BEAGLE-Class destroyer ordered from Palmer’s
at Jarrow on Tyne in the 1938 Build Programme on 22nd March 1929.
The ship was laid down on 22nd July 1929 and was launched on 11th June 1930 as
the 5th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1757 for a 6th Rate and last
used by a Trawler hired during WW1.Build was completed on 20th February 1931 at
a contract price of £221,156 which excluded supply of guns and communications
equipment by the Admiralty. Until 1938 this ship served in the 4th Destroyer Flotilla,
Mediterranean Fleet and then joined the Home Fleet. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of
Southall, the in Middlesex and now part of the London Borough of Ealing.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
LOUISBERG
1759 - HAVANA 1762 - ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1940 - ATLANTIC 1941-2 - NORTH AFRICA
1942-43
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a field Black, a winged figure Gold with
Silver breath.
(Note: Boreas is the God of the North wind.)
M o t t o
Vente favente: 'With favouring wind'
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
August
Deployed in
Home Fleet for aircraft carrier safety duties. Nominated
War Station: 19th Destroyer Flotilla in Nore Command.
September
3rd - Joined HM
Destroyers CODRINGTON, KEITH, BASILISK, BEAGLE, BLANCHE,
BOADICEA, BRILLIANT and BRAZEN at Dover to form Flotilla
for anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence duties in North Sea and English Channel.
October
Flotilla duties
at Dover in continuation.
14th - Recovered
five bodies during patrol in Dover Straits. (Note:
These were German seamen from U40 which had been sunk by a mine in the Dover Barrage on 13th October whilst
attempting passage to the Atlantic through the
English Channel.)
November
Channel
deployment in continuation. (For details of naval activities in
Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)
December
15th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers BASILISK, ESK and EXPRESS as escort
for HM Auxiliary Minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA during minelay
in Galloper area of North Sea. (Operation GF – See Naval
Staff History (Mining).
1 9 4 0
January
Transferred to
Rosyth Command for escort of convoys during passage to
Clyde through NW Approaches.
February
4th - Under air
attack off NE Scotland whilst assisting HM Minesweeper SPHINX
which had been disabled in an earlier air attack on 3rd. Sustained damage to stern structure. (Note: HMS SPHINX later foundered.)
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Rosyth On completion resumed North Sea convoy defence.
March
1st - Deployed with
HMS BRAZEN to escort HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT
BANK during lay of deep minefield in Moray Firth. (Operation
DML – See above reference.)
29th - Transferred
to 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Rosyth in continuation of North
Sea convoy defence.
April
Rosyth Escort
Force service in continuation.
May
5th - Deployed
with HMS BRILLIANT and HMS VERITY to escort HM
Auxiliary Minelayer HAMPTON during minelay in Galloper area
(Operation DML3 – See above reference.)
14th - Deployed
at Harwich for support of military operations in Holland.
15th - Sustained
damage in collision with HMS BRILLIANT during passage
to Hook of Holland. (Note: HMS BRILLIANT was taking
demolition party.)
18th - Under
repair in Thames commercial shipyard.
June
20th - On
completion took passage to Dover for detached service with 1st Destroyer Flotilla for Channel convoy defence.
July
Channel
deployment in continuation.
25th - Under
air attack off Dover during passage to intercept E-Boats with HMS BRILLIANT. Disabled
by near misses which also caused slow flooding aft. After
repair proceeded at 17 knots using emergency steering, but in a subsequent attack hit in bridge area by two bombs
and badly damaged. 21 fatal casualties and
ship taken in tow to Dover.
26th - Repair
arranged at commercial shipyard in London.
28th - Tow to
Millwall Dock.
30th - Taken in
hand for repair.
August to December
Under repair. (Note: Work included modification of
Depth Charge arrangements to enable firing of 10
charge pattern.
1 9 4 1
January
Under repair.
19th - Sustained
superficial damage from bomb splinters during air raid.
23rd - On
completion of post repair trials took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with ships of Home Fleet.
