D or DEFENDER-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Palmers on 2nd February 1931 under the 1930 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 20th June 1931 at the same time as sister ship HMS DUCHESS. She was launched on the 16th June 1932 as the 12th RN ship to bear the name, introduced in 1757, although it had been borne by a mercantile which fought against the Armada. It was last used in 1895 for a cruiser built in 1895 and sold in 1920.Her Build was completed on 21st December that year at cost of £229,502 excluding the Admiralty supplied equipment such as the weapons and the communications equipment . This ship served in the Mediterranean and in 1934 refitted at Sheerness for service on the China Station in 8th (later 21st) Destroyer Flotilla until September 1939.

 

Battle  Honours

 

ARMADA 1558 - LOUISBERG 1758 - QUEBEC 1759 - PORTO PRAYA 1781 - BURMA 1824-26 - NORWAY 1940

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Blue, a crescent Moon Silver.

 

Motto

Certo Dirigo ictu :  ‘I aim with sure blow’

 

D e t a i l s   o f    W a r    S e r v i c e

 

1 9 3 9

 

September

                3rd          Took passage with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, DARING and DAINTY to join the Fleet in the

                                Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

                                (Note : The 8th Destroyer Flotilla in China was renumbered 21st in April 1939).

 

October                  Arrived in Mediterranean for contraband control and Fleet screening duties.

 

November              Taken in hand for repair at Malta to remedy defects caused by corrosion.

 

December              On completion resumed duty with Flotilla.

                                Nominated for return to Home waters and took passage to UK.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet.

                                For details of naval activities in Home waters during early 1940 see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff History.

 

February                Home Fleet screening and patrol duties in continuation.

                15th        Escorted HMS DUNCAN under tow by tugs from Ihvergordon to Forth for repair.

 

March                    Home Fleet screening and convoy defence duties in continuation.

 

April

                8th          After German invasion of Norway deployed for escort of troop convoy in Norway.

                                On arrival deployed with screen for major Fleet units, patrol and support of shore

                                operations.

 

May

                1st           Part of destroyer screen for HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM during evacuation

                                of allied troops from Andalsnes and Molde.

                14th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS from Clyde for return to operations off Norway .

                                (Operation ALPHABET).

                                Transferred 'leave breakers' embarked at Glasgow back to GLORIOUS.

 

June                        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL from Norway with HM Destroyers ACHERON

                                and HIGHLANDER.

                                (Note : For details of the disastrous operations in Norwegian waters see NARVIK by Donald

                                Macintyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by

                                T Adams, NORWAY 1940 by F Kersaudy) and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).

                                Future transfer to Royal Canadian Navy under discussion

 

July                        Taken in hand for refit and repair in London.

to                            Transfer to RCN approved.

August                  Post Refit trials.

__________

 

S e r v i c e    a s    H . M . C . S.    M A R G A R E E

 

September             Transferred to RCN as replacement for HMCS FRASER and renamed HMCS MARGAREE.

 

October                  Work up for operational service completed.

                17th        Joined Convoy OL8 in NW Approaches as escort during passage to Canada

                22nd       Sank after collision with ss PORT FAIRY in position 450 miles NW Ireland in position

                                53.24N 22.50W.

                                34 survivors rescued by PORT FAIRY.

                                142 lives were lost.

                                (Note : HMCS FRASER (ex-HM Destroyer CRESCENT) was also lost in collision.

                                She sank after colliding with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA off the Gironde in the Bay of

                                Biscay on 25 June 1940 whilst assisting in the evacuations from French ports.)

 

S p e c i a l   N o t e

 

This name was carried forward in 1950 for a DARING Class Fleet Destroyer, originally to be HMS DRUID but renamed. She served with the Fleet at Home and abroad until 1971 when sold to Peru.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

  as HMS DIANA

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy        Convoy No.             Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                 arrived

 

30/01/40                 05/02/40                 TC 003                   07/02/40                 07/02/40

12/02/40                 13/02/40                 HN 011                   15/02/40                 15/02/40

23/02/40                 23/02/40                 ON 015/1               27/02/40                 27/02/40

 28/02/40                 28/02/40                 HN 015                   01/03/40                 01/03/40

 03/03/40                 03/03/40                 ON 017/1                07/03/40                 07/03/40

 07/03/40                 07/03/40                 HN 017                   10/03/40                 10/03/40

 

as HMCS MARGAREE

 

 19/10/40                 19/10/40                 OL 008                   21/10/40                 22/10/40