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Notable events involving Lady Elsa include:

15 Jul 1940

Convoy HX 58.

This convoy departed Halifax on 15 July 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
A.D. Huff (British, 5866 GRT, built 1920), Ampleforth (British, 4576 GRT, built 1929), Athelcrown (British (tanker), 11999 GRT, built 1929), Baron Yarborough (British, 3388 GRT, 1928), Blairesk (British, 3300 GRT, built 1925), Bodegraven (Dutch, 5541 GRT, built 1929), Botusk (British, 3091 GRT, built 1919), Brockley Hill (British, 5287 GRT, built 1918), Camito (British, 6611 GRT, built 1915), Coimbra (British (tanker), 6768 GRT, built 1937), Crispin (British, 5050 GRT, built 1935), Diloma (British (tanker), 8146 GRT, built 1939), Don (Norwegian, 2010 GRT, built 1924), Empire Hawksbill (British, 5652 GRT, built 1920), Empire Soldier (British, 4539 GRT, built 1928), Favorit (Norwegian, 2826 GRT, built 1920), Filleigh (British, 4856 GRT, built 1928), Geddington Court (British, 6903 GRT, built 1928), Hatasu (British, 3198 GRT, built 1921), Hollinside (British, 4172 GRT, built 1930), Innerton (British, 5276 GRT, built 1919), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Llanwern (British, 4966 GRT, built 1928), Lowther Castle (British, 5171 GRT, built 1937), Mars (Dutch, 1662 GRT, built 1925), Muneric (British, 5229 GRT, built 1919), Newfoundland (British, 6791 GRT, built 1925), Newton Ash (British, 4625 GRT, built 1925), Norefjord (Norwegian, 3082 GRT, built 1920), Norwegian (British, 6357 GRT, built 1921), Olev (Estonian, 1377 GRT, built 1909), Photinia (British, 4010 GRT, built 1929), Ragnhildsholm (Swedish, 2818 GRT, built 1929), Ravnefjell (Norwegian, 1339 GRT, built 1938), San Amado (British (tanker), 7316 GRT, built 1935), San Gaspar (British (tanker), 12910 GRT, built 1921), Sheaf Crown (British, 4868 GRT, built 1929), Towa (Dutch, 5419 GRT, built 1930), Virgilia (British (tanker), 5723 GRT, built 1927), Volendam (Dutch, 15434 GRT, built 1922), West Cawthon (British, 5972 GRT, built 1919), West Point (British, 4999 GRT, built 1920) and Willemsplein (Dutch, 5489 GRT, built 1910).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.I. Money, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Assiniboine (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN) and HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN).

The Canadian destroyers parted company around midnight during the night of 15/16 July to return to Halifax.

Around 1030Q/16, the merchant vessel Kina II (British, 9823 GRT, built 1939) overtook and joined the convoy. She had sailed late from Halifax.

Around 1200P/19, in position 41°05'N, 46°30'W, convoy BHX 58 joined convoy HX 58. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy;
Anadara (British (tanker), 8009 GRT, built 1935), Athelsultan (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Cerinthus (British (tanker), 3878 GRT, built 1930), Delphinula (British (tanker), 8120 GRT, built 1939), Derrymore (British, 4799 GRT, built 1938), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Hopecrest (British, 5099 GRT, built 1935), Indian Prince (British, 8587 GRT, built 1926), Inkosi (British, 6618 GRT, built 1937), Inversuir (British, 9456 GRT, built 1938), La Pampa (British, 4149 GRT, built 1938), Lumen (British (tanker), 6500 GRT, built 1925), Oiltrader (British (tanker), 5550 GRT, built 1927), Patrick Henry (British, 8295 GRT, built 1920), Port Caroline (British, 8263 GRT, built 1919), Rodsley (British, 5000 GRT, built 1939), Saint Bernard (British, 5183 GRT, built 1939), San Demetrio (British (tanker), 8073 GRT, built 1938), San Eliseo (British (tanker), 8042 GRT, built 1939), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Vernon City (British, 4748 GRT, built 1929) and Wayfarer (British, 5068 GRT, built 1925).

On 22 July, the Sheaf Crown, which was already trailing the convoy, was lost from sight and did not rejoin the convoy. She arrived in the Clyde on 30 July.

Around 0530Z/27, the corvette Clarkia joined the convoy. With her were also the merchant vessels Hollinside (British, 4172 GRT, built 1930) and Loke (Norwegian, 2421 GRT, built 1915) and which had to return to the U.K. as they were serving as rescue ships.

