H. M. S.  J O N Q U I L   ( K 6 9 )

 

“FLOWER” Class corvette ordered from Fleming and Ferguson at Paisley, Scotland on 31st August 1939. She was laid down on 27th December 1939 and launched on 9th July 1940 as the 2nd  RN warship to bear this name. It had previous been used for an “ACACIA” Class Sloop built in 19815 and sold to Portugal in 1920. Build was completed on 20th October 1940. After a successful “WARSHIP WEEK” National Savings Campaign in February 1942 this Corvette was adopted by the civil community of Wadebridge, Cornwall.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r

 

DARDANELLES 1915                         ATLANTIC 1941-45

MALTA CONVOYS 1942

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 

In common with other warships commissioned for service  during WW2

this ship had a name which no Badge formally approved by the Admiralty

for use Many ships however used an informal Badge.

 

S u m m a r y   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 0

 

October              Contractors trials

             21st       Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials in Clyde area

 

November          On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

             10th       Worked-up for operational service at Tobermory

             20th       Passage to Greenock for repair

 

December           Repair transferred to commercial shipyard in Liverpool.

                           Nominated for convoy defence in South Atlantic.

             16th       Carried out post repair trials.

             18th        Joined escort for outward Convoy WS5A during Atlantic passage to Freetown.

             24th       Under attack by German cruiser HIPPER and ships of WS5Ascattered.

             25th       Deployed with HM Corvette CLEMATIS to search for ss EMPIRE TROOPER.

             26th       Escorted ss EMPIRE TROOPER to Ponta Delgada in Azores with HM Corvette GERANIUM.

             27th       Escorted EMPIRE TROOPER to Gibraltar,

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

               5th       Detached from ss EMPIRE TROOPER on arrival at Gibraltar.

        .     6th       Transferred to Gibraltar Local Escort Flotilla.

               8th       Deployed as part of  escort for inward Convoy HG50 during initial stage of passage to  Liverpool.

             12th       Detached from HG50 and returned to Gibraltar.

             14th       Arrived at Gibraltar.

.            20th       Deployed as part of escort of inward Convoy HG52 during initial stage of passage to Liverpool..

             28th.       Joined HM Cruiser KENYA and escort for Polish liner SOBIESKI.

 

February

               5th       Returned to Gibraltar.

.              to         Deployment for Local Escort duties from Gibraltar in continuation

              28th      (Note: Convoy escort including

                                                  Inward to Liverpool HG54, HG55, HG59, HG61, HG61, HG63, HG67. HG 69.and

                                                  HG 70

                                                  Outward from Liverpool OG61, HG63, OG65

 

March                Local Escort at Gibraltar in continuation.

to                       (Note: Detached for exercises with HM Submarine O23 in March.)

May

 

June                   Local Escort at Gibraltar in continuation

to                       Detached for A/S operations in approaches to Gibraltar with HM Corvettes AZALEA and

July                   GERANIUM. in June.

 

August              Detached for local escort of capital ships (Operation STYLE).

 

September         Detached for local escort of capital ships (Operation STATUS)..

 

October             Detached for local escort of capital ships (Operation CALLBOY).

              24th     Escorted tug THAMES to assist damaged destroyer COSSACK which had been torpedoed by

                          U563.during escort of Convoy HG75.

              26th     Rescued survivors from COSSACK.

                          Escorted damaged HM Mercantile Aircraft Ship ARIGUANI to Gibraltar.

 

November

                7th     Escorted HM Submarine CLYDE and RFA DINGLEDALE with HM Corvette COREOPSIS

                          to meet outward Convoy SL92.

               20th    Returned to Gibraltar.

 

December         Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

               14th    Nominated for refit in UK

                          Deployed with 2nd Escort Group as Part of escort for inward Convoy HG76 during passage to

                          Liverpool.

                          Detached from HG76 in SW Approaches and took passage to Sheerness.

               28th    Arrived at Sheerness and de-ammunitioned. prior to refit

 

1 9 4 2

 

January              Taken in hand for refit by HM Dock yard

to                       Under refit.

March                (Note:: Surface warning radar Radar Type 271 fitted and foc'sle extended to improve

                                         accommodation

 

April                  Nominated for service with 37th Escort Group at Gibraltar for convoy defence.

                           Carried out post refit trial on completion of dockyard work.

                 4th     On completion sustained damage in collision with wreck during trials.

