| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Sloop |
| Class | Grimsby |
| Pennant | L 36 / U 36 |
| Built by | Devonport Dockyard (Plymouth, U.K.): J.S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.) |
| Ordered | 1 Nov 1932 |
| Laid down | 6 Feb 1933 |
| Launched | 9 Sep 1933 |
| Commissioned | 12 Jul 1934 |
| End service | |
| History | HMS Leith is not listed as active unit in the October 1945 Navy List Sold and became the mercantile Byron in 1946. |
Commands listed for HMS Leith (L 36 / U 36)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Cdr. Gilbert Ridley Waymouth, RN | 1 Nov 1938 | 2 Sep 1940 |
| 2 | Cdr. Roland Charlton Allen, RN | 2 Sep 1940 | 21 Mar 1941 |
| 3 | Lt.Cdr. Mark Taylor Collier, RN | 21 Mar 1941 | 24 Jun 1941 |
| 4 | Lt.Cdr. Edward Campbell Hulton, RN | 24 Jun 1941 | 30 May 1943 |
| 5 | Lt.Cdr. (retired) Alan Westbury Preston, RN | 30 May 1943 | 20 Mar 1945 |
| 6 | Lt. Robin Richard Whalley, RN | 20 Mar 1945 | mid 1945 |
You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.
Notable events involving Leith include:
19 Sep 1939
HMS Otus (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN). (1)
20 Sep 1939
HMS Odin (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Moir, RN) conducted exercises off Penang together with HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN). (2)
20 Sep 1939
HMS Otus (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN). (1)
15 Nov 1939
Around 1330 hours (zone -5.5), HMS Liverpool (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), departed Colombo for Singapore. She was to replace HMS Kent (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) on the China Station.
That evening HMS Liverpool was ordered to patrol in position 05°N, 80°E as HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN) had reported star shell in position 09°N, 68°E. HMS Liverpool was ordered to continue her passage to Singapore the following afternoon. (3)
15 Nov 1939
The light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN) departed Colombo for Bombay.
Later this day a signal was received from the sloop HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN) that starshell had been sighted in position 09°00'N, 68°10'E. HMAS Hobart then raised steam for full speed and set course for the Eight Degree Channel to proceed to this position.
The following day, HMS Leith reported that she had searched the area but had found nothing. HMAS Hobart was then ordered to continue her passage to Bombay via a route west of the Laccadive Islands. (4)
30 Mar 1940
Convoy SL 26.
This convoy departed Freetown on 30 March 1940.
It was made up of the following transports; Barbara Marie (British, 4223 GRT, built 1928), Chelatros (Greek, 3489 GRT, built 191), Cliftonhall (British, 5063 GRT, built 1938), Congonian (British, 5065 GRT, built 1936), Coronda (British ((whale oil) tanker, 7503 GRT, built 1899), Delambre (British, 7032 GRT, built 1917), Iddesleigh (British, 5205 GRT, built 1927), Janeta (British, 4312 GRT, built 1929), Kayeson (British, 4606 GRT, built 1929), Marlene (British, 6507 GRT, built ), Navarino (British, 4841 GRT, built 1937), Norman Star (British, 6817 GRT, built 1919), Ramillies (British, 4553 GRT, built 1927) and Sambre (British, 5260 GRT, built 1919).
On departure from Freetown to the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura (Capt.(Retd.) C.W.E. Trelawny, RN).
The Coronda returned to Freetown later on the 30th being unable to keep up with the convoy.
The (whale oil) tanker Peter Bogen (British, 9741 GRT, built 1925) departed Freetown later on the 30th to overtake and join the convoy at sea.
The transport Godfrey B. Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929) and (whale oil) tanker Uniwaleco (British, 9755 GRT, built 1905) departed Freetown on 31 March to overtake and join the convoy at sea. They were escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN).
The transport Sobo (British, 5353 GRT, built 1937) departed Dakar on 1 April 1940 to join the convoy at sea.