Around 0635Z/27, the destroyer HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and corvette HMS Camellia (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Mackay, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1645Z/27, the sloop HMS Enchantress (Cdr. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 0400Z/28, the A/S trawlers HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR) and HMS St. Kenan (T/Lt. H.J. Beverley, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 0615Z/28, the destroyer HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 2030A/28, in position 56°05'N, 08°00'W, the convoy split into two sections.

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Convoy HX 58A was destined for Methil (arrived on 31 July) and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Ampleforth, Athelsultan (arrived at Scapa Flow on 30 July), Baron Yarborough, Blairesk, Bodegraven, Botusk, Brockley Hill, Delphinula, Diloma, Filleigh, Harberton, Hatasu, Hopecrest, Indian Prince, Innerton, La Pampa, Lumen, Mars, Newton Ash, Oiltrader, Port Caroline, Ravnefjell, Rodsley, Saint Bernard, San Eliseo and Virgilia. They were escorted by HMCS Skeena, HMS Camelia, HMS Lady Elsa and HMS St. Kenan which all arrived at Rosyth on 31 July.

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Convoy HX 58B was destined for ports in the Irish Sea area.

Around 0745A/29, HMS Westcott was detached with the Clyde section which was made up of the following merchant vessels;
A.D. Huff, Athelcrown, Camito, Geddington Court, Inkosi, Leerdam, Muneric and San Demetrio. HMS Westcott then departed again to overtake and rejoin the convoy which she did around 1720A/29.

Around 0845A/29, HMS Ranpura parted company to proceed independently to Belfast where she was to refit.

Around 1130A/29, the following merchant vessels were detached to Belfast Lough;
Coimbra, Don, Favorit and Olev.

Around 1230A/29, the destroyer HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, RN) joined as additional escort.

Around 1620A/29, in position 54°06'N, 05°13'W, the Milford Haven / Bristol Channel section of the convoy parted company. This section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Empire Hawksbill, Empire Soldier, Inversuir, Llanwern, Norwegian, Ragnhildsholm, Towa, West Point, Willemsplein. HMS Clarkia went with them as escort. She arrived at Milford Haven on 30 July.

The remaining ships arrived at Liverpool (Bar light vessel) in the morning of 30 July. (1)

20 Oct 1940
HMS Lady Elsa (Lt. J.G. Rankin, RNR) picks up 52 survivors from the British merchant Caprella that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-100 southwest of Rockall in position 56°37'N, 17°15'W.

Lady Elsa also picks up 43 survivors from the British merchant Sitala that was also torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-100 southwest of Rockall in position 56°35'N, 17°15'W.

26 Dec 1940

Convoy HX 99.

This convoy departed Halifax on 26 December 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; A.D. Huff (British, 5866 GRT, built 1920), Aelybryn (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938), Alderpool (British, 4313 GRT, built 1936), Cape Nelson (British, 3807 GRT, built 1929), Eastern Star (Norwegian, 5658 GRT, 1920), Ittersum (Dutch, 5199 GRT, built 1938), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Penrith Castle (British, 6369 GRT, built 1929), Teneriffa (Norwegian, 5655 GRT, built 1922), Thysville (Belgian, 8351 GRT, built 1922), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Warkworth (British, 4941 GRT, built 1924), West Ekonk (British, 5631 GRT, built 1918) and Yselhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN), destroyer HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN) and the armed yacht HMCS Otter (T/Lt. D.S. Mossman, RCNR).

Around 1830Q/26, the submarine HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) also joined the convoy as escort.

HMCS Otter was detached later on the 26th to return to Halifax.

Around 1645Q/27, HMCS Columbia parted company to return to Halifax.

Between 29 and 31 December 1940, the convoy encountered very thick for and during this period the Cape Nelson and Teneriffa lost contact with the convoy and never rejoined. They both continued her passage to the U.K. independently and arrived at Oban on 9 January 1941 and at Avonmouth on 10 January 1941 respectively.

Also on 29 December 1940, the Bermuda section of the convoy, convoy BHX 99, was to join. This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Abraham Lincoln (Norwegian, 5784 GRT, built 1929), Blankaholm (Swedish, 2845 GRT, built 1930), Cowrie (British (tanker), 8197 GRT, built 1931), Daytonian (British, 6434 GRT, built 1922), Duke of Athens (British, 5217 GRT, built 1940), Karabagh (British (tanker), 6427 GRT, built 1932), Kinross (British, 4956 GRT, built 1935) and Rokos Vergottis (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1919).

They had departed Bermuda unescorted on 24 December 1940.