                           Taken in hand for repair.

                 9th     Passage to Tobermory.

                           On arrival commenced work-up for operational service.

                20th    Passage to Liverpool to join escort for outward Convoy OG83.

                           Deployed with escort for OG83 DURING PASSAGE TO Gibraltar.

 

May

                11th    Detached fom OG83 on arrival and joined Group.

                           Resumed convoy defence at Gibraltar on arrival of OG83.

                14th    Deployed as escorted for tanker BENEDICT with trawler ST NECTAN.

                28th    Deployed as escort for three tankers with HM Corvettes GERANIUM and SPIREA for

                            refuelling.

 

June

                10th     Deployed with HM Frigate ROTHER as escort for merchant ships from Lisbon during passage

                            to Gibraltar.

                16th    Escorted HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL to Gibraltar after damage during Malta convoy relief

                            operation

                           (Operation HARPOON – For details see PEDESTAL by P Smith, MALTA CONVOYS by

                           R Woodman AND Naval Staff History.)

 

July                    Deployed for Local Escort of inward Convoy HG85.

                13th    Deployed as escort for two tankers to join outward Convoy OS33 during passage from UK to

                           Freetown.

                16th    Detached from OS33 to refuel at Bathurst.

                18th    Joined escort for inward Convoy SL116 during passage from Freetown..

                21st    Rescued survivors from ss SIRIS which had been sunk on 12th.

                23th    Deployed as escort ss HARTINGTON from Las Palmas to Gibraltar.

                           (Note: U-Boat was seen at Las Palmas whilst in harbour.)

                27th    Arrived at Gibraltar.

 

August               Nominated for support during passage of Malta Relief Convoy (Operation PEDESTAL)

                13th    Deployed for escort of Malta support Convoy WS21 with HM Corvette GERANIUM during

                           passage in western Mediterranean.

                           r details see above references.

                16th    Returned to Gibraltar with HMS GERANIUM.

                23rd    Deployed as escort to SALVONIA to assist ALRESFORD which had grounded

 

September          Escorted ss KONISTAN and ss DOLIUS with COLTSFOOT to join outward Convoy OS38

                           Returned to Gibraltar with three Tankers from OS38.

                26th    Deployed in search for tanker ESSO GETTYSBURG.

 

October

                  3rd    Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Corvette SPIRAEA to join outward Convoy KX1 during

                           passage into Gibraltar.

                13th    Returned to Gibraltar with KX1.

                           Joined newly formed Western Mediterranean Escort Force

                21st    Carried out further search for ESSO GETTYSBURG with HM Corvette GLADIOLUS.

                24th    Sighted surfaced U-Boat and attacked unsuccessfully with HMS GLADIOLUS.

                25th    Located ESSO GETTYSBURG and escorted to Gibraltar

 

November          Deployed for escort of military convoys into Gibraltar prior to planned allied landings in

                           North Africa.

                           (Operation TORCH – For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                           Naval Staff History.)

                           Deployed as part of escort for military Convoy UG2 during final stage of passage into

                           Gibraltar from USA.

                12th    Detached from UG2 to stand by HM Destroyer MARNE which had been hit by torpedo from

                           Rescued survivors from HM Depot Ship HECLA which had been sunk by torpedoed  from

                           For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and Naval Staff History.

                           On completion escorted convoy TF1 and later military convoy KMS3.

                           Under air attack off Phillipeville.

 

December           Nominated fro refit in UK.

                           Deployed as escort for RFA BROWN RANGER from Bone to Oran

                           Joined military convoy KMS3A with HM Corvettes COREOPSIS and AZALEA as escort

                           passage to Gibraltar.

                  8th    Sailed from Gibraltar with HMS COREOPSIS to reinforce escort of Convoy KMS3A during

                           passage to UK

                           On arrival detached for refit at Liverpool and taken in hand at commercial shipyard.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                  5th    Carried out post refit trials

                           (Note: The length of period in shipyard suggests that this was for routine inspection of

                                       underwater fittings.

                  6th    Passage to Liverpool to join 7th Escort Group

                           Deployed for escort of outward Convoy ON159 and outward Convoy SC119 with ships of

                           Group.

                           Withdrawn from service for repair of defects.

