Geoffrey Shuttleworth Holden, RN
| Born | 25 Mar 1886 |
| Ranks
Retired: 29 Jun 1932 Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Geoffrey Shuttleworth Holden, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Esperance Bay (F 67) | Capt. (retired) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 14 Sep 1939 | Aug 1941 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Esperance Bay (F 67)
4 May 1940
Convoy HX 40.
This convoy departed Halifax on 4 May 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Abraham Lincoln (Norwegian, 5784 GRT, built 1929), Athelregent (British (tanker), 8881 GRT, built 1930), Belinda (Norwegian (tanker), 8325 GRT, built 1939), Botwey (British, 5106 GRT, built 1916), Chesapeake (British (tanker), 8955 GRT, built 1928), City of Dieppe (British, 7958 GRT, built 1929), Clairy (Panamanian (tanker), 5840 GRT, built 1916), Delphinula (British (tanker), 8120 GRT, built 1939), Esturia (British (tanker), 6968 GRT, built 1914), Fernbank (Norwegian, 4333 GRT, built 1924), Geddington Court (British, 6903 GRT, built 1928), Graig (British, 3683 GRT, built 1924), Gujarat (British, 4148 GRT, built 1923), Gypsum Queen (British, 3915 GRT, built 1927), Hadleigh (British, 5222 GRT, built 1930), Holmelea (British, 4223 GRT, built 1928), Kars (British (tanker), 8888 GRT, built 1939), Leopold L.D. (French, 5267 GRT, built 1933), Lista (Norwegian, 3671 GRT, built 1920), Manchester Progress (British, 5620 GRT, built 1938), Margrethe Bakke (Norwegian, 5478 GRT, built 1938), Mount Kassion (Greek, 7914 GRT, built 1918), Nova Scotia (British, 6796 GRT, built 1926), Salvage King (Canadian (salvage vessel), 1164 GRT, built 1925), San Emiliano (British (tanker), 8071 GRT, built 1939), Teiresias (British, 7606 GRT, built 1915), Tilsington Court (British, 6910 GRT, built 1928), Touraine (French, 6589 GRT, built 1934) and Uffington Court (British, 4976 GRT, built 1929).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Esperance Bay (Capt.(ret) G.S. Holden, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) and HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN).
At 2303Q/4, the Graig grounded on Egg Island in thick fog. She could not be salvaged and was later declared a total loss. It was not clear to the convoy Commodore how this ship ended up in this location.
Both Canadian destroyers were to part company around 1800Q/5 and return to Halifax. [Due to the thick fog their movements were not known to the Convoy Commodore.]
Heavy fog persisted until 1000Q/7. On the fog lifting only 9 ships of the convoy and HMS Esperance Bay were seen from the Commodore's ship.
By 1700P/8, 21 ships were in company.
Around 0500Z/16, the corvette HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR) joined the convoy.
Around 0750Z/16, in position 50°09'N, 11°57'W, HMS Esperance Bay parted company to return to Halifax.
Around 1100Z/16, in position 50°07'N, 11°22'W, the sloop HMS Enchantress (Cdr. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 1630Z/16, the convoy was split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Abraham Lincoln (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), Belinda (arrived at Avonmouth on 18 May), Botwey (arrived at Manchester on 19 May), Chesapeake (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), Gujarat (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), Gypsum Queen (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), Holmelea (arrived in the Clyde on 19 May), Kars (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), Manchester Progress (arrived at Manchester on 19 May), Margrethe Bakke (arrived at Manchester on 19 May), Nova Scotia (arrived at Manchester on 19 May), Salvage King (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May), San Emiliano (arrived in the Clyde on 19 May), Teiresias (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May) and Tilsington Court (arrived at Liverpool on 18 May). They were escorted by HMS Enchantress until 1530Z/17 when she parted company and the convoy proceeded further up the Irish Sea unescorted.
The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelregent (arrived in the Downs on 18 May), City of Dieppe (arrived at Plymouth on 17 May), Clairy (Bombed and sunk by German aircraft on 21 May while at anchor off Boulogne-sur-Mer), Delphinula (arrived at Portland on 18 May), Esturia (arrived at Southampton on 18 May), Fernbank (arrived in the Downs on 18 May), Geddington Court (arrived in the Downs on 18 May), Hadleigh (arrived in the Downs on 18 May), Leopold L.D. (arrived at St. Nazaire on 18 May), Lista (arrived at Le Havre on 19 May), Mount Kassion (arrived at Falmouth on 18 May), Touraine (destination was St. Nazaire / Donges, arrivale date not known) and Uffington Court (arrived in the Downs on 18 May). They were escorted by HMS Arabis which arrived at Dover on 18 May. (1)
2 Jun 1940
Convoy HX 47.
