HM Trawler Loch Oskaig

[billtaff]

My grandfather, Joshua Radford Richards, served on HMT Loch Oskaig between 1940 and 1944.

I would be grateful to recieve any information about the ship or her crew. I am aware of some of her movements/actions, but would like some more pieces of the jigsaw.

I attch a photograph of my grandfather. He is the older man on the right. It was his second war, having served in the RN during WW1.

Thanks in anticipation.

Paul Richards

[Batstiger]

The only information that I have is that she was built in 1937, had a gross tonnage of 534 tons. She was requisitioned August 1939 as an A/S trawler and returned to private ownership in November 1945. Her No. FY 175.

Bob.

[tonclass]

Armed Boarding Vessel from May 1941 - Nov 1945

[SOLENT]

Port Reg. H431 Official number 165657 Pennant No.F171
Joined Gibralter trawler force 1942.

Regards John

[nemesis]

Greetings to all . This is my first question since joining the forum.

The London Gazette of 12 April 1940 shows four members of HM Trawler Loch Oskaig crew being decorated ,One DSC,Two DSMs and one MID. This must have been for a single action. Does anyone know what this action was ?. It may have been in late 1939 or early 1940
Thanks to all for reading this

[peter.robb]

Hi all,after the war she was returned to her owners in Nov 1945,and lasted till
she was sold and broken up in 1965.
peter.

[Rob Hoole]

Lenton & Colledge's Warships of World War II states LOCH OSKAIG's pendant number was FY.175, she had a displacement 534 tons, was built in 1937, requisitioned Aug 1939, converted as an anti-submarine trawler and returned to commercial use in Nov 1945.

Gerald Toghill's Royal Navy Trawlers Part Two: Requisitioned Trawlers states that she was built at Southbank-on-Tees by Smith's Dock and launched in 1937. Owned by Caledonian Fishing Co. of Aberdeen. Requisitioned in Aug 1939 and converted to A/S. Converted to an Armed Boarding Vessel in 1941. Joined the Gibraltar Trawler Force in 1943. Returned to the owners in UK in Nov 1946.

Displacement: 534 gross tons, 198 tons net.
Engines: 99 HP
Armament: 1x4 inch
Port registration: H.431

According to www.naval-history.net:

On 27 May 1940, a British Floating dock, in tow of tug WATERMEYER and escorted by anti-submarine trawlers LE TIGER, LOCH OSKAIG, WISTARIA, departed Leith for the Sullom Voe seaplane base. They all arrived safely on the 30th.

In Jun 1940, the 14th Anti-Submarine Striking Force comprised the anti-submarine trawlers ALOUETTE (Lt the Lord Churston RNVR), IMPERIALIST (Ty Lt P E Kitto Pbty RNR), both at the Faroes, LOCH OSKAIG (Ty Lt L J Simpson RNR, Lt J E Woolfenden RNR from 14 Jun), SCOTTISH (SO, Lt Cdr J Jackson RNR), both departed Scapa Flow 8 Jun.

On 15 Jun 1940, the destroyer AMAZON departed Scapa Flow at 2100 for Sullom Voe with the oiler ROSEWOOD (5989grt) and the anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and LOCH OSKAIG (534grt).

In Jan 1941, the Contraband Control Service comprised the armed boarding vessels ACHROITE (Sk G W H Mortlock RNR), ALOUETTE (Lt Lord Churston RNVR), ANGLIA (Lt R McCready RNR), CHARLES McIVER (Lt B T R Russell RNR), FEASIBLE (Sk C C Findlay RNR), IMPERIALIST (Pbty Ty Lt P E Kitto RNR), KINGSTON JACINTH (Lt Cdr A Ayre Rtd) dep 29 Dec for Liverpool, KINGSTON TOPAZ (Cdr W L Smith RNR), KINGSTON TURQUOISE (Lt L A White RNR) dep 29 Dec for Liverpool, LOCH OSKAIG (Lt Cdr S Darling RANR), LORNA (Actg Lt R Atkinson RNR), ROSABELLE (Lt H H Brown RNR), SAYONARA (Cdr H Hamilton Rtd), SCOTTISH (Cdr S A Brooks OBE Rtd), TIERCEL (Lt R R L Rosoman RNR Rtd) at Greenock, otherwise all at or departed Gibraltar.

On 1 May 1941, the anti-submarine trawler LOCH OSKAIG (534grt) captured the French steamer CAP CANTIN (3317grt).

