James Figgins, RN
| Born | 13 Dec 1886 |
| Ranks
Retired: 13 Dec 1941 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for James Figgins, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Newcastle (76) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 26 Jul 1939 | 15 Aug 1940 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Light cruiser HMS Newcastle (76)
12 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), which had just completed a refit a the Devonport Dockyard, departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow. (1)
14 Sep 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow for a short, post refit, work-up period before she joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron. (1)
18 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)
19 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)
22 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
23 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the late afternoon and evening, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
25 Sep 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
26 Sep 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
27 Sep 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) conducted HA gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
28 Sep 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) both conducted exercises off Scapa Flow (independently). (2)
29 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (1)
30 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted D/F calibrations at Scapa Flow. (1)
8 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200A/8, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), returned to Scapa Flow from patrol. (3)
12 Oct 1939
HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN) departed Scapa Flow around 1745A/12.
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed Scapa Flow around 1930A/12.
Both cruisers were to provide cover for convoys in the Western Approaches.
On 22 October 1939 they were near convoy KJ 3 to provide cover. [See the event ' Convoy KJ 3 ' for 4 October 1939 for more information on this convoy.] (4)
23 Oct 1939
At 1810Z/23, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN), parted company with Convoy KJ 3 to proceed to Plymouth and Portsmouth respectively. (3)
26 Oct 1939
Around 1200A/26, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Plymouth. (3)
31 Oct 1939
Around 0745A/31, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed Plymouth for Spithead. Here, around 1900A/31, she joined HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN) and the destroyers HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN), HMS Basilisk (Cdr. M. Richmond, RN), HMS Brazen (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN). These ships then set course to proceed to Rosyth. En-route the cruisers were diverted for operations.
The destroyers parted company during 1 November, HMS Anthony at 0845A/1, HMS Basilisk and HMS Brazen around 1730A/1 and finally HMS Venomous around 1845/1. HMS Venomous had already been detached for a while in the morning.
Before arriving at Rosyth to cruisers were diverted. [See the event ' Search for the American merchant vessel City of Flint ' for 29 October 1939 for more info.] (5)
3 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330A/3, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Sullum Voe from operations. (6)
4 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0845A/4, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Sullom Voe for the Northern Patrol. She was to patrol in the Denmark Strait. (6)
8 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0620Z/8, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (7)
12 Nov 1939 (position 65.48, -25.19)
The German merchant vessel Parana (6038 GRT, built 1921) is intercepted west of Iceland in position 65°48'N, 25°19'W by the British light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN). However before the German ship can be captured she is scuttled by her crew.
The ship had been sighted at 1610Z/12, and her identity was established 20 minutes later. The German crew abandoned ship. Shortly afterwards the ship was seen to be on fire. She was sunk by gunfire from HMS Newcastle around 1945A/12. HMS Newcastle took on board the German crew and then continued her patrol until the next afternoon when she departed her patrol area for Kirkwall.
16 Nov 1939
Around 1300A/16, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Kirkwall from patrol. Here she was to land the German pow's. (6)
17 Nov 1939
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) proceeded from Kirkwall to Loch Ewe. (6)
21 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed Loch Ewe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer passage. (6)
28 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1345Z/28, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol.
She departed for a new patrol around 2215Z/28. She was ordered to patrol west of Iceland but later she was ordered to make rendezvous with HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN) and patrol of the west coast of Norway. (6)
1 Dec 1939
Around 1030Z/1, HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.H.D. Cunningham, CB, MVO, RN) and HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) made rendezvous in approximate position 62°36'N, 03°10'E.
HMS Devonshire and HMS Newcastle parted company at 0600Z/5.
HMS Newcastle arrived at Scapa Flow around 1000Z/6.
HMS Devonshire arrived at Greenock around 1415Z/6. (8)
8 Dec 1939
Around 0715Z/8, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer Islands gap. (3)
11 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) is ordered to leave her patrol area and to proceed into the North Atlantic to provide cover for troop convoy TC 1 coming from Canada.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy TC 1 ' for 10 December 1939.] (7)
17 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445Z/17, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol / operations. (7)
21 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830Z/21, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow to patrol east of the Orkney Islands. She returned around 0100Z/22. (7)
28 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (7)
30 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted HA gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (7)
2 Jan 1940
Around 0900A/2, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She is ordered to patrol south of Iceland.
At 1126Z/2, a disturbance was noticed in the water in position 59°13'N, 03°59'W which was thought to be a submarine. The destroyers HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) and by Walrus aircraft, searched for the supposed submarine. The destroyers HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomas, RN) and HMS Isis (Cdr. J.C. Clouston, RN) also joined in the hunt which was discontinued the following day. (9)
11 Jan 1940
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed her patrol area and proceeded to patrol in the Denmark Stait to search for the German merchant vessel Bahia Blanca (8559 GRT, built 1918) which had struck an iceberg on the 9th. The German ship was not found as she had foundered on the 11th. (9)
14 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2100Z/14, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow from the Northern Patrol. (9)
20 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1800Z/20, HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) and HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed Scapa Flow. They proceeded towards the Skagerrak / Danish coast as the German light cruisers Nürnberg and Leipzig were thought to be proceeding northwards but this was not the case.
