April 19, 1919 the USS Branch DD-197 was launched at Newport News. She served with the Atlantic Fleet until 1922 when she was decommissioned. Branch remained in reserve for 17 years at Philadelphia until the outbreak of World War 2. The old four stacker was recommissioned on Dec. 4, 1939 and brought back to life.

Branch was made flagship of Destroyer Division 68 and conducted neutrality patrols and training cruises along the US east coast. In Oct. of 1940 the Branch was sent to Halifax where she was decommissioned from the US Navy and commissioned into the Royal Navy and renamed Beverley.

As Beverley the old destroyer was used as a convoy escort. She continued this duty, trekking across the north Atlantic including a run to Murmansk with PQ-14. Feb. 4, 1943 the Beverly assisted the HMS Vimy in sinking the U-187, who was on her first and only patrol. The 45 survivors of the sunken U-boat were picked up by the two British ships.

While escorting convoy ON-176 HMS Beverley collided with one of her charges. The SS Cairnvalona, a 4,900 ton vessel, loaded with war material, did considerable damage to the 1,200 ton destroyer, causing her to drop to the rear of the convoy. One important item knocked out of commission was her anti-submarine gear.

Two days later, on April 11, 1943, the U-188, sister boat to the U-187, located the convoy. Around 05:45 the
U-boat fired torpedo which hit the Beverley. After two more torpedoes the Beverley went down, just 8 days short of her 24th birthday. It is not known how many men managed to get off the ship before she went down but, those who did had very little chance of survival. In the middle of the Atlantic, 530 miles south of Greenland, only 4 of the 155 man crew were rescued.

(USS Branch / HMS Beverley photo gallery)

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com

MaritimeQuest received the following message on Aug. 22, 2007

Just discovered your wonderful site but as I'm going on holiday today I don't have time to search properly! My uncle (Neil Campbell) was one of the survivors of the Beverley! My mother tells me that a telegram had arrived telling them he was missing, believed dead, and it was some time before they knew otherwise.
Christine Wood

 

HMS Beverley