Donaldson Line'S GRACIA closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Pacific Coast of North America

   This sailing schedule was published on 1 September 1939, only two days before UK declared war with Germany and thus started the Second World War.

   ATHENIA, at the top of the schedule, was sunk by torpedo from a German submarine on 3 September and was the first British ship to be sunk in the War.

Donaldson Line'S CORTONA closes at Liverpool for receiving cargo for Buenos Aires and Montevideo

   This sailing schedule was published on 1 September 1939, only two days before UK declared war with Germany and thus started the Second World War.

   ATHENIA, at the top of the schedule, was sunk by torpedo from a German submarine on 3 September and was the first British ship to be sunk in the War.

Donaldson Line'S LETITIA (1925-1946) scheduled to leave Glasgow for Quebec and Montreal (Canada)

   This sailing schedule was published on 1 September 1939, only two days before UK declared war with Germany and thus started the Second World War.

   ATHENIA, at the top of the schedule, was sunk by torpedo from a German submarine on 3 September and was the first British ship to be sunk in the War.

November 1939 Advertisment by Clyde & Campbeltown Shipping Company for sailings to Campbeltown

GLASGOW  &  CAMPBELTOWN

LOCHRANZA,  PIRNMILL,  CARRADALE

By  “ DALRIADA “

From  GLASGOW   ( 5 BRIDGE WHARF )

REGULAR  SAILINGS  TO  AND  FROM

CAMPBELTOWN

Carrying Subject to Sailing Bill Conditions

CLYDE  and  CAMPBELTOWN  SHIPPING  CO.  LTD.

52  ROBERTSON  STREET,   GLASGOW,  C.2.

Telephone  Central  973

British India's SIRDHANA entered British minefield at Singapore by accident and sank with 20 dead

All Hands - RNXS

ALL HANDS - By Lorna Campbell

Often while passing Ailsa House at South Crescent, Ardrossan, I had noticed the adjoining blue door with the large white initials, RNXS. I wondered what exactly the RNXS did.

One Monday night I went along to find out. I had arrived on the first meeting after the Christmas and New Year holidays and so it was a case of ?all hands on deck? as the members got to work with brushes, mops and buckets of water to clean the building.

Naturally, none of the members were wearing their uniforms or going through their usual routine, but Mr Donald Looseman, who is in charge of the Ardrossan unit explained that most Monday nights things were a bit different.

Members of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Services are trained in the communications, mine watching, plotting and seamanship among other things. Members take ?O? and ?H? level exams in various subjects and training in practical seamanship on board the RNXS vessel, ?BIRDHAM?, which is berthed at Greenock.

A purely voluntary organisation, the RNXS supports the Royal Navy and in peacetime takes part in exercises, has been known to assist with clearance of oil pollution, and even with the recovery of treasure.

The service is not called the RNAS because in the Royal Navy this abbreviation stands for ?Royal Naval Air Station.?

40 MEMBERS

The Ardrossan unit is attended by about 20 members on average a week, and there are about 40 members on the books. Members come from all walks of life and although some have had connections with the Navy, and several of the lady members are former WRENS, the majority have no such connections.

One member with no Naval connections is Roberta King. She said that she initially went to the RNXS out of curiosity but enjoyed it so much that she joined and has now passed her NXO exam. She is interested in the communications side and added that until she became a member she knew nothing about the subjects.

Another lady member, Marnie Parson, was in the WRENS, and is also interested in communications but said that she enjoyed the company and assured me that there definitely is a place for women in the service. She added that there was probably about 65 per cent women in the Ardrossan branch.

Mr John Cross said that although the training was extensive it was up to the members to decide how much they wanted to do, ?They can go on to become chief engineers if they want?, he added.

It has been know for people to decide to join the Navy or to go to sea through being members of the RNXS originally but members of the Ardrossan branch just enjoy the training and the company as well as doing something worthwhile.

The building in which Ardrossan RNXS meet and train has the plaque for HMS Fortitude, which was the name given to Ardrossan Harbour during the last war. One lady member who was a WREN working at HMS Fortitude during the war is Mary Owen, who was a petty officer, and so she is especially pleased the plaque is displayed at the RNXS.

