Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | Destroyer |
Class | Admiralty V & W |
Pennant | L 02 |
Mod | Fast escort |
Built by | Thornycroft (Southampton, U.K.) |
Ordered | 9 Dec 1916 |
Laid down | 28 Mar 1917 |
Launched | 16 Mar 1918 |
Commissioned | 14 May 1918 |
End service | |
History | Reconstruction to Fast Escort completed at Malta Dockyard on 21 January 1940. Pennant was D 98 changed to L 02 upon completion of this reconstruction. HMS Wolsey is not listed as active unit in the October 1945 Navy List Sold to be broken up for scrap on 4 March 1947. |
Commands listed for HMS Wolsey (L 02)
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 | Cdr. Cecil Athos Newcome Chatwin, RN | Dec 1939 | 16 Feb 1940 |
2 | Lt.Cdr. Colin Henry Campbell, RN | 16 Feb 1940 | 12 Jan 1942 |
3 | Lt. Thomas Frederick Taylor, RN | 12 Jan 1942 | Jul 1943 |
4 | Lt.Cdr. Sydney Alexander Cuthbert, RN | Jul 1943 | 31 Dec 1943 |
5 | Lt. Frederick William Hayden, RN | 31 Dec 1943 | mid 1945 |
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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)
16 May 1941
Convoy OG 62.
This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 16 May 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.
The Milford Haven section (sailed 14 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Atle Jarl (Norwegian, 1173 GRT, built 1919), British Chancellor (British (tanker), 7085 GRT, built 1921), Edward F. Johnson (British (tanker), 10452 GRT, built 1937), Emmy (Greek, 3895 GRT, built 1914), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Ocean Coast (British, 1173 GRT, built 1935), Rolf Jarl (Norwegian, 1917 GRT, built 1920), Serula (British, 2187 GRT, built 1918) and Storanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9223 GRT, built 1930).
On departure from Milford Haven this section was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN), A/S trawler HMS Viviana (Skr. G.L. Olesen, RNR) and the armed yacht HMS Troubadour (Cdr.(ret) D.H. Milward, DSC, RNR). These ships arrived at Belfast on the 16th after having been detached from the convoy.
The Liverpool section (sailed 15 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Avra (Greek, 4652 GRT, built 1912), Dordrecht (Dutch, 4402 GRT, built 1928) and Panaghis (Greek, 5187 GRT, built 1920). This section was escorted by the sloop HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR).
The Clyde section (sailed 16 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Baltara (British, 3099 GRT, built 1918), Henry Stanley (British, 5026 GRT, built 1929), Horn Shell (British (tanker), 8272 GRT, built 1931), Kingston Hill (British, 7628 GRT, built 1940), Loch Ranza (British, 4958 GRT, built 1934), Mobeka (Belgian, 6111 GRT, built 1937), Pinto (British, 1346 GRT, built 1928), River Lugar (British, 5423 GRT, built 1937) and Wrotham (British, 1884 GRT, built 1927). The rescue ship Zamalek (British, 1567 GRT, built 1921) was also with this section.
The Oban section (sailed 16 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alex (British, 3932 GRT, built 1914), Ashby (British, 4868 GRT, built 1927), Baron Napier (British, 3559 GRT, built 1930), Baron Pentland (British, 3410 GRT, built 1927), Chr. Knudsen (Norwegian, 4904 GRT, built 1925), Drakepool (British, 4838 GRT, built 1924), Empire Surf (British, 6641 GRT, built 1941), Lekhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921), Solstad (Swedish, 1379 GRT, built 1924) and Ulea (British, 1574 GRT, built 1936). This section was escorted by the A/S trawler HMS Ayrshire (T/Lt. L.J.A. Gradwell, RNVR).
