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Notable events involving Essington include:

30 Dec 1943
Around 1745A/30, the battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) and the battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) departed Scapa Flow with the ultimate destination, Trincomalee, Ceylon. On departure from Scapa Flow these ships were escorted by the destroyer HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN) and the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR) and HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR). These ships proceeded through the Minches and were joined around 1100A/31 by the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN) escorted by the destroyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN). These ships had departed the Clyde around 2200A/30. The frigates HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) also joined. They came from Londonderry, Northern Ireland. HMS Tuscan was now detached to the Clyde to make repairs as she had sustained weather damage during the passage from Scapa Flow. (1)

4 Jan 1944
Around 1630Z/4, HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) parted company with the carriers to proceed ahead of them to Gibraltar to fuel. They took the destroyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) with them as escorts.

This left the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) to escort the carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN).

Also on this day the destroyers HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar to make rendezvous with the carriers and take over the escort from the frigates so that there too could proceed to Gibraltar to fuel. (2)

5 Jan 1944
Around 0900Z/5, the destroyers HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), joined HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN). The carriers escort made up of the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) then parted company to proceed ahead of the carriers to fuel at Gibraltar.

The battleship group, made up of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) and escorted by the destoyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) arrived at Gibraltar around 2130A/5 and all ships commenced fuelling. (3)

6 Jan 1944
Around 0430A/6, HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR), departed Gibraltar.

Around 0800A/6, they joined HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) which had just passed the Straits of Gibraltar eastbound.

After fuelling the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) departed Gibraltar later in the day to overtake the force. (3)

7 Jan 1944
Around 0900A/7, the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) joined the force made up of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR).

HMS Active, HMS Anthony, HMS Brilliant and HMS Isis were then detached. Shortly after doing so they were detached to hunt an enemy submarine [this was U-343].

Late in the evening HMS Termagant, HMS Tenacious and HMS Kempenfelt were detached to fuel at Bizerta. (4)

8 Jan 1944
Around 1500A/8, HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), rejoined HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR).

Shortly after these three destroyers had rejoined the force, HMS Inglefield was detached to Bizerta.

Late on the day the destroyer HMS Urchin was detached to Malta. (3)

12 Jan 1944
HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) arrived at Port Said.

All six frigates remained at Port Said. All the other ships entered the Suez Canal, although HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant had to discharge fuel first at Port Said. (3)

14 Jan 1944

Convoy MKF 27A.

This convoy departed Port Said on 14 January 1944.

It was made up of the troop transports Orontes (British, 20097 GRT, built 1929) and Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931).

The Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) was also to have been part of this convoy but was unable to depart due to engine defects and thus remained at Port Said.

The battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) also joined the convoy for passage to the U.K.

The convoy was escorted by the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN, S.O. 3rd Escort Group), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR).

Around 1415A/17, near Malta, the submarine HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. W.J. de Vries, RNN) joined the convoy for passage to Gibraltar.

Around 1200A/18, the AA cruiser HMS Delhi (Capt. G.R. Waymouth, RN) joined the convoy.

The convoy arrived at Algiers around 0900A/19 and after fuelling departed again around 1600A/19.

The convoy arrived in Gibraltar Bay around 2230A/20 where HMS Ramillies and the six frigates topped off with fuel.

The convoy departed Gibraltar Bay around 0215A/21. HrMs O 24, which was to proceed to the USA to refit remained at Gibraltar. The aircraft transport HMS Athene (T/A/Cdr. C.H. Moulton, RNR) had joined the convoy at Gibraltar.

Around 0630A/27, the convoy arrived off Rathlin Island where the two troop transports parted company to proceed to Liverpool. HMS Ramillies and HMS Athene proceeded to Greenock arriving there around 1240A/27. The frigates, minus HMS Essington proceeded to Belfast where they arrived later on the same day. The Orontes and Reina del Pacifico, escorted by HMS Essington arrived at Liverpool also later on 27 January 1944. (5)

8 Feb 1944
HMS Strongbow (Lt. J.A.R. Troup, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) and other ships from the 3rd Escort Group. (6)

30 Jun 1944
German U-boat U-441 was sunk in the English Channel west of Guernsey, in position 49°37'N, 03°41'W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqn RAF/L) and the British frigates HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR).

4 Aug 1944
Around 0930B/4, HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) departed Spithead for Gibraltar.

At 1000B/4, on passing the boom, the destroyers HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN) and frigate HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 1810B/4, off Start Point six frigates of the 3rd Escort Group joined. These were the following; HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Braithwaite (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Stoner, RN), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR). They parted company the following day near the Scilly Islands.

Around 2300B/6, HMS Narborough parted company after the destroyer HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN) joined.

