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Notable events involving Willowherb include:

10 Jul 1944

Convoy SL 164.

This convoy departed Freetown on 10 July 1944.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Calumet (British, 7268 GRT, built 1923), Chateauroux (British, 4765 GRT, built 1921), Cordillera (British, 6865 GRT, built 1920), Empire Archer (British, 7031 GRT, built 1942), Empire Austen (British, 7057 GRT, built 1942), Empire Highway (British, 7166 GRT, built 1942), Fort Remy (British, 7127 GRT, built 1943), Hopecrown (British, 5180 GRT, built 1937), Jersey City (British, 6686 GRT, built 1942), MacGreggor Laird (British, 4992 GRT, built 1930), Princesa (British, 8731 GRT, built 1918), Settler (British, 6202 GRT, built 1939), Silverguava (British, 5305 GRT, built 1927), Tyndareus (British, 11361 GRT, built 1916), Ville de Strasbourg (British, (former French), 7007 GRT, built 1920), Vinriver (British, 3881 GRT, built 1917) and Waiotapu (British, 6035 GRT, built 1913).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the frigates HMS Ballinderry (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Aikman, RNR), HMS Inver (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR), corvettes HMS Snowdrop (T/Lt. C.A. Boardman, RNVR), HMS Willowherb (Lt. A. Hague, RNR) and the patrol vessel HMS Kilmelford (T/Lt. H. Brown, RNR).

On 13 July 1944, the merchant vessels Briarwood (British, 4019 GRT, built 1930) and Finisterre (French, 1158 GRT, built 1909) departed Dakar to join the convoy.

On 15 July 1944, the merchant vessel Paul de Rousiers (French, 3548 GRT, built 1942) departed Port Etienne to join the convoy.

On 20 July 1944, the merchant vessels Dunav (Yugosalvian, 4369 GRT, built 1912) and Keilehaven (Dutch, 2968 GRT, built 1919) departed Casablanca to join the convoy. They were escorted by the minesweeping sloop La Boudeuse and the patrol vessel L'Eveille. On these ships joining the Finisterre and Paul de Rousiers parted company with the convoy to proceed to Casablanca escorted by the two French warships. HMS Kilmelford was also with them. They arrived at Casablanca on 22 July 1944.

On 21 July 1944, the convoy merged with convoy MKS 55(G) coming from the Mediterranean.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; English Prince (British, 7275 GRT, built 1943), Ernebank (British, 5388 GRT, built 1937), Hermiston (British, 4813 GRT, built 1939), Highland Prince (British, 7043 GRT, built 1942), James J. Pettigrew (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Marpessa (Dutch (tanker / escort oiler), 7408 GRT, built 1927), Merchant Prince (British, 5229 GRT, built 1939), Middlesex Trader (British, 7421GRT, built 1942), Nicolaos Michalos (Greek, 4342 GRT, built 1913), Ocean Verity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Ottinge (British, 2818 GRT, built 1940), Peribonka (British, 5673 GRT, built 1937), Samguadie (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Samsette (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samuta (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Stad Arnhem (Dutch, 3819 GRT, built 1920), Strategist (British, 6255 GRT, built 1937) and Ulla (British, 1575 GRT, built 1930).

The rescue ship Fastnet (British, 1415 GRT, built 1928) was also with this convoy.

Convoy MKS 55(G) was escorted by the frigates HMS Exe (Cdr. C.E.E. Paterson, RN), HMS Ascension (Lt.Cdr. A. Wilkinson, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Berkeley Castle (T/Lt. F.A. Darrah, RNVR), HMS Carisbrooke Castle (T/Lt. W.H. Forster, RNR), HMS Dumbarton Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. P.F. Broadhead, RNR) and HMS Hadleigh Castle (Lt. C. Sandeman, RN).

The original escort of convoy SL 164 and the merchant vessels Dunav, Empire Highway, Vinriver and Waiotapu then parted company and proceeded to Gibraltar where they arrived on 23 July 1944. HMS Snowdrop did not part company with the convoy though as she was to return to the U.K. to refit.

Around 1945B/22, the escort carrier HMS Fencer (A/Capt. W.W.R. Bentinck, OBE, RN) joined the convoy.

The escort oiler Marpessa later parted company with the convoy to join the southbound combined convoy OS 84 / KMS 58.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 31 July 1944. Some ships had parted company on 29 July 1944 to proceed ahead of the main convoy.

19 Feb 1945

Convoy MKS 84(G).

[This convoy needs to be further investigated, information if incomplete.]

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 19 February 1945.

On departure from Gibraltar this convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Belgian Veteran (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), City of Lyons (British, 7063 GRT, built 1926), Empire Moonrise (British, 6854 GRT, built 1941), Empire Niger (British, 7887 GRT, built 1920), Empire Scott (British, 6150 GRT, built 1941), Empire Summer (British, 6949 GRT, built 1941), Fort Camosun (British, 7126 GRT, built 1942), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), New York City (British, 2710 GRT, built 1917), Penhale (British, 4071 GRT, built 192), Samesk (British, 7219 GRT, built 1944) and Thistleford (British, 4781 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Wellington (A/Lt.Cdr. A. Hague, RNR), corvettes HMS Oakham Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.H. Lyons, RNVR), HMS Spiraea (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.D. Reid, RANVR) and HMS Willowherb (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.A. Shillan, RNVR).

