Robert William Stirling-Hamilton, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for Robert William Stirling-Hamilton, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Thistle (N 24) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 18 Oct 1938 | early 1940 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Thistle (N 24)
9 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) is undocked at Portsmouth. She had been docked there for modifications to her torpedo tubes following her trials and working-up period.
12 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Portsmouth for Portland where she arrived later the same day. Out of Portland she is to undertake some final trials and working-up.
16 Sep 1939
Upon completion of her final trials and working-up HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Portland for Portsmouth. She is escorted by the destroyer HMS Skate (Lt.Cdr. A.O. Johnson, RN).
22 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Portsmouth for Dover where she arrived later the same day. She is escorted by HMS Skate (Lt.Cdr. A.O. Johnson, RN). Later HMS Brazen (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) took over from HMS Skate as escort.
24 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Dover bound for Dundee. Escort is provided by HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Wright, RN). Later Beagle is relieved by HMS Weston (Cdr. (retired) A.G. Davidson, RN). The next day Thistle is taken up in convoy FN 10 that is escorted by the above mentioned HMS Weston as well as HMS Pelican (Cdr. L.A.K Boswell, RN).
26 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) arrives at Dundee.
28 Sep 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Dundee for her 1st war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak and later of the South-West tip of Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Thistle during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Thistle 1st war patrolclick here for bigger map
30 Sep 1939
In the evening on 30 September 1939, HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) encountered the Swedish steam merchant Gun which had been stopped by U-3 about 30 miles northwest of Hanstholm. While investigating the ship, the submarine was attacked and missed with one torpedo by the U-boat, although the attack was not noticed and she soon left the area.
2115 hours - Sighted lights bearing 030 degrees. Closed. Soon sighted a stopped merchant ship in position 57º27'N, 07º55'E.
2225 hours - Sighted a small drak object which might have been a submarine about 3 nautical miles away. Closed to about 0.8 nautical mile of the merchant ship. The dark object was not seen again.
2300 hours - Altered course away from the merchant ship.
0000 hours - Sighted a light near the merchant vessel again. Dived and closed again but nothing else was seen.
0110 hours (1 October) - Surfaced and proceeded.
0113 hours - Sighted a small boat making an SOS signal. Closed. This was a boat from the Swedish merchant Gun. They were ordered to leave their ship by a German submarine. They were ordered to return to their ship that was still afloat.
16 Oct 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) ends her 1st war patrol at Rosyth.
28 Oct 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Rosyth for her 2nd war patrol escorted by the destroyer HMS Sturdy (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Cooper, RN) as far as Dunnet Head. She is ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
For the daily positions of HMS Thistle during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Thistle 2nd war patrolclick here for bigger map
6 Nov 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at Rosyth.
18 Nov 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Rosyth for her 3rd war patrol. After the sinking of the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Rawalpindi she is ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak near Skagen.
For the daily positions of HMS Thistle during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Thistle 3rd war patrolclick here for bigger map
6 Dec 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol at Rosyth.
13 Dec 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) is docked at Rosyth.
15 Dec 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) is undocked.
20 Dec 1939
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Rosyth for her 4th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak near Skagen to intercept the German pocket battleship Deutschland which is reported to be at sea.
For the daily positions of HMS Thistle during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Thistle 4th war patrolclick here for bigger map
4 Jan 1940
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at Rosyth.
19 Jan 1940
HMS Thistle (Cdr. R.W. Stirling-Hamilton, RN) departs Rosyth for her 5th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak. Heavy weather is encountered but no enemy ships.
For the daily positions of HMS Thistle during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Thistle 5th war patrolclick here for bigger map