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Notable events involving Jervis Bay include:

13 Oct 1939
While at Rosyth HMS Sabre (Lt.Cdr. B. Dean, RN) is heavily damaged when she is rammed by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay. Sabre was under repair to 6 May 1940.

6 Jan 1940
During the morning, HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Machin, RN) and HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. R.G.K. Knowling, RN), screened the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (Capt.(Retd.) A.G. Harris, RN).

In the middle of the day they screened the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. E. Rotherham, RN) during her gunnery exercises in the first part of the afternoon.

Later in the afternoon they screened the armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) during her gunnery exercises. (1)

16 Jan 1940

Convoy SL 17.

This convoy departed Freetown on 16 January 1940.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Clumberhall (British, 5198 GRT, built 1930), Harpasa (British, 5082 GRT, built 1932), Hawnby (British, 5380 GRT, built 1936), King Edgar (British, 4536 GRT, built 1927), Loch Ranza (British, 4958 GRT, built 1934), Marconi (British, 7402 GRT, built 1917), Oswerty Grange (British, 4684 GRT, built 1935), River Lugar (British, 5423 GRT, built 1937), Salvus (British, 4815 GRT, built 1928), Stonepool (British, 4803 GRT, built 1928) and Thomas Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929).

Escort was provided on leaving Freetown by the destroyer HMS Dainty (Cdr. F.M. Walton, RN).

Around 0800Z/18, near Dakar, in position 11°24'N, 17°58'W, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) G.B. Lewis, RN) joined. HMS Dainty then left the convoy.

Also on the 18th, the merchant vessel Northmoor (British, 4392 GRT, built 1928) overtook and joined the convoy. She had arrived at Freetown as the convoy was forming up sailing later to overtake and join at sea.

Around 1730N/22, in position 25°31'N, 19°53'W, the Hawnby parted company with the convoy due to engine defects. She arrived at Gibraltar on 30 January 1940.

Around 1530N/31, in position 46°18'N, 13°04'W, the convoy merged with convoy SLF 17. HMS Carnarvon Castle then parted company to proceed to Belfast independently.

Convoy SLF 17 was made up of the following merchant vessels; Afric Star (British, 11900 GRT, built 1926), Anchises (British, 10000 GRT, built 1911), Apapa (British, 9332 GRT, built 1927), City of Canberra (British, 7484 GRT, built 1927), Duquesa (British, 8651 GRT, built 1918) and Sangara (British, 4174 GRT, built 1939).

It was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (Capt.(Retd.) A.G. Harris, RN) which now became the only escort of the combined convoy after HMS Carnarvon Castle had left.

Around 2200N/1, HMS Jervis Bay parted company to return to Freetown.

On 2 February the convoy was split into the Irish Sea and Channel sections.

Around 1430N/2, in position 49°48'N, 07°00'W, the sloop HMS Rochester (Cdr. G.F. Renwick, RN) joined the Irish Sea section of the convoy.

Around 1530N/2, the destroyer HMS Walker (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, RN) also joined the Irish Sea section of the convoy but at 1730N/2 she was detached to proceed to Liverpool.

The destroyers HMS Wren (Cdr. H.T. Armstrong, RN) and HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, RN) joined the Channel section.

HMS Viscount arrived at Plymouth from this escort duty on 3 February. On 4 February HMS Wren arrived at Dover.

Most ships of the convoy arrived at their destinations on 4 February 1940. (2)

20 Jan 1940

Convoy SLF 17.

This convoy departed Freetown on 20 January 1940.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Afric Star (British, 11900 GRT, built 1926), Anchises (British, 10000 GRT, built 1911), Apapa (British, 9332 GRT, built 1927), City of Canberra (British, 7484 GRT, built 1927) and Duquesa (British, 8651 GRT, built 1918).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (Capt.(Retd.) A.G. Harris, RN).

Around 0800N/23, the merchant vessel Sangara (British, 4174 GRT, built 1939) joined the convoy coming from Dakar.

