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Notable events involving Arabis include:

19 Jun 1940
HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. Arthur Blewett, RNR) picks up 15 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Tudor that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-48 northwest of Cape Finisterre in position 45°10'N, 11°50'W.

21 Sep 1940
HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. Arthur Blewett, RNR) picks up 23 survivors from the British whale factory ship New Sevilla that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-138 52 miles northwest of Rathlin Island in position 55°50'N, 07°30'W.

10 Dec 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. R.L. Alexander, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR) and HMS Mallow (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Piggott, RNR). (1)

23 Jan 1941
The British merchant Lurigethan is bombed and damaged by a German FW200 aircraft. The crew abandoned ship and were picked up by the British corvette HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR), which stayed near the ship to wait for a tug. At 02.12 hours on 26 January 1941, the burning and abandoned Lurigethan was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-105 west of Ireland in position 53°46'N, 16°00'W.

15 Mar 1941

Convoy HG 56.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 15 March 1941 and arrived in U.K. waters on 1 April 1941.

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Ary Lensen (British, 3214 GRT, built 1930), Aymeric (British, 5196 GRT, built 1919), Baron Haig (British, 3391 GRT, built 1926), Baron Nairn (British, 3164 GRT, built 1925), Baron Pentland (British, 3410 GRT, built 1927), Bruce M. (British, 1887 GRT, built 1927), Crane (British, 785 GRT, built 1937), Cressado (British, 1228 GRT, built 1913), Dayrose (British, 4113 GRT, built 1928), Fanefjeld (Norwegian, 1354 GRT, built 1920), Fendris (British, 1018 GRT, built 1925), Lech (Polish, 1568 GRT, built 19341927), Lissa (British, 1511 GRT, built ), Magne (Swedish, 3103 GRT, built 1912), Margareta (British, 1173 GRT, built 1904), Ocean Coast (British, 1173 GRT, built 1935), Philipp M. (British, 2085 GRT, built 1924), Procris (British, 1033 GRT, built 1924), Rhineland (British, 1381 GRT, built 1922), Rimfakse (Norwegian, 1334 GRT, built 1921), Thurso (British, 2436 GRT, built 1919), Treminnard (British, 4964 GRT, built 1922), Ulea (British, 1574 GRT, built 1936), Uskside (British, 2708 GRT, built 1937) and Wallonia (Swedish, 1435 GRT, built ).

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

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN), sloop HMS Folkestone (Lt.Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, RN), corvettes HMS Geranium (T/Lt. A. Foxall, RNR), HMS Verbena (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, RNVR) and the submarine HMS Olympus (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Dymott, RN).

HMS Velox, HMS Geranium and HMS Verbena parted company on 16 March to return to Gibraltar.

The light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) joined the convoy around 0900Z/23.

At 1600Z/24, HMS Olympus parted company with the convoy and proceeded to join convoy OG 56.

Around 1130Z/25, the armed boarding vessel HMS Corinthian (A/Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 0800Z/27, the destroyer HMS Legion (Cdr. R.F. Jessel, RN), Léopard (Lt.Cdr. J. Evenou) and Piorun (Cdr. E.J.S. Plawski) joined the convoy.

Around 1000Z/27, the corvettes HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR), HMS Mallow (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Piggott, RNR) and HMS Violet (Lt.Cdr. K.M. Nicholson, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1700Z/27, the destroyers HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN), HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN), HMS Burwell (Lt.Cdr. S.R.J. Woods, RNR), sloop HMS Fleetwood (Cdr. R.W. Moir, RN), A/S trawlers HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RNR), HMS Northern Wave (T/Lt. W.G. Pardoe-Matthews, RNR) and rescue ship Zaafaran (1559 GRT, built 1921) joined.

Around 0930A/29, the destroyer HMS Broadwater (Lt.Cdr. W.M.L. Astwood, RN) joined the convoy.

8 Apr 1941

Convoy OG 58.

This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 8 April 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.

The Milford Haven section (sailed 5 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adjutant (British, 1931 GRT, built 1922), Baron Carnegie (British, 3178 GRT, built 1925), City of Dublin (British, 1095 GRT, built 1882), Empire Cormorant (British, 5760 GRT, built 1918), Flynderborg (Norwegian, 2022 GRT, built 1930), Forest (British, 4998 GRT, built 1937), Inverness (British, 4897 GRT, built 1940), Lanahrone (Irish, 1221 GRT, built 1928), Modavia (British, 4858 GRT, built 1927), Neva (Swedish, 1456 GRT, buil 1928), Senta (Swedish, 1497 GRT, built 1905), Sheaf Mount (British, 5017 GRT, built 1924) and Vanellus (British, 1886 GRT, built 1921).

