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Notable events involving Montclare include:

3 Jul 1940

Convoy HX 55.

This convoy departed Halifax on 3 July 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aelybryn (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938), Alnmoor (British, 6573 GRT, built 1922), Anglo Saxon (British, 5596 GRT, built 1929), Assyrian (British, 2962 GRT, built 1915), Baron Ramsay (British, 3650 GRT, built 1929), Beaverdale (British, 9957 GRT, built 1928), Beaverford (British, 10042 GRT, built 1928), Dalemoor (British, 5835 GRT, built 1922), Danby (British, 4281 GRT, built 1937), Edam (Dutch, 8871 GRT, built 1921), Errington Court (British, 4913 GRT, built 1925), Fowberry Tower (British, 4484 GRT, built 1929), Generton (British, 4797 GRT, built 1936), Hopestar (British, 5267 GRT, built 1936), Induna (British, 5086 GRT, built 1925), Kalliopi S. (Greek, 5230 GRT, built 1918), Manchester Progress (British, 5620 GRT, built 1938), Manipur (British, 9242 GRT, built 1920), Mount Kassion (Greek, 7914 GRT, built 1918), Nurtureton (British, 6272 GRT, built 1929), Quebec City (British, 4745 GRT, built 1927), San Casimiro (British (tanker), 8046 GRT, built 1936), Scottish Minstrel (British (tanker), 6998 GRT, built 1922), Stylianos Chandris (Greek, 6059 GRT, built 1919), Trehata (British, 4817 GRT, built 1928) and West Cobalt (British, 6055 GRT, built 1918).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Assiniboine (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN) and HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN).

Around 2130P/3, in position 44°00'N, 62°02'W, HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Ottawa parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 0900P/7, in position 40°22'N, 47°15'W, convoy BHX 55 joined convoy HX 55. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy;
Dalhanna (British, 5571 GRT, built 1930), Dunkeld (British, 4944 GRT, built 1937), Erodona (British (tanker), 6207 GRT, built 1937), Fiscus (British, 4815 GRT, built 1927), Hoperidge (British, 5222 GRT, built 1939), Ioannis Frangos (Greek, 3442 GRT, built 1912), Loch Don (British, 5249 GRT, built 1937), Lycia (British, 2338 GRT, built 1924), Mount Helmos (Greek, 6481 GRT, built 1923), Pacific Enterprise (British, 6736 GRT, built 1927), Rangitata (British, 16737 GRT, built 1929), San Ubaldo (British (tanker), 5999 GRT, built 1921), Sofie Bakke (Norwegian, 5461 GRT, built 1938) and Somerset (British, 9773 GRT, built 1918).

The Lycia broke down shortly after joining. She dropped out of the convoy and only rejoined it in the North Channel late on 16 July 1940.

Late in the afternoon of the 10th the Dalhanna collided with the Baron Ramsay. Both had some damage but were able to continue.

Around 1830N/14, in position 56°20'N, 20°19'W, the sloop HMS Folkestone (Lt.Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, RN) and destroyer HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, RN) joined.

Around 0315N/15, in position 56°25'N, 17°00'W, HMS Montclare parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 0345N/15, in position 56°25'N, 16°50'W, the destroyer HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) joined.

Around 0800Z/15, in position 56°25'N, 16°05'W, the corvette HMS Gardenia (Lt.Cdr. T.A.O. Ellis, RD, RNR) joined.

In the evening of the 15th, the West Cobalt dropped astern of the convoy with defects. She did not rejoin and arrived at Liverpool on 17 July.

At 1135A/16, in position 56°13'N, 09°37'W, the convoy started splitting in two sections; HX 55A and HX 55B.

While the convoy was splitting, at 1137A/16, in position 56°13'N, 09°37'W [British source] the convoy was attacked and the Scottish Minstrel was hit by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-61.

HMS Folkestone and HMS Winchelsea parted company with the convoy to hunt the enemy submarine. HMCS Skeena and HMS Gardenia stood by the stricken ship which was on fire but did not sink until the next day. Some of the crew were picked up by HMS Gardenia but they were later tranferred to HMS Folkestone. The merchant vessel Fiscus also picked up some survivos. At 1410A/16, the rescue tug HMS Englishman departed Greenock to attempt to salvage the ship but at 0034A/17, HMS Folkestone reported that the Scottish Minstrel had foundered.