PATRIOTISM

Area Commander of the RNXS Mr J. Robinson, feels that the service is very necessary. He said, ?People just don?t think there could be another war but as we have seen in India, Pakistan and other places it can happen again. People take out insurance on their homes, and in the same way this is one way of helping the defence of the country?. he added that every person trained in the RNXS could train someone else in the event of an emergency and could take over from active service ratings and reservists and enable them to be released for first line duties.

Mr Robinson feels that the members give up their time to train with the RNXS for a number of reasons, but said that he thinks it really amounts to patriotism.

Scribe Tango

Acting S/Lt Drane dies of his injuries after his plane crashed near Ardrossan

1940
Probationary Temporary Acting S/Lt (A) D. Drane RNVR, was badly injured when his Shark of 755 Squadron crashed into a hillside three miles north of Ardrossan. Drane died in hospital.

HMS Gleaner Sinks U-Boat U-33 Off Arran

HMS Gleaner (J 83)
Minesweeper of the Halcyon class
Navy The Royal Navy
Type Minesweeper
Class Halcyon
Pennant J 83
Built by William Gray & Co. (Hartepool, U.K.) : N.E. Marine
Ordered
Laid down 17 Jun 1936
Launched 10 Jun 1937
Commissioned 30 Aug 1938
End service 2 Sep 1946
Loss position

History When completed HMS Gleaner was fitted out as a survey ship and but when war broke out she was at Plymouth undergoing conversion to a minesweeper. On completion of this conversion she joined the 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force based at Belfast. She patrolled the waters between Belfast and Liverpool. From late November HMS Gleaner was part of the 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force, operating between the Clyde and Loch Ewe. In January 1940 she was transferred to the 3rd Anti-Submarine Striking Force.

On 12 February 1940 HMS Gleaner was on patrol off the Firth of Clyde. At 0250 hours a hydrophone contact was picked up and traced until at about 0316 hours a U-boat, U-33, was seen on the surface. U-33 dived and lay on the bottom. Gleaner carried out a depth charge attack at 0353 hours but little damage was done. A second attack was carried out at 0412 hours which caused more serious damage to gauge glasses, lights etc. and caused several leaks. The German Commanding officer, Kptlt. Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky, decided to bring U-33 to the surface which she broke at 0522 hours. HMS Gleaner opened fire on the U-boat and turned to ram her, firing as she approached, but before she could do so the crew started to abandon ship. U-33 finally sank taking 25 of her crew with her, leaving 17 survivors.

HMS Gleaner continued with anti-submarine duties until 12 August 1940 when she was detailed to relieve HMS Deptford as close escort to convoy OA-198 off the west coast of Scotland, becoming a member of the Northern Escort Force. At 1420 hours on 16 August an escorting aircraft reported having attacked and possible damaged a U-boat 180nm NW of Bloody Foreland. In a later report this aircraft claimed two direct hits by depth charges, the first blowing the U-boat to the surface with her decks awash. After the second, the U-boat healed over on it's side and sank. Gleaner was brought to the spot at 1630 howhere she carried out a sweep and at 1710 she signalled the aircraft she could not get a contact. After the was German records have shown this to be U-51. She was not sunk, as thought, but had suffered extensive damage to her machinery. Limping on the surface towards Lorient, she was attacked and sunk with all hands by HMS Cachalot on 20 August.

The Gleaner's second convoy, OA-204, was not so fortunate. The convoy consisted of 21 ships in 6 columns, protected by Gleaner (LtCdr H.P. Price) and the British corvette HMS Clematis. At 0023 hours on 29 August 1940 the convoy was attacked by U-100, the British steam merchant Hartismere was struck by one torpedo on the starboard side, underneath the bridge. One minute later the Commodore's ship, the British steam merchant Dalblair, was torpedoed amidships on her starboard side and sank in ten minutes. Gleaner sighted explosions and tried to cross ahead of the convoy, narrowly avaiding several collisions with ships which, without a Commodore and without any orders were scattering in all directions at full speed. Hampered by her lack of speed the Gleaner turned back to ensure the survivors were being picked up. At 0140 hours on 29 August the British steam merchant Astra II, was torpedoed and sunk rapidly. Gleaner picked up 20 survivors and at daylight proceeded to escort the damaged Hartismere to the Clyde. Later that night two other ships, one British and one Swedish were lost.

