THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE
SERVICE RECORD
OF
JOHN WILSON
SERVICE RECORD | THE LOSS OF THE RUTLANDSHIRE | ADMIRALTY REPORTS | 23rd A/S TRAWLER GROUP
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23rd A/S TRAWLER
GROUP

On the 13th April 1940, the Admiralty ordered the 21st A/S Striking Force, comprising the trawlers:

H.M.T. Danemon Lieut. Cdr. R.W. Davis
Tempy. Sub-Lieut. C.J. Fleming
empy. Sub-Lieut. R.D.W. Andrews (proby) 		24 Feb. 1940
22 Feb. 1940
28 Feb. 1940

 

H.M.T. Lady Elsa Tempy. Lieut. J.H. Hodder R.N.V.R.
Tempy. Sub-Lieut. J.G. Rankin R.N.R. (proby)
Tempy. Sub-Lieut. P.F. Flitt R.N.V.R. (proby) 		8 Mar. 1940
28 Feb. 1940
28 Feb. 1940

 

H.M.T. Man of War Lieut. A.D. White R.N.R.
Tempy. Lieut. R.H. Marchington R.N.V.R.
Tempy. Sub-Lieut. H.C. Sowerly R.N.V.R. 		22 Sept. 1939
8 Mar. 1940
28 Feb. 1940

 

H.M.T. Wellard Tempy. Lieut. S.G. Phillips R.N.V.R.
Tempy. Sub-Lieut. J.E. Bolt R.N.V.R. 		14 Feb. 1940
8 Mar. 1940

and the 23rd A/S Group to sail from Rosyth, Scotland. Both groups arrived in the Namsos area on the 16th April 1940. These trawlers went sent to Norway primarily to give anti-submarine protection to H.M. ships and transports in the fjords, but no sooner had they arrived than they were subjected to frequent heavy air attacks, high level and dive bombing and machine gunning, which made it suicidal for them to carry out A/S patrols except during the few hours of darkness. They suffered severe casualties, 11 out of a total of 29 trawlers sent to Norway being sunk or driven ashore. During daylight hours, after the first day or two, they were forced to take shelter under high cliffs, partly to evade bombing and partly to rest their crews. While so placed some of the crews endeavoured to camouflage their vessels with evergreen and small trees and themselves took refuge on shore, in some instances leaving their guns’ crews on board to engage the enemy aircraft.

Despite all best efforts, I've been unable to obtain a photograph of the trawlers Rutlandshire and Melbourne. If anyone can assist, I'd be more than interested to hear from you.

These pages outline the specifications and a brief history of those trawlers comprising the 23rd A/S Group: H.M.T. Rutlandshire, H.M.T. Indian Star, H.M.T. Berkshire and H.M.T. Melbourne.

Please contact f.wilson@royal-naval-reserve.co.uk for further information regarding this site.

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