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Destroyer HMS Decoy (H 75)

18 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After damage repairs, HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), departed Alexandria, [possibly for post repair trials ?.] She returned the following day. (1)

20 Jun 1941
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Haifa where they arrived at next day. (2)

29 Jun 1941
HMS Ilex (Capt. H.St.L. Nicholson, DSO and Bar, RN) under tow by HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and their escorts; HMS Carlisle (A/Cdr. W. Pope, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) and HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN) arrived at Port Said.

HMAS Nizam then departed for Alexandria arriving there later the same day while HMS Carlisle, HMS Decoy and HMS Havock returned to Haifa. (2)

3 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) departed Haifa for Alexandria. (2)

4 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Haifa. (2)

6 Jul 1941
Around 0700C/6, HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria for Tobruk loaded with troops and stores. They arrived at Tobruk very late on the 6th or very early on the 7th. (3)

7 Jul 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Tobruk for Mersa Matruh. On board were wounded and other personnel. They arrived at Mersa Matruh later the same day. (3)

9 Jul 1941
HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Tobruk for Alexandria. On board were wounded and other personnel

During the night, from 0508C/9 to 0616C/9, nine moonlight bombing attacks were made on the destroyers. During the attack at 0509C/9, HMS Decoy was very nearly missed and she swung round and appeared to stop but on closing her she was able to steam and steer but was suffering from many defects.

HMAS Stuart and HMS Decoy arrived at Alexandria around 1640C/9.

From 10 to 19 July 1941, HMAS Stuart was in the Gabbari Dry Dock to repair the damage which included replacing the starboard propeller.

HMS Decoy was repairing damage and cleaning boilers from 10 July to 18 July. (4)

19 Jul 1941
Around 1115C/19, HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Peydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria loaded with supplies for Tobruk. The supplies were unloaded during the night of 19/20 July. (2)

20 Jul 1941
Around 1430C/20, HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Peydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) returned to Alexandria from Tobruk. (2)

25 Jul 1941
Around 0845C/25, HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria for Tobruk. On board were troops, ammunition and stores.

The troops, ammunition and stores were disembarked during the night of 25/26 July. Wounded and other personnel were then embarked to take these back with them to Alexandria. (5)

26 Jul 1941
Around 1430C/26, HMAS Stuart (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) returned to Alexandria from Tobruk. (5)

29 Jul 1941
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) departed Alexandria with supplies for Tobruk. They arrived at Tobruk later the same day. (1)

30 Jul 1941
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) departed Tobruk for Alexandria where they arrived later the same day. (1)

1 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) departed Alexandria for another supply run to Tobruk. (2)

2 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) returned to Alexandria. (2)

5 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) departed Alexandria with supplies for Tobruk. They arrived at Tobruk later the same day. (2)

6 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) returned to Alexandria. (2)

8 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria during which HMS Otus (Lt. R.M. Favell, RN) served as target. (2)

10 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for a supply run to Tobruk. (2)

11 Aug 1941
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) returned to Alexandria.

At Tobruk they had unloaded their supplies while air attacks were ongoing. They were also attacked from the air while on the return passage to Alexandria but they sustained no damage. (2)

13 Aug 1941
Around 1730C/13, HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said. (6)

14 Aug 1941
Around 0720C/14, HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Said. They had been delayed for about 1.5 hours due to minesweeping of the swept channel not being completed upon their arrival. (6)

15 Aug 1941
Around 1110C/15, HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Pleydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN), HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) departed Port Said loaded with almost 2000 troops for Famagusta. (6)

16 Aug 1941
Around 0040C/16, HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Pleydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN), HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) arrived at Famagusta.

After disembarking their troops they departed around 0330C/16 for Haifa where they arrived around 1130C/16. HMS Abdiel left Farmagusta around 0230C/16 with orders to proceed to Alexandria where she arrived around 1720C/16. (7)

20 Aug 1941
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) departed Haifa around 0600C/20 to proceed to Beirut where they arrived later the same day. (6)

25 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) departed Beirut for Alexandria. (1)

26 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (8)

28 Aug 1941
Around 0845C/28, the fast minelayer HMS Latona (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria for Tobruk. They were covered by the light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN) and HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN).

All ships returned to Alexandria around 1500C/29. (2)

1 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN), HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN), HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (9)

17 Oct 1941
In the early hours of 17 October 1941 the German submarine U-97 torpedoed and sank the merchant vessels Samos and Pass of Balmaha during their passage from Alexandria to Tobruk.

The destroyers HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN) and HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN) departed Alexandria to hunt the submarine. They were joined later at sea by destroyers HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) which had departed Alexandria two hours later then they had did.

They all returned to Alexandria the next day not having found the attacker. (9)

19 Oct 1941
The destroyers HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria at 0700 hours to bombard a military rest camp on the Libyan coast between Bardia and Tobruk during the night of 19/20 October.

Very late on the 19th, HMS Havock ran aground in position 32°02'N, 24°53'E. her propellers and shafts were damaged. She was then escorted back to Alexandria and the bombardment had to be cancelled. (9)

20 Oct 1941
Around 1800 hours HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) returned to Alexandria. (9)

21 Oct 1941
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, RN) departed Alexandria at 0830B/21 to bombard an enemy gun battery near Tobruk which they did durning the night of 21/22 October.

