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Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
Posted by:
W Richthofen
()
Date: February 01, 2006 04:18PM
Hi Nick
I'm puzzled by your query.
You say the action took place on March 14th, 1940, yet the engineer, (George Leonard Westerden) is listed in the London Gazette (issue #34763) as being awarded the DSM in January 1st, 1940. Yet this ASW action involving a submarine happened some three months after his award?
Of the 19 U-Boats listed at sea during March, 1940, none are reported as being sunk, on this site, on that date.
In late 1939, 'Northern Spray'(FY-129) was working out of Milford Haven and escorting convoys up the Welsh coast, the Irish Sea and out to the North Channel in conjunction with; 'Northern Dawn'(FY-146), 'Northern Wave' (FY-153), 'Northern Gem' (FY-194), and the 'Northern Pride'(Fy-105). They seem to have been so-occupied until the end of that year. Perhaps a search of those boats might elicit some more info about the incident?
Early in 1940, April, 'Northen Gem' & 'Northern Spray' were paired up at Scapa Flow (I think..) and sent to Norway to cover Ofot Fjord during the Narvik action. 'Northern Spray' was attacked by ground fire and one of her crew killed (Seaman William Henry Peak LT/X 20131A RNRP. see: 'Trawlers Go To War' ~ Paul Lund & Harry Ludlam published by W Foulsham ISBN 0-572-00768-X) and several others wounded on the 'Northern Spray'. (The gunfire apparently came from survivors of a crash-landed German troop transport shot down earlier in the day by 'Northern Spray' - May 8th.)
The 'Northern Spray' (& the 'Gem) was with Convoy ONS5 when the US freighter 'West Maximus' was sunk on May 4th/5th 1943, by U-264. The trawler rescued about 56 men from the sea. The 'Northern Spray's' commander at that time was Captain Francis AJ Downer, DSC, RD, RNR. He took command in 1942 - he was still in command at D-Day. (I cannot locate a name for a Commander prior to this, unfortunately)
In 1993 a 50th reunion was held in Liverpool for veterans of the Atlantic Battles, especially Vice-admiral Sir Peter Gretton's Group - at which some survivors of the 'Northern Spray' were in attendance. If you can locate the venue, you might be able to locate some of the veterans from the 'Northern Spray' through them and gain more information perhaps?
Hope this is of some help ~ Wolf
I'm puzzled by your query.
You say the action took place on March 14th, 1940, yet the engineer, (George Leonard Westerden) is listed in the London Gazette (issue #34763) as being awarded the DSM in January 1st, 1940. Yet this ASW action involving a submarine happened some three months after his award?
Of the 19 U-Boats listed at sea during March, 1940, none are reported as being sunk, on this site, on that date.
In late 1939, 'Northern Spray'(FY-129) was working out of Milford Haven and escorting convoys up the Welsh coast, the Irish Sea and out to the North Channel in conjunction with; 'Northern Dawn'(FY-146), 'Northern Wave' (FY-153), 'Northern Gem' (FY-194), and the 'Northern Pride'(Fy-105). They seem to have been so-occupied until the end of that year. Perhaps a search of those boats might elicit some more info about the incident?
Early in 1940, April, 'Northen Gem' & 'Northern Spray' were paired up at Scapa Flow (I think..) and sent to Norway to cover Ofot Fjord during the Narvik action. 'Northern Spray' was attacked by ground fire and one of her crew killed (Seaman William Henry Peak LT/X 20131A RNRP. see: 'Trawlers Go To War' ~ Paul Lund & Harry Ludlam published by W Foulsham ISBN 0-572-00768-X) and several others wounded on the 'Northern Spray'. (The gunfire apparently came from survivors of a crash-landed German troop transport shot down earlier in the day by 'Northern Spray' - May 8th.)
The 'Northern Spray' (& the 'Gem) was with Convoy ONS5 when the US freighter 'West Maximus' was sunk on May 4th/5th 1943, by U-264. The trawler rescued about 56 men from the sea. The 'Northern Spray's' commander at that time was Captain Francis AJ Downer, DSC, RD, RNR. He took command in 1942 - he was still in command at D-Day. (I cannot locate a name for a Commander prior to this, unfortunately)
In 1993 a 50th reunion was held in Liverpool for veterans of the Atlantic Battles, especially Vice-admiral Sir Peter Gretton's Group - at which some survivors of the 'Northern Spray' were in attendance. If you can locate the venue, you might be able to locate some of the veterans from the 'Northern Spray' through them and gain more information perhaps?
Hope this is of some help ~ Wolf
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
Nick Clark | 01/30/2006 12:34PM |
|
Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
john | 01/31/2006 06:12PM |
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Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
W Richthofen | 02/01/2006 04:18PM |
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Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
Nick Clark | 02/01/2006 08:32PM |
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Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
W Richthofen | 02/02/2006 09:22AM |
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Re: HMT Northern Spray sunk a U-boat by gun fire?
|
Robert Broome | 03/07/2006 10:33AM |