Eric Vernon Lees DSO, RN
| Born | 1 Jan 1895 |
| Ranks
Retired: 1 Jan 1945 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Eric Vernon Lees, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Chitral (F 57) | A/Capt. | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 22 Dec 1940 | 12 Jan 1941 |
| HMS Circassia (F 91) | A/Capt. | Armed Merchant Cruiser | Jan 1941 | 20 Mar 1942 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Circassia (F 91)
26 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445A/26, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and HMS Wolfe (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.G.A. Shuttleworth, RN) departed Greenock for the Northern Patrol. They proceeded up the Minches and were joined near Cape Wrath by the destroyers HMS Charlestown (Lt.Cdr. T. Johnston, RN) and HMS St. Albans (Lt.Cdr. (Emgy.) S.G.C. Rawson, RN) around 1345A/27.
The destroyers remained in company until around 1225Z/28 when they set course to proceed to Port ZA (Loch Alsh) where they arrived on the 29th. (1)
5 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300N/5, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Reykjavik from patrol in the Denmark Strait. (2)
6 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900N/6, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Reykjavik for Liverpool. She was to pass trough the Minches southwards. (2)
10 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0850A/10, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Liverpool where she was to refit. (2)
26 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is docked in the Brocklebank Graving Dock at Liverpool. (2)
10 Mar 1941
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is undocked. (3)
18 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) conducted D/G trials off Liverpool. (3)
20 Mar 1941
Around 1515A/20, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Liverpool for Greenock where she arrived around 1015A/21. (3)
25 Mar 1941
Around 1530A/25, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Greenock with troops for Reykjavik. Before departure D/F calibration trials were carried out. (3)
29 Mar 1941
Around 0615N/29, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Reykjavik for patrol. She was to patrol in the Denmark Strait. (3)
11 Apr 1941
Around 1230Z/11, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord from patrol. (4)
12 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1820Z/11, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Halifax. (4)
19 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900Q/19, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Halifax from Hvalfjord. (4)
16 May 1941
Around 1230Z/16, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord from convoy escort duty. She arrived with engine defects. (5)
19 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) proceeded from Hvalfjord to Reykjavik. (5)
20 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630Z/20, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Reykjavik for Halifax. (5)
27 May 1941
Around 1000P/27, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Halifax from Reykjavik. She had been damaged on 22 May by thick pack ice she had encountered in bad visibility. Repairs were estimated to take at least three weeks and she also required to be docked but no dock was available. (5)
19 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is docked at Halifax for repairs of the ice damage. (6)
1 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is undocked. (7)
6 Jul 1941
Convoy HX 137.
This convoy departed Halifax on 6 July 1941 for the U.K.
On departure from Halifax it was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alchiba (Dutch, 4427 GRT, built 1920), Beaverhill (British, 10041 GRT, built 1928), Beechwood (British, 4987 GRT, built 1940), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), British Integrity (British (tanker), 8412 GRT, built 1927)), Clairton (British, 6080 GRT, built 1919), Empire Guillemot (British, 5720 GRT, built 1919), Empire Summer (British, 6949 GRT, built 1941), Empire Woodcock (British, 5572 GRT, built 1918), Gold Shell (British (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1931), Heina (Norwegian, 4028 GRT, built 1925), Hjalmar Wessel (Norwegian, 1742 GRT, built 1935), King Arthur (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928)), Lechistan (Polish, 1937 GRT, built 1929), Manchester Spinner (British, 4767 GRT, built 1918), Margartia Chandris (Greek, 5401 GRT, built 1920), Matiana (British, 9045 GRT, built 1922)), Michalis (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1919), Modavia (British, 4858 GRT, built 1927), Moorby (British, 4992 GRT, built 1936), Mount Rhodope (Greek, 5182 GRT, built 1919), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), New Westminster City (British, 4747 GRT, built 1929), Nicoya (British, 5364 GRT, built 1929), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Penrose (British, 4393 GRT, built 1928), Pentridge Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1941), Pontfield (British (tanker), 8319 GRT, built 1940), Port Caroline (British, 8263 GRT, built 1919), Redgate (British, 4323 GRT, built 1929), Saint Gobain (Swedish (tanker), 9959 GRT, built 1936), Sandar (Norwegian (tanker), 7624 GRT, built 1928), Sourabaya (British (tanker / whale factory ship), 10107 GRT, built 1915), Taron (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Torfinjarl (Norwegian, 1481 GRT, built 1922), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Trehata (British, 4817 GRT, built 1928), Tyndareus (British, 11361 GRT, built 1916), Varand (British (tanker), 6023 GRT, built 1927) and Virgilia (British (tanker), 5723 GRT, built 1927).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and the corvettes HMS Dianthus (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.E. Bridgman, RNR), HMCS Snowberry (T/Lt. R.S. Kelley, RCNR) and HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR).
