Type
II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from
Vickers
Armstrong (Tyne) on 4th September 1939 under
1939 War Emergency Programme and
laid down on 10th April 1940 as Job No J4213.
The ship was launched on 12th May
1941 as the first RN Ship to carry this name,
that of a Yorkshire fox-hunt.
Build was completed on 10 January 1943.
.Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 this
ship was adopted by the civil
community of Hayes, Middlesex, now part of the
London Borough of Hillingdon.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC
1942-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - ATLANTIC 1944
- NORMANDY 1944 -
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1944 - NORTH
SEA 1944-45
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White, a
fret Blue and a
hunting
horn
interlaced Red.
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 4
2
January
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service.
10th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials
and storing;.
Worked-up for operational service at
Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
30th
During work-up deployed as part of Local
Escort for Russian Convoy PQ6 during initial
stage of passage to Iceland
in NW Approaches,
February
On completion of work-up deployed with 17th
Destroyer Flotilla, at Scapa Flow.
14th
Escorted Russian Convoy PQ11 from Kirkwall
with HM Escort Destroyer AIREDALE, HM
Trawlers BLACKFLY, CAPE ARGONA and
CAPE MARIATO for part of passage to Iceland.
17th
Detached from PQ11 and returned to Scapa Flow.
25th
Part of escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers
MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC
and SOUTHERN PRINCE of 1st Minelaying Squadron
with HM Destroyer SKATE for lay of
a section of Northern Barrage (Operation
SN85).
Sustained damage in heavy weather and returned
for repair.
(For details of all minelaying operations see
Naval Staff History (MINING))
March
3rd
Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard in Immingham.
17th
On completion resumed Home Fleet Flotilla
duties.
20th
Deployed with screen for HM Battleships KING
GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN,
HM Cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT of
Home Fleet with HM Destroyers ASHANTI,
BEDOUIN, ECHO, ESCAPADE, ESKIMO.
FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD, FURY,
MARNE, ONSLOW,
PUNJABI, TARTAR and HM Escort Destroyer
WHEATLAND
providing Distant
Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 and returning
QP9.
(Note: This heavy Home Fleet presence was
required because the German warships
TIRPITZ,
ADMIRAL SCHEER and ADMIRAL HIPPER were all
known to be deployed in the
north of Norway to carry
out attacks on Russian Convoys.
For details of all Russian Convoy operations
see ARCTIC CONVOYS by R. Woodman,
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg,, CONVOY! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B.
Schoefield).
On release from screening duties detached for
escort duty in English Channel.
April
1st
Deployed with escort for Commando Raid on
shipping at
Bayonne.
(Operation MYRMIDON - This raid was aborted).
Carried out bombardment at Saint Jean de Luz.
On release from MYRMIDON resumed duties with
Hone Fleet at Scapa Flow.
8th
Part of screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE
V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft
Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers KENT and NIGERIA with
HM Destroyers BEDOUIN,
BELVOIR, ESCAPADE,
ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, LEDBURY, MATCHLESS, OFFA,
ONSLOW, SOMALI and HM Escort Destroyer
WHEATLAND providing Distant Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ14 and return
Convoy QP10.
26th
Part of screen for HM Battleship KING GEORGE
V, US Battleship USS WASHINGTON,
HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser KENYA, US cruisers
TUSCALOOSA and WICHITA with
HM
Destroyers BELVOIR,
ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, HURSLEY, INGLEFIELD,
LAMERTON, ORIBI and PUNJABI, US destroyers USS
MADISON, USS PLUNKETT, USS
WAINWRIGHT and USS WILSON
providing Distant
Cover for the transit of Russian Convoy
PQ15 and return Convoy QP11.
(Note: The US Navy warships had been provided
to reinforce Home Fleet because
of recent
losses
in RN strength).
May
1st
HMS PUNJABI sank after collision in fog with
HMS KING GEORGE V which was badly
damaged and had to
be replaced by HMS DUKE OF
YORK.
13th
Deployed with screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers
LIVERPOOL,
KENT,
LONDON, NIGERIA and NORFOLK with HM Destroyers
BLANKNEY,
ECLIPSE. ESCAPADE,
FAULKNOR, FURY,
ICARUS, INGLEFIELD, LAMERTON,
MARNE, ONSLOW, ORIBI and WHEATLAND to provide
cover for return of HM Cruiser
TRINIDAD from Murmansk.
(Note: This ship had been under temporary
repair following her self-inflicted
torpedo damage
during action with German destroyers on 29th
March. See above
references).
23rd
Part of screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, USS
WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS
LONDON and USS WICHITA.
(Note: These Home Fleet units were covering
passage of PQ16 and returning QP12.)
June
Detached for escort of Malta Relief Convoy
with other ships of Home Fleet.
(Operation HARPOON).
5th
Deployed as part of escort for convoy from
Clyde with. HM Cruisers KENYA and
LIVERPOOL, HM
Destroyers ONSLOW, ICARUS, ESCAPADE,
BEDOUIN,
MARNE,
MATCHLESS, ITHURIEL, BLANKNEY,
PARTRIDGE, BADSWORTH
and Polish destroyer
ORP KUJAWIAK.
