FLOWER-Class
Corvette
ordered on 31st August 1939 in the 1939
Build Programme from Lewis SB
of Aberdeen and laid down as Job
Number
1064 (Yard Number 154) on 9th September
1940. The ship was launched on 29th
March 1941 and was the 8th RN warship to
carry the name, introduced in 1781 for
a 6th Rate. It had previously been borne by
a Sloop built in 1915 and sold in
1922. Build was completed on 17th July 1941.
Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in March
1942 had been adopted by the civil community
of Denton, Lancashire now in the Tameside
Metropolitan Borough of Greater
Manchester, in March 1942.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-45 - NORMANDY
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
The
Admiralty Heraldic Crest
Record does not include any details for this
ship.
This
is not unusual for a
smaller war time build. As there had been
previous RN
warships
carrying this name it is
likely she did have a Ships' Badge.,
S
u m m a r y o f W a
r
S e r v i
c e
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search
1
9 4 1
July
Contractors sea trials and commissioned
for
service.
(Note:
Allocated for convoy
defence
in Western Approaches Command.
17th
Build
completion date ands commenced Acceptance
Trials
On completion of
trials and string took passage to Tobermory.
August Working-up
at Tobermory.
21st
Took
passage to Join 4th Escort Group on
completion of work-up.
Joined
HM Destroyers BOADICEA,
BEAGLE, SALISBURY and WINCHELSEA and HM
Corvette
HEATHER at Greenock for escort duty with
Group.
22nd
Deployed
with Group for escort of
Convoy ON9.
25th
Detached
and Joined inward Convoy
KX145 for passage to Clyde area.
(Note:
HMS SALISBURY lost a man
overboard during this passage.)
September
7th
Deployed
with Group for escort of
Convoy ON14.
16th
Detached
from ON14 and joined Convoy
SC42 as escort for return passage.
(Note:
SC42 had already lost 17 ships during a
series of attacks during which
the
RON escort sank
U501 on 10th September. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED
by P Kemp and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
27th
At
Greenock after arrival of
SC42.
(Note:
One ship of SC32 was sunk before arrival of
RN ships.)
For
details of dates of all convoys see ALLIED
CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by
A Hague.)
October
Escorted
Convoy outward Convoy ONS19 and return
inward Convoy HX151 with Group.
15th
Provided
escort for Convoy ONS26
after carrying out exercises with Group.
.
(Note:
Air cover was
provided during the transit of the convoy in
NW Approaches.
23rd
After
hand-over of ONS26 to US Navy
escort joined inward Convoy SC49 as escort k
during
passage
to Clyde.
November
4th
Deployed
as part of escort for outward
Convoy ONS33 with ships of Group.
11th
Transferred
ONS33 to
RCN Escort and joined inward Convoy HX158 as
escort for passage to UK.
(Note: ONS33 had been
escorted to Meeting Point by US Navy
warships.
24th
During escort of outward Convoy ON40
experienced heavy weather.
Remained with ON40
during search for U-Boat by HM Destroyer
BEAGLE and Free French
Corvette COMMANDANT
DETROYAT.
(Note: This search was
unsuccessful.)
December
On release from ON49 took passage to
Iceland to await transfer of inward convoy.
4th
Took passage from Island to join
Convoy SC56
with ships of Group.
5th
Deployed
to round-up ships of Convoy
SC56 some mercantiles
which had dispersed due to
to
extreme weather condition during passage
from Canada.
(Note
16 mercantiles
of the convoy made an independent passage
and one was sunk.)
Returned to UK with
remaining 29 ships of SC56,
Joined outward
Convoy ONS47 with HM
Corvettes HEATHER, LOBELIA and
COMMANDANT DETROYAT
24th
Transferred
escort of ONS47 to US Navy ships and joined
inward Convoy HX165
as escort
during
passage to UK
(Note:
HM Destroyer BOADICEA
joined
escort during passage to Clyde
HMS BOADICEA
had been under repair.)
25th
Detached from HX165
to stand-by ss
SHANTUNG which had caught fire and had been
abandoned
by crew.
