I've just received my grandad's RN personnel records which was a lovely surprise as I wasn't expecting them for a few months yet! Unfortunately, the information seems to pose more questions than it answers... Together with the letter from Navy Command, I've received his Record of Service, Medal Entitlement and the Pay & Victual trace. The latter consists of a two page summary report showing his postings, and it is this that is confusing me. It shows he was first posted to "HMS Loch Eribol" in Scotland as a Seaman Steward on 23/11/40 and then for numerous other periods during the war. I know Loch Eriboll was a popular anchorage for RN warships before and during the war, but I can't seem to find any record of there being an actual naval facility. Also, the reference to "HMS Beaver" appears for a day here and there, and a few weeks in February 1942. But Beaver (Loch Eriboll) and Beaver 2 appear on the original form. Does this mean that Loch Eriboll came under the control of the shore establishment HMS Beaver? Family lore suggested that my grandfather served on the submarine HMS Sceptre during the war, but looking at this report it looks like the only part that was correct was the location! If any naval experts can shed a little light on the attached documents, it would be greatly appreciated. best regards Steve
It may be a minesweeper as he was awarded the RNPS M/S badge in 1941 (look at my avatar to see what it looks like) hms Europa was the minesweeping base he earnt the 1939-45 star, Atlantic Star with France and Germany Clasp and War Medal Hms Loch Eribol is definitely a ship as he earnt the 39-45 star on her. I have a complete book of ships at home so will look later for you regards james
Is this the same ship? https://fas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/NavalAccidents1945-1988.pdf 10/12/45: The Royal Navy vessel HMS Loch Eriboll sinks after colliding with the U.S. merchant ship Sidney Sharman in the English Channel off Start Point, U.K As its a US site I guess the date should be 12th Oct 1945 http://commsmuseum.co.uk/dykes/navalaccidents/naval accidents.pdf 12/Oct/45 The Royal Navy vessel HMS Loch Eriboll sinks after colliding with the U.S. merchant ship Sidney Sharman in the English Channel off Start Point, U.K. Loch Class were frigates TD
Hms loch eribol was a trawler, purchased as a minesweeper aug 1939, sunk 12/10/45 in collision with Sidney Sherman off Start point if you can send me clearer images I will look up the other ship names regards James
It wasn’t a loch class frigate, I did think it was the loch class frigate but could find no record of it it was a Trawler as per JJ Colledge warships book2 regards james
your grandfather was originally in the seaman branch as evidenced by his JX number and rating of Seaman Steward he transferred to the steward branch later as evidenced by his new LX number and rating of Steward his port division would be LT for Lowestoft and being a member of the RNPS there is still a RNPS museum at the former HMS Europa google it Hms Beaver was mine sweeper base hull and Grimsby hms Europa was minesweeper base at Lowestoft hms wildfire was base at sheerness in Kent hms ombra was a shore base in Swansea hms Loch eribol was a trawler he was on it from 23/11/40-21/1/44 He was then back to HmS Europa 22/1/44- 11/8/44 then assigned hms Jeanie Deans 12/8/44-17/4/45 he was promoted to leading steward whilst on board, this was a paddle steamer hired as a mine sweeper and used as a AA ship The back to Europa 17/4/45-14/7/45 then to hms butser 15/7/45-5/9/45 this was a anti submarine vessel Then hms colombo was a depot in Devonport 6/9/45 then back to butser where discharged 31/10/45 I hope this helps he was on minesweepers and anti submarine vessels RNPS was A/S and M/S regards james
Thanks so much for the information. This is invaluable in piecing it all together. Best regards Steve
James, Can you check out your info on HMS Ombra? That it was a shore base is inconsistent with other info. Screw Steamer OMBRA built by D & W Henderson & Co. in 1902 for Baron William Schroder, Cowes, Yacht Allied Warships of WWII - Armed Yacht HMS Ombra - uboat.net Cheers, Tim
Tim the fact he was on it less than 1 month before being posted to his previous ship. the medal card states he was on the same ship from 1940-44, and as hms ombrel was only used short term could mean a shore course or leave but will check my books again.
Just checked and ombra is also a armed yacht purchased in 1939 and sold 1945 served as a Dan layer ww2 so he may have been on this vessel or at the shore base, that’s the trouble with naming the bases and ships same name at same time
James, Slightly off thread but could you see what your book says about HMS Lucifer as I have it in my head that this was the name of the Swansea base. Thanks, Tim
Royal Navy Casualties, killed and died, July 1940 Thursday, 25 July 1940 Lucifer, Swansea, shore establishment ASHTON, Owen H, Ordinary Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 198778, died WW2 Royal Navy records decipher (World War Two) Page 1 RootsChat.Com HMS LUCIFER, naval base in Swansea was home to a minesweeping trawler fleet whose main function was to safeguard crucial British shipping lanes by keeping the Bristol Channel clear of mines. TD Hidden History: 108 The Colonial Building During the last war the Colonial Building was an annexe for the naval headquarters HMS Lucifer at the Old Guildhall (now the Dylan Thomas Centre). It was used as a dormitory for seamen on minesweepers or coastal defence vessels.
The only vessel named HMS Lucifer was a Ww1 destroyer it was scrapped in 1921 there were older ones but the above was the most recent vessel in terms of ww2
Royal Navy, Western Approaches Command 1939-1945 This confirms that the Naval Base at Swansea was HMS Lucifer. Now I'm a little confused as regards HMS Ombra - were there two bases at Swansea or is this quote an error? Tim
There may be loads as each base was responsible for different things, look at Portsmouth I will recheck my copy of shore establishments of the Royal Navy and see how many were based in swansea
HMS Butser, Hills class anti submarine trawler that spent most of its war in West African waters but back home by June 1945. HMS Colombo was a WW1 C Class cruiser converted to an AA ship in 1942/43 and spent most of the remainder of the war in the Med. She returned to Britain in April 1945 and went to reserve in June to be stripped of useable equipment for new ships.