Around 1530N/31, in position 46°18'N, 13°04'W, the convoy merged with convoy SL 17.

15 Feb 1940
At 0430O/15, HMS Queen of Bermuda (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, MVO, DSC, RN) is ordered to proceed towards position 13°02'S, 22°43'W, where the merchant vessel Hartismere (British, 5498 GRT, built 1933) reported being with engines disabled, and then take her in tow. Course is set accordingly.

Around 0800O/17, in position 12°00'S, 23°12'W, the disabled ship was taken in tow towards Freetown.

Around 1000O/19, in position 07°26'S, 21°18'W, tow was taken over by HMS Jervis Bay (Cdr.(Retd.) J.A.P. Blackburn, DSC, RN).

HMS Queen of Bermuda then set course to make rendezvous with HMS Hawkins (Capt. E. Rotherham, RN, flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir H. Harwood, KCB, OBE, RN) and HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN) in area K 32. The medical specialist which HMS Queen of Bermuda had on board since leaving the U.K. will then be transferred to HMS Dorsetshire which is to take him to the Falkland Islands to treat wounded personnel from the Battle of the River Plate. (3)

7 May 1940

Convoy BHX 41

This convoy departed Bermuda on 7 May 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Anglo Norse (British (tanker), 7988 GRT, built 1914), British Reliance (British (tanker), 7000 GRT, built 1928), Brittany (British, 4772 GRT, built 192), Bulysses (British, 7519 GRT, built 1927), Charles Pratt (Panamanian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1916), Conch (British (tanker), 8376 GRT, built 1931), Dalcairn (British, 4608 GRT, built 1927), Daphnella (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1938), Edwy R. Brown (British (tanker), 10455 GRT, built 1938), El Grillo (British (tanker), 7264 GRT, built 1922), Elona (British (tanker), 6192 GRT, built 1936), Eulima (British (tanker), 6207 GRT, built 1937), Housatonic (British (tanker), 5559 GRT, built 1919), Huntingdon (British, 11849 GRT, built 1920), Indianan (British, 5775 GRT, built 1919), Kent (British, 8697 GRT, built 1918), La Estancia (British, 5185 GRT, built 1940), Lacklan (British (tanker), 8670 GRT, built 1929), Middleton (British, 4297 GRT, built 1935), Oropesa (British, 14118 GRT, built 1920), Port Saint John (British, 5668 GRT, built 1938), San Casimiro (British (tanker), 8046 GRT, built 1936), San Conrado (British (tanker), 7982 GRT, built 1936), Scottish Chief (British, 7006 GRT, built 1928) and Trojan Star (British, 9037 GRT, built 1936).

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tanker Cairndale (8129 GRT, built 1939) was also part of the convoy.

On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (A/Capt. E.S.F. Fegen, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).

HMS Penzance was to escort the convoy until sunset on the 7th and then return to Bermuda.

Around 0100Q/10, in position 36°26'N, 55°49'W, the Port Saint John dropped out of the convoy with engine defects. She did not rejoin the convoy and arrived independently at Milford Haven on 19 May.

Around 1900P/13, HMS Jervis Bay parted company with the convoy to return to Bermuda. The ships of the convoy joined convoy HX 41 the following morning around 0830P/14. (4)

19 May 1940

Convoy BHX 44

This convoy departed Bermuda on 19 May 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Acavus (British (tanker), 8010 GRT, built 1935), Arakaka (British, 2379 GRT, built 1933), Charles Racine (Norwegian (tanker), 9957 GRT, built 1937), Cordelia (British (tanker), 8190 GRT, built 1932), Dramatist (British, 5443 GRT, built 1920), Europe (Norwegian (tanker), 8371 GRT, built 1934), Goldmouth (British (tanker), 7402 GRT, built 1927), H.H. Rogers (Panamanian (tanker), 8807 GRT, built 1916), Invershannon (British (tanker), 8154 GRT, built 1938), Norman Monarch (British, 7005 GRT, built 1943), Polarsol (Norwegian (tanker), 10022 GRT, built 1939), Pontfield (British (tanker), 8319 GRT, built 1940), Port Melbourne (British, 9142 GRT, built 1914), San Arcadio (British (tanker), 7419 GRT, built 1935) and San Ernesto (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1939).