The transport Asphalion (British, 6274 GRT, built 1924) departed Freetown on 2 April 1940 to overtake and join the convoy at sea.
Around 1700A/12, HMS Ranpura parted company.
Around 1930A/12, the sloop HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 0730A/13, the destroyer HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Dunvegan Castle then parted company with the convoy.
The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 15 March 1940.
28 Aug 1940
HMS Leith (Cdr. G.R. Waymouth, RN) picks up 27 survivors from the Finnish merchant Elle that was torpedoed and sunk north-east of Ireland in position 57°43'N, 12°18'W by German U-boat U-101.
18 Oct 1940
HMS Leith (Cdr. R.C. Allen, RN) picks up 19 survivors from the Estonian merchant Nora that was torpedoed and sunk on 13 October 1940 by German U-boat U-103 north-east of Ireland in position 57°02'N, 13°11'W.
19 Oct 1940
HMS Leith (Cdr. R.C. Allen, RN) picks up 34 survivors from the British merchant Assyrian and 19 survivors from the Dutch merchant Soesterberg that were torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-101 about 100 nautical miles west by north of Barra Head, Outer Hebrides in position 57°12'N, 10°43'W.
19 Jun 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN) and another vessel [unable to read the name in the log of HMS H 44]. (5)
20 Jun 1941
HMS H 34 (Lt. H. Winter, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN) and aircraft. (6)
23 Jun 1941
HMS H 34 (Lt. H. Winter, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Vanoc (Lt.Cdr. J.G.W. Deneys, DSO, RN), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN) and aircraft. (6)
26 Sep 1941
The British merchant Lapwing is torpedoed and sunk north-north-east of the Azores, in position 47°40'N, 23°30'W by German U-boat U-203. HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) later picks up 1 survivor.
13 Oct 1941
Convoy OS 9
This convoy departed Liverpool on 13 October 1941 for Freetown where it arrived on 5 November 1941. Several merchant ships were detached en-route for other destinations.
The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adjutant (1931 GRT, built 1922), Alderamin (Dutch, 7886 GRT, built 1920), Arlesford (2472 GRT, built 1922), Annavore (Norwegian, 3324 GRT, built 1921), Baluchistan (6992 GRT, built 1940), Baron Cawdor (3638 GRT, built 1935), Baron Ramsay (3650 GRT, built 1929), Brittany (4772 GRT, built 1928), City of Barcelona (5787 GRT, built 1930), City of Dublin (1095 GRT, built 1882), City of Hereford (5101 GRT, built 1927), Cornish City (4952 GRT, built 1936), Cressado (1228 GRT, built 1913), Egba (4989 GRT, built 1914), Empire Glade (7006 GRT, built 1941), Empire Glen (6327 GRT, built 1941), Fagersten (Norwegian, 2342 GRT, built 1921), Filleigh (4856 GRT, built 1928), Fjord (Norwegian, 4032 GRT, built 1914), Graiglas (4312 GRT, built 1940), Guinean (5205 GRT, built 1936), Hadleigh (5222 GRT, built 1930), Harmonides (5237 GRT, built 1920), Harpasa (5082 GRT, built 1934), Ittersum (Dutch, 5199 GRT, built 1938), Leeds City (4758 GRT, built 1927), Leerdam (8815 GRT, built 1921), Leeds City (4758 GRT, built 1927), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Loch Ranza (4958 GRT, built 1934), Madras City (5082 GRT, built 1940), Marwarri (8067 GRT, built 1935), Nigerian (5423 GRT, built 1936), Ottinge (2870 GRT, built 1940), Queen Victoria (4937 GRT, built 1936), Rembrandt (5559 GRT, built 1941), Ribera (5559 GRT, built 1940), Rio Blanco (4086 GRT, built 1922), Salabangka (Dutch, 6586 GRT, built 1920), Sheaf Crown (4868 GRT, built 1929), Spero (1589 GRT, built 1922), Stad Amsterdam (Dutch, 3780 GRT, built 1920), Stanmore (4970 GRT, built 1940), Superman (tug, 359 GRT, built 1933), Talthybius (10254 GRT, built 1912), Tintern Abbey (2471 GRT, built 1939), Treworlas (4692 GRT, built 1922) and Willemsplein (Dutch, 5489 GRT, built 1910).