Mercantile not
found after search with tug TENACITY.
(Note: ss
SHANTUNG crew were rescued
by a passing neutral ship and hulk was later
bombed
and sunk by
Coastal Command aircraft
.
Returned
to Clyde independently.
1
9 4 2
January
7th
Sailed with Group as
escort for outward
Convey ON54 and met heavy weather
conditions.
Detached on passage
to escort Rescue
Ship DEWSBURY which had insufficient
coal
to
remain with convoy.
15th
After rejoining
Group ON54 transferred to
RCN ships took independent passage to Clyde.
(Note: Inward
Convoy SC63 to be escorted to UK had been
ordered to disperse due to the
weather
conditions.
27th
Escorted
outward Convoy ONS60 with Group
for passage to Ocean Meeting Point in extreme
weather
conditions.
February
1st
Escort of ONS60
turned over to RCN Group,
3rd
Joined inward
Convoy SC66 for escort to
Clyde.
On arrival
immediately deployed to meet inward Convoy
SC68 and took passage.
16th
Escorted SC68 with Group
for return passage
to Clyde.
24th
Transferred to newly
formed British 3rd
Escort Group (B3).
(Note:
Entry of USA into WW2 allowed change of
Admiralty policy for the
escort of Atlantic
convoys.
New
B3 Escort Group consisted
of Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN (Ex HM
Destroyer
NERISSA
transferred in October 1940), HM Corvettes
NARCISSUS, LOBELIA
and
HEATHER.)
26th
Escorted ships of Convoy ON70
with Group for
full passage to Newfoundland.
(Note:
The Mid-Ocean Meeting
Point
was not used.).
March
10th
Detached from convoy and
took passage to St
Johns, Newfoundland.
21st
Joined inward Convoy SC75
off Newfoundland
for escort to Clyde with Group.
April
1st
Detached from SC75
with ships destined for
Loch Ewe.
Returned to Clyde
from Loch
Ewe to rejoin Group for escort of outward
Convoy ONS84.
(Note: HM
Destroyer HARVESTER commanded by Commander
AA Tait
RN joined Group
Commander.
Tait became a
distinguished figure
in Western Approaches as a successful
U-Boat hunter.
Sadly he lost his life when this ship was
sunk in defence of Convoy
HX228
- See below).
23rd
On arrival with ON84
off Newfoundland detached and went to new US
Base at Argentia.
May
5th
Took passage from Argentia,
led by HMS HARVESTER and with the Polish
destroyer ORP
GARLAND (Ex HMS
GARLAND) with Group for first tine.
Joined
inward Convoy HX188.
(Note:
Air cover was provided
till 7th.)
11th
Air cover resumed and convoy diverted
to avoid interception by U-Boats.
14th
On arrival in NW Approaches detached
from HX188 and took passage to Clyde for refit.
17th
Taken
in hand for refit at commercial shipyard
in Govan.
(Note: Anti-
submarine Mortar (HEDGEHOG) fitted.
For
details of development of this weapon see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann.)
June
Carried
out
post refit harbour and sea trials.
On completion
deployed temporarily with 43rd Escort Group
for escort of outward Convoy
0S35
during Atlantic passage to Freetown.
July
Detached
from escort to return to
Clyde due to lack of fuel
(Note: Groups on this
route comprised Sloops and destroyers
converted for use
on long
passage.)
August
Took passage to rejoin B3 Group
which was
escorting outward Convoy ON121.
Joined
escort of ON121 in 25 Degrees W.
Returned
to Clyde with Group as part of escort for
inward Convoy HX202
(Note:
No ships in HX202 were lost.)
September
1st
Deployed
with Group as escort for outward Convoy
ONS126 for passage to Newfoundland.
6th
Evaded
interception by U-Boat
Group.
12th
At Argentia
after detaching from ONS126.
16th
Joined
inward Convoy HX207 with Group as escort for
return passage to UK.
October
Detached on arrival in NW
Approaches.
Deployed with group as Local Escort of
outward
Convoy ON136 which had an
uneventful
passage
to Newfoundland.