This convoy departed Halifax on 2 June 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Aegeon (Greek, 5285 GRT, built 1919), Andreas (Greek, 6566 GRT, built 1919), Anna Mazaraki (Greek, 5411 GRT, built 1913), Annavore (Norwegian, 3324 GRT, built 1921), Argos Hill (British, 7178 GRT, built 1939), Asby (British, 4868 GRT, built 1927), Askeladden (Norwegian, 2496 GRT, built 1920), Balmoralwood (British, 5834 GRT, built 1937), Beaverbrae (British, 9956 GRT, built 1928), Beaverhill (British, 10041 GRT, built 1928), Blairspey (British, 4292 GRT, built 1929), Boston City (British, 2870 GRT, built 1920), Briarwood (British, 4019 GRT, built 1930), British Prince (British, 4879 GRT, built 1935), Cairnvalona (British, 4929 GRT, built 1918), Clydebank (British, 5156 GRT, built 1925), Comedian (British, 5122 GRT, built 1929), Dornoch (British, 5186 GRT, built 1939), Erik Boye (Canadian (former Danish), 2238 GRT, built 1924), Ferncastle (British (tanker), 9940 GRT, built 1936), Georgios G. (Greek, 4289 GRT, built 1918), Georgios Potamianos (Greek, 4044 GRT, built 1913), Germanic (British, 5352 GRT, built 1936), Harborough (British, 5415 GRT, built 1932), Hartbridge (British, 5080 GRT, built 1927), Hellen (Norwegian, 5289 GRT, built 1921), Kenbane Head (British, 5225 GRT, built 1919), Loke (Norwegian, 2421 GRT, built 1915), Manchester Citizen (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), Masunda (British, 5250 GRT, built 1929), Nailsea Manor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937), Pacific Pioneer (British, 6734 GRT, built 1928), Randsfjord (Norwegian, 3999 GRT, built 1937), Saimaa (Finnish, 2001 GRT, built 1922), Southgate (British, 4862 GRT, built 1926) and Zurichmoor (British, 4455 GRT, built 1925).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Esperance Bay (Capt.(ret) G.S. Holden, RN), destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel (former survey vessel) HMCS Acadia (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR).
The convoy sailed 24 hours late due to a reported submarine in the Halifax area. No enemy submarine was however in the area. The convoy sailed in thick fog.
The two Canadian escorts were to accompany the convoy until dusk on 3 June and then return to Halifax.
Around 1400P/2, the Randsfjord had to return to Halifax after a collision with the Georgios Potamianos in thick fog. The Greek ship had sustained no damage and was able to continue. Due to this fog the convoy became dispersed but most merchant vessels rejoined soon after the fog clear. The last merchant vessel to rejoin the convoy was the Georgios G. which rejoined on 6 June.
Around 1900P/6, in position 40°49'N, 45°41'W, the Balmoralwood dropped out of the convoy, presumably with engine trouble. She did not rejoin the convoy and continued her passage to her destination, Falmouth, independently. She was however torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-47 on 14 June.
Around 2100P/6, in position 40°35'N, 45°20'W, the Zurichmoor dropped out of the convoy, presumably with engine trouble. She arrived at Cardiff on 16 June.
The Askeladden also straggled from the convoy during the night of 6/7 June but she was able to rejoin the convoy on 12 June.
Around 1430P/7 in position 41°21'N, 42°36'W, the Bermuda section (Convoy BHX 47) joined the convoy. The following merchant vessels then joined the convoy; British Captain (British (tanker), 6968 GRT, built 1923), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), Capsa (British (tanker), 8229 GRT, built 1931), Diplomat (British, 8240 GRT, built 1921), Egda (Norwegian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1939), El Aleto (British (tanker), 7203 GRT, built 1927), Elax (British (tanker), 7403 GRT, built 1927), F.J. Wolfe (British (tanker), 12190 GRT, built 1932), Hoyanger (Norwegian, 4624 GRT, built 1926), Italia (Norwegian (tanker), 9973 GRT, built 1939), Northumberland (British, 11558 GRT, built 1915), Ocatavian (Norwegian, 1345 GRT, built 1938), Regent Panther (British (tanker), 9556 GRT, built 1937), Salacia (British, 5495 GRT, built 1937), San Adolfo (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1935), Saturnus (Swedish, 9964 GRT, buil 1940), Storanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9223 GRT, built 1930), Temple Inn (British, 5218 GRT, built 1940), Theodoros Coumantaros (Greek, 5875 GRT, built 1917), Thiara (British (tanker), 10364 GRT, built 1939), Ulysses (Dutch, 2655 GRT, built 1918) and Vinemoor (British, 4359 GRT, built 1924).
