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Notable events involving Wolsey include:

20 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Wolsey (Cdr. C.A.N. Chatwin, RN). (1)

18 Mar 1940
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, RN) is docked in No.2 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

27 Mar 1940
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, RN) is undocked. (2)

13 Jan 1941
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN) is docked in No.3 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

21 Jan 1941
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN) is undocked. (2)

1 Mar 1941

Convoy SL 67.

This convoy departed Freetown on 1 March 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 26 March 1941.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alphard (Dutch, 5483 GRT, built 1937), Anadyr (British, 5321 GRT, built 1930), Ashworth (British, 5227 GRT, built 1920), Banffshire (British, 6479 GRT, built 1912), Baron Belhaven (British, 6591 GRT, built 1925), Baron Cawdor (British, 3638 GRT, built 1935), Beaconstreet (Detached to Gibraltar on 11 March) (British, 7467 GRT, built 1927), Bolton Castle (British, 5203 GRT, built 1939), British Captain (British (tanker), 6968 GRT, built 1923), British Diligence (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), British Hope (Detached to Gibraltar on 11 March) (British (tanker), 6951 GRT, built 1928), British Integrity (British (tanker), 8412 GRT, built 1927), British Security (British (tanker), 8470 GRT, built 1937), Celtic Monarch (British, 5824 GRT, built 1929), City of Cairo (British, 8034 GRT, built 1915), City of Dunkirk (British, 5861 GRT, built 1912), City of Kimberley (British, 6169 GRT, built 1925), City of Nagpur (British, 10146 GRT, built 1922), City of Rangoon (British, 6635 GRT, built 1914), Clan Macbean (British, 5000 GRT, built 1918), Copeland (British (rescue vessel), 1526 GRT, built 1923), Deebank (British, 5060 GRT, built 1929), Defender (British, 8258 GRT, built 1915), Dunkwa (British, 4752 GRT, built 1927), Friesland (Dutch, 2662 GRT, built 1930), Godfrey B. Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929), Guido (British, 3921 GRT, built 1920), Harmodius (British, 5229 GRT, built 1919), Harpefjell (Norwegian, 1333 GRT, built 1939), Helder (Dutch, 3629 GRT, built 1920), Henrik Ibsen (Norwegian, 4671 GRT, built 1906), Hindpool (British, 4897 GRT, built 1928), Inneroy (Norwegian (tanker), 8260 GRT, built 1936), King Edwin (British, 4536 GRT, built 1927), Lahore (British, 5304 GRT, built 1920), Llangollen (British, 5056 GRT, built 1928), Martaban (British, 4161 GRT, built 1934), Mendoza (British, 8233 GRT, built 1919), Nagina (British, 6551 GRT, built 1921), Nardana (British, 7974 GRT, built 1919), Nebraska (British, 8261 GRT, built 1920), Ogmore Castle (British, 2481 GRT, built 1919), Peisander (British, 6225 GRT, built 1925), Queen Anne (British, 4937 GRT, built 1937), Recorder (British, 2276 GRT, built 1902), Roxane (British (tanker), 7813 GRT, built 1929), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939), Sire (British, 5664 GRT, built 1938), Solfonn (Norwegian (tanker), 9925 GRT, built 1939), Taxiarchis (Greek, 4221 GRT, built 1913), Tielbank (British, 5084 GRT, built 1937), Tunisia (British, 4337 GRT, built 1927), Turkistan (British, 6935 GRT, built 1939), Umberleigh (British, 4950 GRT, built 1927), Urbino (British, 5198 GRT, built 1918), Winsum (Dutch, 3224 GRT, built 1921) and Zamalek (British (rescue vessel), 1567 GRT, built 1921).

[It is possible some of these ships did not sail from Freetown but joined the convoy at sea.]

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cilicia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN), corvette HMS Asphodel (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN) and the auxiliary A/S trawlers HMS Kelt (T/Lt. W.T. Hodson, RNVR), HMS Spaniard (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Webster, RNR) and HMS Turcoman (Skr. A.G. Day, RNR).

At 1700/3 the battleship HMS Malaya (Capt. A.F.E. Palliser, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN) and HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, DSC and Bar, RN) joined the escort of the convoy.

At 1800/4 the three A/S trawlers parted company with the convoy.

In the early morning hours of 8 March 1941 the convoy was attacked by the German submarines U-105 and U-124. Five ships of the convoy were sunk, these were the Harmodius, Hindpool, Lahore, Tielbank and Nardana.

At 1330/8 HMS Forester, which was well to the west of the convoy, briefly sighted the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau steaming towards the convoy. The German ships were also sighted around the same time by HMS Malaya's Swordfish aircraft. Following the report of the sighting HMS Malaya and HMS Faulknor left the convoy to join HMS Forester to put themselves between the convoy and the enemy.