The Bermuda section was late at the rendezvous and were not sighted. The main convoy then retired northwards to await them. However due to the thick for then setting in which lasted until the morning of 31 December the Bermuda section was unable to join.

When the fog finally lifted, HMS Alaunia had 13 ship in sight, 2 of which were from the Bermuda section, the Blankaholm and Duke of Athens. The A.D. Huff of the Halifax section was able to rejoin on 4 January. She had suffered from engine defects during her absence.

Around 0900P/1, HMS Alaunia left the convoy to search for the missing ships of the Bermuda section. sh found five of them and by 1330P/5, the following ships had joined the main convoy; Abraham Lincoln, Cowrie, Daytonian, Kinross and Rokos Vergottis. The last ship missing, the Karabagh was able to join on 4 January 1941.

Around 1500O/5, in position 60°18'N, 25°00'W, HMS Porpoise parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 0800O/5, in position 61°17'N, 21°24'W, HMS Alaunia parted company to return to Halifax.

The first of the Western Approaches A/S escort joined on 1330Z/7 in position 60°25'N, 16°00'W. These were the corvettes HMS La Malouine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) R.W. Keymer, RN) and HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO, RNR). The remainder of the A/S escort, the destroyers HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN) and A/S trawler HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR) joined on the 8th.

Around 1815A/9, in position 57°05'N, 08°07'W, the Oban section parted company. They arrived at Oban, unescorted, later the same day. The Oban section was made up of the following merchant vessels; A.D. Huff, Alderpool, Duke of Athens, Karabagh, Kinross, Towerfield and Warkworth.

At 1930A/10, in position 53°46'N, 05°08'W, the following merchant vessels parted company; Cowrie (arrived at Holyhead on 11 January), Ittersum (arrived at Milford Haven on 11 January) and Yselhaven (arrived at Milford Haven on 11 January). To escort them the A/S trawler HMS Derby County (Skr. W.J.P. Soloman, RNR) had joined.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 January 1941. (2)

15 Apr 1941

Convoy HG 59.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 15 April 1941.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Atle Jarl (Norwegian, 1173 GRT, built 1919), Baron Graham (British, 3242 GRT, built 1925), Baron Tweedmouth (British, 3357 GRT, built 1927), Bur (Swedish, 1956 GRT, built 1919), Como (British, 1295 GRT, built 1910), Disa (Swedish, 2002 GRT, built 1918), Empire Bay (British, 2824 GRT, built 1940), Empire Stream (British, 2922 GRT, built 1941), Erato (British, 1335 GRT, built 1923), Jurko Topic (Yugoslavian, 5202 GRT, built 1919), Lapwing (British, 1449 GRT, built 1920), P.L.M. 13 (British, 3754 GRT, built 1921), Pelayo (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927), Taberg (Swedish, 1392 GRT, built 1920), Thyra (Swedish, 1796 GRT, built 1925), Tintern Abbey (British, 2471 GRT, built 1939), Trentino (British, 3079 GRT, built 1919) and Wrotham (British, 1884 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Enchantress (Lt.Cdr. A.E.T. Christie, OBE, RN), corvettes HMS Gentian (Lt.Cdr. R.O. Yeomans, RD, RNR), HMS Geranium (T/Lt. A. Foxall, RNR) and HMS Joinquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR) and the submarine HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN).

At dusk on 20 April 1941, in position 36°25'N, 19°13'W, the Jurko Topic parted company to proceed to New York.

At dusk on 22 April 1941, in position 41°10'N, 23°10'W, HMS Geranium and HMS Joinquil parted company.

At 0800Z/23, in position 41°58'N, 23°01'W, HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) left convoy HG 59 escorted by the British corvette HMS Gentian (Lt.Cdr. R.O. Yeomans, RD, RNR). O 24 was to join convoy OG 59. HMS Gentian was to rejoin convoy HG 59 which she did around 1730Z/24 in position 45°35'N, 22°57'W.

Around 1130Z/27, in position 52°21'N, 20°09'W, the convoy was joined by the destroyers HMS Keppel (Cdr. A.M. Sheffield, RN), HMS Sabre (Lt. Sir P.W. Gretton, DSC, RN), sloop HMS Fleetwood (Cdr. R.W. Moir, RN), corvettes HMS Dianella (T/Lt. J.G. Rankin, RNR), HMS Kingcup (Lt. R.A.D. Cambridge, RNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR), HMS Northern Dawn (Lt. G.P.S. Lowe, RNVR) and HMS Wellard (Lt.(Retd.) R.F. Turnbull, RD, RNR). The rescue ship Toward (British, 1571 GRT, built 1923) also joined.

