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Convoy WP-300 sailed from Milford Haven, Wales on Feb. 25, 1943 bound for the Solent. This could hardly be called a convoy, only two merchantmen and few small escorts. This was apparently the final leg for the cargo ships, which had just crossed the Atlantic. As they worked their way toward their destination another convoy, PW-300, was supposed to pass them in the opposite direction. It was a little past midnight on February 27, 1943 when a group of S-boats from the 5th Schnellboote Flotilla based on Guernsey Island attacked in the dark. The attack occurred in Lyme Bay and the Germans were quick and deadly taking out four of the ships in short order. The 4,858 ton freighter Modavia was torpedoed, but remained afloat, but at a reduced speed. Half an hour later she was abandoned and sank, all fifty-four men on board were rescued. Two of the escorts were also sunk. HM Trawler Lord Hailsham FY-109 and HNoMS Harstad, a Norwegian minesweeping whaler. I have no first hand details of the sinkings but the loss of life for the small ships was heavy. Ty/Lt. Peter H. G. Clark, RNVR, commanding officer of Lord Hailsham lost his ship and eighteen of his men. Clark and eighteen others were picked up from the sea. (For a first hand account of the sinking see message 1 below.) The Norwegian ship went down leaving only one survivor from the twenty-five who had been in the ship. The forth ship lost was HM LST-381. The Admiralty just listed her as missing presumed lost as they had no intelligence about her fate. However she had in fact been torpedoed by S-85 and brought to a stop. One man was killed, but the eleven others were taken prisoner by the Germans. The ship was then dispatched with a second torpedo and S-85 returned to their Channel Islands base. The British mounted a vigorous search effort for survivors, but found nothing but bodies, they were pulled from the water and given appropriate burials. While it was at first feared that several more ships had been lost, after contact was established with PW-300 it was learned the only casualties were in the eastbound convoy. |
© 2015 Michael W. Pocock MaritimeQuest.com |
Roll of Honour |
In memory of those who lost their lives in HM Trawler Lord Hailsham FY-109 "As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us" |
Name |
Rate |
Notes |
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Atkins, James |
Leading Cook (RNPS) |
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Bower, Walter |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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Buxton, Sydney F. |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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Cany, John S. |
Ordinary Telegraphist (RN) |
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Dwyer, Thomas |
Leading Steward (RNPS) |
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Harris, John |
Stoker (RNPS) |
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Horton, Frederick |
Stoker (RNPS) |
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Large, Albert S. |
Ordinary Seaman (RNPS) |
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Lewis, Frank F. |
Stoker (RNPS) |
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Lout, John A. |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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McGuire, Jack F. |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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Shaw, John |
Stoker (RNPS) |
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Stevens, Frank M. |
Leading Cook (RNPS) |
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Tuley, Joseph |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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Watson, James |
Chief Engineman (RN) |
Mentioned in Despatches (Posthumously) |
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Wilson, William S. |
Ordinary Seaman (RNPS) |
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Wingrove, Albert G. |
Seaman (RNPS) |
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Woodhouse, Robert |
Stoker (RNPS) |
Roll of Honour |
In memory of those who lost their lives in HNoMS Harstad "As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us" |
Name |
Rate |
Notes |
|
Andersen, Gunnar |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
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Grotle, Arne O. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
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Hals, Gunnar |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Hauge, Einar J. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Haugen, Trygve |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
** |
Jensen, Krisrian G. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
Lane, Norman |
Ordinary Signalman |
Royal Navy |
|
Lerstad, Arne W. |
U/mm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Lindley, Duncan S. |
Telegraphist |
Royal Navy |
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Longva, Erling S. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
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MacKenzie, Ian W. |
Telegraphist |
Royal Navy |
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Olavesen, Karl E. |
U/mm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Olsen, Erling |
U/lt (M) |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
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Pedersen, Olaf O. |
U/l dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Remme, Erling J. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Sandøy, Alfred K. |
U/dm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Seggie, George C. |
Signalman |
Royal Navy |
|
Skogen, Aksel J. |
U/mm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
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Strømmen, Søren J. |
U/mm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
* |
Thomsen, Wilhelm |
U/lt |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
Thorsby, Rolf |
U/kvm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
Unsted, Dennis G. |
Wireman |
Royal Navy |
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Vartdal, Sigurd |
U/f |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
|
*** |
Wattø, Ragnar K. |
U/kvm |
Kongelig Norsk Marine |
* |
Commanding Officer |
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** |
Kregsmedaljen (Posthumously) |
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*** |
Kregsmedaljen |
Roll of Honour |
In memory of Ordinary Seaman John Green, R.N. who lost his life in HM LST-381 "As long as we embrace him in our memory, his spirit will always be with us" |
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