During 7/8 July 1941, the corvettes HMCS Barrie (T/Lt. R.M. Mosher, RCNR) and HMCS Matapedia (T/Lt. R.J. Herman, RCNVR) were also with the convoy.
At 0617P/9, in thick fog, HMS Circassia struck the fishing schooner Andavaka in position 44°37'N, 52°31'W. The schooner quickly sank and 15 survivors were picked up, there were no casualties and no one was injured also HMS Circassia sustained no damage.
On 9 July 1941, the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), HMS Reading (Lt.Cdr. D.V. Clift, RN) and corvette HMS Honeysuckle (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RNR) joined the convoy coming from St. John's, Newfoundland.
On 10 July 1941, Convoy BHX 137 joined, which had departed Bermuda on 4 July 1941 and was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelvictor (British (tanker), 8320 GRT, built 1941), Baron Dechmont (British, 3675 GRT, built 1929), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), British Fortitude (British (tanker), 8482 GRT, built 1937), British Resolution (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), City of Leicester (British, 3351 GRT, built 1926), City of Marseilles (British, 8317 GRT, built 1913), Collegian (British, 7886 GRT, built 1923), Diloma (British (tanker), 8146 GRT, built 1939), Empire Hawk (British, 5033 GRT, built 1919), Gorjistan (British, 5888 GRT, built 1929), Grangepark (British, 5132 GRT, built 1919), Hammaren (Swedish, 3220 GRT, built 1930), Prins Willem III (Dutch, 1524 GRT, built 1939), Recorder (British, 5981 GRT, built 1930) and Siris (British, 5242 GRT, built 1919).
On departure from Bermuda convoy BHX 137 had been escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cheshire (Capt.(Retd.) J.M. Begg, RN) which was detached to Halifax after the convoys had joined company.
Around 0600N/17, the corvettes HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR) and HMS Nigella (T/Lt. T.W. Coyne, RNR) and the rescue ship Zamalek (British, 1567 GRT, built 1921) joined the convoy.
Around 1920N/17, the destroyers HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Roper, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN) joined the convoy.
Also joining on the 17th was the destroyer HMS Georgetown (Lt. A.J.R. White, RN) and the A/S trawler HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. R.H. Marchington, RNVR).
Around 1955N/17, HMS Circassia, HMCS Saguenay, HMS Reading, HMS Honeysuckle, HMS Dianthus, HMCS Snowberry and HMCS Spikenard parted company with the convoy to proceed to Iceland.
Later the destroyer ORP Burza (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) Z.I. Wojewodzki) and A/S trawler HMS Daneman (T/Lt. G.O.T.D. Henderson, RNVR) also joined. These ships had departed Scapa Flow on the 17 July and Stornoway on 15 July respectively.
The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 21 July 1941.
18 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1035Z/18, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Reykjavick from convoy escort duty. (7)
20 Jul 1941
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) proceeded from Reykjavik to Hvalfjord. (7)
21 Jul 1941
Convoy OB 349.