The remainder of HMS Gleaner's escort service was comparatively uneventful and in February 1942 she was taken in hand at Leith for conversion to a Fleet Minesweeper and to be fitted for Arctic conditions. On completion in May she joined the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, Home Fleet and, as well as minesweeping patrols, she escorted convoys between Scapa Flow and the Icelandic ports of Hval Fjord and Seidisfjord and between Scapa and the Kola Inlet. This too was a quiet period for HMS Gleaner.

In June 1944, with other members of the 1st MSF, she took part in 'Operation Neptune'. On 25 August 1944 at 1540, HMS Gleaner suffered extensive damage from a near miss mine whilst sweeping to westward of Cap d'Antifer in follow up operations. Her main engine was put out of action and she was taken in tow for repairs in the UK. Once repaired she was involved in sweeps in the area of Margate Roads. On 14 March 1945 she was rendered unseaworthy following a collision with a pilot ship which left her with a six foot hole at deck level.

HMS Gleaner remained with the 1st MSF until 2 September 1946 when she paid off into reserve at Falmouth. On 12 May 1950 she was transferred to the British Iron and Steel Corporation for breaking up.

Commanding Officers:
Lt.Cdr. Hugh Percival Price, RN
7 May 1937 ? February 1941
DSO awarded on 24 April 1940

Lt.Cdr. Karl Eric Oom, RAN
February 1941 ? December 1941

Lt.Cdr. Evelyn David John Abbot, RN
December 1941 ? ???

Lt. John Osric Leatham Shelton, RN
??? ? 10 April 1942

Lt.Cdr. Frank Joseph George Hewitt, DSC, RN
10 April 1942 ? 29 September 1944
Bar to DSC awarded on 15 June 1943

T/A/Lt.Cdr. Harold Graham King, RNVR
29 September 1944 ? 16 July 1945
DSC awarded on 22 December 1944

A/Lt.Cdr. John Andrew Pearson, DSC and Bar, RNR
16 July 1945 ? still in command in October 1945 according to the Navy List

Commands listed for HMS Gleaner (J 83)

Commander From To
1 Lt. Hugh Percival Price, RN 7 May 1937 22 Feb 1941
2 Karl Eric Oom, RAN 22 Feb 1941 Dec 1941
3 Lt.Cdr. Evelyn David John Abbot, RN Dec 1941
4 Lt. John Osric Leatham Shelton, RN ??? 10 Apr 1942
5 Lt.Cdr. Frank Joseph George Hewitt, DSC, RN 10 Apr 1942 29 Sep 1944
6 Harold Graham King, RNVR 29 Sep 1944 16 Jul 1945
7 Lt. John Andrew Pearson, RNR 16 Jul 1945 Oct 1945 ?

Noteable events involving Gleaner include:

12 Feb 1940
The German submarine U-33 was sunk in the Firth of Clyde, in position 55?25'N, 05?07'W, by depth charges from the British minesweeper HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Price, RN).

29 Aug 1940
HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Price, DSO, RN) picks up 20 survivors from the British merchant Astra II that was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100 148 nautical miles north-west of Bloody Foreland in position 56?09'N, 12?14'W.

4 Mar 1944
HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, DSC and Bar, RN) picks up 68 survivors from the British merchant Empire Tourist that was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-703 in the Norwegian Sea in position 73?25'N, 22?11'E.

