Allied Warships

HMCS Margaree (H 49)

Destroyer of the D class

NavyThe Royal Canadian Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassD 
PennantH 49 
Built byPalmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co., Ltd. (Jarrow-on-Tyne, U.K.) 
Ordered 
Laid down12 Jun 1931 
Launched16 Jun 1932 
Commissioned6 Sep 1940 
Lost22 Oct 1940 
Loss position53° 24'N, 22° 50'W
History

Transferred from the Royal Navy on 6 September 1940, was former HMS Diana. She was transferred to replace HMCS Fraser but was herself sunk soon after transfer.

HMCS Margaree (Cdr. Joseph Wilton Rouer Roy, RCN) was sunk in the North Atlantic while escorting convoy OL-8, in position (approx.) 53°24'N, 22°50'W after a collision with the freighter Port Fairy.
142 of her crew were lost with the ship.  

Former nameHMS Diana

Commands listed for HMCS Margaree (H 49)

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.

CommanderFromTo
1Cdr. Joseph Wilton Rouer Roy, RCN6 Sep 194022 Oct 1940 (+)

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Notable events involving Margaree include:


The page for this destroyer was last updated in November 2020.

17 Sep 1940
While refitting in London HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) is slightly damaged by splinters during an enemy air raid.

10 Oct 1940
With her refit completed HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) shifted from London to Sheerness. (1)

13 Oct 1940
HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) departed Sheerness for Plymouth. (1)

14 Oct 1940
HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) arrived at Plymouth. (1)

17 Oct 1940
HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) departed Plymouth for Londonderry. (1)

18 Oct 1940
HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) arrived at Londonderry. (1)

19 Oct 1940

Convoy OL 8.

This convoy departed Liverpool on 19 October 1940 and was dispersed on 22 October in about 25'W.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Arundel Castle (British, 19118 GRT, built 1921), Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920), Jamaica Planter (British, 4098 GRT, built 1936), Port Fairy (British, 10243 GRT, built 1928), Staffordshire (British, 10683 GRT, built 1929) and Troilus (British, 7422 GRT, built 1921).

Escort was provided on departed from Liverpool by the destroyers HMS Havelock (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Thomas, RN) and HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN).

The Canadian destroyer HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) sailed from the Clyde that day and also joined the escort.

The Canadian destroyer HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) departed from Londonderry on the 20th. She joined the convoy at sea.

On 21 July Cdr. Roy on board HMCS Margaree (Senior Officer of the escort) was ordered by the Admiralty (in a signal timed 1153 hours) to detach the merchant vessel Arundal Castle and remain with the convoy until 25°00'W and then disperse the convoy.

At 0230/22 the merchant vessel Port Fairy and HMCS Margaree collided. The destroyer was heavily damaged and sank later with heavy loss of life. Port Fairy rescued 32 of the crew.

20 Oct 1940
HMCS Margaree (Cdr. J.W.R. Roy, RCN) departed Londonderry to join the escort of convoy OL 8 at sea. The convoy was to be dispersed on 22 October after which HMCS Margaree was to proceed to Halifax.

[See the event 'Convoy OL 8' for 19 October 1940 for more info on this convoy.] (2)

Media links


Destroyers of World War Two

Whitley, M. J.

Sources

  1. ADM 199/2561
  2. ADM 187/10

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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