This convoy departed the U.K. on 21 July 1941.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Anadara (British (tanker), 8009 GRT, built 1935), Athelsultan (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Baron Cawdor (British, 3638 GRT, built 1935), Benwood (Norwegian, 3931 GRT, built 1910), British Industry (British (tanker), 4297 GRT, built 1927), British Progress (British (tanker), 4581 GRT, built 1927), Bruarfoss (Icelandic, 1580 GRT, built 1927), Chloris (British, 1171 GRT, built 1910), Colytto (Dutch, 4408 GRT, built 1926), Cymbula (British (tanker), 8082 GRT, built 1938), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Edward F. Johnson (British (tanker), 10452 GRT, built 1937), Eknaren (Swedish, 5243 GRT, built 1922), Empire Bronze (British, 8142 GRT, built 1940), Empire Lynx (British, 6379 GRT, 1917), Empire Plover (British, 6109 GRT, built 1920), Everleigh (British, 5222 GRT, built 1930), Finlande (British, 1343 GRT, built 1937), G.S. Walden (American (tanker), 10627 GRT, built 1937), Gallia (Norwegian (tanker), 9974 GRT, built 1939), Gard (Norwegian (tanker), 8259 GRT, built 1938), Glenpark (British, 5136 GRT, built 1939), Gudrun Maersk (British, 2294 GRT, built 1937), Hektoria (British, (whale factory ship / tanker), 13834 GRT, built 1899), James J. Maguire (British (tanker), 10525 GRT, built 1939), Kronprinsessan Margareta (Swedish, 3739 GRT, built 1914), La Pampa (British, 4149 GRT, built 1938), Lagarto (British, 5072 GRT, built 1917), Leda (British, 4115 GRT, built 1910), Lekhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921), Lerwick (British, 5626 GRT, built 1938), Leto (Dutch, 4712 GRT, built 1929), Lise (Norwegian (tanker), 6826 GRT, built 1931), Nailsea Meadow (British, 4962 GRT, built 1937), Oakworth (British), 4968 GRT, built 1925), Otina (British (tanker), 6217 GRT, built 1938), Salando (Dutch, 5272 GRT, built 1920), Scottish Trader (British, 4016 GRT, built 1938), Thode Fagelund (Norwegian, 5757 GRT, built 1920), Tore Jarl (Norwegian, 1514 GRT, built 1920), Ulysses (Dutch, 2655 GRT, built 1918), Vav (Norwegian (tanker), 6415 GRT, built 1931), Voco (British (tanker), 5090 GRT, built 1925) and Vulcanus (British, 1819 GRT, built 1907).
On departure from the U.K. the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Keppel (Cdr. A.M. Sheffield, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN), corvettes HMS Alisma (A/Lt.Cdr. M.G. Rose, RANVR), FFS Alysse, HMS Dianella (T/Lt. J.G. Rankin, RNR), HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN), HMS Sunflower (Lt.Cdr. J.T. Jones, RNR), and the A/S trawlers HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR), HMS Northern Dawn (Lt. J.O. Williams, RNR) and HMS Wellard (Lt. S.F. Fell, RANVR). Destroyer HMS Venomous (Cdr. H.W. Falcon-Steward, RN) joined later [23th ?] coming from Aultbea / Loch Ewe.
On the 26/27th almost the entire original escort was detached to Iceland as were the merchant vessels Bruarfoss, Finlande and Leda. FFS Alysse remained with the convoy.
On the 26th/27th, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN), destroyers HMS Broadwater (Lt.Cdr. W.M.L. Astwood, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, RCN) and the corvettes HMCS Rimouski (T/Lt. J.W. Bonner, RCNR) and HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) joined.
The convoy was dispersed around dawn on 1 August 1941.
25 Jul 1941
Around 1015Z/25, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Hvalfjord to join convoy OB 349.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy OB 349 ' for 21 July 1941.] (7)
3 Aug 1941
Around 1515P/3, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Halifax from convoy escort duty. (8)
9 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415P/9, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Halifax for Freetown. (8)
14 Aug 1941
Around 1515O/14, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) sighted an unidentified merchant vessel which turned out to be the Italian Stella (4266 GRT, built 1923) which was en-route to France coming from Recife. A prize crew was put on board the Italian vessel and she was taken to Bermuda. Position was 24°55'N, 40°23'W. HMS Circassia had been ordered to try to intercept this vessel. (9)
21 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1930N/21, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Freetown from Halifax. (8)
27 Aug 1941
Around 1815N/27, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN), corvettes HMS Gardenia (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR), HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) and the (troop) transport Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914) departed Freetown.