At 1645/8 hours HMS Malaya and the Scharnhorst sighted each other and the German battlecruisers turned away being chased briefly by HMS Malaya and the destroyers. As Malaya's speed was much lower contact was soon lost and the battleship and the destroyers then returned to the convoy. At 1900 hours they rejoined the convoy

In the afteroon of March, 10th, the battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt R.R. McGrigor, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, DSO, RN) and aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (Capt. C.S. Holland, RN) joined the escort of the convoy. HMS Malaya then parted company with the convoy and set course for Gibraltar.

At 1730/11, HMS Asphodel parted company with the convoy with the tankers Beaconstreet and British Hope which she then escorted to Gibraltar.

At 1000/13, HMS Faulknor and HMS Foresight parted company with the convoy and set course for Gibraltar.

At 1000/19, HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN) joined the convoy to take over the escort. At 1600/19, HMS Renown, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Cilicia parted company with the convoy.

On 21 March the escort of the convoy was reinforced with the destroyers HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, DSC, RN), HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Veteran (Cdr. W.T. Couchman, OBE, RN), HMS Verity (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN), HMS Salisbury (Lt.Cdr. H.M.R. Crichton, RN), HNoMS Mansfield (Cdr. F. Ulstrup, RNorN), the corvettes HMS Arbutus (T/Lt. A.L.W. Warren, RNR), HMS Camellia (Lt.Cdr. A.E. Willmott, RNR) and the catapult ship HMS Pegasus (Capt.(Retd.) P.G. Wodehouse, RN). HMS Kenya parted company with the convoy in the afternoon and proceeded to join convoy HG 56.

HMS Havelock and HMS Verity parted company with the convoy on 24 March as did HMS Veteran on the 25th.

28 Mar 1941

Convoy OG 57.

This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 28 March 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.

The Milford Haven section (sailed 26 March 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Alva (British, 1584 GRT, built 1934), Baron Yarborough (British, 3388 GRT, 1928), Harperley (British, 4586 GRT, built 1930), Linge (Dutch, 2114 GRT, built 1928), Lyminge (British, 2499 GRT, built 1919), Meta (British, 1578 GRT, built 1931), Penhale (British, 4071 GRT, built 1924), Portsea (British, 1583 GRT, built 1938), Ranella (Norwegian (tanker), 5590 GRT, built 1912), Salamis (Norwegian (tanker), 8286 GRT, built 1939) and San Amado (British (tanker), 7316 GRT, built 1935).

The Liverpool section (sailed 27 March 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aguila (British, 3255 GRT, built 1917), Browning (British, 5332 GRT, built 1919), Glaisdale (British, 3777 GRT, built 1929), Marklyn (British, 3090 GRT, built 1918) and Nicolaou Virginia (Greek, 6869 GRT, built 1920).

The Clyde section (sailed 28 March 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Blairnevis (British, 4155 GRT, built 1930), Dago (British, 1993 GRT, built 1917), Ebro (British (former Danish), 1547 GRT, built 1920), Empire Eland (British, 5613 GRT, built 1920), Empire Leopard (British, 5781 GRT, built 1917), Empire Union (British, 5952 GRT, built 1924), Harpathian (British, 4671 GRT, built 1930), Ousel (British, 1533 GRT, built 1922) and Trompenberg (Dutch, 2009 GRT, built 1919).

The Oban section (sailed 28 March 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Cochrane (British, 3385 GRT, built 1927), Baron Dechmont (British, 3675 GRT, built 1929), Baron Stranraer (British, 3668 GRT, built 1929), Eskdene (British, 3829 GRT, built 1934), Helena Margareta (British, 3316 GRT, built 1915), Loke (Norwegian, 2421 GRT, built 1915), Ruckinge (British, 2869 GRT, built 1939), Rudby (British, 4846 GRT, built 1924), Sarastone (British, 2473 GRT, built 1929) and Suderholm (Norwegian (tanker), 4908 GRT, built 1917).

With the Liverpool section the following escorts were sailed; destroyers HMS Walker (Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN), HMS Caldwell (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Mackay, RNR), sloop HMS Aberdeen (Lt. S.G. Rivers-Smith, RN), corvettes HMS Bluebell (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Sherwood, RNR), HMS Hydrangea (Lt. J.E. Woolfenden, RNR), HMS Tulip (Lt.Cdr. A. Wilkinson, RNR), A/S trawler HMS Lady Hogarth (T/Lt. S.G. Barnes, RNR).

On the 28th, HMS Hydrangea made a short stop at Greenock, and the most likely brought the Clyde section of the convoy with her on rejoining the convoy.

On the 28th, HMS Walker and HMS Volunteer fuelled at Londonderry before rejoining the convoy.

Also on the 28th the escort destroyers HMS Valorous (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, RN) and HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN) joined, coming from Londonderry.

At 1340A/29, an enemy aircraft which was approaching the convoy was driven off with gunfire.

At 0908A/30, in position 54°30'N, 14°40'W, the convoy was attacked by an enemy aircraft which dropped one bomb near the Ruckinge which sustained one casualty due to a machine gun bullet.

At 0800A/31, in position 58°39'N, 18°52'W, the convoy was approached by an enemy aircraft which was driven off by gunfire.