The Liverpool section (sailed 6 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Algerian (British, 2315 GRT, built 1924), Bifrost (Swedish, 1781 GRT, built 1923), Bruse Jarl (Norwegian, 1890 GRT, built 1923), Empire Kestrel (British, 2674 GRT, built 1919), Ilissos (Greek, 4724 GRT, built 1915), Norita (Swedish, 1516 GRT, built 1924), South Wales (British, 5619 GRT, built 1929), Torfinn Jarl (Norwegian, 1480 GRT, built 1922) and Ulla (British, 1575 GRT, built 1930).

The Clyde section (sailed 7 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Brisk (Norwegian, 1594 GRT, built 1923), Caverock (British, 1332 GRT, built 1915), Empire Ridge (British, 2922 GRT, built 1941), Marga (Norwegian, 1583 GRT, built 1923), Marita (Norwegian, 1931 GRT, built 1919), Star (Norwegian, 1531 GRT, built 1922), Switzerland (British, 1290 GRT, built 1922) and Vassilios A. Polemis (Greek, 3429 GRT, built 1907). The rescue ship Toward (British, 1571 GRT, built 1923) also sailed from the Clyde.

The Oban section (sailed 7 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Ashbury (British, 3901 GRT, built 1924), Blairesk (British, 3300 GRT, built 1925), Cape Corso (British, 3807 GRT, built 1929), Carperby (British, 4890 GRT, built 1928), Dover Hill (British, 5815 GRT, built 1918), Fidra (British, 1574 GRT, built 1936), Grodno (British, 2458 GRT, built 1919), Inger Toft (British (former German), 2190 GRT, built 1920), Melrose Abbey II (British, 2473 GRT, built 1936), Nesstun (Norwegian, 1271 GRT, built 1917) and Polyana (Norwegian, 2415 GRT, built 1919).

On final assembly the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN), HMS Burwell (Lt.Cdr. S.R.J. Woods, RNR), sloops HMS Fleetwood (Cdr. R.W. Moir, RN), HMS Wellington (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN), corvettes HMS Amaranthus (Lt. N.B.J. Stapleton, RNR), HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR), HMS Heliotrope (Lt.Cdr. J. Jackson, RNR) and A/S trawlers HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RNR) and HMS Northern Spray (?). The special service vessel HMS Fidelity (Cdr. C.A.M. Péri) and armed boarding vessel HMS Maron (Cdr. (Retd.) J.H. Blair, DSC, RD, RNR) were also with the convoy.

The Ashbury arrived back at Oban on 8 April 1941, after having been involved in a collision with a trawler. She later proceeded to the Clyde to effect repairs.

Around 1130A/9, the destroyer HMS Malcolm (Cdr. C.D. Howard-Johnston, DSC, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 0800Z/12, HMS Malcolm, HMS Watchman, HMS Burwell, HMS Fleetwood, HMS Arabis, HMS Heliotrope, HMS Northern Gem and HMS Northern Pride parted company with the convoy. The Toward also left the convoy with them.

Around 1000Z/12, the corvette HMS Primula (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Fuller, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 0800Z/13, the ships with destinations in North America and the West Indies parted company with the convoy. These were the following; Baron Carnegie (arrived at Boston on 24 April 1941), Brisk (arrived at Demarara, Guyana on 28 April 1941), Empire Cormorant (arrived at New York on 28 April 1941), Flynderborg (arrived at St. John's, Newfoundland on 24 April 1941), Grodno (arrived at Barbados on 1 May 1941), Illisos (arrived at Halifax on 22 April 1941), Inger Toft (arrived at Weymouth, Nova Scotia on 23 April 1941), Inverness (arrived at Philadelphia on 25 April 1941), Marga (arrived at Demarara, Guyana on 28 April 1941), Marita (arrived at Halifax on 22 April 1941), Modavia (arrived at Saint John, New Brunswick on 21 April 1941), Nesstun (arrived at Halifax on 22 April 1941) and Star (arrived at Halifax on 22 April 1941).

Around 2028Z/13, in approximate position 47°27'N, 23°16'W [another source gives 47°21'N, 22°49'W] the submarine HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) joined the convoy.

Around 2200Z/14, in position 44°41'N, 22°43'W, the ships with destinations in South America and Africa parted company with the convoy. These were the following; Carperby (arrived at Freetown on 30 April 1941), Forest (arrived at Freetown on 28 April 1941), Norita (arrived at Bathurst on 24 April 1941), Polyana (destination was Freetown but she was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat U-103 on 25 April 1941), Sheaf Mount (arrived at Freetown on 29 April 1941), Ulla (arrived at Bathurst on 24 April 1941) and Vassilios A. Polemis (arrived at Freetown on 27 April 1941). HMS Amaranthus also parted company at this time. She arrived at Gibraltar on 18 April 1941.