HMS Sheffield and HMS Newcastle were recalled and returned to Scapa Flow around 2215Z/21. (10)
22 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2100Z/22, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south of the Faeroer Islands. (9)
29 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400Z/29, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), returned to Scapa Flow from the Northern Patrol. (9)
4 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1615Z/4, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She is ordered to patrol near the Faeroer Islands. (11)
17 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000Z/17, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), returned to Scapa Flow from the Northern Patrol. (11)
22 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (11)
24 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130Z/24, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south of Iceland. (11)
5 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900Z/5, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol. (12)
8 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (12)
9 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800Z/9, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer Islands passage. (12)
19 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900Z/19, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), returned to Scapa Flow from patrol (12)
26 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) proceeded from Scapa Flow to Yarrow-on-Tyne. (12)
28 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Upon completion of de ammunitioning HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) shifted from Yarrow-on-Tyne to the Palmers shipyard at Hebburn where she was taken in hand for refit. (13)
23 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During her refit, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), is docked at Hebburn-on-Tyne. (14)
11 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) is undocked. (15)
30 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), shifted from Hebburn-on-Tyne to South Shields. (15)
2 Jun 1940
Around 1330A/2, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), departed from South Shields to Rosyth. En-route she conducted DG trials in the Firth of Forth. She arrived at Rosyth around 0100A/3. (16)
3 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to Scapa Flow. On departure from Rosyth she again ran over the DG range in the Firth of Forth. (16)
23 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000/23, the light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and the destroyer HMS Echo (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) departed Scapa Flow to investigate an enemy destroyer force reported in the North Sea.
They returned to Scapa Flow around 0445A/24. (16)
25 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) proceeded from Scapa Flow to Rosyth. (16)
2 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1632A/2, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), is attacked with 4 to 6 bombs by a single German Ju-88 aircraft in position 50°10'N, 03°20'W. HMS Newcastle was standing by the damaged merchant vessel Aeneas (British, 10058 GRT, built 1910) from convoy OA 117G. HMS Newcastle sustained no damage, the bombs fell astern.
HMS Newcastle arrived at Plymouth around 2115A/2.
(17)
12 Jul 1940
At 1519A/12, the light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and the destroyers HMS Mackay (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN) and HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth to patrol off the south coast of Ireland. The Admiralty had reported that a German auxiliary vessel, disguised as Russian, had been sighted in position 51°42'N, 07°15'W.
They returned to Plymouth around 1200A/14. (18)
15 Jul 1940
At 1348A/15, the light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) and the destroyers HMS Mackay (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMS Broke (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, RN), HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN), HMS Wolverine (Cdr. R.H. Craske, RN), HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN) and HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RN) departed Plymouth to intercept ' suspicious ships ' reported at 0750A/15, in position 48°10'N, 07°30'W steering a course of 350°.
At 1701A/15, HMS Newcastle was ordered to detach HMS Mackay and HMS Broke to go to the aid of the bombed merchant vessel City of Limerick (British, 1959 GRT, built 1911) which had been bombed in position 48°39'N, 07°12'W. The City of Limerick could not be saved and later sank. While en-route the destroyers also encountered the small merchant vessel Alpha (Dutch, 347 GRT, built 1936) which had also been bombed but in position 48°51'N, 06°43'W. She had been abandoned but apparently was later salvaged.
At 1708A/15, HMS Newcastle was ordered to return to Plymouth with the four remaining destroyers. At 2000A/15, HMS Hesperus and HMCS Restigouche were detached to hunt a suspected enemy submarine off the Lizard. Two hours later they reported that no contact had been made.
HMS Newcastle, HMS Witherington and HMS Wolverine arrived back at Plymouth around 2245A/15. HMS Hesperus and HMCS Restigouche arrived around 0620A/16. HMS Mackay arrived back at Plymouth at 2140A/16 and HMS Broke at 1045A/17. (18)
19 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
From 19 July to 21 July 1940, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN), was at the Devonport Dockyard to repair some defects. (17)
Sources
- ADM 53/109921
- ADM 53/108461 + ADM 53/109921
- ADM 53/109922
- ADM 53/108895 + ADM 53/109922
- ADM 53/108895 + ADM 53/108896 + ADM 53/109922 + ADM 53/109923
- ADM 53/109923
- ADM 53/109924
- ADM 53/108304 + ADM 53/109923
- ADM 53/112880
- ADM 53/112880 + ADM 53/113207
- ADM 53/112881
- ADM 53/112882
- ADM 53/112882 + ADM 199/2563
- ADM 53/112883
- ADM 53/112884
- ADM 53/112885
- ADM 53/112886
- ADM 53/112886 + ADM 199/371
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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