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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2002

HMS GLOXINIA (K 22) - Flower-class Corvette including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMCS Forrest Hill, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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FLOWER-Class corvette ordered from Harland and Wolff, at Belfast on 19 September 1939. She was laid down on 21st March 1940 and was launched on 2nd July 1940 as the first RN warship to bear this name.  Build was completed on 22nd August 1940. The ship was adopted by the civil community of the Rural District Dartford, Kent after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in February 1942. (Note: This ship, built to the original design with a short foc’sle, was fitted for minesweeping using wire sweeps and also had fittings to enable towing operations to be undertaken.)

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r

 

ATLANTIC 1940-44 - MALTA CONVOYS  1941 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - LIBYA 1941-42 - MEDITERRANEAN 1943 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

In common with many other warships commissioned for service

during WW2 and which carried a name not previously borne by

a warship no formal approval was given by the Admiralty for use

of a Ships Badge. Many ships did however use an informal Badge.

 

 

S u m m a r y  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 0

 

August              Contractor’s trials and commissioned for service

                            Commanding Officer: Lt. Cdr. A J C Pomeroy, RNVR.

             22nd      Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

             27th      On completion of Acceptance Trials and storing took passage Tobermory.

 

September

               7th       Completed work-up and took passage to joined Liverpool Escort force for convoy escort

                           in Western Approaches.

              13th      Deployed with Liverpool Escort Force.

              17th      Part of escort for Convoy HX71 during inward passage to Clyde.

              24th      Part of escort for outward convoy OB218.

              25th      Under attack by U14 during which tanker ss STRATFORD was sunk and ss ASHANTIAN

                           damaged after being torpedoed.

                           Searched for survivors from these ships with HM Trawler WOLVES.

              26th      Rescued 54 survivors from STRATFORD and ASHANTIAN.

                           Escorted ss ASHANTIAN to Belfast and carried out anti-submarine search on passage.

 

October              Deployed with escort for Outward convoys OB218, OB 226, OB233, SL49 and inward HX81in

                            NW Approaches. Experienced heavy weather during passage.

 

November          Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean for convoy escort.

               2nd      Returned to Liverpool after detaching from HX81

              16th      Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY and SALVIA to join

                           10th Corvette Group based in Malta for convoy defence in the Mediterranean.

              23rd      Arrived at Gibraltar

              25th      Deployed as Close Escort for ss CLAN FORBES, ss CLAN FRASER and ss NEW ZEALAND

                           STAR. during passage to Malta, covered by ships of Force H (Operation COLLAR)

                           (For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, MALTA

                           CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History.)

              26th      HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON deployed with Close Escort.

                           (Note: These two ships had embarked troops at Gibraltar for passage to Malta.)

              27th      On approach of Italian Battle Group including 2 battleships, six cruisers and screen of 14

                           destroyers, joined by HM Cruisers MANCHESTER,  SOUTHAMPTON and COVENTRY,

                           HM Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT, GREYHOUND , HOTSPUR and

                           HEREWARD as escort for mercantiles when ships of Force H from Gibraltar and Force D from

                            Alexandria detached to engage enemy warships.

              28th      Under night attack by Italian torpedo boat CALLIOPE during transit of Sicilian Narrows

                           but torpedoes failed to hit any ship.

              29th       Detached with cruiser escort, CLAN FRASER and CLAN FORBES for passage to Malta.

                            After disembarkation of troops from cruisers took passage as escort for Convoy ME4 with

                            Mediterranean Fleet ships.

                            (Note: ss NEW ZEALAND STAR joined ME4 for passage to Alexandria.)

                            Formed 10th Escort Group with the other three Corvettes.

 

December          Detached from ME4 off Crete and took passage to Alexandria.

                            Deployed with 10th Escort Group for convoy escort in Eastern Mediterranean based at

                            Alexandria.

                            Escorted Convoys AN10 and AN 11 to Piraeus from Egypt

                            (Operation LUSTRE – Provision of military aid to Greece. See following references)

                            (Note: LL minesweeping equipment was fitted for operations against magnetic mines)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January               Passage from Suda Bay with HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY and SALVIA to join

                            Convoy MW5 ½ as part of escort.

                7th       Joined HM Cruiser CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers DEFENDER and DIAMOND in Force C

                            as escort for supply ship HMS BRECONSHIRE and ss CLAN FRASER during passage to

                            Malta covered by ships of Mediterranean Fleet as Force A (Operation EXCESS – See above

                            references.)

               10th      Detached from MW5 ½ on arrival off Malta and joined Convoy ME6 as escort for passage to

                            Alexandria. Part of Operation EXCESS)

                            (Note: This convoy comprised 6 empty mercantiles and had been routed to the south of the

                                         main EXCESS Convoy ME5 ½.)