Escort was initially provided by the following warships; Free French sloop / minesweeper Commandant Domine (13 – 24 October), sloops Egret (A/Capt. E.M. Haes, RN) (14 October – 2 November), Fowey (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN) (14 October – 1 November), Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) (14 October – 1 November), Banff (Lt.Cdr. P.S. Evans, RN), Fishguard (Lt.Cdr. H.L. Pryse, RN) and the corvettes HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, RNR) (14 October – 5 November), HMS Stonecrop (A/Lt.Cdr. J.V. Brock, RCNVR) (14 October – 1 November).
When approaching Freetown the following corvettes joined on 31 October; HMS Burdock (T/Lt. H.J. Fellows, SANF(V)), Clover (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RNR) and Nigella (T/Lt. L.J. Simpson, RNR). They remained with the convoy until it arrived at Freetown on 5 November.
On 24 October 1941 the Gibraltar (and Lisbon) section of the convoy split off. This were nine merchant vessels escorted by HMS Fowey, HMS Leith and HMS Stonecrop. The destroyer HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, RN) departed Gibraltar on 25 October to join the convoy on the 27th. Two more destroyers, HMS Gurkha (Cdr. C.N. Lentaigne, RN) and HrMs Isaac Sweers (Cdr. J. Houtsmuller, RNN) departed Gibraltar in the morning of 28 October and they joined the convoy in the afternoon of the next day. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 1 November. The previous day the ships destined for Lisbon had split off.
30 Nov 1941
HMS H 34 (Lt. W.A. Phillimore, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Dahlia (T/Lt. M.S. Work, RNR) and HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN). (7)
30 Nov 1941
HMS H 50 (Lt. E.T. Stanley, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Rochester (Cdr.(Retd.) C.B. Allen, RN), HMS Northern Spray (T/Lt. G.T. Gilbert, RNVR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) and HMS Newport. (8)
21 May 1942
HMS H 28 (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Stork (Cdr. F.J. Walker, DSO, RN), HMS Convolvulus (T/Lt. R.C. Connell, RNR), HMS Gardenia (T/Lt. C.J. Jackson, RNVR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN), HMS Bradford (Lt.Cdr. J.N.K. Knight, RN), HMS Scarborough (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Carnduff, RN) and HMS Sandwich (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR). (9)
29 Aug 1942
HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) picks up 68 survivors from the Dutch merchant Zuiderkerk that was torpedoed and damaged the previous day by German U-boat U-566 west-north-west of Lisbon, Portugal in position 40°20'N, 16°02'W. The Zuiderkerk was finally sunk with shallow set depth charges by HMS Erne.
19 Dec 1942
Convoy CF 10.
This convoy departed Capetown on 19 December 1942.
The convoy was made up of the (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930), Largs Bay (British, 14182 GRT, built 1921) and Straat Soenda (Dutch, 6439 GRT, built 1939).
On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the destroyer HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN).
Around 0655B/21, HMS Fortune parted company with the convoy to proceed to Simonstown.
Around 1400A/27, the corvette HMS Hydrangea (A/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Woolfenden, RD, RNR) joined the convoy.
Around 1615Z/28, the escort destroyer HMS Holcombe (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Pinchin, DSC, RN) and corvette Commandant Drogou joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Freetown on 29 December 1942.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The convoy departed Freetown on 1 January 1943 but now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), destroyer HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN), escort destroyer HMS Holcombe and corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR).
