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HMS Dolphin
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Those known to have sailed in HMS Dolphin during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Clarke Eric. Stokr.
- Darvill Inez Theresa. L/Wren.
- Hall Norman. Ord Tel.
- Mitton Leonard Henry. Ldg. Signalman (d.11 Nov 1942)
- Napier DSC DSO Lennox William. Lt. Cdr.
- Robinson Robert Benjamin. PO.
- Robotham Thomas George. PO
- Rutter Alfred Henry . Able Sea.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of HMS Dolphin from other sources.
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Want to know more about HMS Dolphin? There are:0 items tagged HMS Dolphin available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Lt. Cdr. Lennox William Napier DSC DSO HMS Rorqual  For Captain Lennox Napier’s inspired and courageous captaincy of the mine laying submarine Rorqual, he was appointed DSO in 1943 and won the DSC in 1944. Napier, who had been in the submarine service since 1934, took command of Rorqual, a Porpoise class submarine in June 1941. With the capture of Crete, it was imperative that Malta did not fall into German hands. Under daily siege, Malta had to be supplied with both food and fuel for domestic purposes, as well as for its RAF Squadrons fighting for the survival of the island. A number of convoys had run the gauntlet from Gibraltar or Alexandria to Malta and all had suffered casualties.
Admiral Andrew Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief of the British Naval Forces in the Mediterranean, boldly decided to use the Rorqual and her sister submarine Cacholot to get supplies to the island. One associates a submarine with confined space, but Rorqual, launched at Barrow in 1936, was 280 feet long and had a beam width of 29 feet. On her first voyage to Malta, she carried a vital cargo of two tons of medical supplies, 62 tones of high-octane aviation spirit for the RAF’s Hurricanes, 45 tones of cooking fuel and 25 passengers, as well as a crew of 59; but perhaps most important, at least for the island’s morale, 147 bags of mail. On her return to Alexandria, amongst her somewhat lighter cargo, were 130 bags of mail.
It was fraught and nerve-wracking week before Rorqual arrived in the Grand Harbour, much to the relief of crew and islanders. A month later she arrived back in Malta with a similar cargo. An even larger cargo was carried on 31 July, but Napier was concerned when during heavy weather a number of fuel cases stored in the hull developed leaks. This resulted in the submarine’s diving almost seven tons light when these tins were empty in the morning, and slowly filling up with water and re turning Rorqual to normal trim while submerged in the daytime.
After this trip, Napier was pleased to get back to his normal route of mine lying Rorqual could carry 50 mines. Napier’s skill in laying these mines, in the often crystal-clear water of the Mediterranean, brought him a number of successes. In August 1942, his men blew up an Italian steamer. Later that month, he engaged two merchant vessels, sank one and then had his periscope rammed by the other. Although under orders not to engage enemy shipping, because he was carrying vital stores and passengers, Napier attacked a convoy and destroyed the last ship. The passengers had an interesting experience as 16 depth charges were dropped close by.
In January 1943, Rorqual laid mines off the Tunis approach, one of which caused the loss of the valuable German heavy-lift ship Ankara, loaded with tanks for Rommel’s Afrika Corps. This success was reinforced when he sank the Wilhelmsburg, carrying much-needed oil to Greece, with two torpedoes at 2,500 yards in the Dardanelles approach.
After two and a half years of successful command Napier fell ill with jaundice. On recovering, he went to the land-based HMS Dolphin to train future commanding officers for the submarine services.
Lennox Napier was a descendant of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms.
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Ord Tel. Norman Hall HMS Adventure My father, Norman Hall, was a telegrapher from Jan 1940 to Sept 1946. He served on HMS Drake, HMS Adventure, HMS Dolphin, HMS Medway, HMS Lanka, HMS Lucia, HMS Adamant, HMS Elfin, HMS Ambrose and HMS Seadog.
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PO. Robert Benjamin Robinson HMS Pembroke My grandad, Robert Robinson, was in the Royal Navy from 1933 until discharged in 1945. He was sunk twice. He was mostly on board HMS Pembroke but also served on
HMS Apollo, HMS Calliope, HMS Ferret, HMS Valiant, HMS Ramillies, HMS Dolphin, HMS St Angelo, HMS London and HMS Asphodel from his hand written certificate of service.
Bob had scarring on his lungs from the bronchitis caused by his time adrift after being sunk and this contributed to his death in 1995.
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Able Sea. Alfred Henry Rutter HMS Anson My grandfather Alfred Rutter served aboard HMS Anson from the 2nd of June 1942 until the 13th of August 1943. He took part in the Russian convoys and said it was so cold that everyone wanted off the ship. When he spoke to an officer about leaving the ship, he was asked why he wanted to leave. His reply was that he wanted to become a diver. The officer replied with, that is a new excuse, I will grant your transfer. On the 19th of December 1943, my grandfather reported to HMS Dolphin to start his diver training.
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Stokr. Eric Clarke HMS Thrasher Eric Clarke was my father. He had kept records of his RN Service, which show he joined the RN on 24th of February 1943. He spent his first few months in training at various shore establishments until 17th of September 1943 when he joined the supply ship HMS Cyclops. He was promoted to Stoker1 on 24th February 1944.
On 19th June 1944 he joined the submarine depot ship HMS Forth for service on T Class submarine Thrasher
On 14th of Oct 1944 he joined the submarine depot ship HMS Wolfe ( still serving on HMS Thrasher)
On 10th Mar 1945 Eric was promoted to A/L Stoker (T1) (M). 30th Aug 1945 Eric completed his submarine service and moved to shore base Dolphin at Gosport.
Eric completed his RN service on 30th Nov 1946.
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L/Wren. Inez Theresa Darvill HMS Dolphin Terry Darvill served as a Wren Writer at HMS Dolphin.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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I Only Joined for the HatChristian Lamb
A wonderfully evocative illustrated memoir that gives the reader a rare account in close-up of what life was truly like for World War II Wrens, as they were catapulted into the drudgery and deprivation, mayhem and maelstrom, and the tribulations and triumphs of war. In 1939, the young Christian Lamb felt she had to 'do her bit' for the war effort. Her comfortable life was about to be turned upside down. With a Naval background, the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was the obvious choice, besides it had by far the most attractive uniform - topped by the splendid tricorne hat. On joining as a lowly Wren rating she found that this crowning glory was not for her but strictly for officers only. It was to be the first of many nasty surprises. In "I Only Joined For The Hat", the author wittily describes how class and snobbery had no place in a world of girls from all social backgrounds, suddenly plunged into life together. From scrubbing floors and squad drill to coding and catering, Christ
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