23rd
Joined
Inward Convoy SC106 as escort for eastward
passage.
26th
Convoy SC106 transit delayed by
hurricane strength winds.
November
Deployed with Group for escort of
SC106
2nd
Convoy diverted to avoid U-Boat
attack in NW Approaches.
Detached
from convoy after air cover became
available.
16th
Carried out
anti-submarine exercises in NW
Approaches with Group.
(Note: HM Destroyer HARVESTER, ORP
GARLAND, HM Corvettes
ORCHIS, LOBELIA,
Free
French Corvettes ROSELYS and ACONIT of Group
took part with
British submarine as
target.)
18th
Escorted
outward Convoy ONS146 for westward passage
with ships of Group.
During passage off
Newfoundland, following interception of
radio signals carried out
search
for U-Boat which was unsuccessful although
sighted briefly.
After detached from
CNS1M6 escort took passage to St Johns for
routine docking.
December
Rejoined
Group at St John's after docking.
10th
Deployed
as escort for inward Convoy HX218 with
Group.
13th
ORP
GARLAND rescued survivor from Landing Craft
which had floated off sinking
mercantile
ss
BARBARY on which it had been upper deck
cargo.
BARBARY had been
sunk 17 days earlier 600 miles south of Greenland
!
Convoy had been
re-routed on passage to avoid attacks
from U-Boat Group
.
Leave period at
Greenock during Boiler clean.
1
9 4 3
January
Deployed
with
Group as escort for outward Convoy ON157-
(Note: m Frigate SWALE was attached to
replace HM Destroyer VIMY).
Detached
on arrival off Newfoundland.
18th
Sailed with Group to
join inward Convoy
SC117.
Encountered
heavy weather with icing on upper deck
structures.
(Note: Convoy was
scattered and weather made any attempt to
assemble an
impracticable
requirement.
HM Destroyer WITCH and HM Corvette
LOBELIA
both had to return to
Newfoundland
because of
storm damage and icing.)
27th
Ships
of convoy had been re-assembled.
February Arrived
in Clyde.
(Note: Two ships of
this convoy were lost during passage,
presumably due to the atrocious
weather
conditions.).
14th
Deployed
for escort of outward Convoy ONS167 with HM
Destroyers HARVESTER,
ESCAPADE,
Polish destroyers ORP BURZA and ORP
GARLAND.
21st
Under
U-Boat attack during which two mercantiles
were sunk.
Rescued seven US Navy gunners, who
were
survivors from Panamanian mercantile
H H
ROGERS.
(Note: Rescue Ship RATHLIN rescued 96 other
survivors from this snip.)
22nd
Two
U-Boats driven off by ORP BURZA.
24th
Detached
from ONS167 to escort mercantile ss
SUERTE to St
John.
(Note: Numbering
System for North Atlantic convoys changed.
Fast
and Slow convoys given separate identities
instead of using same
number for two
separate groups of
mercantiles.)
March
6th
,Joined
outward Convoy HX228 as escort with same
destroyers
of Group.
(Note:
Escort Aircraft Carrier
USS
BOGUE with screen of two US Navy destroyers
were also
deployed to provide air
cover during passage.
For
details of the improvements in convoy
defence made possible by presence
of this type of
warship see BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine,
THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre,
SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackman
, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO)
and HITLER’S U –BOAT WAR by C
Blairr.)
9th
Convoy
course changed by Admiralty after
decryption of ENIGMA traffic.
(Note: This
instruction was decoded by the German
decoding service, B-DIENST and U-Boat
Group NEULAND was instructed to carry
out attacks on HX228.
10th
Under sustained
U-Boat attacks after nightfall by NEULAND
Group.
Six ships of the 60
mercantiles in
this convoy were torpedoed.
11th
During defence of the convoy HMS
HARVESTER
rammed U444 and sustained serious damage
to one of her two propeller shafts.
U444 was forced to
surface and sunk by the Free French corvette
ACONIT.
Disabled
HARVESTER was then sunk by U432 whilst
returning to HX228.
U432 was then
located by ACQUIT, forced to the surface by
depth charge attacks and sunk
by
surface gunfire
.