12th
Joined Force X as Close escort for passage of
convoy through Sicilian Narrows
to Grand
Harbour, Malta with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM
Destroyers BEDOUIN, MATCHLESS,
MARNE,
ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, BLANKNEY, BADSWORTH, ORP
KUJAWIAK and four
Fleet minesweepers.
14th
Under heavy air attack during which HMS
LIVERPOOL was torpedoed.
Detached and deployed as escorted for tow of
damaged HMS LIVERPOOL by HM Destroyer
ANTELOPE to Gibraltar
18th
Passage to Scapa Flow with Hone Fleet ships.
July
Deployed as part of screen for HMS DUKE OF
YORK USS WASHINGTON, HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser
CUMBERLAND
and HM Cruiser NIGERIA with HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, BLANKNEY, MARNE, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR,
MARTIN, ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW. WHEATLAND, US destroyers USS
MAYRANT and RHIND to
provide Distant
Cover for transit of Russian Convoy PQ17
and returning Convoy
QP13.
4th
PQ17 scattered on orders from Admiralty
because of threat of attack by German warships
TIRPITZ, ADMIRAL SCHEER and LUTZOW.
(See above references, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY and THE CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broome.).
20th
Embarked stores and ammunition and took
passage with HMS MARNE, HMS MARTIN and
HMS BLANKNEY to Archangel for replenishment of
returning escorts.
Refuelled on passage by Royal Fleet Auxiliary
BLACK RANGER.
24th
Arrived Kola Inlet .
Retained in North Russia
August
Deployed at Murmansk.
September
13th
Joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP14
with HMS BLANKNEY, .HM Auxiliary AA
ships ALYNBANK, PALOMARES and POZARICA, three
Fleet minesweepers, four Corvettes
and four Trawlers.
25th
Detached from OP14 on arrival of Local Escort
and returned to
Scapa Flow.
October
Deployed for escort of convoys between UK and
Iceland.
November
22nd
Joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP15
with HM Destroyer LEDBURY.
30th
Detached from OP15 and returned to Scapa Flow.
December
3rd
Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard
at
Hull.
1 9 4
3
January
4th
Rejoined Home Fleet on completion of post
refit trials.
Deployed for Western Local Escort duties with
Russian Convoys.
17th
Escorted Russian Convoy JW52 with HM
Destroyers BLANKNEY and LEDBURY.
21st
Detached from JW52 on arrival of destroyers
for Ocean Escort.
February
5th
Joined return Convoy RA52 with HM Destroyer
BLANKNEY.
8th
Detached from RA52 on arrival at Loch Ewe.
15th
Escorted Russian Convoy JW53 with HM
Destroyers MEYNELL, and PYTCHLEY.
21st
Detached from JW53 after destroyer escort for
ocean passage had arrived.
March
Deployed for escort of UK -
Iceland route convoys.
to
July
August
16th
Relieved escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and PORT
QUEBEC of 1st Minelaying Squadron during lay
of section of Northern Barrage in Denmark
Strait to allow refuelling (Operation SN74).
September
Home Fleet deployment for convoy defence in
continuation.
October
20th
Escorted HM Cruiser LONDON and US cruiser USS
AUGUSTA whilst covering passage to
North Russia of nine Home Fleet destroyers,
two Fleet Minesweepers and a Corvette for
escort of returning convoy RA54A (Operation
FR).
November
10th
Joined returning Convoy RA54A with HM Escort
Destroyer BRISSENDEN and HM
Minesweeper HALCYON as Local Western Escort.
13th
Detached from RA54A before arrival at Loch
Ewe.
22nd
Deployed as Local Escort for Russian Convoy
JW54B with HM Destroyers SALADIN.
25th
Detached from JV54B after arrival of Ocean
Escort.
December
5th
Joined return Convoy RA54B as Local Escort
with HM Destroyers SKATE, .SALADIN and
BRISSENDEN.
9th
Detached from RA54B on arrival at Loch Ewe and
resumed
Iceland
route duties.
1 9 4
4
January
Deployed for escort of UK -
Iceland route convoys.
to
February
March
Nominated for refit.
10th
Taken in hand for refit by Charles Hill at
Bristol.
April
7th
Carried out post refit trials.
10th
Transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at
Portsmouth.
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and
patrol in Channel area
20th
In action with French HUNT Class Destroyer LA
COMBATTANTE against E-Boats off
Beachy Head.
21st
In action with HM Destroyer VOLUNTEER against
attack on WP convoy.
One E-Boat was damaged.
May
Nominated for service in Force S of Eastern
Task Force to support plannred allied landings
in Normandy. (Operation NEPTUNE)
(Note: Target allocated in Pre-Arranged Fire
Plan - SWORD Area Beaches.)
For details of naval activities before and
during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and
D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser for information
listing all ships iunvolved.).
Detached to join Force S and took part in
preliminary exercises.