HMS Ramillies, HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex and HMS Brilliant arrived at Gibraltar around 0145B/10.

HMS Ramillies departed again around 0430B/10 for Algiers. Now escorted by the destroyers HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex, HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN) and HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN).

Around 1000B/11, HMS Ramillies, HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex, HMS Wakeful and HMS Wager arrived at Algiers. (7)

14 Aug 1944
German U-boat U-618 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay south-west of Lorient, in position 47°22'N, 04°39'W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Duckworth and HMS Essington and from a British Liberator aircraft (53 Sqn RAF/G).

2 Mar 1945

Convoy UC 58B.

The Channel section of this convoy departed The Solent around 1100A/2.

This section was made up of 15 merchant vessels;
The troop transport (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943) and naval troop tranports USS General W.H. Gordon (17811 GRT, built 1944) (Capt. R.E. Wood, USCG) and USS General William Weigel (17811 GRT, built 1945) (Capt. T.Y. Awalt, USCG) were among them. [The identity of the remaining 12 ships is currently not known to us.]

On departure from The Solent the convoy was escorted by the escort destroyers USS Koiner (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Judson, Jr., USN), USS Hurst (Lt. E.B. Winslow, USCG) and USS Ramsden (Lt.Cdr. S.T. Baketel, USCGR).

Around 1325A/2, the frigates HMCS New Waterford (T/A/Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, DSC, RCNR) and HMCS Loch Morlich (T/Lt. G.F. Crosby, RCNVR) joined.

Around 1430A/2, the frigates HMCS Loch Achanalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.W. Hart, RCNVR) and HMCS Teme (T/Lt. D.P. Harvey, RCNVR) joined.

Around 1910A/2, ' Force 26 ', made up of destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. Douglas Eric Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Bulldog (?), HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN), HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.V.W. Groos, RCN) and frigate HMS Barbados (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.G. Donald, RNVR) joined.

Around 2355A/2, USS Ramsden parted company to escort three ships coming from Plymouth to the convoy. This were the following ships;
Troop transports Athos II (French, 15276 GRT, built 1927) and General George W. Goethals (American, 12093 GRT, built 1942). The landing ship HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte (A/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Bromley, RNR) was also with them. They joined the convoy around 0150A/3. The corvettes HMS Narcissus (T/Lt. R. Stott, RNR) and HMCS Lunenburg (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RCNVR) also escorted the ships to the rendezvous and then returned to Plymouth.

Around 0245A/3, 13 ships, including HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte were detached to proceed up the Irish Sea. USS Ramsden and all the British and Canadian escorts went with them.

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The Irish Sea Section of the convoy was made up of three sections, coming from the Clyde, Liverpool and the Bristol Channel.

The Clyde Section of the convoy departed on 2 March and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Empire Paladin (British (tanker), 8141 GRT, built 1944) and Empire Paragon (British, 9888 GRT, built 1944). They were escorted by the destroyer escort USS O'Reilly (Donald R. Shaul, USNR).

Around 1010A/2, ' Force 37 ', made up of the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.C.S. Garwood, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Cooke ( Lt. N.D. Cornwall, RN), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Essington (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.A. Lampard, RNVR) and HMS Rowley (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RNR) joined.

Around 1745A/2, ' Force 37 ' parted company.

Around 1910A/2, the Liverpool section of the convoy joined. This had departed Liverpool on 2 March and was made up of the escort carriers USS Bogue (T/Capt. G.J. Dufek, USN) and USS Card (T/Capt. R.C. Young, Jr., USN) were also part of the Liverpool section. The Liverpool section was escorted by the destroyer escort USS Marchand (Maynard F. Young, USCG, with COMCORTDIV 20, Lt.Cdr. W.B. Ellis, USCG, on board).

Around 2235A/2, the frigates HMS Montserrat (Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RD, RNR) and HMS Papua (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR) of the 23rd Escort Group joined the convoy.

Around 0325A/3, the Bristol Channel section of the convoy joined. This was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Chapel Hill Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), Exminster (American, 6683 GRT, built 1944), Fort Schuyler (Dutch (tanker), 10297, built 1944), Malden Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944) and Washington Express (Norwegian, 3643 GRT, built 1933). They were escorted to the rendezvous by four British escorts [so far unidentified] which did not join the convoy.

Around 1330A/3, the Empire Paragon parted company with engine trouble. She set course for Milford Haven escorted by HMS Papua.

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Around 1730A/3, the Channel section and Irish Sea section joined company. HMS Montserrat was then detached.

Around 2355Q/11, USS Bogue and USS Card parted company to proceed to Norfolk, Virginia escorted by USS Hurst.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at New York in the morning of 12 March. (8)

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