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Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Canton (F 97)

4 Mar 1942
Around 1630Z/4, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Freetown for patrol. She was ordered to patrol mid-Atlantic. (1)

11 Mar 1942
The armed merchant cruisers HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), on patrol in area H 34, were ordered to intercept the Spanish merchant vessel Monte Gorbea (3720 GRT, built 1923).

The following day, at 1215N/12, the aircraft of HMS Canton sighted the Spanish vessel in position 08°30'N, 26°06'W and HMS Pretoria Castle was able to intercept her at 1415N/12 in position 08°52'N, 26°00'W.

The Spanish ship was then escorted to Bathurst by HMS Pretoria Castle. They arrived there around 1115N/15.

HMS Canton continued her patrol. (2)

18 Mar 1942
Around 1530Z/18, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) returned to Freetown from patrol. (1)

23 Mar 1942
Around 0830Z/23, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Freetown for patrol. She was ordered to patrol mid-Atlantic. (1)

2 Apr 1942
Around 1545Z/2, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) returned to Freetown from patrol. Before entering harbour gunnery exercises were carried out. (3)

4 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1515Z/4, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Freetown for Simonstown where she was to dock. (3)

13 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645B/13, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Freetown. (3)

16 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is docked in the Selborne Graving Dock at the Simonstown Dockyard. (3)

20 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is undocked. (3)

26 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is again docked in the Selborne Graving Dock at the Simonstown Dockyard. (3)

1 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is undocked. (4)

2 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Simonstown for Capetown but due to the discovery of enemy mines near the end of the searched channel she had to remain at sea. She was finally swept into harbour arriving around 1945B/4. (4)

5 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1930B/5, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Capetown to patrol in the South Atlantic. (4)

26 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000B/26, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Capetown from patrol. (4)

28 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) proceeded from Capetown to Simonstown. (4)

4 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted engine trials in False Bay. (4)

5 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0715B/5, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Simonstown to patrol in the South Atlantic.

At 1030B/5, a signal was received ordering HMS Canton to proceed with despatch to position 27°33'S, 37°05'E, which was to the north-east of Durban. The merchant vessel Elysia (British, 6757 GRT, built 1908) had reported being shelled in that position. Later HMS Canton was ordered to patrol to the south of Madagascar. (5)

19 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915B/19, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) returned to Simonstown from patrol. (4)

21 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Simonstown, Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN). (6)

26 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0130B/26, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN) departed Simonstown for Takoradi. (6)

7 Jul 1942
Around 0800Z/7, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN) arrived at Takoradi from Simonstown.

She departed for Freetown around 1215Z/7. (7)

10 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100Z/10, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN) arrived Freetown from Takoradi. (6)

10 Jul 1942
Around 1800Z/10, at Freetown, Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) to HMS Nelson (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN). (8)

11 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900Z/11, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Freetown for the U.K. where she is to refit and undergo engine repairs. (7)

23 Jul 1942
Around 0830B/23, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Greenock from Freetown. (7)

25 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2000B/25, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Greenock for Southampton. She is escorted by the destroyer HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN). (7)

27 Jul 1942
Around 1600B/27, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), destroyer HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Bleasdale (Lt. P.B.N. Lewis, RN) arrived at Portland having been ordered to proceed there instead of proceeding directly to Southhampton / Portsmouth.

HMS Bleasdale had joined around 1230B/27. (7)

28 Jul 1942
Around 0900B/28, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), destroyer HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Bleasdale (Lt. P.B.N. Lewis, RN) departed Portland for Southhampton / Portsmouth where they arrived later the same day. (7)

29 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) completed de-ammunitioning and is taken in hand for refit at Southampton. (7)

21 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is docked in the King George V Graving Dock at Southampton. (9)

25 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is undocked. (9)

10 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her extended refit and turbine repairs completed, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), conducted D/G trials off Southampton. (10)

18 Dec 1942
Around 0900A/18, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed The Solent for Greenock. She was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Tynedale (Lt. J.J.S. Yorke, DSC, RN) and ORP Slazak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.W.M. Wronski).

Around 1520A/18, the escort destroyer HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 1840A/18, HMS Tynedale and ORP Slazak parted company.

Around 1000A/20, HMS Canton arrived at Greenock. HMS Easton continued on to Tobermory where she arrived later the same day.