2nd
Final rehearsal for Force S, west of
Littlehampton (Operation FABIUS)
18th
Defence Exercise in Channel off Brighton for
all Assault Groups.
June
Joined Polish Destroyer ORP SLAZAK for patrol
in Channel 10 of the "SPOUT"
during passage
of ships to Assault area.
4th
Operation delayed for 24 hours.
5th
Deployed for Patrol between 15th and 40th
Minesweeping Flotillas in Channel 10
during passage of Convoy S2
6th
Provided support gunfire during landings on
SWORD beaches with ORP SLAZAK.
7th
Deployed in Eastern Task Force area for
gunfire support and interception patrols
to
to prevent interference to follow-up convoys
by E-Boats or submersibles.
24th
Replenished at Portsmouth as available.
25th
On release when NEPTUNE terminated resumed
Flotilla duties based at Portsmouth.
July
Convoy defence and support of military
operations in continuation.
August
Deployed for Offensive patrols against craft
evacuating Channel ports.
28th
In action against convoy of Landing Craft off
Cap d'Antifer.
Four of these craft were sunk.
September
Channel military support and convoy defence in
continuation.
6th
Under fire from
shore batteries at Cap Griz Nez.
Transferred to 21st Destroyer Flotilla baaed
at Sheerness.
(Note: This deployment change was made because
of increased mining and submarine
activities in Nore Command after advance of
allied armies. Convoy routes were
under increased threat and number oif escorts
increased for patrol and for
interception of enemy traffic.)
October
Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in
English Channel and North Sea.
to
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P Smith).
December
1 9 4
5
January
Flotilla deployment based at Harwich in
continuation.
to
(Note: During this period there was a
significant increase in U-Boat activity
April
by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines and minelaying
by E-Boats and submersibles.
As a
result destroyer
patrols were introduced to protect military
convoys to Channel
Ports. See above reference)
May
Deployed in North Sea in support of
re-occupation operations.
June
Nominated for deployment in Far East after
refit at Simonstown.
July
14th
Took passage to Simonstown from Portsmouth.
August
4th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
MIDDLETON completed refit at Simonstown
in December 1945 and returned to UK to Pay off
and to reduce to Reserve status at Portsmouth.
The ship was
transferred to lay-up at Penarth
in 1953 and a year
later transferred to the
Reserve Fleet Sub-Division at Gibraltar.
Before being placed on the Disposal
List she returned to UK and was placed on the
Disposal List in 1956. Whilst
in use as part of an artificial harbour at
Harwich she was sold to BISCO for demolition
by Hughes Bolcow.
The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard
on
4th
October 1957 and demolition was reported
complete in
February the next year.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS MIDDLETON
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
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|
|
|
Date convoy
sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
PQ 011
|
17/02/42
|
22/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
PQ 013
|
24/03/42
|
31/03/42
|
21/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
QP 009
|
28/03/42
|
03/04/42
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ 014
|
18/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
QP 010
|
18/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
PQ 015
|
04/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP 011
|
04/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
PQ 016
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
QP 012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
HARPOON
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
PQ 017
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
26/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
QP 013
|
04/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
13/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
QP 014
|
25/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
17/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
QP 015
|
30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
JW 052
|
21/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
05/02/43
|
RA 052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
15/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
JW 053
|
21/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
RA 054A
|
13/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
JW 054B
|
25/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
26/11/43
|
05/12/43
|
RA 054B
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
14/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
WP 507
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
ETC 008
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
02/10/44
|
02/10/44
|
ON 257
|
03/10/44
|
18/10/44
|
21/09/44
|
03/10/44
|
HX 310
|
06/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
ON 261
|
23/10/44
|
05/11/44
|
10/10/44
|
23/10/44
|
HX 313
|
25/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
03/11/44
|
03/11/44
|
ON 264
|
06/11/44
|
21/11/44
|
25/10/44
|
06/11/44
|
HX 316
|
10/11/44
|
10/11/44
|
07/12/44
|
07/12/44
|
TAM 011
|
08/12/44
|
08/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
ATM 010
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
TAM 015
|
13/12/44
|
13/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
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(Note
on Convoys)
WARTIME SERVICE OF RADAR OPERATOR ALBERT
HENRY FAIRS
by
Malcolm Fairs
My
Dad, who was born in 1924, joined HMS
MIDDLETON on 27 July 1943 after doing his basic
training in North Wales, and served on her until
4 July 1945. He was a Radar Operator during this
time. The ship mainly did Convoy Escort
duty. I think he only went as far as
Iceland but remembers being involved at D-Day
and was relieved just before the she was sent to
Simonstown, he being dispatched to Scotland to
guard prisoners before being demobbed. He
suffered minor injury when MIDDLETON came under
fire from a shore battery in the English Channel
and ended up in Haslar Hospital.
On his ship's papers, HMS MIDDLETON is in
brackets and is preceded by names like
PROSPERINE, TYNE, VICTORY, GLENDOWER, PEMBROKE,
COLLINGWOOD and ORLANDO. These were naval bases
and PROSPERINE was Scapa Flow.
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