(Note: Rescued 34 survivors from HMS
HARVESTER.
One of
the many who lost their lives was Commander
AA Tait, Royal
Navy,
Senior
Officer of B3 Escort Group whose
contribution to defence of Atlantic convoys
cannot be
measured.
USS
BOGUE appears to have done little to
assist the defence of convoy and had only
recently
commenced operational service.
Some
sources record her departure on 10th March
and others March 14th.
This
aircraft carrier was stationed at a position
within the convoy which may have
prevented use of
aircraft due to inability to manoeuvre.
For
full details of the tragic events see
above references and
Special Note below.)
15th
Detached from
HX228 after arrival in NW Approaches.
(Note: The defence
of HX228 took place when the
Battle of the Atlantic
was at a
most critical
stage. See above
references.)
28th
Part of escort for
outward Convoy ON174 with HM Destroyer
KEPPEL, which replaced HMS
HARVESTER
as
Senior Officer's ship, HMS ESCAPADE and HM
Corvette AZALEA.
April
After safe transit despite foul
weather
including blizzards and fog during the
second week when
approaching
Newfoundland.
(Note: Presence of
icebergs made passage a hazardous
undertaking.
6th
During passage to
join inward Convoy HX232 sustained damage to
underwater ASDIC
Dome and returned
to St Johns
9th
Passage to rejoin HX232.
11th
Under attack by LERCHE Group of
U-Boats during which three snips of the 48
ships in convoy
were
sunk.
(Note: Amongst
the 158 survivors rescued by HMS AZALEA were
eight
women, which
made
the already
cramped conditions in s ship with a
complement
of about 90, somewhat of a
problem. HMS
AZALEA was detached to make independent
passage
to UK
12th
Further attacks on
convoy were prevented by air cover from
Northern Ireland.
20th
Detached from Group
and took passage to Loch Eil
for refit
.
23rd
Under refit at Corpach
near Fort William.
(Note: Two repair
facilities were established for refit and
repair of escorts,
both in isolated
areas on the west
coast of Scotland.).
May
Under refit at Corpach
in Floating Dock.
June
5th
On completion took passage to Greenock
and
embarked Admiral HR Stark, Commander. US
Naval
Forces, Europe for passage to Londonderry
to visit RN Base.
6th
Rejoined B3
Escort Group at Londonderry.
(Note: Group has
been reinforced by HM Escort Carrier
BATTLER, escorted by HM Destroyers
TUMULT
and TYRIAN
to provide air cover in future convoy
operations.)
Group transferred
for escort of outward OS series convoys to
West Africa and inward SL
series.).
9th
Deployed
with HMS KEPPEL, ORP BURZA and five other
corvettes as escort
for outward
Convoy OS49 Convoy
during passage to Freetown
.
(Note: Cruiser
cover was provided by HMS GAMBIA during
passage in Bay of Biscay where a
known threat of
attack by German destroyers was possible.
This
convoy was combined with Convoy KMS16
destined for Gibraltar which detached
during
passage.)
19th
Destroyers detached from OS49 to
refuel in Dakar and rejoined later.
22nd
Carried
out convoy defence exercises with Motor
Launches from Freetown
.
23rd
Escorted Freetown section of convoy
after Takoradi
section detached.
28th
Deployed as part of escort for
inward Convoy
SL132 from Freetown with same ships.
U-Boat detected
during departure from Freetown and attacked
by HMS KEPPEL and French
corvette
ACONIT
July
1st
Mercantiles from
Dakar joined SL132.
6th
Remained with SL132 when
HMS
KEPPEL detached to search for U-Boat
reported by
aircraft
ahead of
convoy.
11th
Convoy MKS16 from Gibraltar merged with
SL132.
Defence supplemented by B1 Escort
Group,
Including HM Destroyer HURRICANE.
(Note: HM Canadian Destroyer
IROQUOIS also
joined convoy later for the passage
in
Bay of Biscay.)
15th
Additional escorts detached.
19th
Detached from convoy on arrival In
Clyde.