Around 1940Z/1, HMS Ilex was detached to participate in an A/S hunt off Dakar.
Around 1120Z/2, the corvette HMS Bellwort (A/Lt.Cdr. N.F.R. Gill, RNR) joined, having departed Bathurst on 1 January.
Around 1930Z/3, HMS Ilex rejoined the convoy. At the same time the Largs Bay escorted by HMS Woodruff parted company. The Largs Bay was to proceed to New York escorted part of the way by the corcette. HMS Woodruff arrived at Bathurst on 10 January.
Around 1800Z/4, HMS Holcombe parted company to proceed to Bathurst where she arrived on 6 January.
Around 0800Z/5, the sloops HMS Sandwich (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) and HMS Erne (Lt.Cdr. E.D.J. Abbot, RN) joined.
Around 0840Z/5, HMS Ilex and HMS Bellwort parted company to proceed to Bathurst where HMS Ilex arrived on the 6th and HMS Bellwort on the 7th.
Around 1200A/8, the convoy merged with convoy MKF 6. (10)
15 Apr 1943
HMS H 50 (Lt. G.S.C Clarabut, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Weston (Cdr. L.F. Durnford-Slater, RN), HMS Gorleston (Cdr.(Retd.) R.W. Keymer, RN), HMS Wellington (Lt.Cdr. J.T. Jones, RD, RNR), HMS Exe (A/Cdr. M.A.O. Biddulph, DSC, RN), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) and HMS Coreopsis (T/Lt. B.C. Hamilton, RNR). (11)
16 Jun 1943
HMS H 34 (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) arrived at Lough Foyle. There she conducted A/S exercises with HMS Teviot (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, DSC, RN), HMS Wellington (Cdr. G.A. Thring, DSO, RN), HMS Violet (Lt. C.N. Stewart, RNR), HMS Coreopsis (T/Lt. B.C. Hamilton, RNR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN) and HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. H.V. Gordon, DSC, RNVR). (12)
19 Jun 1943
Combined convoy OS 50/KMS 17G.
This combined convoy assembled off Oversay on 19 June 1943.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Anglo Indian (British, 5609 GRT, built 1938), Balteako (British, 1328 GRT, built 1920), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), Baron Ramsay (British, 3650 GRT, built 1929), Baron Ruthven (British, 3178 GRT, built 1925), Basil (British, 4913 GRT, built 1928), Blairesk (British, 3300 GRT, built 1925), Calgary (British, 7206 GRT, built 1921), City of Dundee (British, 5273 GRT, built 1921), City of Eastbourne (British, 5563 GRT, built 1923), Coity Castle (British, 2767 GRT, built 1919), Colytto (Dutch, 4408 GRT, built 1926), Como (British, 1295 GRT, built 1910), Corcrest (British, 2373 GRT, built 1918), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Dalcross (British, 4557 GRT, built 1930), Dordrecht (Dutch, 4402 GRT, built 1928), Dornoch (British, 5186 GRT, built 1939), Dumfries (British, 5149 GRT, built 1935), Empire Candida (British, 2908 GRT, built 1943), Empire Fal (British, 4880 GRT, built 1914), Empire Franklin (British, 7292 GRT, built 1941), Empire Harp (British (tanker), 861 GRT, built 1942), Empire Nightingale (British, 5698 GRT, built 1918), Evviva (Norwegian, 1597 GRT, built 1921), Fort Abitibi (British, 7122 GRT, built 1942), Fort Liard (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942), Fort Nipigon (British, 7132 GRT, built 1942), Fort Senneville (British, 7131 GRT, built 1942), Glenwood (British, 4897 GRT, built 1940), Godfrey Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929), Helencrest (British, 5233 GRT, built 1941), Henzada (British, 4161 GRT, built 1934), Kristianiafjord (Norwegian, 6759 GRT, built 1921), Lafian (British, 4876 GRT, built 1937), Llanberis (British, 5055 GRT, built 1928), Lysaker V (Norwegian, 1571 GRT, built 1936), Marga (Norwegian, 1583 GRT, built 1923), Merkland (British, 1363 GRT, built 1934), Nijkerk (Dutch, 5843 GRT, built 1915), Norfalk (British, 5675 GRT, built 1919), Ocean Viceroy (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Pendeen (British, 4174 GRT, built 1923), Pentridge Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1941), Phemius (British, 7406 GRT, built 1921), Richmond Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1940), Saltwick (British, 3775 GRT, built 1929), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939), Silverash (British, 7750 GRT, built 1926), Souliotis (Greek, 4299 GRT, built 1917), Stad Maasluis (Dutch, 6541 GRT, built 1918), Stanhope (British, 2337 GRT, built 1919), Tiba (Dutch, 5239 GRT, built 1938), Tombouctou (British, 5636 GRT, built 1919), Trevaylor (British, 5257 GRT, built 1940), Uranienborg (British, 5257 GRT, built 1940) and Vigsnes (Norwegian, 1599 GRT, built 1930).
