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Notable events involving Totem include:

The history of HMS Totem as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine.

This page was last updated in December 2018.

2 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from her builders yards, Devonport Dockyard at Plymouth, for Holy Loch. During the passage north she was escorted by HMS Cape Mariato (T/Lt. F. Bloor, RNVR). (1)

4 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch for a period of trials and training on the Scottish West coast. (1)

6 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted speed trials on the Arran measured mile. (1)

8 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted speed trials on the Arran measured mile. (1)

9 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

10 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

11 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

14 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Arrochar where she was to conduct her torpedo discharge trials. (1)

15 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

17 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

19 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

20 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

22 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

23 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

24 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

25 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (1)

27 Jan 1945
Having completed her her torpedo discharge trials, HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSc, RN), shifted from Arrochar to Holy Loch. (1)

30 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (1)

31 Jan 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) served as the target. (1)

1 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) served as the target. (2)

2 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) served as the target. (2)

3 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Arrochar for the testing of some electronic gear. (2)

4 Feb 1945
With the tests completed, HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN), shifted from Arrochar to Holy Loch.

5 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Ravager (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN) served as the target. (2)

6 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (2)

7 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) served as target. (2)

8 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) proceeded to Loch Alsh upon completion of her exercises. (2)

10 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Loch Alsh. (2)

13 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Loch Alsh. (2)

17 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Hart (Lt.Cdr. A.D. White, RD, RNR) and HMS Amethyst (Lt.Cdr. N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN). (2)

17 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Hart (Lt.Cdr. A.D. White, RD, RNR) and HMS Amethyst (Lt.Cdr. N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN). (2)

19 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed Loch Alsh for Holy Loch. (2)

20 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (2)

22 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area during with HMS Searcher (Capt. J.W. Grant, DSO, RN). (2)

23 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR) served as the target. These included night exercises. (2)

24 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) returned to Holy Loch upon completion of her exercises. (2)

25 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) served as target. (2)

26 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) served as target. (2)

27 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) proceeded to Loch Goil upon completion of her exercises. (2)

28 Feb 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) served as targets. (2)

2 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN), HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) and HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR) served as the targets. (3)

3 Mar 1945
HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) both conducted exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (4)

4 Mar 1945
HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) both conducted exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN). (4)

5 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Loch Alsh. (3)

6 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Loch Alsh. (3)

9 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Loch Alsh. These included night exercises. (3)

9 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Loch Alsh. These included night exercises. (3)

10 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) returned to Loch Alsh upon completion of her exercises. (3)

14 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Loch Alsh. (3)

15 Mar 1945
HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) both departed Loch Alsh for Holy Loch. They were escorted by HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR).

They anchored in Rothesay Bay later the same day. (4)

16 Mar 1945
HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) both shifted from Rothesay to Holy Loch still escorted by HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (4)

18 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN), HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.A. Tyrer, DSC, RN) served as the targets. (3)

20 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

21 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

22 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (3)

25 Mar 1945
HMS Totem (A/Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) left dock. (3)

1 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Lerwick. Passage to Lerwick was made together with HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Varne (Lt. I.G. Raikes, DSC, RN). For part of the way HMS Scotsman (Lt. A.H.B. Anderson, DSC, RNR) was also present. They were escorted by HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (5)

4 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (5)

8 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Norwegian coast, off the Kors Fjord near Bergen.

For the daily positions of HMS Totem during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

19 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Lerwick. (6)

22 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Lerwick for Holy Loch. (5)

24 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (5)

28 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (5)

30 Apr 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC,RN) left dock. (5)

1 May 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (7)

6 May 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Gibraltar. This is the first leg of the trip to the Far East.

For the daily positions of HMS Totem during this passage see the map below.

(7)

15 May 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) makes a short call at Gibraltar. She departed for Malta after a few hours. (7)

19 May 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta. (7)

28 May 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is docked at Malta in No.2 dock. (7)

1 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) left dock. (8)

8 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is docked again at Malta but this time in No.4 dock. (8)

13 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) left dock. (8)

15 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Malta for Port Said. (8)

19 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Said. (8)

21 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Port Said, transits the Suez Canal, and sets course towards Aden. (8)

26 Jun 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden. After a few hours she departed from for Trincomalee. (8)

5 Jul 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (9)

13 Jul 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Trincomalee for Fremantle. (9)

26 Jul 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Fremantle. (9)

1 Aug 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is put on the slip at Fremantle. (10)

3 Aug 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) is put back in the water. (10)

13 Aug 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Java Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS Totem during this patrol see the map below.

(10)

15 Aug 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) was ordered to return to Fremantle. (Signal was received at 2330 hours). (10)

18 Aug 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) returns to Fremantle. (10)

7 Sep 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Fremantle to visit ports in Southern Australia. The ship will be open to visitors during this goodwill tour. (11)

13 Sep 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) arrived at Geelong. (11)

17 Sep 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) moves from Geelong to Melbourne. (11)

24 Sep 1945
HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Melbourne to return to Fremantle. (11)

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