August
B3 Group returned to North
Atlantic convoy
defence duties.
Part
of escort for
outward Convoy ONS15 with Group.
(Note: During
passage exercised transfer of
depth charges to replenish stock carried.
The
practice of carrying replenishment
in mercantiles
was a new procedure
recently
introduced because of the extensive use of
these weapons during attacks
on
submarines. See above references.)
18th
Arrived at Argentia
with ONS15.
24th
Passage from Argentia
to St Johns with ships of Group to join
inward Convoy HS253 as
escort
for return
passage to Liverpool.
September
1st
Detached
with HM Corvette
ORCHIS to join escort for another convoy in
the NW
Approaches.
Nominated
for escort of
outward Convoy ONS18 after return.
Joined ONS18
with HM Destroyers KEPPEL and
ESCAPADE, Frigate
TOWY and
four
other
corvettes.
(Note: The
withdrawal of U-Boats from the
North Atlantic in May 1943 had been made
necessary
because
of the increasing effectiveness of escorts.
The development of
new
weapons
encouraged the U-Boat Command to begin a new
offensive against
other
Atlantic convoys. The introduction of a
torpedo
designed to detect the noise
made
by rotation
of ship's propellers was believed to be of
major importance
(T5
ZAUNKONIG Acoustic
Torpedo. See above references.)
19th
Following an
Admiralty assessment of
threat by LEUTHEN Group of U-Bcats
ONS18
was
ordered to
alter course to NW.
Additional
escort was also to join convoy.
(Note:
LEUTHEN
Group U-Boats had however made contact and
escort had been
deployed
to make attacks on
submarines detected.)
During these
operation HMS ESCAPADE was badly damaged by
explosion of
HEDGEHOG
mortar
missiles.
20th
Convoy ONS18
and ON202 merged on orders
from Admiralty.
Detached to
investigate U-Boat whose
presence had been detected by transmission of
of
radio signals
.
After
unsuccessful search ordered to
return to convoy
21st
Detected
U-Boat during passage to rejoin
convoy but depth charge attack failed, as did
a
counter attack
by torpedo from the submarine (U260).
Deployed for
rescue of survivors from HM
Canadian Destroyer ST CROIX and HM
Corvette
POLYANTHUS
which had been sunk by U-Boats
of LEUTHEN Group.
22nd
During
continuation of sustained attacks
on joint convoy HM Frigate ITCHEN hit
by
T5 torpedo and sunk.
23rd
LEUTHEN Group
attacks ceased.
(Note:
During defence operations three
attacks were made by ship.
In
all six ships in convoy were sunk and
three escorts for the loss of three
U-Boats.
For
further details see
above references and Special Note.)
30th
At St.
Johns after arrival of joint
convoy.
(Note: Boards
of Inquiry into the losses
of the three warships were held in this
stop-over
period.)
October
4th
Sailed
from St Johns with ships of
Group to join inward Convoy HX259 east of
Newfoundland.
Returned
to Clyde with convoy after an
uninterrupted passage
(Note: Before
deployment for another North
Atlantic convoy fitted with FOXER
equipment
which
had been developed to provide defence
against T5 weapon.
This
decay was towed astern of escorts
and consisted on metal tubes to produce low
frequency
noise to
divert attacks by T5 weapon. See above
references.)
25th
Joined
outward Convoy ON208 as escort
for Atlantic passage with HM Frigate TOWY
and
five corvettes of
B3 Group.
(Note:
HM Sloops KITE and WHIMBREL also
joined and support was provided by ships of
7th
Escort Group.
7th
Support Group
included HM Escort Aircraft Carrier BITER,
HM Sloops
PHEASANT,
CRANE and
CHANTICLEER.)
November
Detached
from ON208 on arrival and
returned ships of Group as escort for inward
Convoy
SC146 with
support from
7th Escort Group.
On
return to Clyde Group nominated for service
in support of Gibraltar
convoys.
December
2nd
Deployed
with HMS TOWY,
Polish destroyer ORP BURZA and four other
corvettes of B3
Group as
escort for outward joint convoy OS61/KMS35
to Gibraltar
.