U-Boat U-33 Sunk In Battle Off Arran

U-33
Type VIIA
Ordered 25 Mar 1935
Laid down 1 Sep 1935 F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 556)
Launched 11 Jun 1936
Commissioned 25 Jul 1936 Kptlt. Ottoheinrich Junker
Commanders 25 Jul 1936 - 28 Oct 1938 Ottoheinrich Junker
22 Nov 1936 - 20 Dec 1936 Kptlt. Kurt Freiwald
3 Jun 1937 - 25 Jul 1937 Kptlt. Kurt Freiwald
29 Oct 1938 - 12 Feb 1940 Kptlt. Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky
Career 3 patrols 25 Jul 1936 - 31 Aug 1939 2. Flottille (front boat)
1 Sep 1939 - 31 Dec 1939 2. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jan 1940 - 12 Feb 1940 2. Flottille (front boat)
Successes 10 ships sunk for a total of 19,261 GRT
1 ship a total loss for a total of 3,670 GRT
Fate Sunk 12 Feb, 1940 in the Firth of Clyde, in position 55.25N, 05.07W, by depth charges from the British minesweeper HMS Gleaner. 25 dead and 17 survivors.

HMS Gleaner (J 83)
Minesweeper of the Halcyon class
Navy The Royal Navy
Type Minesweeper
Class Halcyon
Pennant J 83
Built by William Gray & Co. (Hartepool, U.K.) : N.E. Marine
Ordered
Laid down 17 Jun 1936
Launched 10 Jun 1937
Commissioned 30 Aug 1938
End service 2 Sep 1946
Loss position

History When completed HMS Gleaner was fitted out as a survey ship and but when war broke out she was at Plymouth undergoing conversion to a minesweeper. On completion of this conversion she joined the 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force based at Belfast. She patrolled the waters between Belfast and Liverpool. From late November HMS Gleaner was part of the 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force, operating between the Clyde and Loch Ewe. In January 1940 she was transferred to the 3rd Anti-Submarine Striking Force.

On 12 February 1940 HMS Gleaner was on patrol off the Firth of Clyde. At 0250 hours a hydrophone contact was picked up and traced until at about 0316 hours a U-boat, U-33, was seen on the surface. U-33 dived and lay on the bottom. Gleaner carried out a depth charge attack at 0353 hours but little damage was done. A second attack was carried out at 0412 hours which caused more serious damage to gauge glasses, lights etc. and caused several leaks. The German Commanding officer, Kptlt. Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky, decided to bring U-33 to the surface which she broke at 0522 hours. HMS Gleaner opened fire on the U-boat and turned to ram her, firing as she approached, but before she could do so the crew started to abandon ship. U-33 finally sank taking 25 of her crew with her, leaving 17 survivors.

HMS Gleaner continued with anti-submarine duties until 12 August 1940 when she was detailed to relieve HMS Deptford as close escort to convoy OA-198 off the west coast of Scotland, becoming a member of the Northern Escort Force. At 1420 hours on 16 August an escorting aircraft reported having attacked and possible damaged a U-boat 180nm NW of Bloody Foreland. In a later report this aircraft claimed two direct hits by depth charges, the first blowing the U-boat to the surface with her decks awash. After the second, the U-boat healed over on it's side and sank. Gleaner was brought to the spot at 1630 howhere she carried out a sweep and at 1710 she signalled the aircraft she could not get a contact. After the was German records have shown this to be U-51. She was not sunk, as thought, but had suffered extensive damage to her machinery. Limping on the surface towards Lorient, she was attacked and sunk with all hands by HMS Cachalot on 20 August.

The Gleaner's second convoy, OA-204, was not so fortunate. The convoy consisted of 21 ships in 6 columns, protected by Gleaner (LtCdr H.P. Price) and the British corvette HMS Clematis. At 0023 hours on 29 August 1940 the convoy was attacked by U-100, the British steam merchant Hartismere was struck by one torpedo on the starboard side, underneath the bridge. One minute later the Commodore's ship, the British steam merchant Dalblair, was torpedoed amidships on her starboard side and sank in ten minutes. Gleaner sighted explosions and tried to cross ahead of the convoy, narrowly avaiding several collisions with ships which, without a Commodore and without any orders were scattering in all directions at full speed. Hampered by her lack of speed the Gleaner turned back to ensure the survivors were being picked up. At 0140 hours on 29 August the British steam merchant Astra II, was torpedoed and sunk rapidly. Gleaner picked up 20 survivors and at daylight proceeded to escort the damaged Hartismere to the Clyde. Later that night two other ships, one British and one Swedish were lost.