Around 2100Z/20, the Casablanca section of the convoy joined in position 36°26'N, 09°13'W. This section had departed Casablanca on 19 February and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Athelregent (British (tanker), 8881 GRT, built 1930), Atlantic (British, 5414 GRT, built 1939), Basil (British, 4913 GRT, built 1928), Eemland (Dutch, 4188 GRT, built 1906), Empire Darwin (British, 6765 GRT, built 1941), Empire Zephyr (British, 6327 GRT, built 1941), Fort St. Francois (British, 7125 GRT, built 1942), Lagarto (British, 5072 GRT, built 1917British, 5072 GRT, built 1917), Ocean Volunteer (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Sambre (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samfreedom (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Silverguava (British, 5305 GRT, built 1927) and Trevaylor (British, 5257 GRT, built 1940). They were escorted to the rendezvous by the patrol vessels Le Ruse, L'Emporte, L'Effronte and Tirailleur which did not join the convoy.

Around 1500Z/21, in position 38°31'N, 10°09'W, the following merchant vessels joined coming from Lisbon;
Charles MacIver (British (trawler), 500 GRT, built 1936) and Saint Bertrand (British, 5522 GRT, built 1929).

Around 0845Z/22, in position 40°53'N, 10°23'W, HMS Wellington, HMS Spiraea and HMS Willowherb parted company.

Around 1600Z/24, in position 47°08'N, 07°47'W, the sloop HMS Londonderry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.M. Newns, RNVR), corvette HMS Clover (Lt. T.E. Fanshawe, RNR) and rescue ship Gothland (British, 1286 GRT, built 1932) joined.

Around 2230Z/24, in position 47°58'N, 07°21'W, the corvettes HMS Camellia (T/Lt. G.W. Charlton, DSC, RNR) and HMS Narcissus (T/A/Lt.Cdr. O.B. Medley, RNVR) joined.

The corvette HMCS Mimico (T/Lt. J.B. Elmsley, RCNVR) also joined P.M. on the 24th.

Around 0715Z/25, it was noticed that the Charles MacIver was 13.5 miles astern of the convoy being unable to keep up due to bad coal. She was ordered to proceed indepently to Falmouth.

Around 0800Z/25, in position 49°09'N, 06°57'W, the frigate HMS Barbados (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.G. Donald, RNVR) joined.

Around 1045Z/25, in position 49°30'N, 06°46'W, the Irish Sea / west coast section parted company. This section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Athelregent (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), Atlantic (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), City of Lyons (arrived in the Clyde on 27 February), Empire Darwin (arrived in the Clyde on 27 February), Empire Moonrise (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), Empire Scott (arrived at Barrow in Furness on 27 February), Empire Summer (arrived in the Clyde on 27 February), Fort Camosun (arrived in the Clyde on 27 February), Fort St. Francois (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), Gothland (arrived in the Clyde on 27 February), New York City (arrived at Bristol on 27 February), Saint Bertrand (arrived at Dublin on 27 February), Sambre (arrived at Avonmouth on 26 February), Samfreedom (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), Silverguava (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), Thistleford (arrived at Workington on 28 February) and Trevaylor (arrived at Avonmouth on 26 February). They were escorted by HMS Oakham Castle (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), HMS Camellia (arrived at Liverpool on 27 February), HMS Clover (arrived at Liverpool on 28 February) and HMCS Mimico (arrived at Milford Haven on 28 February).

Support for the Irish Sea section was given from 1200A/26 and 2200A/26, by the frigates HMS Montserrat (Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RD, RNR) and HMS Papua (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR) from the 23rd Escort Group.

The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Basil (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Belgian Veteran (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Eemland (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Empire Niger (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Empire Zephyr (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Harberton (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Lagarto (arrived at Le Havre on 27 February), Ocean Volunteer (arrived at Southend on 27 February), Penhale (arrived at Southend on 27 February) and Samesk (arrived at Southend on 27 February). They were escorted by HMS Londonderry (arrived at Plymouth on 26 February), HMS Barbados (arrived at Plymouth on 27 February) and HMS Narcissus (arrived at Plymouth on 26 February).

Around 1915A/25, the destroyers HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN) and HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.V.W. Groos, RCN) joined the Channel / east coast section.

Around 0800A/26, the Channel / east coast section was joined by the 6th Escort Group. [as per log of HMCS Iroquois to be further investigated as according to ship movement cards the ships of the 6th Escort Group were at Portsmouth on the 26th and only left on the 27th.]

Around 1200A/26, HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Huron parted company to join convoy UC 58A. (1)

22 Mar 1945
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with aircraft and later with HMS Bergamot (A/Lt.Cdr. W. McInnes, RNR) and HMS Willowherb (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.A. Shillan, RNVR). (2)