Around 0700A/21, in position 35°50'N, 06°14'W, ships bound for Portugese and Spanish west coast ports parted company with the convoy. These were the following; Bifrost (arrived at Villa Real on 21 April 1941), Cape Corso (arrived at Cadiz on 21 April 1941), Empire Ridge (arrived at Lisbon on 22 April 1941), Fidra (arrived at Lisbon on 22 April 1941), Melrose Abbey II (arrived at Lisbon on 22 April 1941), Switzerland (arrived at Lisbon on 22 April 1941) and Torfinn Jarl (arrived at Seville on 22 April 1941).

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 21 April 1941. (2)

17 May 1941

Convoy SL 75.

This convoy departed Freetown on 17 May 1941 for the U.K.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Arabistan (British, 5874 GRT, built 1929), Baarn (Dutch, 5621 GRT, built 1927), Badjestan (British, 5573 GRT, built 1928), Benwood (Norwegian, 3931 GRT, built 1910), Blitar (Dutch, 7065 GRT, built 1923), Charlbury (British, 4836 GRT, built 1940, the convoy Vice-Commodore was on board this ship), City of Dundee (British, 5273 GRT, built 1921), Clan MacNaughton (British, 6087 GRT, built 1921), Devon (British, 9036 GRT, built 1915), Empire Voice (British, 6828 GRT, built 1940), Gemstone (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938), Idomeneus (British, 7792 GRT, built 1926), Larchbank (British, 5150 GRT, built 1925), Madura (British, 8975 GRT, built 1921), Matadian (British, 4275 GRT, built 1936), Mentor (British, 7383 GRT, built 1914), Nikoklis (Greek, 3576 GRT, built 1921), Prince de Liege (Belgian, 2588 GRT, built 1938), Raranga (British, 10043 GRT, built 1916), Reggestroom (Dutch, 2836 GRT, built 1923), Ruahine (British, 10832 GRT, built 1909, the convoy Commodore was on board this ship) and Tordene (British, 4271 GRT, built 1936).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cathay (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.M. Merewether, RN) and the corvettes HMS Crocus (Lt.Cdr. E. Wheeler, RNR), HMS Cyclamen (Lt. H.N. Lawson, RNR), HMS Gardenia (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR) and HMS Marguerite (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Blundell, RNR).

At dawn on the 22nd, the Benwood and HMS Marguerite were not in sight. At 0745Z/22, the convoy was ordered to proceed to the east of the Cape Verde Islands and course was set accordingly. HMS Gardenia was briefly detached to search for the missing ships and inform them of the course change. She quickly rejoined the convoy as did HMS Marguerite which rejoined around 1000Z/22. The Benwood rejoined around 1600Z/22.

At 2000N/24 and 0130N/25, HMS Crocus and HMS Cyclamen parted company with the convoy [not known to us for the moment which corvette parted company first]. They were to make rendezvous with the dummy battleship HMS Centurion (resembling HMS Anson, King George V-class, Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) R.W.J. Martin, RN)

At dawn on the 25th, HMS Marguerite was not in sight and she did not rejoin the convoy.

Around 0610N/26, HMS Gardenia parted company with the convoy to proceed to Bathurst.

Around 0645N/28, the heavy cruiser HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) was close to the convoy to provide cover. She left again during the night of 28/29 May.

The battleship HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN) was with the convoy from 0900A/2 to 1600A/4 when she was detached to hunt the German supply vessel Gonzenheim. After having successfully intercepted the German ship, which scuttled herself, HMS Nelson did not rejoin the convoy.

Around 1630Z/8, the corvette HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 0540Z/9, the destroyers HMS Roxborough (Lt. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN), HMS Salisbury (Lt.Cdr. H.M.R. Crichton, RN), HMS Skate (Lt. F.P. Baker, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO, RNR), HMS Clarkia (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RNR), HMS Veronica (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) D.F. White, RNR), A/S trawler HMS Vizalma (T/Lt. M.M. Firth, RNVR) joined the convoy. Also with them was the rescue ship Toward (British, 1571 GRT, built 1923).

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 12 June 1941 and was then split into several sections which then proceeded to their respective destinations. (3)

29 Jun 1941
German U-boat U-651 was sunk south of Iceland, in position 59°52'N, 18°36'W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Malcolm (Cdr. C.D. Howard-Johnston, DSC, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, RN), the corvettes HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR) and HMS Violet (Lt.Cdr. K.M. Nicholson, RNR) and the minesweeper HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. J.J. Youngs, OBE, RNR).

26 Oct 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, DSC, RNR). (4)

17 Jan 1942
HMS H 32 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Asphodel (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN), HMS Snowflake (Lt. H.G. Chesterman, RNR), HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, DSC, RNR) and HMS Dahlia (T/Lt. M.S. Work, RNR). (5)