KINGSTON ONYX -Northern Patrol, Iceland, Nore Command

[pacnep]

Greetings - Im researching the KINGSTON ONYX and am looking for a photo of the trawler. Also I am looking for details of her duties during 1940 - specifically 1) where and when as an Armed Boarding Vessel on the Northern Patrol 2) details of her duties during the Occupation of Iceland 3) details of her duties and patrols with the Nore Command during the threat of German invasion ( May-July). Any information will help-Many Thanx, John
PS my outline of her WW2 career is as follows:
KINGSTON ONYX Off. No 160057 Reg No. H365.
1928: Built for Kingston Steam Trawler Company, 1928 by Cook, Welton & Gemmill (Beverley, U.K.) Yard # 488
1939: Requistioned and converted to ABV 8/39 Commissoned 10/27/39
11/23/39 German merchant ship BORKUM (3670grt), which had departed Montevideo on 9 October, was captured by armed merchant cruiser CALIFORNIA on 18 November in the Denmark Strait. Under a prize crew commanded by Lt Cdr B Moloney RNR, BORKUM headed for Greenock via Kirkwall, but on the 23rd was attacked by U-33 and damaged by torpedo and gunfire near the Orkneys in 59_33N, 03_57W. Four German crew members were killed, but the rest of the Germans and British were rescued by armed boarding vessels KINGSTON BERYL and KINGSTON ONYX. The steamer was abandoned, drifted ashore in Papa Sound on the 25th and refloated on 18 August 1940, but as a total loss. She was taken to Rosyth and scrapped.
1940: 1/11/1940 Cruiser COLOMBO escorted German freighter BERGENSFJORD to Kirkwall after it had been intercepted by HM Trawler KINGSTON ONYX.
KINGSTON ONYX was listed in February 1940 as an Armed Boarding Vessels and part of the Northern Patrol.
7 April 1940: Orkneys and Shetlands Command, Kirkwal, Armed Boarding Trawlers: AQUAMARINE, KINGSTON BERYL, KINGSTON JACINTH, KINGSTON ONYX, KINGSTON PERIDOT, KINGSTON SAPPHIRE, KINGSTON TOPAZ, KINGSTON TURQUOISE, NORTHERN CHIEF, NORTHERN DUKE, NORTHERN FOAM, NORTHERN GIFT, NORTHERN ISLES, NORTHERN PRINCESS, NORTHERN REWARD, NORTHERN SKY, NORTHERN SUN. (17 vessels)
9 April 40 KINGSTON ONYX at Aberdeen with KINGSTON JACINTH, also KINGSTON TURQUOISE and NORTHERN FOAM completed refit April 10.
On April 18 the KINGSTON ONXY and her sister ship the KINGSTON TURQUOISE received orders to the West Faroes where the Swedish ship HAMMAREN had been intercepted. They were to either place an armed guard aboard the ship and she would proceed to the inspection port or if conditions didnt permit they were to escort her to Kirkwall to be more throughly inspected. 4/18/40 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "ST0850/18.4 from F.O.C.N.P.:- 'K.O.' and KINGSTON TURQUOISE move to West Faeroes forthwith. 1 trawler take over Swedish Ship HAMMAREN at rendezvous and if armed guards cannot be placed on board escort to Kirkwall.”
5/12/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T1555/12.5 from F.O.C.N.P.:- Rendezvous with CALIFORNIA in position 065°16'N, 012° 56'W at 1800 14/5 and act under her orders. Object to investigate all trawlers met also to visit Fjord between Ripey and Langannoes on E. Coast of Iceland."
5/14/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T2130/14.5 from CALIFORNIA:- 'K.O.' visit Seidis Fiord first, others visited."
5/17/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T1050/17.5 from FOCN/P:- Probably you will be required to remain in East Icelandic waters until p.m. 22/5."
