Divers explore wreck of HM Trawler Bedfordshire

[Rob Hoole]

HM Trawler Bedfordshire was torpedoed and sunk off the east coast of the USA on 11 May 1942. Her entire ship's company of 37 British and Canadian members of the Royal Navy Patrol Service perished. Now her wreck is to be surveyed and analysed by a research team led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The story of this can be read at http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/divers-explore-67yearold-sunken-trawler-nc-coast.

This reference, including photos, is also relevant: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... d=11431258. Sadly, so is this one: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... antic.html

Here is some background information from pp 116-7 of 'Lilliput Fleet' (1957) by A. Cecil Hampshire:

"...But there were many grim days ahead. Japanese submarines were roaming the Indian Ocean. In addition to at least five well-armed surface raiders the Germans had some two hundred and fifty U-boats operating at sea. By the end of 1941 they were becoming active off the east coast of the United States, sinking American tankers by gunfire and torpedoes. Since the U.S. Navy was deficient in anti-submarine vessels the British Admiralty offered the loan of twenty-four A/S-fitted trawlers to patrol in the threatened area. The offer was gratefully accepted and in March, 1942, British fishing trawlers-turned-warships came under American command.

These 'rugged little coal-burners' as the Americans called them, none grossing less than 500 tons, were some of the cream of the peacetime Hull and Grimsby fishing fleets. From the former port came the Arctic Explorer, Kingston Ceylonite, Lady Elsa, Lady Rosemary, Pentland Firth, St Cathan, St Loman, St Zeno, and the Stella Polaris; from the latter the Befordshire, Coventry City, Hertfordshire, Le Tigre, Northern Chief, Northern Dawn, Northern Duke, Northern Isles, Northern Princess, Norwich City and Wellard; the Senateur Duhamel, a 900-ton giant of French registry which had been brought over to Britain after the fall of France, Cape Warwick, and the Wastwater and Buttermere, two vessels of the new Admiralty-designed 'Lakes' class. Four of the trawlers were stationed off New York, in the Hampton Roads, eight at Charlestown and six at Boston.

Five were sunk during their service in American waters; the St Cathan, Senateur Duhamel and the Pentland Firth due to collisions, the Kingston Ceylonite by mine, and the Bedfordshire torpedoed by a U-boat. One trawler, the Northern Princess, was lost in the Atlantic from an unknown cause. To balance these casualties, however, the Le Tigre, living up to her name, sank the U-215. By October eighteen of them were on their way back east for, due to a spurt of U-boat activity in South African waters, the Admiralty had to request their return to strengthen our convoy escorts in the South Atlantic..."

[Nick Clark]

Rob

Interesting to read about yet another dive on HMT Bedfordshire. You would be surprised if I told you the amount of emails I receive from divers requesting more information on the Bedfordshire. My only hope is that they do nothing to disturb this war grave.

Therefore. I hope visitors to this forum read your second reference from the Telegraph, which incidentally I agreed to help with, sharing Jasper Copping’s concern regarding these wartime wrecks being disturbed by divers.

However, perhaps what you should have first included was a link to Sam Nutt’s remarkable story from this very web site. http://www.harry-tates.org.uk/veteranstales4.htm

I have also edited a film about Sam’s experiences and the loss of HMT Bedfordshire and this can be viewed as a raw file at http://www.harry-tates.org.uk/movie_1.html The film also includes author/historian Vanloan Naisawald who wrote a detailed study on the loss of HMT Bedfordhire, entitled 'In Some Foreign Field' The Story of Four British Graves on the Outer Banks. (John F. Blair, Publisher)

This film together with others relating to the RNPS will soon be added to the front page. (http://www.harry-tates.org.uk)

I think it would interesting to read other peoples views on this forum regarding the increasing amount of dives on important war graves such as the Bedfordshire.

Best wishes

Nick Clark
http://www.harry-tates.org.uk
http://www.rnpatrolservice.org.uk/forum

[norwichcity]

For interest just a note on the events surrounding the sinking of the Bedfordshire. My father (D. Clark, signalman on the Norwich City) recorded in his diary entry for 3/6/42 -

Dirty night, very humid, lots of rain squalls. We saw the lights of Miami during
the first dog watch. Today Smithy (Sub Lt.) told me the facts of the sinking of the
Bedfordshire. The report we heard on Tuesday 26th May was not entirely correct.
It seems that when we left our patrol around fourteen buoy, and we had been
there for several days and nights with no sign of the enemy, St Zeno was ordered to
take our place. In company with a patrol craft she took up the patrol the day after we
left. St Zeno was attacked by a submarine which presumably fired a torpedo and
missed. The patrol craft made asdic contact with the sub, attacked and sunk it. The
patrol craft picked up two of the survivors and then sent a radio signal to base asking
if she was to pick up the remainder. Base replied, “Yes, if you are not endangering
yourself” so she picked up the rest. St Zeno then returned to Morehead City and
Bedfordshire went out to take her place. Bedfordshire was torpedoed the next day,
probably by the 'mate' of the one sunk the previous day as it is now known that the
subs are working in pairs.