 

February

                13th    Resumed convoy defence with 3rd Escort Group after post repair trials

                           (Note: Convoy escorted were outward Convoys KX9 to Gibraltar, inward Convoy XR2 from

                                       Gibraltar. outward Convoys UR68 to Iceland, ONS series to North America and

                                       SL 128 to Freetown..

 

March

                  4th    Under air attack during defence of XR2 on passage from Gibraltar.

                 19th   Detached to escort tug SAUCY to assist ss CARRAS damaged with Convoy SC122 during

                           passage to UK.

                           On completion joined escort for convoy UR68 to Iceland

May                    Escorted SL128 and carried out A/S attack.

                           Detached later to rescue survivors from aircraft.

                           Landed passengers  at Milford Haven

                           Deployed as escorted for ss HALIZONES in Irish Sea during passage to Clyde.

                20th    Passage to Dundee for refit.

                21st     Taken in hand for refit by Caledon shipyard.

 

June                    Under refit

                            (Note: HEDGEHOG Ahead throwing Mortar outfit fitted.

                                         For details see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

 

July                     Carried out post refit trials and took passage to Tobermory,

                  7th     Carried out work-up at Tobermory.

                            On completion  took passage to resume Atlantic convoy defnce with Group.

                20th     Deployed for escort of Convoy OS2 during passage in Atlantic

                26th     Under attack by FW200 aircraft.

                27th     Under further air attack and detached to escort tug mercantile SS BRUTUS under tow

                            by tug EMPIRE SAMSON

                            Nominated for deployment in Mediterranean.

 

August                Deployed as part of escort for Convoy KMS52 during passage to Malta.

                14th    Detached on arrival  in Malta

                           Commenced convoy defence ion Mediterranean based in Malta.

                           Passage to join escort for Convoy UGS15 during passage to Bizerta from Gibraltar.

 

September          Deployed in Malta.

                12th    Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet ships escorting Italian warships during passage

                           into Malta for formal surrender.

                29th    Deployed for escorted of convoys between Tripoli, Taranto, Augusta and Malta.

 

October              Convoy defence in central Mediterranean in continuation.

to

November

 

December           Transferred to Alexandria for convoy defence.

                11th    Arrived at Alexandria for escort of convoy MKS14.

                           Deployed with escort for Convoys UGS27 to Gibraltar and returned with GUS 28 to

                           Alexandria.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January              Eastern Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

                31st    Deployed with escort for Convoy UGS30 to Gibraltar.

 

February          Returned with Convoy MKS41as part of escort during passage to Alexandria.

 

March                Transferred to 48th Escort Group.

to                       Deployed for escort of Convoys MKS43, GUS35, UGS37, MKS48, KMS50. UGS49 and

August               MKS61 in Mediterranean with ships of Group.,

 

September         Deployment with Group on continuation.

                           Part of escort for Convoy MKS61 to Gibraltar.

                18th   Transferred to Gibraltar Escort Force on arrival of MKS61 at Gibraltar.

                           Deployed for Local Escort of convoys to Casablanca.

 

October              Provided Local Escort for OS90 to Gibraltar and SL174 from Freetown.

 

November          Under repair at Gibraltar 

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

 

January               Under repair

 

February

                 21st    On completion carried out post refit trials

                            Resumed Local Escort deployment at Gibraltar.

.                24th    Deployed with escort for Convoy MKS85 with HM Indian Corvette HYDERABAD

                             and  HM Corvette CYCLAMEN during initial stage of passage to UK.

                 27th    Detached from KMS 85 and returned to Gibraltar.

 

March                  Deployed for Local Escort of Convoys MKS89 to UK and KMS90 to Gibraltar.

 

April                    Deployed for Local Escort of Convoys MKS93, KMS94, MKS95, MKS9, KMS100.

 

May                     Visited Lisbon with HM Corvettes CROCUS and BELWORT after VJ Day.

to                         Retained at Gibraltar for Air-Sea Rescue duties AT Atlantic station.

June

 

July                      Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

                 17th     Deployed as escorted for tug FLAUNT towing AFD67 to Port Said.

 

August                  Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.

                             Paid-off and de-stored at Gibraltar 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS JONQUIL was accepted into Reserve at Gibraltar and placed on the Disposal List. The ship was sold to a Greek shipping company in May 1946 and was later renamed LEMNOS. In 1951 she was renamed OLYMPIC RIDER and on 1st December 1955 whilst employed in the Antarctic sank after being involved in a collision with ss OLYMPIC CRUISER.