On assembly of Oversay the convoy was escorted by the sloops HMS Enchantress (Cdr. A.E.T. Christie, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), HMS Aberdeen (Lt.Cdr. H. Day, RN), HMS Folkestone (Cdr.(Retd.) J.G.C. Gibson, OBE, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. H.V. Gordon, DSC, RNVR), HMS Coreopsis (T/Lt. B.C. Hamilton, RNR) and HMS Violet (Lt. C.N. Stewart, RNR) which joined coming from Londonderry.
The monitors HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN) (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN) and HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN) were also taking passage in this convoy as was the RFA tanker Orangeleaf (5983 GRT, built 1917).
On 21 June HMS Folkestone was detached to return to Londonderry for repairs to defective hull plating.
On 24 June the merchant vessel Dornoch straggled from the convoy. The next day HMS Folkestone was ordered to search for her. She had departed Londonderry to overtake the convoy on 24 June having effected repairs there.
Cover for the convoy during part of the passage was provided by the AA cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. G.A.W. Voelcker, RN).
En-route the merchant vessels Baron Ramsay, Merkland and Stanhope were detached to Lisbon as was the Coity Castle which was detached to Huelva.
On 27 June 1943 the convoy was split up.
The destroyer HMS Arrow (Lt.Cdr. W.W. Fitzroy, RN), A/S trawlers HMS Reighton Wyke (Skr. G.M. Sutherland, RNR), HMS Visenda (T/Lt. S.F. Archer, RNR) and A/S whaler HMS Southern Gem (T/Lt. P.H. Riseley, RNVR) took over the escort of convoy KMS 17G. These escorts, plus the corvette HMS Columbine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.J. Griffiths, RNR) had brought out convoy OS 50G from Gibraltar which they had departed earlier on 27 June. [For the ships of convoy OS 50G see below.]
HMS Aberdeen and HMS Folkestone from the original escort also proceeded to Gibraltar escorting convoy KMS 17G.
On 28 June the convoy escort was reinforced by the escort destroyer Holcombe and Viceroy.
Convoy KMS 17G arrived at Gibraltar on 29 June.
Convoy KMS 17G was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Anglo Indian,
Balteako,
Baron Douglas,
Baron Ruthven,
Blairesk,
Como,
Corcrest,
Cromarty,
Dalcross,
Dumfries,
Empire Candida,
Empire Fal,
Empire Harp,
Empire Nightingale,
Evviva,
Fort Abitibi,
Fort Nipigon,
Helencrest,
Kristianiafjord,
Lysaker V,
Marga,
Norfalk,
Pendeen,
Pentridge Hill,
Richmond Hill,
Saltwick,
The Orangeleaf also was part of KMS 17G as were HMS Abercrombie and HMS Robert.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Convoy OS 50 then continued on with the escort. It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Basil,
Calgary,
City of Dundee,
City of Eastbourne,
Colytto,
Dordrecht,
Empire Franklin,
Fort Liard,
Fort Sonneville,
Glenwood,
Godfrey B. Holt,
Lafian,
Llanberis,
Nijkerk,
Ocean Viceroy,
Sansu,
Silverash,
Souliotis,
Tiba,
Tombouctou and
Unanienborg.