February
Transferred to
Western Approaches Command. Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence
in NW Approaches.
March
NW Approaches
deployment in continuation. Nominated with HMS BRILLIANT for
transfer to Freetown for convoy defence with 18th Destroyer
Flotilla in place of HM Destroyers FOXHOUND and DUNCAN. Prepared for foreign service.
April
Deployed as
escort for HM Armed Merchant Cruiser COMORIN
and ss GLENARTNEY with HM Canadian Destroyer
ASSINIBOINE during passage to Gibraltar from Clyde (Note: HMCS ASSINIBOINE was damaged in a collision on
5th)
11th - Arrived
at Gibraltar and taken in hand for repair of defects.
21st - Took
passage to Freetown on completion.
28th - Joined
Flotilla on arrival at Freetown. (Note: HMS DUNCAN was retained in
South Atlantic Command until July)
May
Deployed at
Freetown for Local Escort duties with Flotilla.
6th - Deployed
with HM Destroyer HIGHLANDER as Local Escort for
military convoy WS8A during passage into Freetown.
9th - Detached
from WS8A on arrival at Freetown.
14th - Deployed
with HM Destroyer WISHART as Local escort for WS8A
on departure from Freetown for Cape of Good Hope.
15th - Detached
from WS8A and returned to Freetown with HMS WISHART (Note: HM Cruiser MAURITIUS provided Ocean Escort)
June
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
2nd - Joined
military convoy WS8B with HMS DUNCAN as Local Escort
during passage into Freetown.
4th - Detached
from WS8B with Local Escort on arrival.
6th - Joined
WS8B on departure from Freetown with HM Destroyers DUNCAN
and HIGHLANDER as Local Escort during passage in
Freetown area. (Note: HM Cruiser EXETER continued
duty as Ocean Escort during passage to Aden.)
8th - Detached
from WS8B with Local Escort for return to Freetown.
13th - Joined
HM Destroyers VANSITTART and WILD SWAN with HM
Destroyer BRILLIANT, VELOX and HIGHLANDER as Local
Escort of military convoy WS9A into Freetown.
18th - Detached
from WS9B with Local Escort on arrival.
20th - Joined
WS9A with HM Destroyers VANSITTART VELOX
and WILD SWAN as Local Escort during passage in Freetown
area.
22nd - Detached
from WS9A with Local Escort for return to Freetown. (Note:
HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM provided Ocean Escort during
passage in Atlantic until July 2nd.)
July
16th - Joined
military convoy WS9B with HM Destroyers BRILLIANT,
VELOX and VANSITTART as Local Escort during
passage in Freetown area.
18th - Detached
from WS9B with Local Escort for return to Freetown. (Note:
HM Cruiser GALATEA provided Ocean Escort during passage
to Cape of Good Hope.)
August
Part of escort
for Freetown – Gibraltar convoy.
10th - Deployed
with escort of convoy HG70 for passage to UK (Note:
Several attempts were made by U-Boats to attack this convoy
but these were all frustrated by air and surface escort
– For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR, Volume
1 by C Blair.)
24th - Detached
from HG70 to carry out search for survivors off the coast
of Portugal. Rescued five survivors from British
steamer ALVA , sunk on 19th, four from British freighter
ALDERGOVE sunk on 23rd, four from British tug EMPIRE OAK
sunk on 22nd and five from Norwegian freighter SPIND sunk on
23rd). (Note: In view of the failure of
attacks on HG70 the ships were either independents or from another
convoy.) Took passage to land survivors at
Gibraltar.
25th - Landed
passengers and sailed for UK for refit
September
Passage to
South Shields.
19th - Taken in
hand for refit by commercial shipyard at Middle Dock..
October to
December
Under refit
1 9 4 2
January
Completed post
refit trials
5th - Passage
to Greenock to resume Atlantic convoy defence duties with
Flotilla at Freetown.
