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Notable events involving Pretoria Castle include:

4 Jun 1940
The troopships Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935) and Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931) departed Takoradi. At sea they joined their escort, the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN).

The transports Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936) and Lancashire (British, 9445 GRT, built 1917) and their escort, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN), departed Lagos.

Both groups were to proceed to position 00°50'N, 03°30'E where they were to rendez-vous at 0800/5 after which HMS Cornwall with the troopships and transports would set course to Capetown while HMS Pretoria Castle was to proceed to Dakar. (1)

27 Jun 1940
Around 1000P/27, HMS Hawkins (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Whitaker, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir H. Harwood, KCB, OBE, RN) arrived at Rio de Janeiro from patrol. Shortly before entering harbour she met HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) and some mails and other correspondence were transferred. (2)

6 Jul 1940
HMS Hawkins (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Whitaker, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir H. Harwood, KCB, OBE, RN) departed the Rio de Janeiro focal area for the River Plate focal area. Before leaving the area she met HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) and some mails and other correspondence were transferred as this ship had to take over patrol in the Rio de Janeiro focal area. (3)

1 Nov 1940

Convoy WS 4A.

This convoy departed Liverpool / the Clyde on 1 / 2 November 1940 for the far east.

The Liverpool section of the convoy departed Liverpool on 1 November and was made up of the following troopships / transports; Abosso (British, 11330 GRT, built 1935), Akaroa (British, 15130 GRT, built 1914), City of Manchester (British, 8917 GRT, built 1935), Duchess of Richmond (British, 22022 GRT, built 1928), Dunedin Star (British, 11168 GRT, built 1936), Malancha (British, 8124 GRT, built 1937), Scythia (British, 19761 GRT, built 1920) and Stirling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936).

From the Bristol Channel three ships joined this convoy, these were; Delius (British, 6065 GRT, built 1937), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939) and Port Wyndham (British, 11005 GRT, built 1937).

It was being escorted by the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) and ORP Garland (Lt.Cdr. K.F. Namiesniowski). This last destroyer had been escorting the three ships that came from the Bristol Channel.

The Clyde section of the convoy departed the Clyde on 2 November was made up of the following troopships / transports;

Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Clan Lamont (British, 7250 GRT, built 1935), Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928) and Warwick Castle (British, 20107 GRT, built 1930).

They were escort by the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN), HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Wright, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, RN).

The convoy merged around 1000/2 in position 55°45'N, 07°21'W.

HMS Bulldog and ORP Garland left the convoy around 1200/3 in position 54°25'N, 14°39'W to go to the aid of the troopship Windsor Castle which had been damaged by German aircraft bombs in position 54°12'N, 13°18'W.

HMS Cairo left the convoy at 1830/3 in position 54°12'N, 16°13'W.

HMS Hesperus and HMS Hurricane left the convoy around 1900/3 to go to the aid of the torpedoed armed merchant cruiser HMS Laurentic.

HMS Beagle, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena parted company with the convoy at 0300/4 in position 52°30'N, 19°00'W.

HMCS Ottawa and HMS Harvester parted company with the convoy at 1600/4 in position 52°30'N, 22°25'W.

At 0310/5 the Duchess of Richmond parted company with the convoy in position 52°10'N, 26°05'E to proceed to her destination independently.

At 0630/9 the Akaroa parted company with the convoy in position 32°44'N, 22°58'W to proceed to Trinidad.

At 0855/11 the Almanzora, Abosso, City of Manchester, Darius, Malancha and Martland were detached ('slow' group) were detached in position 23°47'N, 22°15'W under the escort of the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) which had just joined the convoy.

The 'fast' section of the convoy arrived at Freetown on 14 November escorted by HMS Cornwall.

The 'slow' section of the convoy arrived at Freetown on 15 November escorted by HMS Pretoria Castle.

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The convoy, now made up of troopships / transports Almanzora, City of Manchester, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Delius, Dunedin Star, Highland Monarch, Malancha, Martand, Port Wyndham, Scythia, Stirling Castle and Warwick Castle, departed Freetown for South Africa around 1630 hours on 17 November 1940.

They were escorted by HMS Cornwall and HMS Pretoria Castle.

At 0805 hours on 26 November the Scythia and Warwick Castle parted company with the convoy in position 22°55'S, 09°03'E to proceed to Capetown. They were escorted by HMS Pretoria Castle.

These ships arrived off Capetown on 29 October. The troopships both entered the harbour but Scythia only briefly to take on board water.

HMS Pretoria Castle rejoined to convoy around 1200 hours on 29 November. Scythia rejoined about 45 minutes later.