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Convoy HX 55A was destined for Methil and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Ramsay, Beaverdale, Beaverford, Dalemoor, Dalhanna, Danby, Gererton, Hoperidge, Induna, Ioannis Frangos, Loch Don, Manipur, Nurtureton, Rangitata, San Casimiro and Trehata. HMCS Skeena went with them as escort.

At 2122A/17, off Cape Wrath convoy HX 55A was attacked by the German submarine U-57 which torpedoed and sank the Manipur in position 58°41'N, 05°14'W. HMCS Skeena picked up 65 survivors and then rejoined the convoy. The escort destroyers HMS Hambledon (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN), which were in the area on passage from Scapa Flow to join convoy WN 1, weere ordered to search for the attacker.

Convoy HX 55A arrived at Methil on 19 July 1940. HMCS Skeena then proceeded to Rosyth where she arrived later the same day.

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Convoy HX 55B was destined for ports in the Irish Sea area and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aelybryn (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Alnmoor (arrived in the Clyde on 17 July), Anglo Saxon (arrived at Newport on 19 July), Assyrian (arrived at Bristol on 19 July), Dunkeld (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Edam (arrived in the Clyde on 17 July), Erodona (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Errington Court (arrived at Swansea on 19 July), Fiscus (arrived at Swansea on 19 July), Fowberry Tower (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 July), Hopestar (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Lycia (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Manchester Progress (arrived at Manchester on 19 July), Mount Helmos (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Mount Kassion (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Pacific Enterprise (arrived at Liverpool on 18 July), Quebec City (arrived in the Clyde on 17 July), San Ubaldo (arrived in the Clyde on 17 July), Sofie Bakke (arrived in Belfast Lough on 17 July), Somerset (arrived in the Clyde on 17 July) and Stylianos Chandris (arrived at Swansea on 19 July).

Around 1815A/16, in position 56°04'N, 08°09'W, the Kalliopi S. parted company to proceed to Limerick, Ireland where she arrived on the 17th.

Around 0625A/17, in position 55°07'N, 05°46'W, HMS Winchelsea rejoined convoy HX 55B.

Around 1600A/17, in position 53°53'N, 05°10'W, HMS Folkestone rejoined convoy HX 55B.

HMS Winchelsea and HMS Folkestone both arrived at Liverpool on 18 July. HMS Gardenia, which originally had to escort convoy HX 55A, arrived in the Clyde on 17 July. (1)

13 Jan 1941

Convoy BHX 103

This convoy departed Bermuda on 13 January 1941 and merged at sea with convoy HX 103 on 18 January 1941.

Convoy BHX 103 was made up of the following merchant vessels: Athelfoam (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1931), Dolabella (British (tanker), 8142 GRT, built 1939), Empire Shearwater (British, 4970 GRT, built 1920), Mamura (Dutch (tanker), 8245 GRT, built 1932) and Mijdrecht (Dutch (tanker), 7493 GRT, built 1931).

The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN) which was detached when the convoy merged with convoy HX 103.

6 Apr 1941

Convoy HX 119

This convoy departed Halifax on 6 April 1941 in two sections, convoy HX 119A and convoy HX 119B. They merged in the morning of April 13th.

Convoy HX 119A was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Argos Hill (British, 7178 GRT, built 1922), Bendoran (British, 5567 GRT, built 1910), Bra-Kar (Norwegian, 3778 GRT, built 1928), British Consul (British (tanker), 6940 GRT, built 1924), British Tenacity (British (tanker), 8439 GRT, built 1939), Brittany (British, 4772 GRT, built 1928), Ceronia (British (tanker), 4955 GRT, built 1929), Clan MacIlwraith (British, 4839 GRT, built 1924), Cliona (British (tanker), 8375 GRT, built 1931), Curacao (British, 8269 GRT, built 1930), Cymbula (British (tanker), 8082 GRT, built 1938), Davila (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, built 1938), Dolius (British, 5507 GRT, built 1924), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Goolistan (British, 5851 GRT, built 1929), Induna (British, 5086 GRT, built 1925), Kentar (British, 5878 GRT, built 1920), Lista (British, 3671 GRT, built 1920), Lobos (British, 6479 GRT, built 1921), Mangkalihat (Dutch, 8457 GRT, built 1928), Mount Helmos (Greek, 6481 GRT, built 1923), Oscilla (Dutch (tanker), 6341 GRT, built 1939), Port Auckland (British, 8789 GRT, built 1922), Port Sydney (British, 9129 GRT, built 1914), Radmanso (Swedish, 4280 GRT, built 1914), Reaveley (British, 4998 GRT, built 1940), Robert Maersk (British, 2290 GRT, built 1937), San Eliseo (British (tanker), 8042 GRT, built 1939), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Spondilus (British (tanker), 7402 GRT, built 1927), Toorak (British (tanker), 8627 GRT, built 1927), Trevalgan (British, 5299 GRT, built 1937), Tucurinca (British, 5412 GRT, built 1926) and West Totant (British, 5628 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Halifax convoy HX 119A was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania (A/Capt. I.W. Whitehorn, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Chambly (T/A/Cdr. J.D. Prentice, RCN) and HMCS Orillia (T/Lt.Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, RCNR). The corvettes were detached to return to Halifax the next day.

