I-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from John Brown at Clydebank on 30th October 1935 under the 1935 Build Programme with delivery by 30th April 1937. The ship was laid down on 16th torch 1936 and launched on 28th January 1937 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name, Build was completed on 7th July 1937 after delay due to delay in delivery of gun mountings. The contract price was £255,072 but excluded Admiralty supplied items such as weapons and communications equipment. This Class of destroyer was designed for use as minelayers.  (See BRITISH DESTROYERS by Edgar March and the Naval Staff History (MINING) for more information).

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC 1939 - CALABRIA  1940 - SPADA 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-43 - CRETE 1941 - MATAPAN   1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - SICILY  1943 - SALERNO 1943

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Gold, an Ilex tree eradicated Green.

 

M o t t o

Frangas non flectes:  'You may break but will not bend’

 

 
HMS Ilex, Portsmouth in 1937 (F Lowe, with thanks to John Sowerby)

 

 

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

 

Deployed in Mediterranean with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.

 

5th - Transferred to Western Approaches for convoy escort duty with Flotilla.

 

11th - Deployed on anti-submarine patrol duty in SW Approaches.

 

October

 

Channel and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

 

13th - Participated in sinking of U42 with destroyer IMOGEN in position 290 miles SW Fastnet (49.12N 16.00W). See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P. Kemp and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Vol 1 by C Blair for details.

 

November

 

Transferred to Home Fleet at Scapa Flow for screening of major units and patrol in NW Approaches and North Sea.

 

December

 

Home Fleet duties in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

 

3rd - Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool.

 

February

 

2nd - On completion rejoined Flotilla for continuation of Home Fleet duties.

 

March

 

31st - Detached for escort of Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK during minelay off the Norwegian coast at Stadtlandet with destroyers INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN and ISIS (Operation WS).

 

April

 

5th - Sailed from Scapa Flow for minelaying operation as Force S (Operation RUPERT/R4)

 

7th - Minelay cancelled when German warships sighted in Heligoland Bight.

 

8th - Operation cancelled and detached to join Home Fleet ships on passage to Norwegian coast after German invasion forces known to be at sea.

 

9th - Deployed with screen for Home Fleet major units supporting landings in Norway.

 

10th - Home Fleet screening and convoy defence off Norway.

to

25th - Nominated for escort of troopships from Clyde.

 

29th - Arrived in Clyde for escort duty.

 

May

 

1st - Escorted ss BELLEROPHON and ss LYCAEON to Narvik.

 

3rd - Resumed screening and support duty with Home Fleet ships off Norway.

 

8th - Towed damaged destroyer ISIS to Skel Fjord from Balangen Fjord.

 

14th - Nominated for service in Mediterranean with 2nd Destroyer Flotilla.

 

17th - Sailed from Plymouth with destroyers HERO, HASTY, HEREWARD and HAVOCK.

 

18th - Passage to Alexandria via Malta.

 

28th - Joined Flotilla for Fleet defence and convoy escort duty. Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I61

 

June

 

Deployed with major units for screening duties.

 

27th - Escorted battleships RAMILLIES and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, aircraft carrier EAGLE, cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and Australian cruiser SYDNEY to provide cover for passage of Convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta with civilians. (Operation MA3) (Note: With destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND, JERVIS, JUNO and Australian HMAS VOYAGER). During passage engaged Italian submarine LUIZZI on surface in surface gun action with DAINTY west of Crete. Submarine scuttled.

 

29th - Participated with DAINTY in sinking of Italian submarine UEBI SCEBELI by depth charges in same area. Operation cancelled due to heavy expenditure of ammunition in surface action by Mediterranean Fleet cruisers against Italian destroyers. (For details of all Mediterranean Fleet operations in 1940-42 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett ,THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002).

 

July

 

7th - Sailed as screen for battleships MALAYA, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, WARSPITE, cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and HMAS SYDNEY with destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY. HOSTILE, HYPERION, IMPERIAL, JANUS JUNO, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER (RAN) to provide cover for convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta (Operation MA5 – This was a repeat of abandoned MA3)

 

9th - Took part in attack on Italian warships including battleship CAVOUR. Enemy ships retreated after initial engagement off Punta Stilo. (For details see above references).

 

14th - Returned to Alexandria with Fleet.

 

19th - Escorted HMAS SYDNEY with destroyers HASTY, HYPERION, HERO and HAVOCK during sinking of Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI off Cape Spada. Rescued 230 survivors.

 

August

 

23rd - Bombarded Italian seaplane base at Bomba with destroyers STUART (RAN), JUNO and DIAMOND.