[pacnep]

SOME NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES CONCERNING H.M. TRAWLER BEDFORDSHIRE, 1942

N.B.: These notes are incomplete and not all references are provided. I welcome any corrections and comments John M. Baldry

2/15/1942 PLYMOUTH COMMAND H.M. Trawlers BEDFORDSHIRE (S.O.), LADY ROSEMARY, ARCTIC EXPLORER, HERTFORDSHIRE Left Plymouth 15 February, 1942.
ADM 208/11 Red List 15 Feb 1942

In February 1942 BEDFORDSHIRE under the command of Lt. R.B. Davis RNR, received orders to go overseas. She was one of the 24 A/S trawlers sent to be loaned to the USN complete with crews for coastal patrol and convoy work on the eastern seaboard.

3/9/1942 At 21.09 hours on 9 Mar, 1942, the unescorted TYR (Master Jens Eidbo) was struck on the starboard side by one G7e torpedo from U-96 about 100 miles from Halifax. The torpedo went through the fireroom and detonated on the port side of the ship, causing her to sink by the stern within 9 minutes. All crew members abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans who gave them the course for Sable Island and apologized for having had to sink their ship. The boats set sail for Nova Scotia, but were separated in heavy weather. Nine men in boat were picked up after 16 hours by a Canadian patrol vessel (?? Believe this ito be H.M.S. BEFORDSHIRE??) and landed in Halifax the same day. Nine men in another boat were located by a Canadian aircraft, picked up on 11 March by HMCS GEORGIAN (J 144) and landed in Halifax the next day. The lifeboat containing the master, eleven crew members and one gunner was never found.

While on passage to the USA on 9 March BEDFORDSHIRE found 18 survivors of the Norwegian merchantman TYR which had been torpedoed the day before by U-96 at 43 40'N 61 10'W (~30M S of Sable I.)

3/11/1942 BEDFORDSHIRE landed the survivors of TYR at Halifax, Nova Scotia

At Halifax BEDFORDSHIRE was delayed on orders and was one of 4 trawlers assigned to escort the Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA from Halifax to New York.

HMS QUEEN OF BERMUDA after a major refit at Newport News in the winter of 1941-42, had backed into a reef while leaving Halifax in a convoy. Her stern was so badly damaged that she could not be steamed. She was towed down the coast to New York with an escort of British Armed trawlers and repaired at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She was converted to also carry troops, and then made several convoys to Iceland carrying troops before returning to the South Atlantic. (ST. LOMAN was assigned to be Group Leader.)

~3/17/1942 Enroute to Norfolk, Virginia, the R.N. trawlers COVENTRY CITY, LADY ELSA, BEDFORDSHIRE, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, NORTHERN DAWN and STELLA POLARIS came under U-boat attack. The torpedoes missed COVENTRY CITY's bow. NORTHERN DAWN and STELLA POLARIS responded with depth charges, without success

4/1/1942 (H.M.Trawler) BEDFORDSHIRE arrives at New York having escorted the QUEEN OF BERMUDA from Halifax.

One of BEDFORDSHIRE'S guns ripped from her deck and washed overboard in hurricance force winds while passing from Canada to the United States (Cartallone) The convoy arrived at Brooklyn Naval Yard on 4/1/42.

At New York while ST. LOMAN remained in New York for a short refit the other 3 trawlers caught up with the other trawlers and began their anti-submarine duties, and sailed down to Norfolk Virginia then down to Morehead City, which was our base, and worked from there convoying, escorting and then patrolling".

`4/5/1942??? Enroute to Norfolk Trawlers COVENTRY CITY, LADY ELSA, BEDFORDSHIRE, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, NORTHERN DAWN and STELLA POLARIS came under U-boat attack. The torpedoes missed COVENTRY CITY's bow and NORTHERN DAWN and STELLA POLARIS responded with depth charges, without success.