In Jul 1941, armed boarding vessels comprised the trawlers ALOUETTE (Lt Lord Churston RNVR) dep 26 Jun, IMPERIALIST (Ty Lt P E Kitto RNR) dep 29 Jun, LOCH OSKAIG (Lt Cdr S Darling RANR) departing 24 Jun, SCOTTISH (Cdr S A Brooks OBE Rtd) arr 29 Jun, all arriving and departing Gibraltar

On 15 Jul 1941, the ocean boarding vessel LADY SOMERS (Cdr G.L. Dunbar RD RNR) was sunk by Italian submarine MOROSINI in 37-12N, 20-32W. The corvette SPIRAEA of convoy OG.67 was ordered to her position to assist. The entire crew of one hundred and thirty eight man crew were picked up by Spanish steamer CAMPECHE (6382grt). The sloop BIDEFORD and anti-submarine trawlers LOCH OSKAIG and IMPERIALIST were ordered to intercept the steamer and take off the survivors due to the difficulty in obtaining the release of seamen from Spain. The survivors were landed by the Spanish ship at Lisbon. They arrived back at Gibraltar on the 18th in British steamer PROCRIS (1033grt).

On 13 Oct 1941, the anti-submarine trawler LOCH OSKAIG was attacked by a German Focke Wulf aircraft in 38-15N, 9-59W. Seven crew were wounded and considerable damage was done to the superstructure by cannonfire.

On 31 Oct 1943, 1943, the destroyer Douglas and the trawlers Imperialist and Loch Oskaig sank U-732 off Tangiers.

According to this (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffilestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk %2Fpdfs%2Fsmall%2Fcab-66-20-wp-41-301-24.pdf&rct=j&q=%22loch%20oskaig%22%20site%3Anationalarchives.go v.uk&ei=nhmwTd2MD8as8QPsicXfCw&usg=AFQjCNERfBvfyfPZ7ZoxtwKDjY7xjq5cdA&cad=rja) on the National Archives website, HMT Loch Oskaig was bombed and damaged off Lisbon on 12 Dec 1941 but was able to proceed on patrol; she was again attacked and claims to have hit the aircraft.

[nemesis]

Thanks for the detailed info on the Loch Oskaig, its valuable information to add to my folder . I have hunted quite extensivley to try to find out why four members of the crew were decorated in one day, but no luck so far
thanks for the input
m

[Rob Hoole]

Thanks for the detailed info on the Loch Oskaig, its valuable information to add to my folder . I have hunted quite extensivley to try to find out why four members of the crew were decorated in one day, but no luck so far
thanks for the input
m

Hello Nemesis,

It is quite probable that these awards weren't made to the individuals concerned for one particular incident but rather for their performance over a period of time. They were among many gazetted on the same day "for unfailing courage, endurance, resource and devotion to duty in H.M. Trawlers and Drifters in their hard and perilous tasks of sweeping the seas clear of mines, combating submarines, and keeping a look-out for the enemy."

These individuals appear on page 2138 (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34827/supplements/2138) of the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE of 12 APRIL, 1940:

DSC - Chief Skipper John Culbertson Anderson, H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig

DSM - First Engineman David Brown, X.sSsEU., H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig

DSM - Able Seaman John Sculher, GL.2—C/J.17151, H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig.

MID - Sub-Lieutenant William Sitwell, R.N.V.R., H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig.

But also see this correction on page 6632 (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35349/supplements/6632) of the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 NOVEMBER, 1941

For Able Seaman John Sculher, C/J. 17151, H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig. Read Able Seaman John Sculpher, C/J. 17151, H.M. Trawler Loch Oskaig.

Incidentally, have you seen this web page (http://hulltrawler.net/Sidewinder/Vessel%20-%20Loch/LOCH%20OSKAIG%20H431.htm) containing a photo and details of the ship?

[nemesis]

Thank Rob. I did see the LG stuff , I was curious about this one as its pre Dunkirk ,I am a medal collector and have been researching World War One for many years now ,Mainly Army . Naval research is new to me and sometimes difficult to access , I am ex RAF and even that is a complicated research area , Re the Loch Oskaig, This one for some reason jumps out at me as something with a good story attached,something that may just bring more credit to the sailors who won the awards than a number rank and name in the London Gazette.
Its of great interest because its a very early WW2 award.

I appreciate your input here ,its very valuable info

m