 

30th - Deployed with destroyers DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and GARLAND as screen for battleships MALAYA, WARSPITE, EAGLE, cruisers GLOUCESTER, KENT, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY to provide Distant cover for Convoy MS2 to Malta (Operation MB3).

 

September

 

2nd - Deployed with Fleet screen to meet aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, battleship VALIANT, cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA (Force F) west of Pantalleria on passage from Gibraltar to join Mediterranean Fleet (Operation HATS).

 

4th - Bombarded airfield at Scarpanto, Rhodes.

 

5th - Returned to Alexandria with Fleet.

 

October

 

Mediterranean Fleet duty with Flotilla in continuation.

 

November

 

6th - Joined screen for aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, battleships MALAYA, VALIANT, RAMILLIES and WARSPITE, cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK to provide Distant Cover for Convoy MW3 during passage to Malta (Operation MB8) (Note: Screen comprised destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN)

 

11th - Deployed as screen for ILLUSTRIOUS , cruisers BERWICK, GLASGOW, GLOUCESTER and YORK with destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK and HYPERION during air attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT).

 

12th - Rejoined Mediterranean Fleet which had battleship BARHAM, cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW joining Mediterranean Fleet as Force F from Gibraltar. (Operation COAT).

 

14th - Returned to Alexandria with Fleet.

 

December

 

16th - Joined Force F as escort for 8 mercantiles (Convoy MW5) with battleship MALAYA and destroyer HYPERION covered by ships of Mediterranean Fleet. (Operation HIDE which included transit of MALAYA to Gibraltar).

 

20th - Deployed as escort to MALAYA with HYPERION when mercantiles detached to enter Malta. Joined by destroyers JERVIS, HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO.

 

22nd - Detached from MALAYA after passage through Sicilian Narrows. After HYPERION was mined during return passage stood by stricken ship. (Note: Official List of losses and other records state HYPERION was damaged by an Italian mine laid in October, but two sources state that she was hit hit by a torpedo from the Italian submarine SERPENTE. (WARSHIP LOSSES Brown 1990 and MacIntyre see above reference.) Two attempts to tow damaged destroyer failed and ship was sunk by JANUS

 

24th - Passage to Malta.

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

 

3rd - Part of screen for battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT and BARHAM with destroyers GREYHOUND, JUNO, JANUS, GRIFFIN as Force A during bombardment of Bardia.

 

5th - Joined Force B, cruisers GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, with JANUS and took passage to Suda Bay, Crete.

 

6th - Embarked military personnel for passage to Malta.

 

8th - Disembarked passengers.

 

9th - Provided additional escort for Military convoy on passage to Pireaus. (Operation EXCESS).

 

10th - Under sustained air attacks on Fleet units covering passage of Convoy ME6.

 

15th - Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units..

 

February

 

Screening duty with Mediterranean Fleet in continuation.

 

March

 

20th - Part of screen for aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE, battleships BARHAM, VALIANT WARSPITE, cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK providing Distant Cover for the transit of Malta Convoy MW6 with destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, JERVIS, STUART (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) (Operation MC9).

 

24th - Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

 

March

 

20th - Part of destroyer screen for Fleet units during Battle of Matapan. (For details see MATAPAN by SW Pack and Naval Staff History).

 

April

 

18th - Part of screen for FORMIDABLE, battleships VALIANT, WARSPITE and BARHAM, cruisers AJAX, CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE with destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, ENCOUNTER, HEREWARD, HERO, JAGUAR, JUNO, DECOY, DEFENDER and GREYHOUND for passage to Suda Bay prior to bombardment of Tripoli (Operation MD2). (Note: This operation also covered return of Convoy ME7 from Malta).

 

23rd - Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units. (Note: This ship was not awarded a Battle Honour GREECE and remained with major Fleet units which did not take part in the evacuation of allied troops)

 

May

 

Eastern Mediterranean deployment in continuation. (Note: No trace of participation in cover for TIGER convoy has been traced)

 

20th - Provided support to military operations in Crete.

 

23rd - Propeller damaged by near miss in action with enemy aircraft off Crete.

 

24th - Taken in hand for repair at Alexandria

 

June

 

Under repair. Nominated for support of military operations in Syria (Operation EXPORTER).

 

3rd - On completion of repair rejoined Flotilla for military support duties.

 

12th - Escorted Fleet units providing support to military operations in Syria.

 

14th - Deployed with destroyer ISIS as escort for cruiser COVENTRY during patrol off Syria to prevent interference by Vichy French warships. COVENTRY engaged French destroyers that escaped at high speed. Under dive bombing attacks. Sustained major structural damage by two near misses. Towed to Haifa.