4/14/1942 (H.M.Trawler) BEDFORDSHIRE assisted in sinking of U-85 and spent several days mounting A/S guard while US Navy divers from the tug USS UMPQUAH attempted to recover the sub's log books and decoding machine.
Reedy, James "The Destroyer's Poor Relation" Sea History No 68 Winter 1993-94

4/14/1942 U.S.S. ROPER (DD 147) sailed from Norfolk (5ND) on April 13 and proceeded off False Cape. The U-85 [Eberhard Greger] had been prowling the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay for 3 days without any success, then headed south towards Cape Hatteras. Just past midnight on the early morning of 4/14/42, U.S.S. ROPER (DD 147), on patrol off Nags Head, North Carolina, detected them by radar. "Action stations" sounded as the ROPER found the U-85 while she was running on the surface in shallow water which made submerging suicide and fleeing a destroyer difficult. After a chase in which the U-boat fired and missed with its single stern torpedo, ROPER obtained repeated hits with its guns on the boat, fatally damaging her. The order to scuttle/abandon ship was given and maybe half of the crew got into the water. USS ROPER, also concerned about a second sonar contact, dropped 11 depth charges onto the already sinking U-boat and in the process killed the survivors in the water.
ROPER remained in the area until daybreak when a PBY dropped a depth bomb over an oil slick, ROPER added 2 more. By 0830 7 aircraft, including a Blimp, were overhead and the British (H.M.Trawler) BEDFORDSHIRE had arrived to assist. In the afternoon the tugboat USS SCIOTA arrived.

U-85 now rests in 100-feet of water North East of Oregon Inlet off Nags Head, North Carolina. 35.55N, 75.13W. The US Navy has its first warship success against U-boats. It was the first U-boat to be sunk off the North American coast after the start of the Operation Drumbeat (Paukenschlag) on January 13, 1942.

??? On 16 April (H.M.Trawler) BEDFORDSHIRE rescued 9 men from the British freighter RIO BLANCO [Thompson Steamship Company, 4,086 grt] which had been torpedoed by U-558 some 15 days earlier.
ESF Enemy Action Diary

(jmb this is incorrect- it was HERTFORDSHIRE.)

4/16/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
LEGARE, CG-218 Sector #1
LADY ELSA, BEDFORDSHIRE, TOURMALINE, ROPER . . . Sector #2
(LADY ROSEMARY, NORTHERN DUKE and NORWICH CITY— escort)
DICKERSON, DIONE (escort) SENATEUR DUHMAEL, CG-454, CG-469, CG- 470, (COVENTRY CITY — by HARRY F. SINCLAIR) .... Sector #3
STRINGHAM (APD) sent by ComFive to investigate sinking freighter reported at 1255 Q, at 35-32 N., 72-36 W, together with one lifeboat and one life raft.
Message from STRINGHAM (APD) at 0133 Q stated arrival at scene but had sighted nothing.
ESF Patrol Log

4/17/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
LEGARE, CG-140 Sector #1
HMS LADY ELSA Sector #2
HMS STELLA POLARIS, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, NORTHERN DUKE, CG-462, CG-469, CG-470 Sector #3
(ROPER, DIONE — Escort.)
(HMS COVENTRY CITY & HMS SENATEUR DUHAMEL at 34-15 N., 76-28 W., S.S. HARRY T. SINCLAIR wreck)
BEDFORDSHIRE & TOURMALINE (during operations in Sector #2)
STRINGHAM — searching 35-05 N., 72-30 W.
ESF Patrol Log

4/19/1942 NORWICH CITY Clark: "Sunday 19-4-42 Weather still good. BEDFORDSHIRE is berthed alongside us today. We learned from her crew that a German submarine has been sunk by aircraft just off the coast and the Americans are diving on it with the object of retrieving the ships papers if possible. One of the things they would like to know is how and where these submarines are being refuelled. BEFORDSHIRE is keeping guard on the operation. There is some talk of going into dock and getting some leave.. . ." Clark, D.E.: They All Flew Out Of The Sparrows' Nest

4/19/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA, CG-140 Sector #1
DIONE, JACKSON, RUSH -- To relieve LADY ELSA Sector #2
DICKERSON -- special duty.
KINGSTON CEYLONITE — escorting SS Hampton Lodge
HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, STELLA POLARIS, CG-482, CG-452 Sector #3
HMS COVENTRY CITY and HMS ST. ZENO escorting North.
TOURMALINE in Lynnhaven Roads.
HMS BEDFORDSHIRE at diving operations 35-55 N., 75-13 W.
The SEMMES reported at 2115 Q she was following scattered lines of empty oil drums on base course 050° T. She will search to
35-50 N., 71-30 W. and thence 34-35 N., 71-00 W., which encompasses area in which various reports were received.
ESF Patrol Log