(Note:
HM Canadian Anti-aircraft
Ship PRINCE ROBERT was
deployed to provide
additional
defence against air attacks.
12th
HM
Escort Carrier FENCER Joined convoy
for air support.
17th
HMS
FENCER detached after
Bay of Biscay crossing.
21st
Detached
from convoy on arrival at
Gibraltar.
24th
Sailed
with Group from
Gibraltar as escort for inward Convoy MKS34/
26th
Merged
with Convoy SL143 from
Freetown for passage to Liverpool.
29th
HM
Escort Carrier STRIKER, HM Frigate TWEED
and HM Destroyer WATCHMAN
joined
to
supplement defence
during
Biscay crossing.
30th
6th
Canadian Escort Group Joined for
support after threat from BORKUM U-Boat
Grou had
been assessed by
Admiralty.
1
9 4 4
January
3rd
6th
Escort Group detached.
6th
Detached
on arrival of convoy in UK.
14th
Deployed
with ships of Group for escort
of Joint Convoy 0S65/KMS39 for Atlantic
passage.
to
Gibraltar.
26th
Detached
with ships of
KMS39 as escort
for passage to
Gibraltar.
February
1st
Sailed
from Gibraltar with HMS TOWY and
HM Corvette ORCHIS as escort for inward
Convoy MKS38.
2nd
Inward
Convoy SL1478 from Freetown
merged with MKS38.
(Note:
2nd Escort Group which was deployed
in area provided support for Biscay crossing.)
8th
Ships
of 2nd Escort Group sank U762.
9th
Ships
of 2nd Escort Group sank U238.
(Note:
For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC,
RELENTLESS
PURSUIT and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC,)
11th
Detached
from Joint convoy as escort of
Loch Ewe Section.
(Note:
These snips were to take passage
to London via Pentland
Firth.)
.
23rd
Deployed
with ships of Group as escort
for Joint Convoy OS69/KMS43 during passage
to
Gibraltar.
(Note:
HM Escort Carriers NAIRANA and ACTIVITY
provided air defence during the
Biscay crossing.)
March
5th
Detached
from OS69 with ships of KMS43
as escort during passage to Gibraltar.
6th
KMS
43 arrived at
Gibraltar
(Note: Heavy
weather during passage made
air operations especially hazardous and cost
five
aircraft
during
landings.
15th
Deployed
with Group as escort for inward Convoy MKS42
and merged with Convoy
SL151
from Freetown.
24th
Joint
Convoy arrived at Liverpool.
(Note: 7th
Support Group provided
additional defence during Biscay crossing.
Sea
Inspection was carried out during
passage
April
3rd
Deployed
with Group as escort for Joint
outward Convoy OS73/KMS47 to
Gibraltar
16th
Detached
with KMS47 as escort for
passage to Gibraltar.
17th
Arrived
at Gibraltar with KMS47.
(Note:
This
convoy of 32 ships arrived without
incident.).
22nd
Returned
as escort for inward Convoy
MKS46 during passage to Liverpool
(Note: This
convoy included Landing Craft
being redeployed in Home Waters from
the
Mediterranean for Normandy landings.)
23rd
Convoy
SL155 from Freetown merged with
KMS46 for passage to Liverpool
29th
Detached
with HM Frigate ANGUILLA and HM
Corvette ANCHUSA as escort for
Landing Craft and mercantiles
to Bristol Channel.
(Note:
B3 Escort Group which had included
ships manned by both Polish and Free French
naval
personnel was disbanded after this escort
duty.)
Nominated
for refit and took passage to Troon.
May
Taken
in hand for refit by commercial
shipyard at Troon,
Ayrshire.
Nominated
for convoy
escort in support of allied Landings in
Normandy.
(Operation
NEPTUNE)
Allocated
for
service with Support Force L based in
Thames Estuary
.
On
completion of refit took passage
via Pentland
Firth to Sheerness with call at Methil
on
Firth of Forth.
Joined
HM
Destroyer COTSWOLD and HM Corvette ORCHIS in
Force L1 and designated
Escort Group 134.
