David Gilmour, RN
| Born | 8 Aug 1897 |
| Ranks
Retired: 8 Jan 1949 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for David Gilmour, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Coventry (D 43) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 22 Apr 1940 | 19 May 1941 |
| HMS Suffolk (55) | Capt. | Heavy cruiser | 10 Jun 1944 | 20 Nov 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Light cruiser HMS Coventry (D 43)
13 Dec 1940 (position 32.37, 26.44)
HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) was torpedoed and damaged by the Italian submarine Neghelli in the eastern Mediterranean about 80 nautical miles north-north-west of Mersa Matruh, Egypt in position 32°37'N, 26°44'E. Repairs were completed on 20 January 1941.
18 May 1941
The First Victoria Cross of the Mediterranean battle was posthumously awarded to Petty Officer A.E. Sephton for "great courage and endurance" while on HMS Coventry as she was being attacked by German Stuka dive bombers while off Crete.
Petty officer Sephton was buried at sea. His VC was on display at Coventry Cathedral but was stolen on 25 September 1990.
Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (55)
13 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed de-ammunitioning, HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), is taken in hand for refit at Durban. (1)
29 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) is docked at Durban. (2)
20 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) is undocked. (3)
4 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted D/G trials off Durban on completion of which she departed Durban for Kilindini. (4)
8 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (4)
12 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 12/13 September 1944, HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), conducted exercises off Kilindini. These included night exercises. (4)
14 Sep 1944
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini. (4)
18 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Kilindini for Trincomalee. (4)
25 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Kilindini. (4)
5 Oct 1944
HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN), HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN) and HMNZS Achilles (Capt. F.J. Butler, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. HMS London, HMS Phoebe and HMNZS Achilles returned to harbour on completion of their exercises. HMS Suffolk remained out for night exercises during the night of 5/6 October returning to Trincomalee in the morning of the 6th. (5)
9 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (5)
13 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted underway refuelling exercises off Trincomalee with HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN) and HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN). (5)
26 Oct 1944
During 26/27 October 1944, HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN), HMS Cumberland (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN), HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) and HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (6)
27 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Trincomalee for Fremantle. (5)
3 Nov 1944
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Fremantle from Trincomalee. (7)
13 Nov 1944
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Fremantle for Trincomalee. En-route she is to escort the troop transport USS General H.W. Butner which is en-route from Melbourne to Bombay. (7)
21 Nov 1944
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Trincomalee after escort duty. (7)
5 Dec 1944
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted bombardment exercises off Trincomalee. (8)
6 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted damage control exercises off Trincomalee. (8)
16 Dec 1944
Vice-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN, struck his flag in HMS London (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) and hoisted it in HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN). (9)
20 Dec 1944
Vice-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN, struck his flag in HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and hoisted it in HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN). (10)
11 Jan 1945
The transport / troopship Rimutaka (British, 16576 GRT, built 1923) departed Colombo for Sydney. She had on board the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, their children and their staff.
On departure from Colombo the heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and the destroyers HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Hanson, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Urania (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN).
In the morning of January 14th, the destroyers oiled from HMS Suffolk.
Around 1200I/21, in approximate position 36°12'S, 114°33'E, the escort was relieved by the light cruiser HMNZS Achilles (Capt. F.J. Butler, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. W.H. Harrington, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC and Bar, RAN).
Rimutaka and her escort arrived at Sydney (Port Jackson) on 28 January 1945. (11)
22 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Hanson, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Urania (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN) arrived at Fremantle after escort duty. (12)
26 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with ships enroute from Ceylon to Australia. (12)
1 Feb 1945
Around 1200FG/1, in approximate position 08°15'S, 85°00'E, HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), made rendezvous with the aircraft maintenance carrier HMS Unicorn (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.M. Merewether, RN) and the sloops HMS Crane (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Jenkins, DSC, RN) and HMS Redpole (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Lee, RN).
In the early afternoon of February 2nd, HMS Suffolk fuelled HMS Redpole.
Around 1330H/4, the destroyers HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Hanson, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Urania (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN) joined company after which HMS Crane and HMS Redpole were detached.
HMS Suffolk, HMS Unicorn, Ulster and HMS Urania arrived at Fremantle around 0900H/7. (13)
12 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and HMS London (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) departed Fremantle for Trincomalee. (14)
20 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and HMS London (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Fremantle. (14)
8 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted 8" bombardment and 4" AA gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. (15)
11 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (15)
12 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (15)
16 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Colombo for Akyab. (15)
19 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Akyab from Colombo. (15)
22 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) shifted from Akyab to Kyaukpyu (Ramree Island). (15)
23 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Kyaukpyu for Bombay. (15)
27 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Bombay. (15)
31 Mar 1945
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) is docked in the Alexandra Dock at Bombay. (15)
4 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) is undocked. (16)
6 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Bombay for Trincomalee. (16)
9 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Bombay. (16)
12 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. On completion of these she set course to proceed to Addu Atoll. (16)
14 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll. (16)
15 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Addu Atoll for Trincomalee. (16)
17 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Addu Atoll. (16)
31 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) conducted 4" bombardment exercises near Palk Strait. (17)
1 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) proceeded from Palk Bay to Trincomalee. (18)
14 Jun 1945
Operation Balsam
Photographic reconnaissance of Southern Malaya and fighter strikes on airfields in Northern Sumatra.