An enemy submarine was reported by aircraft at 1052B/22 in position 32°07'N, 29°44'E and HMS Jupiter and HMS Kandahar were ordered to proceed to that location (north of Alexandria) to hunt the submarine.

HMS Jupiter however ran short on fuel and returned to Alexandria. HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), which had just returned from a supply run to Tobruk, departed Alexandria to take over.

The sloop HMS Flamingo (Cdr. R.J.O. Otway-Ruthven, RN), which was en-route from Alexandria to Port Said, was diverted to assist in the hunt for the submarine but it was not found.

HMS Decoy and HMS Kandahar arrived at Alexandria in the afternoon of 23 October. HMS Flamingo continued her passage to Port Said. (9)

21 Oct 1941
Around 0600B/21, The fast minelayer HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Peydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria for a supply run to Tobruk. They unloaded during the night of 21/22 October.

They returned to Alexandria around 1645B/22. This was 'Serial 6' of 'Operation Cultivate'. (9)

5 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria.

5 Nov 1941
The A/S whaler HMS KOS XIX / Cocker (Lt. L.H. Davies, RNR) sighted a periscope about 32 nautical miles west of Alexandria at 2220/5.

A hunt was started and she was joined by the corvette HMS Snapdragon (T/Lt. P.H. Potter, RNR), A/S whaler HMS Falk (Lt. H.S. Upperton, RNR) and the A/S motor boat HMS MA/SB 2.

Destroyer HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) was sent from Alexandria to assist. She already sailed at 2325/5.

Two more destroyers, HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), joined in the morning 6th. They had sailed at 0900/6 and 1000/6 respectively.

The destroyers were recalled to harbour at 1800 and arrived later in the evening. No contact had been obtained.

As an oil slick was sighted in the area of the hunt on the 7th the destroyers HMS Hotspur and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St.Clair-Ford, RN) were sent to hunt in the area again. They departed Alexandria at 1200 and 1400 hours respectively.

The search continued during the night of 7/8 November. HMS Encounter joined the destroyers in the morning. She sailed from Alexandria at 0815/8.

The hunt was however soon abandoned as no contact could be obtained and and the three destroyers then escorted the light cruiser HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN) during a practice bombardment at Aboukir. HMS Neptune had departed Alexandria at 1000/8.

Following the exercise HMS Neptune immediately returned to Alexandria arriving at 1630/8.

HMS Encounter, HMS Hotspur and HMS Kipling returned to Alexandria at 1015/9 having remained outside on patrol for another night. (10)

2 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria between 0600 and 0730 hours to conduct a sweep along the coast of Cyrenaica. (11)

4 Dec 1941

At 1800 hours the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) returned from their sweep along the coast of Cyrenaica.

While proceeding to her mooring buoy HMS Decoy serously damaged her bow when she collided with the Polish steam merchant Warszawa (2487 GRT, built 1915). (11)

5 Jan 1942
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) is docked in No.2 Dock (???) at Malta. (12)

11 Feb 1942
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) is undocked from No.4 Dock (???) at Malta. (13)

17 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)

Convoy AT 25

This convoy departed Alexandria for Tobruk on 17 February 1942. It arrived at Tobruk on 18 February 1942.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Empire Patrol (British, 3334 GRT, built 1942) and Robert Maersk (British, 2294 GRT, built 1937).

Escort was provided by the destroyer HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN), escort destroyers HMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN) and HMS Southwold (Cdr. C.T. Jellicoe, DSC, RN) and the corvette HMS Hyacinth (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.C. Hopkins, DSC, RNR). (14)

19 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Tobruk for Alexandria. (1)

20 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (1)

20 Feb 1942
HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) departed Alexandria at 2210 hours. They were to proceed to Port Said, then pass the Suez Canal and then proceed to the Indian Ocean to join the East Indies Command. (15)

21 Feb 1942
HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) arrived at Port Said after which they passed the Suez Canal southbound and arrived at Suez later the same day. They then departed for Aden. (16)

24 Feb 1942
HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) arrived at Aden. They departed for Bombay later the same day. (16)

1 Mar 1942
HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) arrived at Bombay. HMS Decoy and HMS Fortune departed for Colombo later the same day. HMS Griffin remained at Bombay for some repairs. (16)

Destroyer HMS Javelin (F 61)

15 Jan 1943
The British destroyers HMS Pakenham and HMS Javelin intercept and sink the Italian Agosto Bertani (8328 GRT) south of Lampedusa.

19 Jan 1943
Javelin and HMS Kelvin on patrol from Malta intercept and sink (13) enemy ships in a night action lasting three hours. (17)

20 Jan 1943
The British destroyers HMS Kelvin and HMS Javelin intercept a small Italian convoy off Tripoli, Libya and completely destroy it. Some 11 ships were sunk among them the small Italian minesweepers RD 31, RD 36, RD 37 and RD 39.

22 Jan 1943
With units of the East Med Fleet in a night action Bombarded the port of ZUARA. (17)

1 May 1943
Convoy escort from Alexandria to Tripoli, attacked by enemy dive bombers off Benghazi two merchant ships sunk and one damaged. (17)

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