4/21/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA Sector #1
RUSH (at Cape Henry), DICKERSON (en route to Lookout). . . . Sector #2
HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, HMS STELLA POLARIS, CG-457, HMS ST. ZENO, HMS LADY ELSA, CG-474, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE Sector #3
ROPER, HMS LADY ROSEMARY, HMS LE TIGRE, CG-407, CG-472 — escorting in Sector #3 North.
Special Assignment, BEDFORDSHIRE. TOURMALINE, KEWAYDIN — diving operations in Sector #2.
SENATEUR DUHAMEL — towing HARRIET SINCLAIR with NORTHERN DUKE escorting in Lookout area.
HMS SENATEUR DUHAMEL and HMS LADY ROSEMARY attempting to tow off S.S. MALTRAIN and S.S. BRITAMER, both aground on Diamond Shoals. Air coverage provided at daylight.
ESF Patrol Log

4/22/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA, CG-140, CG-128 Sector #1
DIONE, ROPER, RUSH (off Cape Henry) Sector #2
ROPER sent to scene of attack on sub by Army plane at 0835 Q, at 36-05 N, 75-00 W (30 miles due east of Albemarle Sound).
Plane dropped 3 depth charges and circled area for 2 hours. Got oil slick which moved against wind, made 2 complete circles, both times returning to course 020°T.
HERBERT, DICKERSON, HMS ST. ZENO, HMS LADY ELSA, CG-453, HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE, CG-468,
CG-457, CG-474, HMS LE TIGER Sector #3
Special assignment: BEDFORDSHIRE, TOURMALINE, KEWAYDIN — diving operations.
SENATEUR DUHAMEL -- assisting MALTRAIN aground at Diamond Shoals.
HMS LADY ROSEMARY — Assisting BRITAMER aground at Diamond Shoals.
SCIOTA (AT) — to leave 0930 for Diamond Shoals.
Coast Guard Cutter sent to investigate signalled SSS at 36-55 N, 75-42 W, at 1959 Q.
Patrol vessels from ComFive made contact 076° 12-g-1 miles from Cape Henry, Made 3 depth charge attacks, destroyed contact.
ESF Patrol Log

4/23/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA, CG-218 Sector #1
RUSH Sector #2
TOURMALINE special assignment off Washington Woods Coast Guard Station.
HMS BEDFORDSHIRE Currituck to Hatteras.
HMS ST. LOMAN to Hatteras,
HMS SENATEUR DUMAHEL returned to NOB.
DIONE Wimble Shoals.
DIONE reported contact at 35-32 N, 75-16 W. SWANSON (DD) dropped 600 lb. depth charges which brought up good grade
oil. Fathometer showed highest point of vessel 7 fathoms from bottom. This is near position of U-85 sunk by ROPER on
April 14 at 35-48 N, 75-14 W.
ROPER Wimble Shoals to Hatteras.
ROPER picked up 30 survivors of S.S. DESERT LIGHT off Hatteras. Being landed at Morehead City. Vessel torpedoed at
1203 Q, April 16 In 35-35 N, 72-48 W.
HERBERT,HMS COVENTRY CITY, CG-453, CG-468 Sector #3
HMS Le TIGER and HERTFORDSHIRE Lookout Patrol.
HMS LADY ROSEMARY to escort tanker north to Cape Henry and then return to Lookout.
ESF Patrol Log

4/24/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA, JACKSON Sector #1
NICHOLSON, SWANSON, DIONE, RUSH Sector #2
HERBERT, ST. LOMAN, HMS COVENTRY CITY proceeding to Sector #3.
DICKERSON leaves today for Lookout.
DIONE at 0001 Q reported she thinks sub attacked by herself, with SWANSON and planes, at 35-32 N, 75-16 W, about 1600 Q, April 23, was sunk. This position is 23 miles south and 3 miles west of present position of U-85.
HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, HMS LADY ELSA, ROPER, SEMMES, HMS STELLA POLARIS, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, PC-461, HMS LADY ROSEMARY Sector #3
Destroyer seen by Army bomber at 0907 Q., dropping 4 depth charges in 36-22 N, 75-13 W. 200 foot oil slick formed. Nothing further came in on this.
ESF Patrol Log

4/26/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
JACKSON, RUSH Sector #1
SENATEUR DUHAMEL guarding KEWAYDIN at U-85 sinking.
DIONE & PC-461, convoy south Sector #2
DIONE reported operation completed, (Attack at 35-32 N, 75-16 W, at 1130 Q, April 24). Identification inconclusive. Good sample lubricating oil, poor sample fuel oil. Small decomposed piece of flesh had to be discarded.
DICKERSON, convoy north. SEMMES,(ST. LOMAN, 19 miles 188° Hatteras Light) Sector #3
HMS ST. LOMAN reported at 1515 Q, 2 attacks on moving sub contact distant 19 miles, 188° T. from Cape Hatteras Light (34-57 N, 75-35 W). Large quantities oil and bubbles. At 1640 Q reported third deliberate attack with depth charge pattern on firm contact at 1612 Q. Spreading oil patches 3 miles long, 200 yards wide. Position buoyed, standing by.
HMS STELLA POLARIS and COVENTRY CITY — Lookout.
HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE, by HARRY T. SINCLAIR wreck on Lookout Shoals.
ESF Patrol Log