(10)

21 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering trials / exercises off Lamlash. (10)

29 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Lamlash. (10)

31 Dec 1942
During 31 December 1942 / 1 January 1943, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included night exercises. (11)

2 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
From 2 to 4 January 1943, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (12)

7 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) proceeded from Lamlash to Greenock. (12)

18 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area. (12)

22 Feb 1943
Around 1515C/22, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) and HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) arrived at Simonstown from convoy escort duty. (13)

26 Feb 1943
Around 1515C/26, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Simonstown for escort duty with convoy WS 26.

[For more info see the event ' Combined convoy WS 26 / KMF 8 ' for 24 January 1943.] (13)

1 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1930C/1, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Durban from convoy escort duty. (14)

10 Apr 1943

Convoy BA 42.

This convoy departed Bombay on 10 April 1943.

It was made up of the transports; Esperance (British, 5072 GRT, built 1923) and Itola (British, 6793 GRT, built 1940).

On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN).

The convoy was dispersed around 1500D/15. (15)

19 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1600C/19, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. Before entering harbour D/G trials were carried out. (15)

22 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1145C/22, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for gunnery exercises.

Around 1500C/22, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) also departed Kilindini / Mombasa for gunnery exercises.

In the evening, on completion of the exercises, both armed merchant cruisers set course to join convoy WS 28.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 28 / KMS 11 ' for 16 March 1943.] (16)

30 Apr 1943
Around 1130C/30, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN), HMS Keren (A/Cdr. S.E. Crewe-Read, RN) and HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) arrived at Aden. (15)

4 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)

Convoy AB 4.

This convoy departed Aden on 4 May 1943.

It was made up of the following transports; El Madina (British, 3962 GRT, built 1937) and Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN).

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 10 May 1943. (17)

10 May 1943
Around 1930FG/10, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (17)

13 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100FG/13, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (17)

20 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is docked at Colombo. (17)

23 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) is undocked. (17)

31 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1510FG/31, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Colombo for escort duty with convoy US 19.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 19 ' for 26 May 1943.] (17)

10 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1215C/10, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from escort duty. (18)

25 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1745C/25, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for escort duty with convoy WS 30.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 30 / KMS 15 ' for 19 May 1943. (18)

2 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200C/2 HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. (19)

3 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300C/3, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (19)

7 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1620B/7, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (19)

14 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930B/14, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa via the east of Madagascar. (20)

22 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330C/22, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (19)

29 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 29/30 July 1943, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. These included night exercises. (19)

2 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630C/2, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Addu Atoll via the Seychelles. (21)

5 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1215D/5, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Port Victoria from Kilindini / Mombasa.

She departed for Addu Atoll around 1700D/5. (21)

8 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1815FG/8, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Port Victoria from Kilindini / Mombasa. (21)

9 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715FG/9, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Addu Atoll for escort duty with convoy US 21.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 21 ' for 22 July 1943.] (21)

17 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900C/17, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from escort duty. (21)

8 Sep 1943
Around 1630C/8, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) and the destroyer HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Colombo. On board both ships were staff members of the Commander-in-Chief headquarters. The headquarters was being transferred from Kilindini / Mombasa to Colombo.

HMS Canton parted company the following day to proceed to their destination ahead of the other two ships. (22)

13 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700EF/13, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) was joined by the destroyer HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN). The destroyer had departed Colombo on the 12th. (19)

15 Sep 1943
Around 0900FG/15, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) and the destroyer HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo. (23)

20 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0745FG/20, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed colombo for escort duty. She was to take over the escort of the transport Sambridge (British, 7176 GRT, built 1943).

[For more info on subsequent movements see the event for 19 September 1943.] (23)

3 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115FG/3, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from escort duty. (24)

5 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) acted as target off Trincomalee for torpedo bombers and also for a shore battery during exercises. (24)

9 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700FG/9, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (24)

10 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715FG/10, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (24)

15 Oct 1943
Around 1445FG/15, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Colombo to make rendezvous with the troopship Lurline (American, 18009 GRT, built 1932) coming from Fremantle and then relieve her current escort.

[See the event for 16 October 1943 for more details.] (24)

28 Oct 1943
Around 1045FG/28, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN), destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) and the troop transport Lurline (American, 18009 GRT, built 1932) arrived at Bombay. (25)

5 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500C/5, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Bombay. (26)

6 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615C/6, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (26)

13 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830C/13, HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. At Durban she is taken in hand for a short refit. (26)

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