June
Deployed
at Sheerness
(For
details of naval activities
before and after D Day see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by
K
Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
June1944 (HMSO) and
for information about all
mercantiles
and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser)
4th.
Operation postponed for 24
hours.
5th
Sailed from Sheerness as
escort for Convoy
L1 with EG134.
(Note:
L1 Convoy comprised:
11
Landing Ships (Tank) and seven
Landing Craft Infantry
(Large).
During
passage to Solent under fire
from German coastal battery which fired one
round and
missed.
On
arrival in Solent joined by a
Landing Ship (Dock), 12 Coastal Cargo ships,
two
Landing
Ships (Tank) and two Landing Ships Infantry
(Large)
(Note:
Landing Ship (Dock) had Army
Staff Officers embarked.)
HM
Trawler DAMSAY and HM Destroyer AVON VALE
joined L1 as
additional
escort.
6th
Took
passage from Solent with Convoy L1 and
above escorts.
After
passage through swept channel
assault craft look-up assigned station off
JUNO Beach
Head.
Deployed
with HMS
ORCHIS as escort for Convoy FLT1 for
passage to Sheerness.
7th
Commenced escort of Build-up
Phase convoys to Beachhead.
(Note:
This duty was continued until end
of Build-Up Phase on 24th June.)
July
Retained
in Nore
Command for escort of military convoys in
support of military operations
to
in France.
August
September
Transferred
to Plymouth for convoy
defence in SW Approaches.
Deployed
for escort of Inward convoys in
Channel from west of Lands End and in St
Georges
Channel
for outward convoys from west
coast ports.
October
Coastal
convoy escort in continuation
based at Plymouth including Convoy ON268
to
in
November.
December
1
9 4 5
January
Deployment in
SW Approaches In
continuation for coastal escort to and from
Western
to
Approaches.
April
May
After VE Day
retained at Plymouth for
local duties.
Nominated for reduction
to Reserve status.
21st
Escorted 6 surrendered German
minesweepers during passage from Plymouth to
Brest.
26th
On completion of de-ammunitioning
at Milford Haven took passage to Preston.
(Note:
During this visit
members of ship's company want to Denton in
order to express
their
thanks to
the civil community for the many gifts
received since the adoption
and
for their
interest in the ship during its service.)
June
Paid off and
reduced to Reserve status.
P
o s t W a r N o t e
HMS
NARCISSUS laid-up in Reserve until 1946 when
placed on the
Disposal List. The ship was sold on 5th
April that year for use as a
mercantile and
renamed ESIE.
During 1960 whilst still being used for
Trade the ship was again renamed and
became ss
PLANETA. On 27th June 1969 she was wrecked
near Bahla at Ilheus
in Brazil.
S
p e c i a l
N o t e
Further
details of the war service of this ship are
recorded in
THE ECHO OF A FIGHTING FLOWER by Peter Coy
who served on board as an RNVR
officer from 1942 till 1944. It is an
excellent record of the ship's service
and contains graphic accounts of operations
during WW2 by the ship.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
NARCISSUS
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
ON
009
|
25/08/41
|
25/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
26/08/41
|
HX
145
|
30/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
07/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
ON
014
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
30/08/41
|
16/09/41
|
SC
042
|
20/09/41
|
20/09/41
|
21/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
ON
019
|
27/09/41
|
07/10/41
|
22/09/41
|
01/10/41
|
HX
151
|
05/10/41
|
07/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
ON
026
|
20/10/41
|
29/10/41
|
11/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
SC
049
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
04/11/41
|
ON
033
|
11/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
13/11/41
|
HX
158
|
17/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
26/11/41
|
ON
040
|
30/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
22/11/41
|
06/12/41
|
SC
056
|
09/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
ON
047
|
23/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
HX
165
|
27/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
06/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
ON
054
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
ON
060
|
02/02/42
|
15/02/42
|
23/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
SC
066
|
08/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
04/02/42
|
16/02/42
|
SC
068
|
20/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
26/02/42
|
ON
070
|
11/03/42
|
15/03/42
|
18/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
SC
075
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
ON
084
|
22/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
03/05/42
|
06/05/42
|
HX
188
|
14/05/42
|
16/05/42
|
12/08/42
|
13/08/42
|
ON
121
|
17/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
09/08/42
|
17/08/42
|
HX
202
|
21/08/42
|
21/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
30/08/42
|
ON
126
|
13/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
16/09/42
|
HX
207
|
24/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
04/10/42
|
ON
136
|
19/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
23/10/42
|
SC
106
|
05/11/42
|
05/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
ON
146
|
29/11/42
|
08/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
HX
218
|
19/12/42
|
21/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
ON
157
|
08/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
SC
117
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
ON
167
|
28/02/43
|
08/03/43
|
28/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
HX
228
|