4/27/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
JACKSON, CG-218 Sector #1
RUSH Sector #2
DICKERSON and ST. ZENO - escort south.
HMS STELLA POLARIS, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, DIONE,
HMS ST. LOMAN, CG-485, CG-486 Sector #3
SEMMES, CG-453, CG-468 - escort north.
SENATEUR DUHAMEL- with KEWAYDIN
HMS COVENTRY CITY will relieve SENATEUR DUHAMEL.
HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE by H. SINCLAIR off Lookout
ESF Patrol Log

4/30/1942 HMS BEDFORDSHIRE working out of Morehead City. In late April Naval Investigator Aycock Brown (from ONI) visited the ship which was coaling at Morehead City, met Sub-Lt. Thomas Cunningham, RNVR.
Naisawald, L. Vanloan: IN SOME FOREIGN FIELD

5/1/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
JACKSON, CG-218 Sector #1
TOURMALINE Sector #2
HERBERT & LEA in Sector #5 south bound.
HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, HMS STELLA POLARIS, CG-432, CC-483, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE Sector #3
DUPONT, CG-485, CG-486 — escort north.
ROPER searching for EMPIRE DRUM survivors 37-30 N, 72-00 W, with FALCON, ST. LOMAN, CUYAHOGA, CG-407, CG-454.
Coast Guard Cutter at 1820 Q proceeding to scene of sighting of lifeboat with two survivors by Army plane at 34-30 N, 74-25 W, 255 miles east of Lookout. Raft on fresh oil slick. ETA at scene 0800 May 2. Planes will direct.
ESF Patrol Log

5/2/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
HMS COVENTRY CITY, PC-474, CG-143 escort north to Winter Quarter Sector #1
HMS COVENTRY CITY sighted sub on surface near Chesapeake Lightship at 0905 Q.. Sub's speed about 15 knots.
SEMMES, DUPONT, CALYPSO escort south
HERBERT, TOURMALINE, CC—485, CG-436 escort north Sector #2
HMS HERTFORDSHIRE, HMS ST. ZENO, HMS STELLA POLARIS Sector #3
ST. LOMAN, CUYAHOGA, CG-454 with FALCON at diving operations.
U.S.S. FALCON reports diving operations reveal no apparent damage to hull of U-35 (sunk by ROPER April 14).
HMS BEDFORDSHIRE searching 35-40 N, 74-00 W
ROPER in Norfolk with survivors from EMPIRE DRUM
DICKERSON and DALLAS in Norfolk.
LEA escort from Lookout south.
ESF Patrol Log

5/3/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
Sector #1 PC-476 PC-474, RUSH escort.north
Sector #2 DALLAS, TOURMALINE, CG-481, CG-485, CG.-486. . . escort south
CUYAHOGA, ST. LOMAN at FALCON diving operations
BEDFORDSHIRE searching at 36-35 N, 74 W
Sector #3 ST. ZENO, STELLA POLARIS, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, HERTFORDSHIRE
DUPONT, SEMMES, CALYPSO escort north for Lookout
HERBERT in for fuel
DICKERSON in afternoon escort south.
ROPER - minor repairs

ESF Patrol Log

5/4/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #1 CG-128, CG-218
PC-474 & RUSH escort south from Cane May.
SECTOR #2 DICKERSON, HMS NORWICH CITY, CG-451, CG-472, SEMMES, CALYPSO
escort south from Cape Henry
SECTOR #3 HMS ST. ZENO, HMS STELLA POLARIS, CG-467, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE, HMS HERTFORDSHIRE
TOURMALINE & CG-452, 470 — escort North from Lookout.
ST. LOMAN, CUYAHOGA, CG-407, 454 — with FALCON at diving operations.
HMS BEDFORDSHIRE — searching for lifeboat 36-35 N, 74-00 W.
HERBERT, ROPER, DUPONT — in Norfolk.
DALLAS — en route to ComSix.
ComFive will send destroyer to scene of sighting of sub at 2300 Q by Army radar plane, at 35-28 N, 74-48 W. Plane sighted
her too late to bomb. Plane sighted destroyer 35-17 N, 74-48 W. headed S/W at 2245 Q.
ESF Patrol Log