On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (A/Capt. E.S.F. Fegen, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).

HMS Penzance was to escort the convoy until sunset on the 19th and then return to Bermuda.

Around 0830P/25, convoy BHX 44 joined convoy HX 44. HMS Jervis Bay then parted company to return to Bermuda. (4)

4 Jun 1940

Convoy BHX 48

This convoy departed Bermuda on 4 June 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Benjamin Franklin (Norwegian, 7034 GRT, built 1927), Bente Maersk (British (tanker), 5772 GRT, built 1928), Caledonia (British (tanker), 9892 GRT, built 1936), Capulet (British (tanker), 8190 GRT, built 1932), D.L. Harper (British (tanker), 12223 GRT, built 1933), Eclipse (British (tanker), 9767 GRT, built 1931), G.S. Walden (British (tanker), 10627 GRT, built 1937), Miralda (British (tanker), 8013 GRT, built 1936), Nicolaou Georgios (Greek, 4108 GRT, built 1930), Patella (British (tanker), 7468 GRT, built 1927), Politician (British, 7939 GRT, built 1923), Refast (British (tanker) 5189 GRT, built 1914), Robert F. Hand (British (tanker), 12197 GRT, built 1933), Sourabaya (British (tanker / whale factory ship), 10107 GRT, built 1915) and W.B. Walker (British (tanker), 10468 GRT, built 1935).

On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (A/Capt. E.S.F. Fegen, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).

Around 1900Q/4, HMS Penzance was detached to return to Bermuda.

Around 1400P/10, Convoy BHX 48 joined convoy HX 48. HMS Jervis Bay parted company around 1520P/4 to proceed to Halifax. (5)

17 Jun 1940

Convoy HX 51.

This convoy departed Halifax on 17 June 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Blairatholl (British, 3319 GRT, built 1925), Bonita (Panamanian, 4929 GRT, built 1918), Bornholm (British, 3177 GRT, built 1930), Bridgepool (British, 4845 GRT, built 1924), Caledonian Monarch (British, 5851 GRT, buil 1928), Elna (Estonian, 3353 GRT, built 1903), Empire Penguin (British, 6318 GRT, built 1919), Ethel Radcliffe (British, 5673 GRT, built 1920), Iddesleigh (British, 5205 GRT, built 1927), King Edward (British, 5224 GRT, built 1919), Manchester Merchant (British, 7264 GRT, built 1940), Mosli (Norwegian (tanker), 8291 GRT, built 1935), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Peleus (Greek, 4695 GRT, built 1928), Pilar de Larrinaga (British, 7352 GRT, built 1918), Selvistan (British, 5136 GRT, built 1924), Sinbad (British, 5537 GRT, built 1939), Stigstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5964 GRT, built 1927), Trelissic (British, 5265 GRT, built 1919) and Trevorian (British, 4599 GRT, built 1920).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (A/Capt. E.S.F. Fegen, RN) and the auxiliary patrol vessels HMCS Acadia (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) and HMCS French (A/Skr. W. Philpott, RCNR).

Around 1820Q/18, HMCS Acadia and HMCS French parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 1045P/21, Convoy BHX 41 joined the convoy. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy; Alexandre Andre (Belgian (tanker), 5261 GRT, built 1928), Amakura (British, 1987 GRT, built 1924), Athelduchess (British (tanker), 8940 GRT, built 1929), Dosinia (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, built 1938), Gand (Belgian, 5086 GRT, built 1919), Heranger (Norwegian, 4877 GRT, built 1930), Lucerna (British (tanker), 6556 GRT, built 1930), Lustrous (British (tanker), 6156 GRT, built 1927), Maimoa (British, 10123 GRT, built 1920), Orduna (British, 15507 GRT, built 1914), Polartank (Norwegian (tanker), 6356 GRT, built 1930), Rio Grande (Panamanian, 5696 GRT, built 1919), Sandar (Norwegian (tanker), 7624 GRT, built 1928), Scholar (British, 3940 GRT, built 1922) and Trekieve (British, 5244 GRT, built 1919).