5/17/40 KINGSTON ONYX at Iceland with KINGSTON TURQUOISE
5/21/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Leave Iceland," orders for Kirkwall".
5/26/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Depart Kirkwall
5/29/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Arrive Sheerness
Report of Proceedings of Northern Patrol 15-31 May 1940: " 3. orders received 24 May that three N.P. trawlers be sent to Sheerness... NORTHERN REWARD, KINGSTON ONYX, KINGSTON BERYL arrive Sheerness 29 May...4. 12 days of fog."
Report of Proceedings of Northern Patrol 1 - 15 July 1940: " KINGSTON ONYX arrived at West Hartlepool July 9 from Sheerness for refit and fitting ASDICS. ...."
7/14/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Arrive Southend. 7/14/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T1257/ 14.7 from C. in C. Nore:- Request O i/c Sheerness will sail 'K.O.' for Southend forthwith for onward passage to W. Hartlepool." Movement sheet: Depart Sheerness
7/15/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Depart Southend
7/16/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Arrive Hartlepool
Report of Proceedings of Northern Patrol 1 - 15 July 1940: " KINGSTON ONYX arrived at West Hartlepool July 9 from Sheerness for refit and fitting ASDICS. ... On 7/15 CIC The Nore was ordered to sail the trawlers ASAP to rejoin the N.P. ...
7/18/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "ST 17.7 (?) S. of D. 18.7 Taken in hand 17.7. Refit and fitting A/S D.U."
7/29/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T1418/29.7 from N.O.I/C Hartlepool:- Completes 13.8 Sails 16/8.
8/6/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "ST1015/6.8 from F.O.C.N.A.:- 'K.O. should be sailed for Kirkwall when ready."
KINGSTON ONYX Converted from Armed Boarding Vessel to A/S, then had terrible ballasting problem. Rumored that skipper went out of his mind and was a mental case for the rest of the war. see Lund & Ludlum: TRAWERS GO TO WAR, p86
8/16/1940 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Depart Hartlepool for Kirkwall
28.11.1940-(02.)1941 Lt. Richard Walgate RNR assigned to HMS Kingston Onyx (anti-submarine trawler)
1/6/1941 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: "T0135/6.1 from S.O.N.T.:- Proceed with all dispatch to position 59°09'N 14°40'W to assistance of S.S. EMPIRE THUNDER with survivors."
[At 11.37 hours on 6 Jan, 1941, EMPIRE THUNDER (Master William Dowell), a straggler from convoy OB-269 due to an engine breakdown, was torpedoed and sunk by U-124 north-northeast of Rockall. Nine crew members were lost. The master and 29 crew members were picked up by the British armed boarding vessel HMS KINGSTON ONYX (Lt R. Walgate) and landed at Stornoway, Hebrides on 8 January. see uboat.net]
1/7/1941 ADM 199/397 War Diaries Orkeys & Shetlands Jan 1 - Dec 31 1941: S.S. EMPIRE THUNDER torpedoed by U-Boat 59°14'N 12°43'W at 1036/6 KINGSTON ONYX picked up 30 survivors from 3 boats but 4th sunk by torpedo 9 of crew missing. K.O. proceeded to Kirkwall.
1/8/1941 H.M. Trawler KINGSTON ONYX Movement Sheet: Arrive Stornoway.[Outer Hebrides]
…
1944: Sept 1944 returned to owners in September, 10/9/1945 renamed MOORSOM (GY.119) Parkholme Trawlers, Grimsby.
1945: Renamed WESTHOPE (H.590), owners JC Llewellin, Milford Haven.
1949: New owners St Andrews Steam Fishing Co Ltd., Hull
1956: Broken up at Dunston