The convoy was joined by the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) around 0900Q/8.

Around 1400P/11, HMS Revenge parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

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Convoy HX 119B was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Alphacca (British, 5759 GRT, built 1928), Barberrys (British, 5170 GRT, built 1920), Braddock (British, 6619 GRT, built 1919), Edward Blyden (British, 5003 GRT, built 1930), Gard (Norwegian (tanker), 8259 GRT, built 1938), Glaiglas (British, 4312 GRT, built 1940), Hermiston (British, 4813 GRT, built 1939), Idefjord (Norwegian, 4287 GRT, built 1921), Kars (British (tanker), 8888 GRT, built 1939), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Maasdam (Dutch, 8812 GRT, built 1921), Maihar (British, 7563 GRT, built 1917), Merchant Prince (British, 5229 GRT, built 1939), Mercier (Belgian, 7556 GRT, built 1915), Peder Bogen (British (tanker), 9741 GRT, built 1925), Rio Azul (British, 4088 GRT, built 1921), San Ernesto (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1939), Soekaboemi (Dutch, 7051 GRT, built 1923), Southgate (British, 4862 GRT, built 1926) and Tureby (British, 4372 GRT, built 1936).

On departure from Halifax convoy HX 119B was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Cobalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.B. Campbell, RCNR) and HMCS Collingwood (T/Lt. W. Woods, RCNR). The corvettes were detached to return to Halifax the next day.

Around 0900P/13, Convoy HX 119B merged with convoy HX 119A.

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At 1215Z/14, the convoy was joined by the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. A.J.L. Phillips, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN).

At 1210Z/15, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Aurania and HMS Montclare parted company with convoy HX 119 (now combined).

At 1815Z/15, the destroyers HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) joined the convoy. Followed during the night of 15/16 April by the destroyers HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, OBE, RN) and HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN).

At 2130Z/16, HMS Norfolk parted company with the convoy to proceed to Hvalfjord.

On the 17th, destroyer HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN), sloop HMS Scarborough (Lt. A.P. Northey, DSC, RN) and corvettes HMS Auricula (T/Lt. W.W. White, RNR), HMS Campanula (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) and HMS Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.M. Faichney, DSO, RNR) joined the convoy.

On the 18th, destroyer HMS Rockingham (Lt. A.H.T. Johns, RN) and corvette HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) joined the convoy.

On the 19th, corvette HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, OBE, RNR) joined the convoy

On the 20th, HMS Havelock, HMS Hurricane, HMCS Restigouche and HMCS Saguenay parted company with the convoy.

On the 21st, HMS Viscount and corvette HMS Freesia parted company with the convoy.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 22 April.

18 May 1941

Convoy BHX 128

This convoy departed Bermuda on 18 May 1941 and merged at sea with convoy HX 128 on 27 May 1941 (this was four days later then intended).

Convoy BHX 128 was made up of the following merchant vessels; Amsterdam (Dutch (tanker), 7329 GRT, built 1922), British Chivalry (British (tanker), 7118 GRT, built 1929), British Diligence (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), British Fusilier (British, 6943 GRT, built 1923), Cardita (British (tanker), 8237 GRT, built 1931), Charles Racine (Norwegian (tanker), 9957 GRT, built 1937), Clavella (British (tanker), 8097 GRT, built 1939), Designer (British, 5495 GRT, built 1928), Drammensfjord (Norwegian, 5339 GRT, built 1920), Eulima (British (tanker), 6207 GRT, built 1937), San Cirilo (British (tanker), 8012 GRT, built 1937) and Thistlegorm (British, 4898 GRT, built 1940).

On departure from Bermuda this convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN).

The convoy was to make rendezvous with convoy HX 128 on 23 May 1941. Due to thick for and convoy HX 128 being re-routed twice due to the battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen breaking out into the North Atlantic.

Rendezvous was only effected on 27 May 1941. HMS Montclare then parted company with the convoy.