| Noteable events involving Whitshed include: 30 Jan, 1940 On 30 January 1940 U-55 attacked convoy OA-80G south-west of the Isles of Scilly which was escorted by the sloop HMS Fowey (Cdr. H.B. Ellison, RN). Two ships were hit and sunk, The Greek merchant Keramiai (5085 GRT) and the British merchant Vaclite (5026 GRT) sank in position 49º20'N 07º04'W. In the follow up attack HMS Fowey was joined by the Brisih destroyer HMS Whitshed (Cdr. E.R. Conder, RN), the French destroyers Valmy (Cdr. J.L.P. Constantin) and Guépard (Capt. R.E. Gervais de Lafond) and a a British Sunderland aircraft from 228 Sqdn. in the following attacks U-55 was sunk in position 48º37'N, 07º48'W with only a single casualty. (see map) 14 Feb, 1940 HMS Whitshed (Cdr E.R. Conder, RN) and HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) together pick up 72 survivors from the British merchant Sultan Star that was torpedoed and sunk southwest of the Scilly Isles in position 48º54'N, 10º03'W by the German submarine U-48. 31 Jul, 1940 HMS Whitshed (Cdr. E.R. Conder, DSC, RN) struck a mine off Harwich and was badly damaged. She was towed back to port by HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Younghusband, DSC, RN). Repairs were completed in mid-December.
12 Dec, 1942 The British destroyers HMS Whitshed, HMS Worcester and HMS Vesper, the British escort destroyers HMS Brocklesby and HMS Albrighton, and the Norwegian escort destroyer Eskdale attacked German shipping in the English Channel. Eskdale torpedoed and sank Sperrbrecher 144/Beijerland (387 BRT) west of Le Treport, France in position 50º05'N, 01º09'E and Whitshed torpedoed and sank Sperrbecher 178/Gauss (1236 BRT) north-east of Dieppe, France in position 50º04'N, 01º09'E. |