Left: Unofficial badge & motto, Right: Official Admiralty badge, approved  May 1943, no motto

 

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Port broadside view of HMS ATTACKER during her trials with swordfish of 838 squadron aboard off San Francisco. C. November 1942. From Royal Navy Research Archive collection.

 

Commissioning

† October 7tth 1942, Captain W. W. P. Shirley-Rollison RN reads the commissioning warrant for HMS ATTACKER alongside Pier 26 in San Francisco before the White Ensign is raised.
 

† Captain W. W. P. Shirley-Rollison RN

 

 

 

Flying work-up off San Francisco

 

Three of the four Swordfish aircraft of 838 naval air squadron operating from USNAS Alemeda Island, flying over San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Dan Shumaker

 

During November of 1942 the four swordfish of 838 squadron carried out flying training and worked up  the ship's air department off the coast of California. The next four images show Swordfish V4387  '2C' making its approach to land on but crashing on deck †

 

 

Working up and voyage to Greenock

 

† ATTACKER at sea

 

† Lt. Hamilton RNVR watches HMS ATTACKER leaving Willemstad, Curacao March 1943

 

HMS ATTACKER anchored at Greenock © IWM (A 17507)

 

 

Crew photos

 

Please note - images may be condensed inside inline frames, a magnifying glass appears over the small image and it will return to its correct size when clicked.

 

† Ship's company, possibly in the Mediterranean

 

† The ship's officers, possibly in the Mediterranean

 

† The ship's company and personnel of 879 squadron aboard HMS ATTACKER in Bangor Bay Northern Ireland, March 1944 - click to see larger image

 

Ω Personnel of 879 squadron aboard HMS ATTACKER in Bangor Bay Northern Ireland, March 1944 - click to see larger image

 

Ω The officers of 879 with the ship's new commanding officer, Capt. H. B. Farncomb RAN at Alexandria

 

♦ Major Pegler (seated, left) and Captain Barber (seated right) and the men of No.1 Carrier Borne Air Liaison Section, HMS ATTACKER.

 

♦ The  Air Liaison  Officers - Captain Hugh Barber (left) and Major Richard Pegler on the flight deck somewhere in the Mediterranean during operation AVALANCHE. Another escort  carrier can be seen in the background.

 

♦ John Willie (left) and Captain Hugh Barber on the flight deck somewhere in the Mediterranean during operation AVALANCHE. The maintenance carrier HMS UNICORN can be seen in the background.

 

♦ Ships officer s and two members of the Army Liaison staff observe the action over the beaches. (Mac, shaking his fist, and Hugh standing off to the left.)

 

♦ More officers watching the action from the bow.

 

Sub Lt. Clarke and other squadron members sitting on the forward end of the flight deck whilst passing through the straits of Messina, September 1944. .

 

♦ Captain Shirley-Rollison on the bridge somewhere in the Mediterranean.

 

♦ Lt. Cdr W. A. Ellison R.N.R. the ships' navigator on the bridge somewhere in the Mediterranean.

 

♦ Surgeon Lieutenants R.N.V.R.  R. L. Canney, and P. Small, two of  ships' medical officers give a diagnosis on the bridge, somewhere in the Mediterranean.

 

♦ The 'Bunting Tossers' at work - signalmen preparing signal flags to pass orders to other ships in the group.

 

♦Yeoman of Signals passing messages accompanying ships while under radio silence via signal lamp

 

♦ Signalman reading message using a telescope, probably signal flags on accompanying ships while under radio silence.

 

 

♦ Bridge watch keepers and lookouts.

 

 

♦The Air Liaison Section at work during operation AVALANCHE

 

♦ Crew of the Port, aft twin 40mm Bofors gun closed up at action stations.

 

† The crew of the Port 4" gun - picture taken during Atlantic crossing 1943.

William Massey is at the back wearing the cap.

 

 

Photographs marked  Ω are courtesy of George Clarke, his father Sub Lt. (A) William Anthony Clarke, RNVR (P) served with 879 squadron March - October 1944. He flew missions during Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France, Operation OUTING I & OUTING II in the Dodecanese Islands, and Operation MANNA, the reoccupation of Piraeus.

 

Photographs marked  ♣ are courtesy of Courtesy of Peter Small, his father was Surg. Lt William Small RNVR who served aboard ATTACKER.

 

Photographs marked  ♦ are courtesy of Courtesy of Christopher Pegler, his father, Major Richard Pegler, Royal Artillery, was the Army Liaison Officer on board during the ships operations in the Mediterranean, in particular Operations AVALANCHE and DRAGOON.

 

Photographs marked † are courtesy of David Hamilton, his uncle, SSX28439 Leading  Seaman William Massey,  served on ATTACKER as a member of the 4" Gun crew.  He joined her at San Francisco and left after the Salerno landings.

 

Page last edited: 02 December 2018
 

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