On final assembly to the west of the North Channel on the 16th the convoy was joined by additional escorts which were the destroyers HMS Boadicea (A/Cdr. E.C.L. Turner, RN), HMCS St.Francis (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Pullen, RCN), sloop HMS Egret (A/Capt. E.M. Haes, RN), corvettes HMS Aster (Lt.Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR), HMCS Arrowhead (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Skinner, RCNR), HMCS Hepatica (T/Lt. C. Copelin, RCNR), HMCS Snowberry (T/Lt. R.S. Kelley, RCNR), HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Arab (T/Lt. C.A. Shillan, RNVR) and A/S trawler HMS Stella Carina (Lt. R. Lockwood, RANVR). HMS Bideford and HMS Ayrshire were also still with the convoy. The destroyer HMCS Niagara (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN) was unable to join due to defects.
The Dordrecht arrived in the Clyde on 17 May. She had returned to the U.K. with defects.
Around 0600B/17, in position 55°35'N, 07°50'W, the corvette HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR) joined.
Around 0800B/17, in position 55°33'N, 08°15'W, HMCS Hepatica was detached to go to the assistance of the merchant vessel Statesman (British, 7939 GRT, built 1923), that had been bombed by enemy aircraft in position 56°44'N, 13°45'W. The damaged ship sank later that morning. HMCS Hepatica reported at 0005B/18, that she had onboard 60 survivors. She was then ordered to proceed to Londonderry.
Around 0950B/19, HMS Arab carried out a depth charge attack on a doubtful contact and due to the firing of the depth charges she suffered an engine defect. HMCS St. Francis was ordered to go to her assistance but this order was soon cancelled and HMCS Spikenard was sent instead. HMS Arab later signalled she needed a tow.
At 1505B/19, a report was received of an enemy submarine in position 51°30'N, 23°30'W. It was noticed that this submarine would endanger northbound convoy SL 73.
Around 1645B/19, HMS Boadicea, HMCS St. Francis were detached to reinforce convoy SL 73 early.
Around 2330B/19, HMS Egret, HMCS Arrowhead, HMCS Snowberry, HMS Ayrshire and the Zamalek were detached to also join convoy SL 73.
Around 2330B/20, in position 49°31'N, 19°14'W, some ships were detached to destinations in North America and the Caribbean. This were the following; Alex (arrived at Montreal on 2 June 1941), Ashby (arrived at Montreal on 31 May 1941), Avra (arrived at Quebec on 31 May 1941), Baltara (arrived at Montreal on 2 June 1941), Baron Pentland (arrived at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 29 May 1941), British Chancellor (arrived at Curacao on 6 June 1941), Chr. Knudsen (arrived at Three Rivers on 31 May 1941), Drakepool (arrived at Montreal on 3 June 1941), Edward F. Johnson (arrived at Aruba on 4 June 1941), Empire Surf (arrived at Aruba on 4 June 1941), Horn Shell (arrived at New York on 2 June 1941), Leerdam (arrived at New York on 29 May 1941), Lekhaven (arrived at Three Rivers on 31 May 1941), Loch Ranza (arrived at Montreal on 31 May 1941), Panaghis (arrived at Sorel on 31 May 1941) and Storanger (arrived at Aruba on 5 June 1941).
Around 1430B/23, in position 42°44'N, 21°34'W, the Dutch submarine HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) joined the convoy. HMS Aster had been detached the previous day to make contact with convoy HG 62 and then escort the submarine from that convoy over to convoy OG 62.
Around 2300B/23, in position 41°44'N, 21°20'W, some ships were detached to destinations in the South Atlantic area. This were the following; Atle Jarl (arrived at Bathurst on 2 June 1941), Baron Napier (arrived at Freetown on 6 June 1941), Emmy (arrived at Freetown on 5 June 1941), Henry Stanley (arrived at Freetown on 2 June 1941), Kingston Hill (arrived at St. Vincent on 30 May 1941), River Lugar (arrived at Freetown on 5 June 1941), Rolf Jarl (arrived at Bathurst on 31 May 1941) and .
Around 1000B/29, to the south of Cape Trafalgar, some ships were detached to destinations in south-west Spain and Portugal. This were the following; Serula (arrived at Huelva on 29 May 1941), Solstad (arrived at Lisbon on 31 May 1941), Uela (arrived at Huelva on 29 May 1941) and Wrotham (arrived at Setubal on 31 May 1941).