At 1500 hours on 2 December, while in position 32°15'S, 29°35'E, the Almanzora, City of Manchester, Delius, Malancha and Martand were left astern to enable to other ships to arrive at Durban early the next day. HMS Pretoria Castle remained with these five ships while HMS Cornwall went ahead with the others.

Pretoria Castle arrived with the five ships that had split off at Durban some hours after the others. The convoy then entered harbour while HMS Pretoria Castle set course for Capetown.

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The convoy, now made up of troopships / transports City of Manchester, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Delius, Dunedin Star, Highland Monarch, Malancha, Martand, Port Wyndham and Stirling Castle, departed Durban for Aden around 1030 hours on 5 December 1940.

There was one more ships in the convoy, this was the troopship Dunera (11162 GRT, built 1937) who had taken over the troops of the Scythia and took her place in the convoy.

Escort was once again HMS Cornwall but she was now with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. F.E. Getting, RAN).

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In the morning of 18 December 1940 the convoy arrived near Aden and was transferred to the Red Sea escort. HMS Cornwall and HMS Kanimbla parted company with the convoy at 0925/18 in position 11°53'N, 45°08'E. The then proceeded to Aden where they arrived around 1300/18.

The Red Sea escort joined the convoy as follows; sloops HMIS Indus (Cdr. E.G.G. Hunt, RIN) and HMAS Yarra (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Harrington, RAN) joined the convoy at 0730/18 in position 11°53'N, 45°34'E.

Light cruiser HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN) joined at 0945/18 in position 11°55'N, 45°03'E.

And the last ship to join, the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) joined at 1023/18 in position 11°57'N, 44°56'E.

Two more troopships / transports joined the convoy at 1130/18 in position 12°02'N, 44°45'E. These were the City of Agra (British, 6361 GRT, built 1936) and Melbourne Star (British, 11076 GRT, built 1936).

HMS Carlisle parted company with the convoy at 1650/20 in position 20°33'N, 38°45'E.

HMIS Indus and HMAS Yarra parted company with the convoy at 1730/20 in position 20°42'N, 38°41'E.

At 1200/21, the Dunedin Star, Melbourne Star and Stirling Castle, escorted by HMS Kingston proceeded ahead. They arrived at Suez at 1500/22.

The remaineder of the convoy arrived at Suez at 0700/23 escorted by HMAS Perth. (4)

19 Dec 1940
HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel. They departed to reume patrol in the morning of the 20th. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) was now also with them. They were now to patrol much further to the West as the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer had captured the British merchant vessel Duquesa (8651 GRT, built 1918) in position 00°57'N, 22°42'W on the 18th. (5)

28 Dec 1940
HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel. They departed to resume patrol the following day. (6)

31 Jan 1941
HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Plymouth at 1912 hours. They made rendez-vous around 1500/1 with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) which came from Belfast and was to proceed to Portsmouth.

2 Feb 1941
HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN), HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) arrived at Portsmouth.

The destroyers departed Portsmouth later the same day for Plymouth

26 Apr 1941

Convoy WS 8A

This convoy departed the Clyde on 26 April 1941 for various ports in the Far East and Mediterranean (see below).

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels and troop transports; Abbekerk (Dutch, 7889 GRT, built 1939), Aronda (British, 8328 GRT, built 1941), Clan Campbell (British, 7255 GRT, built 1937), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Clan Lamont (British, 7250 GRT, built 1939), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), Empire Song (British, 9228 GRT, built 1940), Empress of Asia (British, 16909 GRT, built 1913), Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913), Highland Chieftain (British, 14135 GRT, built 1929), New Zealand Star (British, 12436 GRT, built 1935), Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931), Sobieski (Polish, 11030 GRT, built 1939) and Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932).

The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) also took passage in the convoy.

On departure from the Clyde the convoy was escorted by the battlecruiser HMS Repulse (Capt. W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), light cruiser HMS Naiad (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.L.S. King, CB, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, DSC, RN) and HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Legion (Cdr. R.F. Jessel, RN), HMS Beagle, (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN), HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, OBE, RN), HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) E.J.S. Plawski) and the escort destroyer HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN).

Around 1015A/30, in position 53°46'N, 25°30'W, HMS Beagle and HMS Eridge were detached to join the escort of convoy SL 71.

Around 1100A/29, HMS Hurricane was detached to search for the survivors of the liner City of Nagpur that had been torpedoed and sunk earlier that day.

Around 0400A/30, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Saguaenay, HMS Legion and ORP Piorun parted company.

At 0850A/4, HMS Repulse, HMS Harvester, HMS Havelock and HMS Hesperus had parted company with the convoy taking the transports Clan Campbell, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Empire Song and New Zealand Star with them to Gibraltar.