The remainder of HMS Gleaner's escort service was comparatively uneventful and in February 1942 she was taken in hand at Leith for conversion to a Fleet Minesweeper and to be fitted for Arctic conditions. On completion in May she joined the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, Home Fleet and, as well as minesweeping patrols, she escorted convoys between Scapa Flow and the Icelandic ports of Hval Fjord and Seidisfjord and between Scapa and the Kola Inlet. This too was a quiet period for HMS Gleaner.

In June 1944, with other members of the 1st MSF, she took part in 'Operation Neptune'. On 25 August 1944 at 1540, HMS Gleaner suffered extensive damage from a near miss mine whilst sweeping to westward of Cap d'Antifer in follow up operations. Her main engine was put out of action and she was taken in tow for repairs in the UK. Once repaired she was involved in sweeps in the area of Margate Roads. On 14 March 1945 she was rendered unseaworthy following a collision with a pilot ship which left her with a six foot hole at deck level.

HMS Gleaner remained with the 1st MSF until 2 September 1946 when she paid off into reserve at Falmouth. On 12 May 1950 she was transferred to the British Iron and Steel Corporation for breaking up.

Commanding Officers:
Lt.Cdr. Hugh Percival Price, RN
7 May 1937 ? February 1941
DSO awarded on 24 April 1940

Lt.Cdr. Karl Eric Oom, RAN
February 1941 ? December 1941

Lt.Cdr. Evelyn David John Abbot, RN
December 1941 ? ???

Lt. John Osric Leatham Shelton, RN
??? ? 10 April 1942

Lt.Cdr. Frank Joseph George Hewitt, DSC, RN
10 April 1942 ? 29 September 1944
Bar to DSC awarded on 15 June 1943

T/A/Lt.Cdr. Harold Graham King, RNVR
29 September 1944 ? 16 July 1945
DSC awarded on 22 December 1944

A/Lt.Cdr. John Andrew Pearson, DSC and Bar, RNR
16 July 1945 ? still in command in October 1945 according to the Navy List

Commander From To
1 Lt. Hugh Percival Price, RN 7 May 1937 22 Feb 1941
2 Karl Eric Oom, RAN 22 Feb 1941 Dec 1941
3 Lt.Cdr. Evelyn David John Abbot, RN Dec 1941
4 Lt. John Osric Leatham Shelton, RN ??? 10 Apr 1942
5 Lt.Cdr. Frank Joseph George Hewitt, DSC, RN 10 Apr 1942 29 Sep 1944
6 Harold Graham King, RNVR 29 Sep 1944 16 Jul 1945
7 Lt. John Andrew Pearson, RNR 16 Jul 1945 Oct 1945 ?

Noteable events involving Gleaner include:

12 Feb 1940
The German submarine U-33 was sunk in the Firth of Clyde, in position 55?25'N, 05?07'W, by depth charges from the British minesweeper HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Price, RN).

29 Aug 1940
HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Price, DSO, RN) picks up 20 survivors from the British merchant Astra II that was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100 148 nautical miles north-west of Bloody Foreland in position 56?09'N, 12?14'W.

4 Mar 1944
HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, DSC and Bar, RN) picks up 68 survivors from the British merchant Empire Tourist that was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-703 in the Norwegian Sea in position 73?25'N, 22?11'E.

H.M.S. MARAUDER is leading bow tug escorting liner QUEEN ELIZABETH from Clydebank to Greenock

Drifter "Golden Dawn" sunk at Ardrossan

Vessel Type: Drifter
Reg: 80 ton...1913
Sunk at Ardrossan

HMS Fortitude

Gun position at the Inches for HMS Fortitude

HMS Fortitude

Old gun platform

United States Navy recruiting poster

Tug Cockspur