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Author Topic: Troop convoys 1941/42  (Read 20451 times)

daisy1942

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Troop convoys 1941/42
« on: 06 November 2021 11:00:43 pm »
I am looking for any information about convoy WS12 and DM1.

WS12 left the Clyde circa 12 November 1942 initially for the Middle East but was diverted To Freetown after Pearl Harbour.  I was carrying 6HAA Royal Artillery amongst others. 

The convoy was split at Durban and DM1 was formed, fast convoy to Singapore, carrying predominately 6HAA Royal Artillery.

I should like to hear of any surviving information about these  convoys.  I believe they were lucky enough not to experience losses but were they ever attacked?

According to the spars information I have these were the escort vessels.  Clyde to Freetown: Badsworh, Clover, Dulverton, Exmoor, Foresight, Forrester, Fury, Maori, Southwold, Vanquisher, Velox, Vimy, Whitehall and Witch.  Not all of these vessels were with the convoy all the time.  From Durban to Singapore, I do not think there were any escorts for this convoy.  Is this correct?

Thank you!
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: Troop convoys 1941/42
« Reply #1 on: 07 November 2021 09:55:38 am »
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iswise

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Re: Troop convoys 1941/42
« Reply #2 on: 30 January 2023 10:40:43 pm »
My Father in Law, Ken Phillips, sailed on board the Strathaird in this convoy from Greenock en route to The "Western Desert" with his fellow soldiers in the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade.  He wrote quite a detailed account of life on board during the voyage on pages 25-29 of his memoirs,  "My Wartime Wanderings" edited by his daughter Ann Wiseman (my wife).  I can't repeat the whole entry here but the book is still available (Jan 2023) online via Amazon, Waterstones etc. ISBN 978-1-78963-174-6
Key points mentioned are:
Embarked 25 September 1941, in Glasgow. RMS Strathaird was his home for the next 9 weeks!
Troops on board included his battalion and the 9th Lancers.
In other notes he made (unpublished) he records that the 10th Hussars were carried on the City of Paris, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) on the Empire Pride, 2 Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the Franconia, RAF personnel on the Duchess of Richmond and the 12th Royal Lancers on the Highland Brigade (vessel).
14-19 October was at anchor in Freetown. He records arrival in Capetown as 30 October (some sources say 29 October) after 5 weeks on board.  Shore leave was arranged and he records the warm welcome the troops received from the local population. Part of the convoy had proceeded to Durban rather than stopping in Capetown, and the two were reunited on 7 November departing on the 8th for Aden and Egypt, eventually arriving at Port Tewfik near Suez at midday on 28 November 1941.
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: Troop convoys 1941/42
« Reply #3 on: 31 January 2023 08:44:14 am »
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