               11th      HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and GLOUCESTER with HM Destroyer DIAMOND sent to

                            provide AA defence for ME6 came under heavy and sustained air attacks during which HMS

                            SOUTHAMPTON was hit and had to be sunk when fires became uncontrolled.

                            (Note: This additional protection was provided following the attacks by German aircraft

                                        on HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and ships of Mediterranean Fleet escorting

                                        ME5 ½ on 10th. See references.)

                            ME6 came under air attack but no ship was damaged.

                16th     Detached from ME6 on arrival in Egypt and returned to Suda Bay.

 

February              Eastern Mediterranean escort for convoys between Egypt and Piraeus.

 

March

                  4th      Deployed with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers HEREWARD, HOTSPUR and

                             STUART (RAN) for escort of Convoy AN7 during passage from Egypt to Greece.

                             (Operation LUSTRE – See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and

                             Naval Staff History).

                  6th      Under sustained daylight air attacks until 7th.

                23rd      Return passage to Alexandria.

 

April

                  1st       Part of escort for Convoy AN24 to Pireaus with HM Destroyer NUBIAN and other Fleet

                              destroyers.

                  4th       Carried out attack on submarine with HMS NUBIAN, 170 miles south of Scarpanto, during

                              escort of AN24 to Piraeus. Assessed as probable destruction.

                              On arrival deployed for minesweeping off Piraeus and detonated five magnetic mines.

                  9th       Minesweeping gear damaged with ss CLAN FRASER was hit and blew up during air raid.

                24th       Took part in the evacuation of allied troops from Greece.

                               (Operation DEMON – See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff

                               History.)

                               Deployed with HM Corvette SALVIA at Nauphlia  and Rafti.

                25th        Part of escort for evacuation convoy AG13 taking troops to Suda Bay.

                28th        Evacuated troops from Kapsali Bay, Kithera with HM Sloop AUCKLAND and HMS

                               SALVIA. 700 personnel were rescued.

                29th       Part of escort for evacuation convoy GA15 from Suda Bay to Alexandria.

 

May                        Nominated for escort of planned military convoys for relief of Malta  (Operation MD4)

                  5th        Deployed with HM Cruisers CARLISLE, COVENTRY, HM Tug ST ISSEY and HM

                               Whaler SWONA as escort for military convoy MW7B during passage from Alexandria.

                               covered by ships of Mediterranean Fleet (Operation TIGER – See above references).

                  6th        Convoy MW7B merged with following Convoy MW7A.

                  8th        Detached from escort with ships of MW7B off Malta. Under unsuccessful attack by

                               Italian submarine SETTIMO.

                  9th        Carried out minesweeping to clear entrance to Grand Harbour Malta after extensive

                               mining by aircraft had prevented any entry or departure relating to passage of military

                               convoy from Gibraltar to Egypt carrying tanks for 8th Army (Operation TIGER – See

                               above references.)

                               (Note: Twelve mines were detonated and enabled ships of Convoy MW7A and MW7B

                                                 to enter and destroyers of 5th Flotilla to leave harbour.)

                16th        Sustained damage after detonating acoustic mine during mine clearance operation off

                               Malta

                               Awaiting repair by HM Dockyard, Malta

 

June                        Retained in Malta pending repair which was delayed by extensive air attacks on the

                               dockyard whose reduced facilities were already overstretched by existing commitments

 

July                         Deployed in Malta.

                17th         Sustained further structural damage after grounding.

 

August                    Under repair by HM Dockyard Malta when work load allowed.

to                              Close range AA armament increased to improve defence against air attacks.

October

 

November               Deployed in Malta for local minesweeping operations

to December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                    Resumed operational duties as convoy escort.

                17th          Sailed from Malta with ships of Force K and detached and took passage to Tobruk later.

                18th          Diverted on passage to assist supply ship ss THERMOPYLAE which had detached from

                                 Convoy MW8A after machinery defects and was being escorted to Benghazi by HM

                                 Cruiser CARLISLE, HM Destroyers ARROW, GRIFFIN, HASTY and HERO

                19th          Under air attack after joining escort for THERMOPYLAE which was sunk.

                                 Detached from escort and took passage to Tobruk.

                20th          Passage to Alexandria with survivors from HM Destroyer GURKHA which had been

                                 sunk off Derna by a U-Boat on 13th

                21st.         Arrived at Alexandria to join Inshore Squadron

                25th          Deployed for escort of supply and reinforcement convoys between Egypt and Tobruk.

                                 (Note: Carried stores and personnel and provided AA and A/S defence to ships on

                                              passage along North African coast.)

 

February                  Tobruk convoy deployment in continuation.

                11th          Towed HM Escort Destroyer FARNDALE to Mersa Matruh after being disabled in air

                                  attack on 9th off North African coast.

                12th           Part of escort for Convoy ME10 bringing HMS BRECONSHIRE and empty supply

                                  ships to Alexandria from Malta.