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar in the afteroon of 29 May 1941. (5)
5 Jul 1941
Convoy OG 67.
This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 5 July 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.
The Milford Haven section (sailed 3 July 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Baron Kelvin (British, 3081 GRT, built 1924), Brabant (Belgian, 2483 GRT, buil 1938), Briarwood (British, 4019 GRT, built 1930), British Coast (British, 889 GRT, built 1934), Cara (British, 1760 GRT, built 1929), Evros (Greek, 5283 GRT, built 1918), Lissa (British, 1511 GRT, built 192), Olivebank (British, 5154 GRT, built 1926), Wentworth (British, 5212 GRT, built 1919) and Winterswijk (Dutch, 3205 GRT, built 1914).
On departure from Milford Haven this section was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN), sloop HMS Black Swan (Cdr. T.A.C. Pakenham, RN) and the A/S trawlers HMS Sphene (Ch.Skr. W.J.J. Tucker, RNR) and HMS York City (Skr. W. Tucker, RNR). These escorts were detached on 5 July and then arrived at Belfast later that day. <í>HMS Wolsey went to Greenock.
The Liverpool section (sailed 4 July 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Algerian (British, 2315 GRT, built 1924), Ardeola (British, 2609 GRT, built 1912), Ariosto (British, 2176 GRT, built 1940), Basil (British, 4913 GRT, built 1928), Glenstrae (British, 9460 GRT, built 1922), Polo (British, 1950 GRT, built 1919) and Solon II (British, 4561 GRT, built 1925). They were escorted by the sloop HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR).
The Clyde section (sailed 4 / 5 July 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Baltallinn (British, 1303 GRT, built 1920), Csarda (Panamanian, 3882 GRT, built 1917), Empire Lake (British, 2852 GRT, built 1941), Framlington Court (), Hainaut (), Leonardia (Swedish, 1583 GRT, built 1906), Mentor (British, 7383 GRT, built 1914), Merchant Royal (British, 5008 GRT, built 1928), Nikoklis (Greek, 3576 GRT, built 1921), Prins Maurits (Dutch, 1287 GRT, built 1936) and River Afton (British, 5479 GRT, built 1935). With these ships was also the armed boarding vessel HMS Lady Somers (Cdr. G.L. Dunbar, RD, RNR). They were escorted by the A/S trawler HMS Arctic Ranger (Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Young, RN) and M/S trawlers HMS Arran (T/Lt. J.E.B. Healy, RNVR), HMS Copinsay (Skr. E.R. Harris, RNR) and M/S whaler HMS Kos VIII (?).
The Oban section (sailed 4 / 5 July 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alhama (British, 1352 GRT, built 1938), Atheltemplar (British (tanker), 8992 GRT, built 1930), Balteako (British, 1328 GRT, built 1920), Baron Kinnaird (British, 3355 GRT, built 1927), Baxtergate (British, 5531 GRT, built 1925), Corabella (British, 5682 GRT, built 1937), Dover Hill (British, 5815 GRT, built 1918), Dux (Norwegian, 1590 GRT, built 1934), Eulima (British (tanker), 6207 GRT, built 1937), Gullpool (British, 4868 GRT, built 1928), Holmside (British, 3433 GRT, built 1930), Inger Lise (Norwegian, 1582 GRT, built 1939), Rupert de Larrinaga (British, 5358 GRT, built 1930), Sabor (British, 5212 GRT, built 1920) and Wallsend (British, 3157 GRT, built 1937).
On final assembly the convoy was joined by the catapult ship HMS Pegasus (Capt.(Retd.) P.G. Wodehouse, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Verity (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), HMS Chelsea (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN), HNoMS Mansfield (Cdr. F. Ulstrup, RNorN) and the corvettes HMS Arbutus (T/Lt. A.L.W. Warren, RNR), HMS Begonia (T/Lt. T.A.R. Muir, RNR), HMS Convolvulus (T/Lt. R.C. Connell, RNR), HMS Jasmine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.D.B. Coventry, RNR), HMS Larkspur (Lt. S.C.B. Hickman, RNR), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) and HMS Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.H. Faichney, DSO, RNR).
