Thornycroft
W-Class
destroyer included in the 10th
Order of the 1916 - 17
Programme for build by Thornycroft
at Woolston.
She was
laid down on 25th April
1917and launched on 27th
January 1918 as the first RN
ship
to carry the name which had
been chosen as a compliment to
this shipbuilder who
had been associated with the
design and build of destroyers
since 1874. Build
was completed on 28th June
that year.
After service
with the Fleet during WW1 she
was part of the 4th Destroyer
Flotilla, Atlantic
Fleet in 1921 .Later the
Flotilla transferred to the
Mediterranean before being
placed in Reserve. During 1938
she was selected for
conversion to an AA Escort
by HM Dockyard Chatham. After
a successful WARSHIP WEEK in
March 1942 this
ship was adopted by Congleton,
Cheshire.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941 - ARCTIC 1942
-
NORTH SEA
1941-43 - SICILY
1943
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black, a Roman galley, Silver.
M o t t o
Quo
majores
ducunt:
'Where our forefathers
lead we follow'
D
e t a i
l s o
f W a
r
S e r v i
c e
(for
more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 3 9
September
Under refit and conversion for
use as an AA Escort (WAIR).
(For details of conversion see
V&W DESTROYERS 1917-45 by
A Preston).
(Note: Pennant Number for
visual signalling purposes
changed to that used by Escort
Destroyers.)
October
Post refit trials and
commissioned for service.
November
Joined Nore Command for convoy
defence in Channel and North
Sea.
December
Convoy Defence in Nore Command
in continuation.
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed for convoy defence
and patrol in
North Sea and Channel.
to
(Note: Not involved in
evacuation of troops from
Dunkirk bur retained on
convoy.
December
defence and anti-invasion
patrol duties).
1
9 4 1
January
Nore Command deployment in
continuation.
to
(Note: Detached for defence of
Atlantic convoys in Western
Approaches).
December
For details of North Sea
convoy duties see THREE
CORVETTES by
N Monsarrat) .
1
9 4 2
January
Nore Command deployment in
continuation.
February
Nominated for detached service
with Home Fleet.
Passage to join Home Fleet at
Scapa Flow.
March
Part of destroyer screen for
HM Battleships KING GEORGE V
and DUKE OF YORK,
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN. HM
Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS.
HM Cruisers BERWICK
and KENYA with HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, ECHO, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR,
FURY, GROVE, ICARUS,
INCONSTANT, INTREPID, JAVELIN,
LANCASTER, LEDBURY,
LOOKOUT, ONSLOW, PUNJABI,
TARTAR, VERDUN and WELLS,
covering passage
of Russian Convoy PQ12 and
returning Convoy PQ8.
(For details of all Russian
convoy operations see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman,
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B
Schoefield
and CONVOY ! by P Kemp).
On release from Home Fleet
duties resumed convoy defence
in Nore Command.
April
North Sea convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January
North Sea convoy defence in
continuation.
to
May
June
Nominated
for detached service in
Atlantic
for defence of military
convoys prior
to
allied landings
in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).
20th
Passage to
Clyde
to join escort for military
convoy WS31 during passage to
Gibraltar.
21st
Deployed with HM Destroyers
ARROW, BLANKNEY, BLENCATHRA,
BRECON, BRISSENDEN,
HAMBLEDON, LEDBURY, MENDIP,
VICEROY, WALLACE and
WITHERINGTON as part of
WS31 Ocean Escort.
26th
Detached from WS31 on arrival
at Gibraltar.
July
Passage to Bone
Nominated for service with
Eastern Support in Escort
Group V.
7th
Sailed from Bone as part of
military convoy KMF18 during
passage to beach head.
9th
Detached from KMF18 to refuel
in Malta.
10th
Passage to join Escort Group
to provide AA defence in
anchorage of beach head and
for interception
patrol in support of landing
operations.
(For details see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Bamett and Naval
Staff History).
(Note: Major ships in Support
Force included H M Cruisers
NEWFOUNDLAND, UGANDA,
MAURITIUS, ORION, CARLISLE,
COLOMBO and DELHI).
August
On release from HUSKY took passage to
resume duties in Nore
Command..