                                  (Note: Increasing difficulties of ensuring passage of convoys to and from Malta in

                                              early 1942 is fully described in the references.)

 

March                        Tobruk convoy escort in continuation.

 

                29th           Carried out anti-submarine operations in defence of convoy on passage to Tobruk.

 

April                          Transferred for Levant convoy escort

                                  Commanding Officer: Lt. AF Harkness, OBE, DSC, RN

                  7th           Escorted ss TONELINE and other mercantiles to Tobruk

                10th           Returned to Alexandria with HM Corvette ERICA.

                16th           Deployed for escort of convoys between Alexandria, Haifa and Cyprus.

 

May                           Levant escort and patrol duties  in continuation.

 

June

                  1st            Resumed convoy defence and support of Tobruk garrison.

                                   (Note: Did not take direct part in escort of Convoy MW11 (Operation VIGOROUS)

                                                Ship remained on Tobruk escort duty. See references.)

                16th            At Tobruk during heavy air raids.

                                   Took passage to Alexandria with HM Escort Destroyer TETCOTT and HM Corvette

                                    SALVIA.

                19th             Redeployed for escort of Levant convoys.

 

July                              Levant convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

August

                16th              Carried out attack on submarine in position 31.47N  34,21E after sonar contact.

                23rd              Carried out anti submarine operations with HM Trawler SOUTHERN MAID (SANF)

                                      after aircraft reported attack on submarine

 

September                    Eastern Mediterranean convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

October

                18th              Shot down Me109 aircraft with 20mm fire off Sfax, Tunisia.

 

November                    Eastern Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

                                      (Note: Malta convoy operations were no longer required and escort was carried

                                                 out to Tobruk or Malta when taken over by ships based there or in

                                                 Gibraltar for passages in western Mediterranean.)

 

December                    Carried out maintenance, boiler cleaning and essential defect repair at Port Said.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                 25th            Resumed operational duties in Eastern Mediterranean based at Alexandria.

 

February

                 17th            Deployed to assist HM Destroyer PALADIN which had captured U205 after

                                    depth charge attacks NW of Derna.

                                    Took submarine in tow but this failed when it sank on passage.

 

March                         North African coast convoy defence including passages to Malta continued

 

April

                 16th           Taken in hand for refit

 

May

                 20th           Resumed operational convoy defence.

 

June                            Deployed for escort of North African coastal convoys

to

August

 

September                 Transferred to 49th Escort Group based at Gibraltar for convoy defence in

                                   Atlantic and western Mediterranean for US military convoys to and from USA

                                   with other routine traffic to Tunisian and Algerian ports.

                                   Part of escort for military convoy MKS24 from UK and UG17 from USA.

 

October                     Part of escort for Convoys UG17, MKS27 AND MKS29.

                                   Commanding Officer Lt. M C English, RNR.

 

November                   Part of escort for Convoys GUS21 to Gibraltar and in Atlantic and UGS23 from USA.

 

December                   Part of escort for Convoys UGS23, GUS24 and KMS35.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                       Part of escort for Convoys MKS37 and KMS39.

                                     Commanding Officer: Lt. D Perry, DSC, RNR.

 

February                      Part of escort for Convoys KMS29 and GUS31

 

March                          Part of escort for Convoy UGS33.

 

April                            Part of escort for Convoy KMS46

                                     (Note: Radar Type 271 for surface warning had been fitted by this period.)_

May                             Part of escort for Convoy MKS50.

 

June                             Part of escort for Convoys KMS52 and GUS44.

 

July                              Part of escort for Convoys GUS44, UGS45 and MKS56.

 

August                         Part of escort for Convoys KMS58 and GUS50.

 

September                   Part of escort for UG51 and GUS53.

 

October                        Part of escort for Convoys UG54 and MKS65.

 

November                    Part of escort for Convoy KMS67.

                25th              Transferred for service with 37th Escort Group based at Brindisi for convoy defence

                                     between Brindisi, Ancona and Bari in Adriatic.

 

December                    Convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                       Adriatic deployment with Group in continuation.

to                                 Nominated for return to UK

February

 

March

                  3rd             Took passage to Portsmouth with call at Gibraltar

                10th             At Portsmouth

                                     Nominated for convoy defence in English Channel.

                                     (Note: German SCHNORKEL fitted submarines were concentrating attacks on

                                                 focal assembly points in Channel for attacks on shipping including

                                                 Atlantic convoys re-routed after removal of air threat from French bases.)

 

April                            Channel deployment based at Portsmouth in continuation.

 

May                             After VE Day future deployment under consideration.

                 24th            Withdrawn from service and took passage from Portsmouth to Aberdeen for visit

                                     prior to reduction to reserve status.

 

June                             Passage to Grangemouth to Pay-off and complete de-storing. prior to reduction to

                                     Reserve status.