14/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
22/03/43
|
ON
174
|
02/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
HX
232
|
16/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
04/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
OS
049KM
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
OS
049
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
SL
132
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
SL
132MK
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
SL
132S
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
06/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
ONS
015
|
17/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
HX
253
|
03/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
12/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
ONS
018
|
25/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
ON
202
|
25/09/43
|
01/10/43
|
28/09/43
|
04/10/43
|
HX
259
|
12/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
25/10/43
|
ON
208
|
02/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
SC
146
|
22/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
OS
061KM
|
19/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
KMS
035G
|
21/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
24/12/43
|
24/12/43
|
MKS
034G
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
SL
143MK
|
06/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS
037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
OS
065KM
|
26/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
KMS
039G
|
28/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
MKS
038G
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
SL
147MK
|
11/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
OS
069KM
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
KMS
043G
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
MKS
042G
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/44
|
SL
151MK
|
24/03/44
|
24/03/44
|
03/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
OS
073KM
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
KMS
047G
|
17/04/44
|
17/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
MKS
046G
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
SL
155MK
|
29/04/44
|
03/05/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETM
005
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
FTC
009
|
17/06/44
|
17/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
ETM
014
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
FTM
014
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
ETC
015
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
ETM
019
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
FTM
022
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
ETM
024
|
03/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
FTM
027
|
05/07/44
|
05/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
ETC
031
|
09/07/44
|
09/07/44
|
10/07/44
|
10/07/44
|
FTC
032
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
ETC
036
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
FTC
037
|
16/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
ETC
051
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
FTC
052
|
31/07/44
|
31/07/44
|
15/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ON
260
|
18/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
HX
312
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
27/10/44
|
SL
173MK
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
ON
263
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
20/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
HX
315
|
04/11/44
|
03/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
ON
265
|
11/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
30/10/44
|
11/11/44
|
HX
317
|
13/11/44
|
13/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
ON
268
|
27/11/44
|
10/12/44
|
14/11/44
|
28/11/44
|
HX
320
|
30/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
11/12/44
|
17/12/44
|
MKS
070G
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
ON
274
|
26/12/44
|
08/01/45
|
14/12/44
|
26/12/44
|
HX
326
|
29/12/44
|
27/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
07/01/45
|
MKS
074G
|
10/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
05/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
MKS
075G
|
13/01/45
|
14/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
13/01/45
|
MKS
076G
|
20/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
MKS
077G
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
26/01/45
|
26/01/45
|
ON
281
|
29/01/45
|
12/02/45
|
18/01/45
|
29/01/45
|
HX
333
|
03/03/45
|
01/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
OS
112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS
084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
03/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
OS
114KM
|
06/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
MKS
086G
|
09/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
OS
117KM
|
21/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
HX
343
|
unknown
|
24/03/45
|
27/03/45
|
27/03/45
|
ON
293
|
30/03/45
|
15/04/45
|
27/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
OS
119KM
|
31/03/45
|
04/04/45
|
26/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
MKS
091G
|
03/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
02/04/45
|
ON
294
|
04/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
ON
297
|
20/04/45
|
02/05/45
|
08/04/45
|
22/04/45
|
HX
349
|
unknown
|
23/04/45
|
27/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
OS
125KM
|
30/04/45
|
01/05/45
|
25/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
MKS
097G
|
03/05/45
|
03/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)