Around 0830A/1, HMS Walker, HMS Volunteer, HMS Caldwell, HMS Valorous, HMS Wolsey, HMS Bluebell, HMS Hydrangea and HMS Tulip parted company.

Around 0900Z/2, in position 48°53'N, 18°08'W, the following merchant ships parted company with the convoy;
Empire Eland (arrived at Halifax on ?), Empire Leopard (arrived at Baltimore on 17 April), Empire Union (arrived at Saint John, NB on 13 April), Glaisdale (arrived at New York on 16 April), Loke (arrived at Halifax on 11 April), Nicolaou Virginia (arrived at Halifax on 11 April), Ranella (arrived at Curacoa on 18 April) Rudby (arrived at Baltimore on 15 April), Salamis (arrived at New York on 11 April), San Amado (arrived at Aruba on 19 April), Suderholm (arrived at Aruba on 19 April) and Trompenberg (arrived at Curacoa on ?).

In position 39°00'N, 21°20'W, the following merchant ships parted company with the convoy [No date and time is given in the report of the Convoy Commodore];
Browning (arrived at Capetown on 3 May), Eskdene (destination was Buenos Aires, torpedoed and then finished off with gunfire by the German submarine U-107 on 8 April), Harpatian (destination was Takoradi, torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-107 on 9 April), Harperley (arrived at Demerara, Guyana on 19 April), Helena Margareta (destination was Takoradi, torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-107 on 8 April), Linge (arrived at Bathurst on 18 April) and Penhale (arrived at Pernambuco on 22 April). Around 1445Z/3, in position 47°30'N, 22°48'W, the submarine HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. G.B.M. van Erkel, RNN) joined the convoy.

Around 0230A/11, near Cape Trafalgar, the following merchant ships parted company with the convoy; Alva (arrived at Seville on 11 April), Baron Cochrane (arrived at Lisbon on 12 April), Baron Stranraer (arrived at Huelva on 11 April), Ebro (arrived at Oporto on 12 April), Meta (arrived at Lisbon on 12 April), Ousel (arrived at Huelva on 11 April), Portsea (arrived at Seville on 11 April) and Sarastone (arrived at Huelva on 11 April).

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 11 April 1941. (3)

9 Apr 1941
Around 0830A/9, the aircraft carriers HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN), HMS Argus (Capt. T.O. Bulteel, RN), troopship Narkunda (British, 16632 GRT, built 1920) and their escort, the heavy cruiser HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN), were joined by the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, OBE, RN), HMS Beagle, (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN).

Around 1200A/9, the destroyer HMS Lincoln (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN) was sighted which apparently joined company.

Around 2000A/10, HMS Furious, HMCS Restigouche and HMS Beagle parted company to proceed to Belfast. After escorting the aircraft carrier there the destroyers continued on the the Clyde.

Around 0300A/11, HMS Wolsey was detached to Londonderry.

The Narkunda with HMS Argus, HMS London, HMCS Sauguenay, HMS Viscount and HMS Lincoln arrived in the Clyde in the morning of the 11th. (4)

30 Oct 1941
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

5 Nov 1941
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN) is undocked. (2)

20 Feb 1942
HMS Wolsey (Lt. T.F. Taylor, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. She was undocked later the same day. (2)

3 May 1942
The brand new battleship HMS Anson (Capt. H.R.G. Kinahan, CBE, RN) proceeded from the Tyne to Rosyth for further outfitting by the dockyard there. She is escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Wallace (Lt.Cdr.(Emy.) E.G. Heywood-Lonsdale, RN), HMS Westminster (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, DSC, RN) and HMS Wolsey (Lt. T.F. Taylor, RN).

At the Rosyth Dockyard HMS Anson was immediately docked in No.1 Dock.

18 May 1942
HMS Wolsey (Lt. T.F. Taylor, RN) is docked in No.2 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

21 May 1942
HMS Wolsey (Lt. T.F. Taylor, RN) is undocked. (2)

25 Mar 1943
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Taylor, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

29 Mar 1943
HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Taylor, RN) is undocked. (2)

5 Oct 1943
HMS Uther (Lt. P.S. Beale, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Dundee with HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. S.A. Cuthbert, RN) and HMS Leeds (Lt. B.H. Brown, RN). (5)

12 Feb 1944
Around 0400A/12, the light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) departed Naples for fire support duty in the Anzio area. During fire support duties she was escorted / assisted by the destroyers HMS Inglefield (A/Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN).

HMS Poebe returned to Naples (Gulf of Pozzuoli) around 1915A/12. (6)

13 Feb 1944
Around 0450A/13, the light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) departed the Gulf of Pozzuoli for fire support duty in the Anzio area. During fire support duties she was again escorted / assisted by the destroyers HMS Inglefield (A/Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN).

HMS Poebe returned to Naples around 1900A/13. (6)

28 Mar 1944
HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. (2)

31 Mar 1944
HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN) is undocked. (2)

14 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted trials off the Tyne during which she was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN). (7)

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