William Reynard Richardson, RN
| Born | 14 Apr 1890 |
| Ranks
Retired: 14 Apr 1936 Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for William Reynard Richardson, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Letitia (F 16) | Capt. (retired) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 23 Sep 1939 | 24 Aug 1940 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Letitia (F 16)
25 Nov 1939
Convoy HXF 10.
This convoy departed Halifax on 25 November 1939.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Beaverdale (British, 9957 GRT, built 1928), Cairnesk (British, 5007 GRT, built 1926), Flandre (French, 8503 GRT, built 1914), Henri Desprez (French, 9805 GRT, built 1932), Manchester Citizen (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), Nova Scotia (British, 6796 GRT, built 1926), San Alvaro (British (tanker), 7385 GRT, built 1935), Seminole (British (tanker), 10389 GRT, built 1936), Thiara (British (tanker), 10364 GRT, built 1939) and Winnipeg (French, 9717 GRT, built 1918).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Letitia (Capt.(Retd.) W.R. Richardson, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Skeena (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, RCN) and Assiniboine (Cdr. E. Mainguy, RCN).
The two Canadian destroyers parted company in position 44°38'N, 61°28'W, to return to Halifax at midnight during the night of 25/26 November 1939.
Around 0700Q/26, in position 44°45'N, 66°18'W, the Beaverdale parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax due to engine trouble.
Around 1100Z/4, in position 49°51'N, 13°35'W, the destroyers HMS Versatile (Cdr.(Retd.) T.A. Hussey, RN) and HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. G.C. Fryer, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 0800Z/5, in position 49°40'N, 08°50'W, the convoy split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / West Coast section was made up of the following ships; Manchester Citizen, Nova Scotia and Winnipeg. This section was escorted by HMS Versatile which arrived at Liverpool in the evening of 6 December 1939.
The other ships made up the Channel / East Coast section. They were escorted by HMS Letitia and HMS Witherington. Around 0200Z/6, HMS Letitia parted company off St. Catherines Point, Isle of Wight, to proceed to Southampton. Around 1000Z/6, HMS Witherington parted company to proceed to Liverpool where she arrived in the morning of 7 December 1939. She had been relieved by the destroyer HMS Keith (Cdr.(Retd.) H.T.W. Pawsey, OBE, RN). Around 1330Z/6, the Flandre and
4 Jan 1940
Convoy HXF 15.
This convoy departed Halifax on 4 January 1940.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Beaverbrae (British, 9956 GRT, built 1928), Cairnvalona (British, 4929 GRT, built 1918), Devon City (British, 4928 GRT, built 1933), Henry Dundas (British (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1937), Inverdargle (British (tanker), 9456 GRT, built 1938), Manchester Brigade (British, 6042 GRT, built 1918), Napier Star (British, 10116 GRT, built 1927), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915), Planter (British, 5887 GRT, built 1927), Robert F. Hand (British (tanker), 12197 GRT, built 1933), San Demetrio (British (tanker), 8073 GRT, built 1938) and Tamaroa (British, 12405 GRT, built 1922).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Letitia (Capt.(Retd.) W.R. Richardson, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Fraser (Cdr. W.N. Creery, RCN) and HMCS Restigouche (Lt.Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN).
The two Canadian destroyers parted company on 6 January 1940 to return to Halifax.
On 5 January 1940, the Cairnvalona straggled from the convoy being unable to make sufficient speed due to bad coal.
During the night of 7/8 January 1940 the convoy encountered a full gale and got dispersed.
Around 1000Z/13, the destroyers HMS Mackay (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) and HMS Wivern (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Letitia then parted company to proceed to Greenock.
In the afternoon of 13 January 1940 all ships except the San Demetrio had rejoined the convoy.
Around 1700Z/13, the convoy split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / West Coast section was made up of the Devon City, Inverdargle, Manchester Brigade, Orbita and Planter. They were escorted by HMS Mackay and HMS Witherington which arrived at Liverpool in the morning of 16 January 1940. Off these ships the Inverdargle which was to proceed to Avonmouth was mined and sunk in the Bristol Channel on 16 January 1940. She had hit a mine laid the German submarine U-33 on 9 November 1939. There were no survivors from the tanker.
The remaining ships made up the Channel / East Coast section which was escorted by HMS Wivern and HMS Whitehall. These destroyers arrived at Dover in the morning of 16 January 1940. The merchant ships of convoy continued on to the Downs. (2)
Sources
- ADM 53/109432 + ADM 53/109549 + ADM 53/110975 + ADM 53/111231 + ADM 199/52
- ADM 53/112591 + ADM 53/113438 + ADM 53/113453 + ADM 199/52
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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