8th - Nominated
for escort of military convoy during passage to Freetown
12th - Deployed
with HM Armed Merchant Cruisers ASCANIA and CHESHIRE,
Dutch AA Cruiser, HEEMSKERK, Polish Destroyer ORP
GARLAND, HM Destroyers NORMAN, VANSITTART and
VIMY as Ocean Escort for military convoy WS15 during passage
from Clyde to Freetown.
17th - HM
Battleship RESOLUTION joined as Ocean Escort)
25th - Detached
from Ocean Escort of WS15 on arrival at Freetown and
resumed Local convoy defence with Flotilla.
February
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
26th - Joined
military convoy WS16 with HM Destroyers BRILLIANT and
WILD SWAN as Local Escort during passage into Freetown
March
1st - Detached
from WS16 with Local Escort on arrival.
April
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
26th - Joined
military convoy WS18 with HM Destroyer WILD SWAN and
HM Corvette PETUNIA as Local Escort for passage into Freetown.
29th - Detached
from WS18 with Local Escort on arrival.
May
3rd - Joined
WS18 with HM Destroyer WIVERN as Local Escort for passage
in Freetown area.
4th - Detached
from WS18 with Local Escort for return to Freetown. (Note:
Ocean Escort was provided by HM Cruiser GAMBIA for
passage to Cape of Good Hope.)
20th - Joined
military convoy WS19 escorted by HMS VELOX with HM
Destroyer WILD SWAN for Local Escort during passage into
Freetown.
22nd - Detached
from WS19 with Local Escort on arrival.
26th - Joined
HM Destroyer VELOX as Local Escort from Freetown for
WS19.
28th - Detached
from WS19 with HMS VELOX and for return to Freetown. (Note: HM Cruiser MAURITIUS, HM Destroyer HURSLEY and HM Sloop MILFORD provided Ocean Escort for passage to Cape of Good Hope.)
June
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
30th - Joined
military convoy WS20 with HM Destroyer to supplement Local
Escort into Freetown by HM Destroyers BLACKMORE and
BRILLIANT.
July
2nd - Detached
from WS20 with Local Escort on arrival.
6th - Joined
WS20 with HM Destroyer VELOX as Local Escort during
passage in Freetown area.
8th - Detached
with HMS VELOX and returned to Freetown. (Note:
HM Battleship MALAYA provided Ocean Escort to Cape
of Good Hope.)
August
2nd - Joined
military convoy WS21P as Local Escort during passage from
Freetown. (Note: Ocean Escort was provided by
HM Cruiser ORION, HM Destroyer NEPAL and Dutch Destroyer
TJERK HIDDES which had been with convoy
since leaving UK.)
6th - Detached
from WS21P and returned to Freetown.
September
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
October
Nominated for
service in Eastern Mediterranean. Took passage from Freetown via Cape
of Good Hope (Note: May have been part of escort
for convoy for all or part of passage. but NOT with a WS
military convoy.)
November
Passage in Red
Sea to join Fleet at Alexandria.
11th - Arrived
at Alexandria.
12th - Deployed
in Eastern Mediterranean (Note: Participation in Operation
STONEAGE the first relief convoy from Alexandria which is
recorded in one source cannot be confirmed in MALTA CONVOYS
by R Woodhead and requires substantiation.
HM Cruiser ARETHUSA, EURYALUS and DIDO with
nine destroyers based at Alexandria
formed escort.)
December
Deployed in
eastern Mediterranean for convoy escort. (Note:
Malta relief convoys and return shipping were extensive)
1 9 4 3
January
Deployed as
escort for convoy to Malta and took passage to Gibraltar
for convoy defence with 13th Destroyer Flotilla.
February
Deployed
briefly at Gibraltar before passage to Freetown to resume
Atlantic and Local convoy defence with 18th Flotilla.
March
Deployed at
Freetown for Flotilla duties.
April
Freetown
deployment in continuation.
26th - Joined
military convoy WS29A for Local Escort during passage into
Freetown in place of HM Destroyers ANTHONY and BRISSENDEN. (Note: HM Destroyer LEWES remained with convoy).