Awards:
CORNISH ALBERT RICHARD . HMT KINGSTON ONYX . Skipper 1945 War Service - Tried to ram U Boat twice with his vessel ( Kingston Onyx ? ) ( Bill )
McMILLAN JOHN . HMT KINGSTON ONYX . Seaman 1945 War Service

The Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for Meritorious Service:
Seaman John McMillan, D/X.i96i9A, R.N.R., H.M.S. Kingston Onyx.

Those named below have been Commended for brave conduct when their ships encountered enemy ships, aircraft, submarines or mines. Gazette Issue 37219 published on the 10 August 1945
Albert Richard CORNISH, Esq., Skipper, s.t." Kingston Onyx " (Kingston SteamTrawling Company Ltd.)

[Nick Clark]

Wes

Well done - you have included an impressive amount of information on both HMS KINGSTON ONYX (here) and on HMT NORWICH CITY (in the photograph section). However, I think it would be both interesting and helpful for the other members on this forum if you can tell us from which documents/books you got all this information you describe as 'my notes from various sources'? Can you possibly supply references to these sources? I think it would be good to share such research experiences in this section of the forum.

If you can manage to track down a copy of Harry Hutson's book 'Grimsby's Fighting Fleet' (Trawlers and U-boats during the Second World War) you'll find a great deal on the 24 trawlers sent out to the states to protect the East Coast.

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

[pacnep]

RESEARCH SOURCES & DETAILS
A good point Nick, there isn't a short answer - and this is why I originally prefaced these “notes” or “outline” as coming from “various sources”, although more than half of the entries are in fact referenced. Please note that I don't hold that my notes or research are complete -this is “work in progress” and a fun project that may have honest errors and omissions so I welcome any comments/corrections and additions.... Anyway since you asked for sources- here goes:
First, of course, the details of trawlers and their histories are just not as readily available as for the larger warships and it requires a lot of digging which is why this web site can be so important as a forum and research aid, also the naval-history.net is invaluable. Their motto is "Knowledge not shared is lost" .

I have not found any Logbooks of the ships I am especially interested in: KINGSTON ONYX, VASCAMA, NORTHERN PRINCESS, NORTHERN ISLES or their associated trawlers also on the Northern Patrol, or those sent to the US and/or South Africa. If these were available we would have many formal details right away but not the REAL colorful history of Harry Tates Navy...

A. The fundamental ship particulars and outline histories I have gleaned from:
1. Lenton, H.T.: British and Empire Warships of the Second World War, 1998
2. Lenton, H.T., College, J.J.: British and Dominion Warships of World War, 1964. (essentially superseded by 1.)
3. & 4. Toghill, G.: Royal Navy Trawlers Parts I & 2, 2004.
5. uboat.net

B. The general assignments I have obtained from:
1. The Royal Navy Museum: ADM199/2545 to ADM199/2577 MOVEMENTS OF HM SHIPS AND SUBMARINES
2. National Archives, Kew: ADM 187 Admiralty: Naval Staff, Operations Division:
Lists showing stations and movements of Allied and Royal Naval Ships (Pink Lists),
3. National Archives, Kew: ADM 208 Admiralty: Naval Staff, Operations Division:
Lists of Minor War Vessels (Red Lists)
4. National Archives, Kew: Admiralty: Navy Lists, Confidential Edition ADM 177
5. ROYAL & OTHER NAVIES DAY-BY-DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 by Don Kindell http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900 Intro.htm © Don Kindell 2007 - see Royal Navy Ships


C. Specific operational details
1. National Archives, Kew: Report of Proceedings of Northern Patrol
2. National Archives, Kew: ADM 199/397 War Diaries Orkneys & Shetlands
3. Lund & Ludlum: TRAWLERS GO TO WAR
4. ROYAL & OTHER NAVIES DAY-BY-DAY IN WORLD WAR 2
by Don Kindell http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900 Intro.htm © Don Kindell 2007 - editing and maps by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net   see EVENTS

my research into the Specific Command War Diaries is to date minimal
I regularly do Goggle or Dogpile searches of Keywords for updates

Hope this is of use to others and I welcome any correspondence

John M. Baldry
4403 Boston Harbor Rd Olympia WA 98506 USA

mailto:johnmbaldry@att.net
360 786-1230

[norwichcity]

Here are some web sites I've found interesting in trying to glean background to my father's diary. They may be helpful to others. My dad's diary has a lot of useful information in it as well, I've sent a copy to Nick and he is considering how best to display it on the site.

Trawler information -
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rayricho/

Convoys -
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/ko ... 110-kv.htm

US Naval history -
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN ... -1942.html

Shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast -
http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/

US East Coast war activity -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/ESFWarDiaryApr42.htm

Info on trawler activities -
http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6435.html

Western approaches command -
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-420 ... oaches.htm

Peter