On 7 July 1941, HMS Kos VIII parted company to join convoy HG 66 and return to the U.K. Possibly she had developed problems during her intended passage to the South Atlantic / West Africa station.
Around 0900B/8, in position 54.10'N, 16/30'W part of the escort parted company. This were most likely HMS Verity, HMS Chelsea and HNoMS Mansfield. They were to search for and join convoy SL 78.
Around 1200B/8, in position 54°00'N, 16°32'W, HMS Pegasus and HMS Arbutus, HMS Begonia, HMS Convolvulus, HMS Jasmine, HMS Larkspur, HMS Pimpernel and HMS Rhododendron also parted company to join convoy SL 78.
During the passage towards Gibraltar at three times [times and positions not given in the Convoy Commodore's report, which holds little information], ships were detached to proceed independently to their destinations.
First ships with destinations in North America and the Caribbean were detached, this were; Atheltemplar (arrived at Curacao on 24 July 1941), Baron Kinnaird (arrived at Tampa on 26 July 1941), Baxtergate (arrived at Tampa on 24 July 1941), Brabant (arrived at La Guajira, Colombia on 22 July 1941), Eulima (arrived at Aruba on 24 July 1941), Framlington Court (arrived at Kingston on 27 July 1941), Gullpool (arrived at Neuvitas, Cuba on 25 July 1941), Hainaut (arrived at Tampa on 29 July 1941), Prins Maurits (arrived at Barbados on 24 July 1941) and Winterswijk (arrived at Tampa on 28 July 1941).
Then ships with destinations in the South Atlantic area were detached, this were; Basil (arrived at Para, Brazil on 26 July 1941), Dover Hill (arrived at Capetown on 10 August 1941), Evros (arrived at Buenos Aires on 6 August 1941), Glenstrae (arrived at Capetown on 4 August 1941), Holmside (torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-66 on 19 July. Destination was Pepel, Sierra Leone), Mentor (arrived at Capetown on 5 August 1941), Merchant Royal (arrived at Takoradi on 27 July 1941), Nikoklis (torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Alessandro Malaspina on 15 July. Destination was Pepel, Sierra Leone), Olivebank (arrived at Capetown on 6 August 1941), River Afton (arrived at Freetown on 22 July 1941), Rupert de Larrinaga (torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Morosini on 14 July 1941. Destination was Las Palmas, Canary Islands), Sabor (arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 4 August 1941), Solon II (arrived at Capetown on 14 August 1941) and Wentworth (arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 1 August 1941).
Around the same time HMS Lady Somers must have detached from the convoy to proceed on patrol off the Azores. She was sunk by the Italian submarine Morosini on 15 July 1941.
Around 1800B/14, the corvettes HMS Joinquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR), HMS Spiraea (T/Lt. L.C. Head, RNVR), HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR) and HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) joined the convoy coming from convoy HG 67.
And finally ships with destinations in Portugal were detached (most likely south of Cape Trafalgar), this were; Alahama (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Ardeola (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Briarwood (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Cara (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Dux (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Inger Lise (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941), Leonardia (arrived at Setubal on 19 July 1941), Lissa (arrived at Lisbon on 19 July 1941) and Polo (arrived at Oporto on 20 July 1941).
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 18 July 1941 escorted by HMS Bideford, HMS Coreopsis, HMS Arctic Ranger, HMS Arran, HMS Copinsay and HrMs O 24. HMS Spiraea arrived on 20 July, apparently having been detached, possibly having escorted the ships with destinations in Portugal to the vicinity of Lisbon. (6)
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). (7)
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. (8)
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. (8)
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). (9)
Media links
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Sources
- ADM 173/16373
- Rosyth Dockyard docking register
- ADM 199/1142
- ADM 53/113616 + ADM 53/114554
- ADM 178/13 + ADM 199/1142
- ADM 178/14 + ADM 199/1142
- ADM 173/18397
- ADM 53/120195 + ADM 199/1430
- ADM 53/119165
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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