5/7/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #1 CG-143, 288, RUSH
SECTOR #2 DICKERSON, CALYPSO, PC-461
CALYPSO picked up 13 survivors of PIPESTONE COUNTY 50 miles East of Oregon Inlet and landed them at Norfolk. This accounts for all but one of crew of 37.
PIPESTONE COUNTY was sunk at 1255 Q April 21 in 37-43 N, 66-16 W.
CG-468, 472 — escorting North to Cape Henlopen
SECTOR #3 HMS NORWICH CITY, HMS STELLA POLARIS, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE,CG-469, LADY ELSA, CG-474
HERBERT, CG-486, 451 — escorting north from Lookout.
ROPER brought HMS SENATEUR DUHAMEL crew in Norfolk.
SEMMES — In Morehead City.
ESF Patrol Log

5/8/1942 HMS BEDFORDSHIRE returned to Morehead City for a brief refueling call.
Naisawald, L. Vanloan: IN SOME FOREIGN FIELD

5/8/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #1 PE-19, JACKSON, RUSH
SECTOR #2 PC-461 escorting North to Cape Henry
HERBERT South to Lookout.
SECTOR #3 HMS STELLA POLARIS, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, HMS NORWICH CITY, HMS LADY ELSA
ROPER escorting North from Lookout.
DICKERSON and DUPONT in Norfolk.
SEMMES in Morehead City.
ESF Patrol Log

5/9/1942 HMS BEDFORDSHIRE at Morehead City for refueling - The C.O.- Lt Davis, & Sub Lt Cunningham had lunch aboard the yacht TRIPLE-S with S.S. Stevenson.
Naisawald, L. Vanloan: IN SOME FOREIGN FIELD

5/9/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #1 CG-126, JACKSON and PE-19 escorting southbound convoy from Henlopen
SECTOR #2 DU PONT. PLYMOUTH, ARGO, COVENTRY CITY, and ST. LOMAN escorts from Cape Henry
SECTOR #3 BEDFORDSHIRE, STELLA POLARIS, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, ST. ZENO, HERTFORDSHIRE, NORWICH CITY,
LADY ELSA, PC-496. CG-451, CG-473
HERBERT, PC-461, CG-485, CG-486 escorting North from Lookout.
PC-461 reported: "sub submerged, good visibility"" in 35-18 N; 75-12 W.
ROPER In for several days
DICKERSON In
SEMMES In Morehead City
ESF Patrol Log

5/10/1942 At mid-morning BEDFORDSHIRE lay alongside her dock in Morehead City and sailed around noon from the long quay that still stands near the mouth of the channel leading out to Cape Lookout. Sailed in company with HMT ST. ZENO to rendezvous at 1500 with a small convoy of merchantmen and escort them northward to the next anchorage at Hatteras, some sixty miles away. The convoy steamed slowly N at an estimated speed of 6 to 8 knots, with one escort probably roaming ahead and the other on the seaward flank, the escorts moving at a faster speed of some 10 to 12 knots. According to Charlie Wines, cook on the ST. LOMAN, the BEDFORDSHIRE initially had the outward station but during the night the 2 trawlers changed positions. Around midnight the convoy reached the Cape Hatteras area.
Naisawald, L. Vanloan: IN SOME FOREIGN FIELD (3rd Ed)

5/11/1942 ST. LOMAN and BEDFORDSHIRE were ordered to look for a U-boat that had been spotted off Cape Lookout. As darkness fell off Cape Lookout in the evening of May 11, 1942 ST. LOMAN and BEDFORDSHIRE were steaming slowly at about 6 knots with their ASDIC searching for submarines. However U-558 [Gunther Krech] had spotted them earlier and had moved only to find the ST. LOMAN close by. U-558 fired 2 torpedoes but ST. LOMAN was able to miss them. The submarine was able to creep away from the scene as the ST. LOMAN hunted for her attacker. When the U-558 next looked through her periscope, on the morning of the 12th May 1942 at 0540, she saw another trawler close by, Krech maneuvered to only 1,500 yards before firing 2 torpedoes. Both torpedoes hit the BEDFORDSHIRE and the vessel disintergrated Lat. 34-10N, 76-41W.
5/12/42 H.M.S. BEDFORDSHIRE sunk Lat. 34-10N, 76-41W by U-558 (Gunther Krech) at 0540 12 May, 1942 near Cape Lookout, North Carolina. On 14 May 2 bodies washed up near Ocracke on Hatteras Island and were positively identified as from BEDFORDSHIRE.
Reedy, James The Destroyer's Poor Relation Sea History No 68 Winter 1993-94