On 14 June 1945, ' Task Force 63 ' departed Trincomalee. It was made up of the light cruiser HMS Royalist (Capt. W.G. Brittain, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Commodore N.G. Oliver, CB, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), escort carriers HMS Ameer (Cdr. P.D.H.R. Pelly, DSO, RN), HMS Khedive (A/Capt. D.H. Magnay, RN), HMS Stalker (Capt. L.C. Sinker, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN), HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. F.W.M. Carter, DSC, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN) and HMS Roebuck (Cdr. C.D. Bonham-Carter, RN).
On the 16th, HMS Royalist and the destroyers were topped off with fuel. HMS Suffolk fuelling HMS Rotherham and HMS Racehorce. HMS Ameer fuelling HMS Redoubt and HMS Relentless. HMS Stalker fuelled HMS Royalist and HMS Redoubt. HMS Khedive did not fuel any of the other ships.
From flying off position in the northern approaches to the Malacca Straits, aircraft of 888 Squadron, from HMS Ameer made successful photographic reconnaissance flights over southern Malaya from 18 to 20 June.
On 20 June, fighter strikes against the airfields at Lhoksemawe, Medan, and Binjai (all in Northern Sumatra) were made by aircraft of 804, 808 and 809 Squadrons. The runways at Medan and Binjai were put out of action. Attacks on grounded enemy aircraft resulted in three being destroyed, seven left burning and probably destroyed and nine was claimed to have been damaged. Aerodrome buildings, locomotives, and rolling stock were also effectively strafed. Off Medan two junks, one of which was obviously carrying oil, were attacked and set on fire.
Own losses were only one Hellcat shot down by enemy AA fire.
It looked like that ' Force 63 ' had not been detected by the enemy throughout the operation.
In the morning/early afternoon of 21 June, HMS Rotherham fuelled from HMS Ameer, HMS Racehorce, HMS Roebuck and HMS Redoubt fuelled from HMS Khedive, HMS Royalist fuelled from HMS Stalker and HMS Relentless fuelled from HMS Suffolk
At 1340GH/21, HMS Ameer, HMS Stalker, HMS Rotherham and HMS Relentless parted company with the remainder of the force.
At 1510GH/21, HMS Royalist, HMS Roebuck and HMS Racehorce parted company with HMS Khedive, HMS Suffolk and HMS Redoubt.
At 2200GH/21, HMS Ameer parted company with HMS Stalker, HMS Rotherham and HMS Relentless.
At 1200GH/22, HMS Rotherham and HMS Relentless parted company with HMS Stalker.
HMS Rotherham and HMS Relentless arrived at Trincomalee at 0700FG/23.
HMS Royalist, HMS Roebuck and HMS Racehorce arrived at Vishakhapatnam around 1115FG/23.
HMS Ameer arrived at Madras around 1600FG/23.
HMS Khedive, HMS Suffolk and HMS Redoubt arrived at Trincomalee around 1700FG/23.
And finally HMS Stalker arrived at Cochin around 1915FG/25. (19)
2 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (20)
3 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (20)
6 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Colombo for Aden.
HMS Suffolk is to proceed to the U.K. to refit. Later it was decided to postpone the refit and to make HMS Suffolk fit for trooping duties to overseas stations. In the end HMS Suffolk was never refitted being reduced to reserve on completion of her trooping duties. (20)
11 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Aden. After fuelling she departed for Port Said later the same day. (20)
14 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Suez. She then passed the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said later the same day. (20)
15 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) departed Port Said for Malta. (20)
17 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) made a short stop at Malta to embark some passengers for the U.K. After doing so she immediately departed for Gibraltar. (20)
19 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. She departed for the U.K. later the same day. (20)
22 Jul 1945
HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Liverpool.
When Japan announced her surrender she was still at Liverpool being prepared for trooping duties.
She departed for her fist voyage to Australia on 26 August 1945. (20)
Sources
- ADM 53/120573
- ADM 53/120574
- ADM 53/120575
- ADM 53/120576
- ADM 53/120577
- ADM 53/119177 + ADM 53/119807 + ADM 53/120169 + ADM 53/120242 + ADM 53/120577
- ADM 53/120578
- ADM 53/120579
- ADM 53/119809 + ADM 53/120579 + ADM 199/2574
- ADM 53/120314 + ADM 53/120579
- ADM 53/122321 + ADM 199/1457
- ADM 53/122321
- ADM 53/122321 + ADM 53/122424
- ADM 53/121693 + ADM 53/122322
- ADM 53/122323
- ADM 53/122324
- ADM 53/122325
- ADM 53/122326
- ADM 53/120826 + ADM 53/121593 + ADM 53/122171 + ADM 53/122303 + ADM 53/122326 + ADM 53/122529 + ADM 199/1457
- ADM 53/122327
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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