These were joined by the merchant vessels which had made up convoy OS 50G which had been brought out of Gibraltar by the escortx which took over convoy KMS 17G, except for HMS Columbine which joined convoy OS 50.
The merchant vessels in question were the following;
Baron Herries (British, 4574 GRT, built 1940),
Biafra (British, 5405 GRT, built 1933),
Empire Kangaroo (British, 6219 GRT, built 1919),
Empire Miranda (British, 7054 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Sunbeam (British, 6711 GRT, built 1941),
Fort Fairford (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Lac La Ronge (British, 7131 GRT, built 1942),
Fort McLoughlin (British, 7129 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Vermillion (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942),
Industria (British, 4850 GRT, built 1940),
Junecrest (British, 6945 GRT, built 1942),
Madras City (British, 5080 GRT, built 1940),
Ocean Verity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Volunteer (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Temple Inn (British, 5218 GRT, built 1940),
Trader (British, 6087 GRT, built 1940) and
Wearpool (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936).
Later more merchant vessels joined coming from Casablanca, these were the;
Dan-Y-Brin (British, 5117 GRT, built 1940),
Dunkerque (French, 2477 GRT, built 1925),
Elorn (French, 5482 GRT, built 1930),
Finisterre (French, 1158 GRT, built 1909),
Hoggar (French, 5146 GRT, built 1923),
Ingleton (British, 7203 GRT, built 1942) and
Schiaffino (British, 3236 GRT, built 1920).
The following merchant vessels were then detached to Casablanca;
Fort Laird and Fort Senneville.
Off Dakar the following merchant vessels joined the convoy;
Fort de Vaux (British, 5186 GRT, built 1918),
Fort Jemseg (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943),
Horace Williams (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Palacio (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927) and
Salta (Norwegian, 3907 GRT, built 1920).
The following merchant vessels were then detached to Dakar;
Calgary,
Dan-Y-Bryn,
Dunkerque,
Elorn,
Finisterre,
Fort Lac La Ronge,
Hoggar,
Ingleton and
Madras City.
The merchant vessel Godfrey B. Holt was detached to Bathurst.
The convoy arrived at Freetown on 8 June 1943.
12 Aug 1943 11 Apr 1944 21 Dec 1944 22 Dec 1944 21 Jan 1945 Around 1350A/27 they were joined by the sloop HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. R.A. Baker, RNVR) and HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR).
At 0930A/31, the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. Douglas Eric Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) joined as additional escorts.
HMS Valiant and her escorts arrived at Plymouth on 1 February 1945. (16) 1 Feb 1945 Sources ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
HMS H 32 (Lt. J.A.R. Troup, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), HMS Sandwich (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.J. Clemence, RNR) and HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN). (13)
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), HMS Sandwich (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.J. Clemence, RNR), HMS Versatile (Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN) and HMS Columbine (T/Lt. J.C. Grose, RNR). (14)
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR) and aircraft. (15)
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN) and HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR). Also a practice attack on HMS Leith was made. (15)
The battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) departed Freetown for Plymouth. She is still escorted by the frigates HMS Dovey (T/A/Lt.Cdr. T.W.F. Bolland, RNR) and HMS Wye (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Powys-Smith, RNR).
Around 1015A/1, the (damaged) battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) and her escorts, the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. Douglas Eric Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN), sloop HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), frigates HMS Dovey (T/A/Lt.Cdr. T.W.F. Bolland, RNR), HMS Wye (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Powys-Smith, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. R.A. Baker, RNVR) and HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR) arrived at Plymouth. (17)