Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | Escort destroyer |
Class | Hunt (Type I) |
Pennant | L 11 |
Built by | John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. (Clydebank, Scotland) |
Ordered | 21 Mar 1939 |
Laid down | 8 Jun 1939 |
Launched | 9 Jan 1940 |
Commissioned | 29 May 1940 |
End service | |
History | Scrapped at Port Glasgow on 7 November 1956. |
Commands listed for HMS Fernie (L 11)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
Commander | From | To | |
1 | Lt.Cdr. Ronald McClellan Powning Jonas, RN | 29 Mar 1940 | 10 Mar 1941 |
2 | Lt.Cdr. Allan Herbert Percy Noble, RN | 10 Mar 1941 | 9 Jan 1942 |
3 | Lt. Herbert Bernard Acworth, RN | 9 Jan 1942 | 10 May 1943 |
4 | Lt. Francis Wimburn Melvill Carter, DSC, RN | 10 May 1943 | 17 Mar 1944 |
5 | Lt. Jack Arthur Tricker, RN | 17 Mar 1944 | 8 Apr 1946 |
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Notable events involving Fernie include:
5 Jun 1940
HrMs O 10 (Lt. G. Quint, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Portland together with HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) and HMS Gardenia (Lt.Cdr. T.A.O. Ellis, RD, RNR). (1)
8 Jun 1940
HrMs O 10 (Lt. G. Quint, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Portland together with HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) and HMS Gardenia (Lt.Cdr. T.A.O. Ellis, RD, RNR). (1)
1 Jul 1940
Heaving completed her repairs at Liverpool HMS Barham (Capt G.C. Cooke, RN) departed that place for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Imogen (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Warwick (Lt.Cdr. M.A.G. Child, RN), HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN). (2)
2 Jul 1940
HMS Barham (Capt G.C. Cooke, RN) and her escorts; HMS Imogen (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Warwick (Lt.Cdr. M.A.G. Child, RN), HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN), arrived at Scapa Flow. (2)
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. (3)
13 Jul 1940
Around 1730A/13, the aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN) departed Liverpool for Scapa Flow. En-route, in the Clyde area near Prestwick, aircraft were to be flown on.
The carrier was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Hambledon (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN), HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN).
They arrived at Scapa Flow around 0615A/15. (4)
7 Sep 1940
Around 1800A/7, HMS Cardiff (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN) departed Sheerness for Portsmouth. She had been ordered to join the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
She was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Berkeley (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Walters, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN). (5)
8 Sep 1940
Around 2130A/8, the light cruisers HMS Galatea (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN) and HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Campbell (Capt. C.R.L. Parry, RN), HMS Venetia (Lt.Cdr. D.L.C. Craig, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.E.F. Hussey, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Garth (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Dyke, RN), HMS Hambledon (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN) and HMS Holderness (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) departed Sheerness to bombard enemy shipping concentrations at Calais and Boulogne.
HMS Galatea with HMS Campbell, HMS Vesper and HMS Garth were to bombard Calais while HMS Aurora, HMS Venetia, HMS Hambledon and HMS Holderness bombarded Boulogne.
Between 0225A/9 and 0245A/9, British aircraft dropped flares over both ports. No shipping was however found to be present in Calais Roads so HMS Galatea and her escorts did not conduct a bombardment. HMS Aurora and her escorts however did bombarded the Boulogne harbour area.
They returned to Sheerness around 0700A/9. HMS Galatea had detonated a mine around 0525A/9 and was again damaged [see 1 September] damage was again minor. As Galatea was due for refit it was decided not to undertake repairs. HMS Galatea was to commence refit and repairs at the Chatham Dockyard upon completion of the refit of HMS Arethusa. For the moment HMS Galatea remained at Sheerness.
During the same night the destroyers HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Wright, RN), HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN), HMS Berkeley (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Walters, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departed Portsmouth to conducted a sweep along the French coast just south of Boulogne up to Cape Antifer (near Le Havre). On completion of the sweep they returned to Portsmouth. (6)
8 Sep 1940
Around 0925A/8, HMS Cardiff (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN), HMS Berkeley (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Walters, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) arrived at Portsmouth.
While at Portsmouth HMS Cardiff was on standby for anti-invasion duty. (5)
12 Dec 1940
After a delay of 24 hours due to a reported enemy submarine the British battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. C.B. Barry, DSO, RN) departed Portsmouth for Rosyth where she was to complete her reconstruction.
She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Punjabi (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Cattistock (Lt.Cdr R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) and HMS Holderness (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN).
Around 1600A/13 the original escort was relieved by the destroyer HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Exmoor (Lt.Cdr. R.T. Lampard, RN), HMS Pytchley (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC, RN) and HMS Southdown (Cdr. E.R. Condor, DSO, DSC, RN).
At 1630A/14 the light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, RN) and the AA cruiser HMS Curacoa (Capt. C.C. Hughes-Hallett, RN) joined the escort coming from Scapa Flow.
The battleship and her escort arrived at Rosyth around 1330A/15. HMS Nigeria had parted company around 1115A/15 and arrived back at Scapa Flow later the same day.
15 Dec 1940
Around 0640A/15, HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN) departed Greenock for Plymouth.
On leaving the Clyde around 1100A/15, she was joined by the escort destroyers HMS Cattistock (Lt.Cdr R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) and HMS Holderness (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN). (7)
17 Dec 1940
Around 1130A/17, HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), HMS Cattistock (Lt.Cdr R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) and HMS Holderness (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) arrived at Portsmouth from the Clyde. Passage had took langer then anticipated due to the heavy weather conditions encountered.
HMS Ramillies was then taken in hand for a short refit at the Devonport Dockyard. (7)
14 Mar 1941
HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) departed Portsmouth for the Clyde early in the evening. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, DSO, RN), HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN), HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, RN).
16 Mar 1941
Around noon HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) arrived at Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, RN).
The other three destroyers that had been in company on departure from Portsmouth had been detached on the 15th for patrol duties.
6 Apr 1941
The destroyers HMS Intrepid (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, RN) departed Portsmouth. They were to patrol between the longitudes of Nab Tower and Portlands Bill to the south of 50°15'N between 2000/6 and 0000/7. On completion of the patrol the destroyers were to return to Portsmouth except HMS Jersey which was to be detached so as to arrive at Plymouth at 0700/7.
17 Oct 1942
Around 0745A/17, HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) departed the Solent for Scapa Flow.
On passing the Needles around 0840A/17, she was joined by HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. H.B. Acworth, RN).
Around 1615A/17, off Falmouth, HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. N.H.G. Austen, DSO, RN) joined.
Around 0015A/18, off Milford Haven, HMS Fernie was detached.
Around 1800A/19, HMS Glasgow and HMS Orwell arrived at Scapa Flow where they both were to undergo a work-up period. (8)
28 Jun 1945
Around 1115B/28, HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) departed Rotterdam for Dundee. She makes the passage together with HrMs Tijgerhaai (Lt.Cdr. A. van Altena, RNN). They are escorted by the British escort destroyer HMS Fernie (Lt. J.A. Tricker, RN). (9)
Sources
- File 2.12.03.6374 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 53/111548
- ADM 53/112717 + ADM 199/49 + ADM 199/50 + ADM 199/371
- ADM 53/112271 + ADM 199/376
- ADM 53/111722
- ADM 53/112284 + ADM 199/375 + ADM 199/379
- ADM 53/113049
- ADM 53/115990
- File 2.12.03.6429 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.