May
Called at
Casablanca and Dakar with WS29A
4th - Detached
from WS29A with HMS LEWES on arrival.
6th - Joined
military convoy WS29 with HM Destroyers WITCH, MALCOLM,
RAPID and WOLVERINE as Local Escort during
passage from Freetown. (Note: WS29 had arrived at Freetown
on 28th April and been joined by WS29A for onward passage
to Indian Ocean. HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE provided Ocean
Escort for passage to Cape of Good Hope.)
8th - Detached
from WS29 with HMS WITCH and returned to Freetown. Nominated for transfer to Gibraltar for defence of
convoys during build-up for planned allied
landings in Sicily
June
Passage to
Gibraltar
July
Deployed for
convoy defence at Gibraltar (Note: It may be assumed that as no
Battle Honour SICILY was awarded this ship was not part
of escort for the assault or build-up convoys during
Operation HUSKY.)
August
Transfer of
ship to Royal Hellenic Navy under consideration. Passage
to UK for refit prior to loan service.
September
Taken in hand
for refit by Cammell Laird shipyard in Liverpool.
October to
December
Under refit
1 9 4 4
January
Under refit.
February
Carried out
post refit trials
11th - Transferred
on loan to Royal Hellenic Navy.
March
Formal
hand-over at Liverpool
25th - Commissioned
as HHelMS SALAMIS
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e a s H H e l M S
S A L A M I S
April
Worked-up at
Scapa Flow with Home Fleet. Sustained damage in collision during
work-up.
28th - Taken in
hand for repair by Amos and Smith Shipyard in Hull.
May
Under repair.
June
On completion
resumed work-up with Home Fleet.
July
Passage to
Gibraltar for convoy defence deployment.
August to
September
Deployed at
Gibraltar
October
Transferred to
eastern Mediterranean for service in support of operations
to recover occupied Greek islands and landings in Greece.
November to December
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean in support of military operations.
1 9 4 5
January to May
Deployed in
Greek waters for support duties.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HHelMS SALAMIS remained in the Royal Hellenic Navy until
handed back to the Royal Navy in Malta on 10th May
1951. Resuming her former name HMS BOREAS was placed on the Disposal List and sold
to BISCO on 23rd November 1951. She was taken in tow
to Charlestown near Rosyth for demolition by Metal Industries and arrived at
the Breaker’s Yard on 15th April 1952.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BOREAS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
26/11/39
|
27/11/39
|
OA 042
|
unknown
|
30/11/39
|
07/03/41
|
07/03/41
|
OG 055
|
12/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
OB 300
|
26/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
02/05/41
|
02/05/41
|
CF 001/1
|
04/05/41
|
15/05/41
|
09/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
HG 070
|
13/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
13/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
OG 071
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
19/08/41
|
27/08/41
|
OG 072
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
HG 072
|
16/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
25/08/41
|
11/09/41
|
SL 085
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
ON 017
|
18/09/41
|
29/09/41
|
04/03/42
|
05/03/42
|
SL 102
|
08/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
22/02/42
|
09/03/42
|
OS 020
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
04/08/42
|
09/08/42
|
RT 001
|
13/08/42
|
13/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
OS 037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
ST 032
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
13/11/42
|
13/11/42
|
MKF 001O
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
MKF 002
|
17/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
MKF 004Y
|
19/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS 004
|
27/12/42
|
06/01/43
|
12/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
UGS 003
|
unknown
|
01/01/43
|
24/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
KMS 006G
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
MKS 005
|
11/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
17/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
MKS 008
|
25/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
21/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
SR 003/1
|
01/04/43
|
02/04/43
|
10/05/43
|
10/05/43
|
TS 039
|
15/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
SR 004F
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
GTX 002
|
14/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
KMF 019
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
19/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
MKF 022
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
as HHMS SALAMIS
|
|
|
|
|
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
OS 081KM
|
03/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
KMS 055G
|
04/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)