Around 1800A/30, in position 55°42'N, 07°41'W, the Oban section of the convoy parted company. This was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Bur and Tintern Abbey. HMS Northern Dawn went with them as escort.

Around 2300A/30, HMS Keppel, HMS Sabre, HMS Fleetwood, HMS Dianella, HMS Lady Elsa and HMS Wellard parted company to proceed to Londonderry where they arrived the following morning.

On 1 May 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in the Clyde;
P.L.M. 13, Taberg and Wrotham. Also with them was the Toward. They were escorted to the Clyde by HMS Kingcup.

On 1 May 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in Belfast Lough;
Atle Jarl, Como, Lapwing and Trentino.

On 1 May 1941, the following Empire Bay arrived at Workington.

On 2 May 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Barrow in Furness;
Baron Graham, Baron Tweedmouth, Disa and Thyra.

On 2 May 1941, the Erato arrived at Preston.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 May 1941 escorted by HMS Enchantress and HMS Gentian. (3)

23 Mar 1942
The damaged armed merchant cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.D. Cochrane, RN) departed Halifax under tow for the Brooklyn Navy Yard at New York. She is to proceed through the Cape Cod Canal.

Escort for the tow is provided by the auxiliary A/S trawlers HMS Bedfordshire (Lt. R.B. Davis, RNR), HMS Coventry City (T/Lt. J.C. Grose, RNR), HMS Kingston Ceylonite (A/Skr.Lt. W.M. Smith, RNR), HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR) and HMS Stella Polaris (Skr. T. Normandale, RNR).

The tow arrived in Long Island sound on 29 March 1942. The trawlers then proceeded to New York arriving later the same day. HMS Queen of Bermuda was towed to the New York Navy Yard on 31 March 1942 as this was not possible earlier due to the weather conditions. (4)

6 Nov 1942
HMS Lady Elsa (Lt. S.G. Phillips, DSC, RNVR) picks up 55 survivors from the British merchant Arica that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-160 eight miles north of Galera Point, Trinidad in position 10°58'N, 60°52'W.

21 Oct 1943

Convoy AKD 4.

This convoy departed Aden on 21 October 1943.

On departure from Aden the convoy was made up of the following ships;
Atlantian (British, 6549 GRT, built 1928), Baron Renfrew (British, 3635 GRT, built 1935), Bosworth (British, 6672 GRT, built 1919), Clan MacDonald (British, 9653 GRT, built 1939), Clan MacIver (British, 4500 GRT, built 1925), Imperial Valley (British, 4573 GRT, built 1924), Ioannis Fafalios (Greek, 6071 GRT, built 1918), Mount Helikon (Greek, 5525 GRT, built 1918), Nirvana (British, 6044 GRT, built 1914), Panaghiotis (Greek, 3575 GRT, built 1901), Romney (British, 5840 GRT, built 1929), Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937), Streefkerk (Dutch, 6185 GRT, built 1921) and Sutherland (British, 5170 GRT, built 1940).

The submarine HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) also took passage in the convoy.

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (T/Lt.Cdr. G.M. Berlyn, SANF(V)) and HMS Jasmine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.A. Hoodless, RNR).

Around 2100D/24, south-south-west of Socotra, HMS Trespasser parted company to proceed independently to Colombo.

The Mount Helikon straggled from the convoy and did not rejoin. She proceeded to Kilindini / Mombasa independently.

On 31 October 1943, off Kilindini / Mombasa the three corvettes parted company with the convoy after a new escort had joined. This was made up of the A/S trawlers HMS Arctic Explorer (T/Lt. C. Pawley, RNVR), HMS Cape Warwick (T/Lt. K.J. Stern, RNVR), HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. A.M. Brown, RNVR) and HMS Northern Isles (T/Lt. J.M. Baldry, RNVR).

Also proceeding to Kilindini / Mombasa were the following merchant vessels Clan MacIver and Salween.

Joined from Kilindini / Mombasa was the following ship; Shirala (British, 7841 GRT, built 1925).

On 1 November 1943, the following ship joined the convoy coming from Dar-es-Salaam; Wyvern (Norwegian, 4007 GRT, built 1929).

On 6 November 1943, the following ships were detached to Beira; Atlantian, Bosworth and Streefkerk while the following ships joined coming from Beira; Alpherat (Dutch, 5759 GRT, built 1928), Fort Maisonneuve (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942) and Geronimo (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).

On 8 November 1943, the following ships were detached to Lourenço Marques; Baron Renfrew, Imperial Valley, Panaghiotis, Romney and Wyvern.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 9 November 1943. (5)