Around 1300A/2, the light cruiser HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined north of the Azores in position 40°17'N, 24°18'W. HMS Naiad was then detached and proceeded to Gibraltar where she arrived around 0900A/4.

The remainder of the convoy continued southwards escorted by HMS Mauritius and HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN).

Around 1645A/5, in position 23°20'N, 22°55'W, the destroyers HMS Duncan (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) and HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN) joined.

Around 1430A/6, in position 18°10'N, 20°52'W, two more destroyers; HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton, DSC, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN).

The convoy arrived at Freetown in the morning of 9 May 1941.

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The convoy departed Freetown on 14 May having been joined by the Imperial Star (British, 12427 GRT, built 1934). The Highland Chieftain was unable to depart on the 14th. She sailed one day later to overtake the convoy. She was being escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cilicia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN).

On leaving Freetown A/S protection was given by the destroyers Highlander, HMS Duncan, HMS Boreas and HMS Wishart.

Around 0810N/15, in position 04°55'N, 11°32'W, HMS Boreas stopped due to engine defects. HMS Wishart was ordered to stand by the stricken ship.

Around 1700N/15, HMS Wishart rejoined the convoy but after about an hour she too had to be detached with engineering defects.

Around 0815N/16, in position 01°36'N, 07°53'W, Highlander and HMS Duncan were detached to return to Freetown with orders to investigate the area near position 05°03'N, 19°02'W where an enemy U-boat attack had been reported earlier that morning. [This referred to the Rodney Star which had been sunk by U-105.]

Around 1930AB/23, in approximate position 31°30'S, 15°15'E, the Strathaird was detached to proceed ahead of the convoy to Capetown.

Around 1405AB/24, in position 35°14'N, 17°10'E, HMS Mauritius was relieved by HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN). HMS Mauritius then set course for Simonstown.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 27 May minus the Empress of Asia, Imperial Star and Strathaird that had been detached to Capetown on the 23rd or 24th. The Strathaird departed Capetown on the 25th to rejoin the convoy off Durban.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Durban on 27 May escorted by HMS Hawkins.

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On 31 May the Abbekerk, Aronda, Empress of Russia, Sobieski and Strathaird departed Durban escorted by HMS Hawkins. They arrived at Aden on 10 June after which the troopships / transports proceeded to Suez independently. (7)

9 May 1941
In the morning, HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN), HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Duncan (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN), HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton, DSC, RN) and HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN) arrived at Freetown with convoy WS 8A. (8)

18 May 1941
At 0918N/18, while in position 21°31'S, 05°56'W, HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) sighted a merchant vessel ahead which turned out to be the Vichy-French Lieutenant St.Loubert Bie (5878 GRT, built 1911) en route from France to Indo-China. The French ship is ordered to stop and a round had to be fired across her bow to make her do so. She was then boarded and placed under armed guard. Capt. Aylmer decided to escort the ship to Freetown.

Later the same day HMS Newcastle was ordered to take the Vichy ship to Simonstown. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) was ordered to make rendezvous with HMS Newcastle and take over the escort of the Vichy ship.

Around 0640N/19, the Vichy ship was turned over to HMS Pretoria Castle in position 22°18'S, 04°15'W.

HMS Newcastle then set course to proceed to a rendezvous with HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Commodore F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) to take over from her in the South America Division. (9)

17 Jun 1941
The Vichy French merchant Desirade (9645 GRT) was seized by HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt A.V. Hemming, RN) east of the Antilles.

5 Oct 1941
Around 0700Q/5, the troop transport Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) departed Port of Spain, Trinidad for Capetown.

Around 0950P/9, the escort of the troop transport was turned over, in position 00°11'N, 43°46'W, to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN). HMS Circassia then proceeded on patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the mid-Atlantic. (10)

18 Jan 1942
Around 1130Z/18, HMS Canton (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) both arrived at Freetown from patrol. (11)

11 Mar 1942
The armed merchant cruisers HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), on patrol in area H 34, were ordered to intercept the Spanish merchant vessel Monte Gorbea (3720 GRT, built 1923).

The following day, at 1215N/12, the aircraft of HMS Canton sighted the Spanish vessel in position 08°30'N, 26°06'W and HMS Pretoria Castle was able to intercept her at 1415N/12 in position 08°52'N, 26°00'W.

The Spanish ship was then escorted to Bathurst by HMS Pretoria Castle. They arrived there around 1115N/15.

HMS Canton continued her patrol. (12)

4 Jun 1942
At 1006Z/4, the British merchant vessel Gemstone (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938) reported being shelled by an enemy raider in position 01°52'N, 26°38'W.

The armed merchant cruisers HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.W. Kitson, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), both on patrol in the South Atlantic were ordered to investigate. (13)