The Dosinia was most likely immediately detached to proceed to Halifax where she arrived on 25 June.

Around 0400Z/28, HMS Jervis Bay parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

Aroud 1800Z/28, the destroyers HMS Havelock (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSC, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) joined and remained with the convoy throughout the night.

Around 0420A/29, the sloop HMS Sandwich (Cdr. M.J. Yeatman, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 1400A/29, the destroyer HMS Vivacious (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, RN) joined the convoy followed around 1515A/29 by her sister ship HMS Versatile (Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Jauncey, RN).

Around 2000A/29, in position 51°00'N, 08°00'W, the convoy split into two sections.

The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Alexandre Andre (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Amakura (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Bridgepool (arrived at Milford Haven on 30 June), Caledonian Monarch (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Empire Penguin (arrived in the Clyde on 2 July), Heranger (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), King Edward (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Lucerna (arrived at Milford Haven on 30 June), Maimoa (arrived at Milford Haven on 30 June), Manchester Merchant (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Mosli (arrived in the Clyde on 2 July), Olympos (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Orduna (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Peleus (arrived at Belfast on 2 July), Polartank (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Rio Grande (arrived in the Clyde on 2 July), Sandar (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Stigstad (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July), Trelisick (arrived at Liverpool on 1 July) and Trevorian (arrived at Belfast on 2 July). They were escorted by HMS Sandwich which arrived at Liverpool on 1 July and HMS Vivacious which arrived at Plymouth on 1 July after having having parted company with the convoy during the night of 30 June / 1 July.

The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Athelduchess (arrived at Plymouth on 1 July), Blairatholl (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Bonita (arrived at Weymouth on 1 July), Bornholm (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Elna (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Ethel Radcliffe (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Gand (arrived at Weymouth on 1 July), Iddesleigh (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Lustrous (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Pilar de Larrinaga (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Scholar (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Selvistan (arrived in the Downs on 2 July), Sinbad (arrived in the Downs on 2 July) and Trekieve (arrived at Weymouth on 1 July). They were escorted by HMS Versatile which arrived at Dover on 2 July. (6)

14 Jul 1940

Convoy BHX 58.

This convoy departed Bermuda on 14 July 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Anadara (British (tanker), 8009 GRT, built 1935), Athelsultan (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Cerinthus (British (tanker), 3878 GRT, built 1930), Delphinula (British (tanker), 8120 GRT, built 1939), Derrymore (British, 4799 GRT, built 1938), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Hopecrest (British, 5099 GRT, built 1935), Indian Prince (British, 8587 GRT, built 1926), Inkosi (British, 6618 GRT, built 1937), Inversuir (British, 9456 GRT, built 1938), La Pampa (British, 4149 GRT, built 1938), Lumen (British (tanker), 6500 GRT, built 1925), Oiltrader (British (tanker), 5550 GRT, built 1927), Patrick Henry (British, 8295 GRT, built 1920), Port Caroline (British, 8263 GRT, built 1919), Rodsley (British, 5000 GRT, built 1939), Saint Bernard (British, 5183 GRT, built 1939), San Demetrio (British (tanker), 8073 GRT, built 1938), San Eliseo (British (tanker), 8042 GRT, built 1939), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Vernon City (British, 4748 GRT, built 1929) and Wayfarer (British, 5068 GRT, built 1925).

On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay (A/Capt. E.S.F. Fegen, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).

Around 1930Q/14, HMS Penzance parted company to return to Bermuda.

Around 1200P/19, in position 41°05'N, 46°30'W, convoy BHX 58 joined convoy HX 58. HMS Jervis Bay then parted company to proceed to Saint John, New Brunswick. (7)