Around 1130N/28, HMS Circassia parted company with the other ships and set course for Halifax.
The corvettes were to part company with the (troop) transport around dark the same day and then return to Freetown.
The Almanzora proceeded to the Clyde where she arrived on 9 September 1941. (9)
7 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400P/7, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Halifax from Freetown. (10)
27 Sep 1941
Around 1545P/27, the troop transport Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) departed Halifax for Trinidad. On board the Stratheden were 3200 military personnel for the Middle East. On departure from Halifax she was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and the destroyer HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, DSC, RN).
HMS Havelock parted company around 1900P/27 to return to Halifax. (11)
3 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915Q/3, the troop transport Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad from Halifax. (12)
5 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700Q/5, the troop transport Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Capetown.
Around 0950P/9, the escort of the troop transport was turned over, in position 00°11'N, 43°46'W, to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN). HMS Circassia then proceeded on patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the mid-Atlantic. (12)
22 Oct 1941
Around 0840Q/22, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad from patrol. (13)
28 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900Q/28, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and the sloop HrMs Van Kinsbergen (Cdr. C. Hellingman, RNN) departed Trinidad to patrol in the North Atlantic between latitudes 15°N and 20°N and longtitudes 40°W and 50°W to search for enemy supply vessels. (14)
7 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700Q/7, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and HrMs Van Kinsbergen (Cdr. C. Hellingman, RNN) returned to Trinidad from patrol. They had sighted nothing of interest. (15)
9 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600Q/9, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Trinidad to proceed to Bermuda via the Sombrero Passage. (16)
13 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1240Q/13, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Trinidad. Before entering harbour gunnery exercises were carried out. (17)
21 Nov 1941
During 21/22 November 1941, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. These included gunnery and night exercises. (17)
23 Nov 1941
Around 0800Q/23, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Bermuda for patrol. She was to patrol between positions;
A) 35.00'N, 40.00'W,
B) 35.00'N, 39.00'W,
C) 33.00'N, 39.00'W and
D) 33.00'N, 38.00'W.
The object was to intercept Axis shipping working in conjunction with HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN), HMS Corinthian (A/Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR) and HMS Marsdale (A/Cdr. D.H.F. Armstrong, RD, RNR). (17)
29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) left patrol to proceed to Halifax. (18)
3 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000Q/3, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Halifax from patrol. (19)
6 Dec 1941
Around 1445Q/6, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Halifax for patrol. She was ordered to patrol in an area between latitudes 05°N and 10°N and longtitudes 40°W and 45°W to search for enemy supply vessels. (20)
13 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived in her patrol area. (18)
21 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed her patrol area for Trinidad. (18)
24 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800Q/24, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Trinidad from patrol. (21)
3 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445Q/3, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed
Trinidad for Bermuda. (22)
7 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200Q/7, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Trinidad. (22)
15 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915Q/15, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Bermuda to patrol in the mid-Atlantic. (22)
8 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830A/8, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Belfast from patrol. At Belfast she is to pay off and then refit to be returned to the trade. (23)
12 Feb 1942
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is docked in the Thompson Graving Dock at Belfast. (24)
21 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is undocked. (24)
20 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) is decommissioned at Belfast. (25)
Sources
- ADM 53/113926 + ADM 53/115196 + ADM 199/411
- ADM 53/113927
- ADM 53/113928
- ADM 53/113929
- ADM 53/113930
- ADM 53/113931
- ADM 53/113932
- ADM 53/113933
- ADM 53/113933 + ADM 199/395
- ADM 53/113934
- ADM 53/113934 + ADM 199/402
- ADM 53/113935 + ADM 199/402
- ADM 53/113935
- ADM 53/113935 + ADM 199/402 + File 2.12.03.6942 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 53/113936 + ADM 199/402 + File 2.12.03.6942 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 53/113936 + ADM 199/402
- ADM 53/113936
- ADM 199/402
- ADM 53/113937
- ADM 53/113937 + ADM 199/402
- ADM 199/113937 + ADM 199/402
- ADM 53/115616 + ADM 199/647
- ADM 53/115617 + ADM 199/647
- ADM 53/115617
- ADM 53/115618
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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