5/11/1942 BEDFORDSHIRE probably turned around after delivering the convoy to the Hatteras anchorage around midnight and commenced a routine patrol toward Cape Lookout and Morehead City, between buoys 14 and 4. Meanwhile U-558 was patrolling the area SE of Lookout following the 20 meter depth contour.
5/11/1942 at 1330 U-558 submerged and about an hour later the Hydrophone operator picked strong noises 260 ° astern and sighted thru the periscope 2 British armed trawlers pinging away with their asdics, with one coming directly towards him. The submarine dove to the bottom expecting a depth-charge attack but was not detected.
For four hours the U-558 lay on the bottom and heard in the distance four explosions. Hydrophone noises were picked up again and the U-boat remained motionless until just before 2000 when she came up to periscope depth. The 2 ships were still present and U-558 waited another 47 minutes until 2045 when she surfaced and headed SW at around 8 to 10 knots, while charging their batteries. At 2120 in overcast but good visibility, the U-558 saw a flashing light almost astern. At 2207 the submarine had traveled some 13 miles and saw a silhouette bearing 305° astern - this was the BEDFORDSHIRE approximately 75° off the starboard bow. The U-boat planned a surface attack and at 2326 2 torpedoes were fired but missed. U-558 quickly made a second attack while the BEDFORDSHIRE continued on course. At 2340 U-558 fired a single torpedo which hit - there was an immense explosion as the trawler was hit amidships on its port side. There was a secondary explosion and the stern of the BEDFORDSHIRE rose high out of the water and the ship quickly disappeared under the water, bow first. The U-boat then continued its previous course.
Naisawald, L. Vanloan: IN SOME FOREIGN FIELD (3rd Ed)

5/12/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #l CG-143, CG-288, CG-218
PE-19, Jackson escorting to Cape Henry
SECTOR #2 RUSH escorting south from Cape Henry
DICKERSON, CALYPSO patrolling south into Sector #3
SECTOR #3 HMS STELLA POLARIS, HMS BEDFORDSHIRE, HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE, HMS COVENTRY CITY, HMS ST. ZENO, HMS LADY ELSA, CG-452, CG-472
ST. LOMAN working on contact south of Lookout.
Navy bomber saw PC-461 dropping depth charges "off Lookout" (probably near position ST. LOMAN was attacked bv sub in 34-11 N, 76-27 W).
HERBERT, ROPER in Norfolk.
SEMMES in Morehead City.
ESF Patrol Log

5/13/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
SECTOR #1 JACKSON, CG-128
SECTOR #2:
DIONE, CG-453,CG-479, CG-480 Escort south
DICKERSON, DALLAS, CALYPSO, RUSH, CG-469, CG-481 Escort north from Lookout
SECTOR #3:
ST. ZENO, STELLA POLARIS, BEDFORDSHIRE, COVENTRY CITY, KINGSTON CEYLONITE, ST. LOMAN, CG-474, CG-483
HERBERT, ROPER. SEMMES In Norfolk
ESF Patrol Log

5/16/42: Reports bodies of one officer and one rating from H.M.S. BEDFORDSHIRE washed ashore Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Later reported as not having been heard from since 5/11/42.
Sub-Lt Thomas Cunningham and Telegraphist Stanley Craig. A week later 2 more bodies washed up. Today they all rest at Ocracoke, four well tendered graves in a tiny plot of ground known simply as the British Cemetery.
ESF Enemy Action Diary

5/16/1942 FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CG-143, CG-238 patrolling in Sector #1
SECTOR #1 JACKSON, IMPULSE escorting south from Henlopen to Cape Henry
HERTFORDSHIRE, CUYAHOGA escorting north from Cape Henry to Henlopen.
SECTOR #2 HMS KINGSTON CEYLONITE
ELLIS investigating 36-20 N, 74-57 W
Army plane sighted oil slick in 35-45 N, 75-00 W. (Our 1229 May 15 reported attack on sub in this area and sighting of buoy). At 1700 plane reported oil slick at 36-07 N, 74-57 W. At 1940 plane reported sighting "wreck of sub" in 36-09 N, 74-54 W. Oil slick with oil still coming up. ELLIS sent to investigate in vicinity but plane at scene of buoy failed to contact her or corvette in vicinity.
SECTOR #3 DALLAS, CARRABASSETT escort to Lookout south Henry.
TOURMALINE, CG-153, CG-469 escort from Lookout to Cape Henry.
RUSH, DIONE, CG-472 escort south from Lookout .
SEMMES, SIMPSON, DICKERSON in Norfolk.
ComFive reports bodies of one officer and one rating from HMS BEDFORDSHIRE found washed ashore at Ocracoke, NC. Empty lifeboat also found but not definetly identified as from the BEDFORDSHIRE. Latter reported as not having been heard from since May 11.
ESF Patrol Log

Commemorative plaque at British Cemetery, Ocracoke Island
Although the BEDFORDSHIRE was attached to the US Navy, her absence had not yet been noted when a Coast Guardsman discovered two bodies on the shores of Ocracoke Island on 14 May. They were identified as Sub-lieutenant Thomas Cunningham and telegraph operator Stanley Craig of the BEDFORDSHIRE. The remains of the two servicemen were buried in a small plot next to a cemetery in Ocracoke Village. The Royal Navy flag draped over Cunningham's coffin was one of several that he himself had given to a local man less than a month earlier for funeral ceremonies.