Around 1930O/9, in position 45°33'N, 33°46'W, the Germanic dropped out of the convoy with engine trouble. She arrived at Liverpool (for Manchester) on 17 June.
Around 1630N/11, in position 48°00'N, 25°28'W, the Theodoros Coumantaros dropped out of the convoy with engine trouble. Her destination was London, arrival date not known.
Around 0600A/14, in position 50°15'N, 13°00'W, the sloops HMS Fowey (Cdr. H.B. Ellison, RN) and HMS Sandwich (Cdr. M.J. Yeatman, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 1700A/14, in position 51°00'N, 08°00'W, the convoy was split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Andreas (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Anna Mazaraki (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Ashby (arrived at Avonmouth on 16 June), Blairspey (arrived in the Clyde on 17 June), Boston City (arrived at Swansea on 16 June), British Captain (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), British Faith (arrived at Avonmouth on 16 June), Clydebank (arrived at Swansea on 16 June), Comedian (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Diplomat (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Dornoch (arrived at Avonmouth on 16 June), Egda (arrived in Barry Roads on 16 June and at Avonmouth on 18 June), El Aleto (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Erik Boye (destination was Sharpness via Milford Haven but torpedoed and sunk on 15 June [see below]), Ferncastle (arrived at Milford Haven on 15 June), Georgios G. (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Hellen (arrived at Ardrossan on 20(?) June), Hoyanger (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Italia (destination was Manchester but torpedoed and sunk on 15 June [see below]), Kenbane Head (arrived at Dublin on 15 June), Manchester Citizen (arrived at Manchester on 17 June), Masunda (arrived at Milford Haven on 15 June), Northumberland (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Pacific Pioneer (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Regent Panther (arrived at Milford Haven on 15 June), Salacia (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Saturnus (arrived at Holyhead on 16 June), Temple Inn (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June), Ulysses (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June) and Vinemoor (arrived at Liverpool on 16 June). They were escorted by HMS Sandwich which arrived at Liverpool on 16 June.
The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Aegeon (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Annavore (arrived at St. Nazaire on ? June), Argos Hill (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Askeladden (arrived at Weymouth on 16 June), Beaverbrae (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Beaverhill (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Briarwood (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), British Prince (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Cairnvalona (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Capsa (arrived at Brest on ? June), Elax (arrived at Weymouth on 16 June), F.J. Wolfe (arrived at Southampton on 16 June), Georgios Potamianos (arrived at Bordeaux on ? June), Harborough (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Hartlebridge (arrived at Weymouth on 16 June), Loke (arrived at Bordeaux on ? June), Nailsea Manor (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), Octavian (arrived at Weymouth on 16 June), Saimaa (arrived in the Downs on 17 June), San Adolfo (arrived at Plymouth on 16 June), Southgate (arrived at Southampton on 16 June), Storanger (arrived at Brest on ? June) and Thiara (arrived at Weymouth on 16 June). HMS Esperance Bay was also with the Channel / east coast section. She arrived at Southampton on 16 June. They were initially escorted by HMS Fowey which arrived at Dover on 17 June.
At 1748A/14, Land's End Radio had intercepted an SOS message from the Balmoralwood that she had been torpedoed in position 50°19'N, 10°28'W and that the crew was abandoning ship. In a signal timed 1904A/14, HMS Fowey and HMS Sandwich were ordered to hunt for the attacking submarine. At 2305A/14, HMS Sandwich reported that the crew of the Balmoralwood had been picked up by the merchant vessel Germanic.
At 0600A/15, HMS Sandwich reported that 22 survivors from the Erik Boye and 16 survivors from the Italia, that had both been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-38 that night, were picked up by HMS Fowey. HMS Sandwich also reported that she was proceeding to rejoin the Irish Sea / west coast section of convoy HX 47 (Convoy HX 47B), which she did around 1800A/15, and that she had ordered HMS Fowey to land the survivors at Plymouth. HMS Fowey did not rejoin the Channel / east coast section before it passed Dover.
As a reult of these and also other submarine attacks, at 1659A/16, the C-in-C Western Approaches ordered the destroyers HMS Highlander (Cdr. W.A. Dallmeyer, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, RN) and HMS Punjabi (Cdr. J.T. Lean, RN) to conduct an A/S sweep to the south of Ireland and support convoys. They departed Plymouth for this duty that day. (2)
14 Jul 1941
HMS Esperance Bay (Capt. G.S. Holden (retired), RN) picks up 9 survivors from the British merchant Rio Azul that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-123 about 200 nautical miles south-east of the Azores in position 29°00'N, 25°00'W on 29 June 1941.
Sources
- ADM 53/112185 + ADM 199/49 + ADM 199/53
- ADM 53/112186 + ADM 199/49 + ADM 199/53 + ADM 199/371
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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