinidad. Escort was provided by the sloop HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, RN), corvettes HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR), HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) and the ASW trawlers HMS Morris Dance (T/Lt. S.A. MacKechnie, RNVR) and HMS Yestor (Lt. R.C. Holt, RNVR). A third tug was also present as stand by tug, this was HMS Oriana.
On 1 April 1943, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR) departed Trinidad to overtake and join the 'convoy'. HMS Alcantara was to fuel the oil firing sloop and corvettes at sea during the passage to Freetown. The coal firing trawlers were to coal in Brazilian ports.
On 24 April 1943, the corvette HMS Snowdrop (Lt. P.A. Tinne, RNVR) and the motor launches HMS ML 296 (T/Lt. R.C. Breckenridge, RCNVR), HMS ML 289 (?), HMS ML 287 (T/Lt. J.B. Bramwell, RNVR), HMS ML 281 (T/Lt. P.S. Castle, RNVR), HMS ML 266 (T/Lt. D.R. Beverley, RCNVR) and HMS ML 209 (T/Lt. A.M.C. Scott, RNVR) departed freetown to make rendezvous with the convoy which did at 1130Z/26. ML 281 had however returned to Freetown on the 26th after having been detached due to a defective Asdic installation.
On 27 April 1943, the A/S yacht HMS Virginia (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Dobson, RNR) and corvettes HMS Armeria (Lt. M. Todd, RNR), HMS Cyclamen (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR) and HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) departed Freetown to join the convoy which they did early in the evening of the same day.
The dock and it's escorts arrived at Freetown on 28 April 1943.
29 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Trinidad. (25)
3 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700Z/3, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown for Dakar. (26)
4 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1930Z/4, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Dakar from Freetown. (26)
6 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1830Z/6, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Dakar for Freetown. (27)
8 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830Z/8, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Freetown from Dakar. (26)
12 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Freetown. (26)
17 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200Z/17, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Freetown for the Clyde. (26)
28 Jun 1943
Around 0800B/28, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Greenock from Freetown. (26)
29 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1845B/29, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) departed Greenock for Liverpool. (26)
30 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400B/30, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) arrived at Birkenhead (Liverpool) from Greenock. at Birkenhead she was prepared for decommissioning and conversion for trooping duty. (26)
16 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200B/16, HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) is paid off (decommissioned) at Birkenhead (Liverpool) and turned over to the M.o.W.T. (Ministery of War Transport). (28)
Sources
- ADM 53/113571
- ADM 53/113572
- ADM 53/115292
- ADM 53/115292 + ADM 53/115749
- ADM 199/2545
- ADM 199/647
- ADM 187/19 + ADM 199/2545
- ADM 53/115293
- ADM 53/115294
- ADM 53/115295
- ADM 53/115295 + ADM 199/647
- ADM 53/115296
- ADM 53/115297
- ADM 53/115298 + ADM 199/2336
- ADM 53/115298
- ADM 53/115299
- ADM 53/115299 + ADM 199/1336
- ADM 199/1211
- ADM 53/115299 + ADM 53/116962 + ADM 199/635
- ADM 53/116879
- ADM 53/116879 + ADM 199/635
- ADM 53/116880 + ADM 199/2254
- ADM 53/116880
- ADM 53/116880 + ADM 53/116881
- ADM 53/116881
- ADM 53/116884
- ADM 53/116884
- ADM 53/116885
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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