The discovery of the bodies of the two British seamen was the first indication to the US Navy that BEDFORDSHIRE may have met her end. Shortly thereafter, two additional bodies were discovered washed ashore on Ocracoke Island; these were also buried in the 'British Cemetery' and remain unidentified. In late May or early June, a fifth body, that of Seaman Alfred Dryden, washed ashore at Sandbridge, Virginia. A third unknown seaman of the HMT BEDFORDSHIRE is buried in the Cape Hatteras {US Coast Guard} Burial Ground among with Engineer Officer Michael Cairns of the MV "SAN DELFINO" lost 9/4/1942. While it was eventually presumed that BEDFORDSHIRE had been sunk by a submarine, her fate was not confirmed until U-558 was sunk the following year off Cape Finisterre, resulting in the capture of Kapitänleutnant Krech.

The tiny plot of land at the British Cemetery was deeded in 1976 to the British government, which supplied the granite headstones and provides long-term care through its Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Regular maintenance is handled by the US Coast Guard. A Royal Navy flag flies over the cemetery, and a ceremony is held there each year on 11 May to honor the men of the BEDFORDSHIRE.[9] The wreck of the BEDFORDSHIRE was located in 1980 at 34°10_N 76°41_W
Reedy, James The Destroyer's Poor Relation Sea History No 68 Winter 1993-94

5/26/1942 NORWICH CITY - Clark: " 70 Tuesday 26-5-42
On watch for the forenoon. We ran into Norfolk and secured alongside at 1230. Went over the side for a swim but the water is a lot colder here than at Key West. We heard today that BEDFORDSHIRE was in company with a patrol craft near fourteen buoy when she was torpedoed. The patrol craft tracked the sub, sank it and picked up nine survivors from it. There were no survivors from the BEDFORDSHIRE. We also heard that when the Icelandic convoy was attacked recently, NOTTS COUNTY was sunk with no survivors (the Admiralty report previously referred to says 'BEDFORDSHIRE sunk by U boat off Cape Lookout NC. NOTTS COUNTY 8th March 42 sunk by mine or U boat south of Iceland.' I wonder if Bill Lindley was still aboard. Ossie is to leave us tomorrow for a six week course on RDF. He and Joe have gone ashore to celebrate. We are supposed to sail on Thursday. . . . ."
Clark, D.E.: They All Flew Out Of The Sparrows' Nest

5/29/1942 NORWICH CITY - Clark: " When I went on watch at 0800 we were in company with twenty five ships. The same escort as before excepting LADY ELSA and in her place we have LE TIGER (trawler). The 'Lady' is having a boiler clean. A lot of the lads think we are heading for trouble this trip. I don't know why, but maybe the sinking of the BEDFORDSHIRE is worrying them. However, I don't share their views. One of the escorts dropped three charges on the other side of the convoy from us, at 1530. . . ."
Clark, D.E.: They All Flew Out Of The Sparrows' Nest

6/3/1942 NORWICH CITY - Clark: " Wednesday 3-6-42
Dirty night, very humid, lots of rain squalls. We saw the lights of Miami during the first dog watch. Today Smithy told me the facts of the sinking of the BEDFORDSHIRE. The report we heard on Tuesday 26th May was not entirely correct.
It seems that when we left our patrol around fourteen buoy, and we had been there for several days and nights with no sign of the enemy, ST. ZENO was ordered to take our place. In company with a patrol craft she took up the patrol the day after we left. ST. ZENO was attacked by a submarine which presumably fired a torpedo and missed. The patrol craft made asdic contact with the sub, attacked and sunk it. The patrol craft picked up two of the survivors and then sent a radio signal to base asking if she was to pick up the remainder. Base replied, “Yes, if you are not endangering yourself” so she picked up the rest. ST. ZENO then returned to Morehead City and BEDFORDSHIRE went out to take her place. BEDFORDSHIRE was torpedoed the next day, probably by the 'mate' of the one sunk the previous day as it is now known that the subs are working in pairs. . ".
Clark, D.E.: They All Flew Out Of The Sparrows' Nest