 

16th - Under temporary repair at Haifa.

 

29th - Passage to Alexandria under tow.

 

July

 

1st - Under further repair at Suez to enable safe passage for permanent repair.

 

20th - Passage to Aden.

 

24th - Remained at Aden for investigation into leakage in Boiler Room discovered during passage in Red Sea.

 

August

 

Under repair at Aden.

 

September

 

15th - Took passage to Mombasa.

 

October

 

Under repair at Mombasa.

 

November

 

Passage to Durban. Taken in hand for further strengthening of hull. Under repair in Durban.

 

December

 

Under repair.

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

 

Under repair. Permanent repair arranged in USA.

 

February

 

Took passage to Charleston via Simonstown, Freetown, Pemambuco and Trinidad.

 

March

 

On passage.

 

14th - Arrived at Charlestown for repair in US Navy Yard Paid off.

 

April to August

 

Under repair

 

September

 

Re-commissioned and carried out post refit trials. Passage to Key West, Florida for work-up.

 

October

 

Worked-up in West Indies area. Nominated for escort of military convoy WS24 during passage to Bahia.

 

November

 

Passage to join WS24 in South Atlantic.

 

9th - Joined Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA as Ocean Escort for WS24. (Note: Exceptionally, because of the preponderance of traffic in support of allied landings in North Africa, this convoy to Durban was routed via tine Brazilian port of Bahia instead of Freetown.)

 

17th - Detached from WS24 on arrival at Bahia and took passage to Freetown for defence of Atlantic convoys.

 

December

 

Deployed at Freetown for convoy defence.

 

27th - Joined escort for military convoy WS25 during final stage of passage from into Freetown.

 

31st - Detached from WS25 on arrival at Freetown.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Convoy defence based at Freetown in continuation Nominated for transfer to 6th Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean.

 

February

 

1st - Passage to Gibraltar. On arrival deployed for screening of major units and convoy escort in the western Mediterranean.

 

March to April

 

Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

 

May

 

Took part in interception of evacuation craft from North Africa. (Operation RETRIBUTION). Nominated for support of allied occupation of Pantelleria

 

June

 

3rd - Bombarded Pantellaria with destroyer ISIS prior to occupation. (Operation CORKSCREW).

 

July

 

Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla. Nominated for duty with Flotilla in support of allied landings in Sicily.

 

7th - Sailed from Alexandria with destroyer ECHO as screen for cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE during passage to support planned landings in Sicily.

 

10th - Arrived at Beach Head, Deployed with screen for H M battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE, cruisers AURORA, PENELOPE, CLEOPATRA and EURYALUS with m destroyers QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, ISIS, FAULKNOR, ECHO, INTREPID, RAIDER, ECLIPSE, FURY, INGLEFIELD, Greek VASILISSA OLGA and Polish ORP PIORUN to provide cover for landing operations (Operation HUSKY). (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).

 

13th - Participated in sinking of Italian submarine NEREIDE with ECHO SE of Messina Strait.

 

August

 

Screening and patrol duties in continuation. Nominated for screening of major ships during allied landings as Salerno. (Operation AVALANCHE).

 

9th - Part of screen for same major warships as HUSKY providing cover for landings. (Note: Screen comprised destroyers QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, PETARD, TROUBIDGE, OFFA, TYRIAN, TUMULT, .Polish ORP PIORUN, FAULKNOR*, INTREPID*, ECLIPSE*, INGLEFIELD*, FURY*, ECHO*, RAIDER, Greek VASILISSA OLGA, French LE FANTASQUE and LE TERRIBLE. Ships marked * belonged to 8th Destroyer Flotilla).

 

October

 

On release from AVALANCHE screening duty deployed with Flotilla for convoy escort and patrol in Central and western Mediterranean.,

 

November

 

Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

December

 

Withdrawn from operational service because of defect load and poor availability.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to May

 

Laid-up at Bizerta.

 

June

 

Transferred to Ferryville, Tunisia

 

July to December

 

Laid-up at Ferryville

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to February

 

 

Laid up at Ferryville. Repairs to be undertaken at Low Priority

 

March

 

Towed to Malta for repair.

 

April

 

Reduced to Reserve Category C in Malta (Note: On Survey declared not required for further operational service.).

 

May

 

Laid-up in Reserve at Malta.

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

 ILEX remained in Reserve at Malta after VJ Day and was placed on the Disposal List. The ship was sold for breaking-up in 1947 and towed to Sicily for demolition by Ugo Pace.

 

Acknowledgement

 

Details of escort for WS series of military convoys were provided by Donald Kindell, Ohio USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.

 

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ILEX

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

 

(Note on Convoys)