 

June                             Passage to lay-up in Reserve Fleet at Rosyth.

                  6th              Paid-off and reduced to Reserve.

 

July                              Laid-up at Grangemouth

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   No t e s

 

HMS GLOXINIA remained at Grangemouth and was placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO in 1947 for demolition by Chicks at Purfleet, Essex where she arrived in tow on 15th July that year.

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS GLOXINIA

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

 

 

 

 

 

13/09/40

13/09/40

OB 213

unknown

18/09/40

05/09/40

16/09/40

HX 071

20/09/40

20/09/40

24/09/40

24/09/40

OB 218

26/09/40

29/09/40

27/09/40

unknown

SL 049

unknown

17/10/40

09/10/40

09/10/40

OB 226

12/10/40

12/10/40

23/10/40

23/10/40

OB 233

27/10/40

27/10/40

16/10/40

27/10/40

HX 081

01/11/40

02/11/40

25/11/40

25/11/40

COLLAR

28/11/40

28/11/40

05/05/41

06/05/41

MW 007B

09/05/41

09/05/41

27/01/42

27/01/42

TA 020/M

29/01/42

29/01/42

29/01/42

29/01/42

TA 021/M

31/01/42

31/01/42

08/02/42

08/02/42

AT 027/M

unknown

unknown

20/02/42

20/02/42

AT 029/M

23/02/42

unknown

23/02/42

23/02/42

TA 022/M

25/02/42

25/02/42

02/03/42

02/03/42

AT 032/M

04/03/42

04/03/42

04/03/42

04/03/42

TA 025/M

06/03/42

06/03/42

16/03/42

16/03/42

AT 034/M

18/03/42

18/03/42

18/03/42

18/03/42

TA 029/M

20/03/42

unknown

06/04/42

06/04/42

AT 037/M

08/04/42

08/04/42

09/04/42

09/04/42

TA 032/M

11/04/42

11/04/42

16/04/42

16/04/42

AT 039/M

18/04/42

18/04/42

18/04/42

18/04/42

TA 035/M

19/04/42

19/04/42

08/06/42

08/06/42

TA 047/M

09/06/42

09/06/42

17/06/42

17/06/42

TA 049/M

unknown

unknown

27/07/43

18/08/43

UGS 013

23/08/43

23/08/43

04/09/43

04/09/43

MKS 024

13/09/43

13/09/43

05/09/43

22/09/43

UGS 017

01/10/43

03/10/43

04/10/43

06/10/43

MKS 027

14/10/43

14/10/43

20/10/43

20/10/43

KMS 029

31/10/43

31/10/43

07/11/43

08/11/43

GUS 021

18/11/43

05/12/43

04/11/43

22/11/43

UGS 023

01/12/43

01/12/43

06/12/43

07/12/43

GUS 024

17/12/43

03/01/44

21/12/43

21/12/43

KMS 035

01/01/44

01/01/44

10/01/44

11/01/44

MKS 037

22/01/44

22/01/44

22/01/44

22/01/44

MKS 037G

23/01/44

23/01/44

28/01/44

28/01/44

KMS 039

06/02/44

07/02/44

14/02/44

14/02/44

GUS 031

22/02/44

18/03/44

13/02/44

03/03/44

UGS 033

12/03/44

12/03/44

06/04/44

06/04/44

KMS 046

16/04/44

16/04/44

19/05/44

20/05/44

MKS 050

31/05/44

31/05/44

06/06/44

06/06/44

KMS 052

15/06/44

16/06/44

24/06/44

25/06/44

GUS 044

01/07/44

18/07/44

12/06/44

01/07/44

UGS 045

07/07/44

07/07/44

18/07/44

19/07/44

MKS 056

29/07/44

29/07/44

02/08/44

02/08/44

KMS 058

11/10/84

12/08/44

23/08/44

24/08/44

GUS 050

30/08/44

18/09/44

13/08/44

02/09/44

UGS 051

08/09/44

08/09/44

22/09/44

24/09/44

GUS 053

28/09/44

17/10/44

12/09/44

03/10/44

UGS 054

09/10/44

10/10/44

16/10/44

17/10/44

MKS 065

28/10/44

28/10/44

02/11/44

06/11/44

KMS 067

12/11/44

12/11/44

16/04/45

16/04/45

WVC 124

17/04/45

17/04/45

17/04/45

17/04/45

BTC 131

20/04/45

20/04/45

17/04/45

17/04/45

VWC 129

18/04/45

18/04/45

17/04/45

17/04/45

TBC 131

20/04/45

20/04/45

22/04/45

22/04/45

VWC 134

23/04/45

23/04/45

08/05/45

08/05/45

BTC 152

11/05/45

11/05/45

14/05/45

14/05/45

TBC 158

17/05/45

17/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys) 

 

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