September
Coastal convoy defence in
North
Sea in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
North Sea coastal convoy
defence and patrol in
continuation.
to
(Note: Not deployed in support
of allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE).
December
See
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June
1944 (HMSO).
1
9 4 5
January
North Sea deployment in
continuation.
to
(Note: During this period
German minelaying and
SCHNORKEL submarine activities
April
greatly increased and
additional patrols were made
to ensure safe passage
of
convoys
including those to
Belgium)
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P
Smith).
May
After
VJ Day deployed for escort of
minesweepers.
14th
Provided escort with HM
Destroyer WOLFHOUND during
clearance of minefields prior
to
re-occupation of
Stavanger.
June
North Sea deployment in
support of military
re-occupation of European
countries.
to
August
Special
Note
This
destroyer, modified in 1939 to
provide AA defence for
convoys, was another of
the many unsung heroines of the
continuous
struggle against both enemy
and weather to ensure safe
passage of East coast
convoys. Little publicity was
given of
actions against E-Boats and
aircraft nor of dangers faced
and met with great
courage. It should be
remembered that
many convoys arrived without
loss.
Post
War Notes
HMS
WOOLSTON was Paid-off and was
reduced to Reserve status
after VJ Day and was
not redeployed.
She
was placed
on the Disposal List in 1946 and sold to BISCO on 18th February 1947 for
demolition by G Brunton
at Grangemouth
The
ship arrived in tow at the
breaker’s yard on the Forth
later that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WOOLSTON
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been
cross-checked with the text
above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy
sailed
|
Joined
convoy
as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
03/11/39
|
03/11/39
|
FS
0031
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
FS
0034
|
11/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
15/11/39
|
15/11/39
|
FS
0037
|
17/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
FS
0039
|
21/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
23/12/39
|
23/12/39
|
FS
0058
|
24/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
FN
0059
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
FS
0063
|
05/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
FS
0082
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
05/02/40
|
05/02/40
|
FS
0088
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
FS
0105
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
FS
0116
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FN
0118
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
FS
0122
|
17/03/40
|
17/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
FN
0123
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
FN
0124
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
FS
0132
|
30/03/40
|
30/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
MT
039
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
TM
037
|
03/04/40
|
03/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
FS
0138
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
FN
0140
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
FS
0150
|
21/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
FS
0156
|
28/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
MT
060
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
FS
0191
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
MT
085
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
FN
0194
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
MT
089
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
FS
0197
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FN
0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FS
0203
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
MT
094
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FN
0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
FS
0215
|
07/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FN
0217
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FN
0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FS
0221
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
FN
0224
|
17/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FS
0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
FN
0229
|
24/07/40
|
24/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
01/08/40
|
FS
0238
|
02/08/40
|
02/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FN
0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
FS
0245
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
FS
0252
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
FN
0265
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
FS
0269
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FN
0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
FS
0278
|
14/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
FN
0280
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
FN
0283
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
FS
0286
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
FN
0288
|
24/09/40
|
24/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
FN
0298
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
FS
0304
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
FN
0306
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
FS
0311
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FN
0314
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
FS
0321
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
FN
0323
|
01/11/40
|
01/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
FN
0331
|
12/11/40
|
12/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
FS
0335
|
16/11/40
|
16/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
FN
0336
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FS
0346
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FN
0347
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FS
0353
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
FN
0355
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
FS
0360
|
15/12/40
|
15/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
FS
0371
|
28/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
FS
0385
|
13/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
FS
0396
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
FN
0395
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
04/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
FN
0399
|
06/02/41
|
06/02/41
|
10/02/41
|
05/03/41
|
SL
065
|
07/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
OB
297
|
17/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
05/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
HX
113
|
20/03/41
|
21/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
OG
057
|
01/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
OB
316
|
29/04/41
|
05/05/41
|
03/08/41
|
07/08/41
|
OS
002
|
10/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
24/07/41
|
10/08/41
|
SL
082
|
15/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
01/10/41
|
01/10/41
|
BB
083
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
20/10/41
|
20/10/41
|
BB
091
|
22/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
01/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
PQ
012
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
MKF
017
|
30/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
UGS
010
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF
018
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS
010X
|
25/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
26/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
MKS
019Y
|
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
MKF
020
|
04/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
31/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
MKS
020
|
04/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)