HMS Puffin

[Batstiger]

A few interesting pictures of the Patrol Sloop HMS Puffin.

[Batstiger]

Sorry, I missed one out!

[Locock]

Thankyou for the pics, I am at present researching some history of my Grandfather (Locock) for my Mother and these images have helped tremendously. I'm still trying to find out more info as I'm not sure exactly when he served aboard this vessel. I know he was present when the Puffin rammed the Seehund. I will post some as soon as I find out to see if anyone can fill any gaps. Thanks again.

[J G N Horsefield]

I was on H M S Puffin in 1944 until she paid off after ramming the Submarine in March 1945. I was the Q.M. on the wheel at the time. Can you give any other information about the person you are asking about such as rank, christian name or branch. I am one of the people in the photo taken on for's'le.

Let me know if I can help you in your search.

[J G N Horsefield]

War time photo 1944 vintage

[ivorthediver]

Thanks Bob My great uncle David Singleton was a stoker on HMS PUFFIN ...I have tried to attach a picture but not sure if it is "Attached"

[Batstiger]

Chaps- I need some help here please!
Ivor is trying to learn about his great uncle David Singleton and after some delicate discussions with relations he has acquired copies of various papers including his service certificate. I have tried various methods to enhance these documents and can more or less decipher the majority.
I am having trouble with the service certificate and wondered if I could ask for your assistance.
Could you try some methods that I may not know about and, if we all pool our resources we might get the answers.
You will notice the part I am stuck on and you will all notice the lack of ships.

I can get part of the date 24th but that is all. It goes on to say "until the end of the period of the present emergency" and I am presuming the final discharge date is the 26th September 1946.

We are both in your hands, do your best.
This is how the documents arrived:- GOOD LUCK !

Bob.

[tonclass]

Bob, the dates look like he volunteered on 24 Dec 1940 (4 days after his sixteenth birthday) and his commencement of time was 19th Jan 1940.

[Batstiger]

Thanks Rik. Ivor reckons he was on the Puffin and the Repulse, is there any reason why these ships are missing from his SC we only got the one didn't we

Bob?

[Stan.J]

Bob, On the Fourth picture, on the top left it gives the form No:- S-459.
This is a form that opens up and is four pages. Inside they show the dates and the ships on which he served. So it looks as if another scan is required.
Cheers,Stan.

[ivorthediver]

Thank you Stanj ,

I have requested the information detailed by you .


Regards Ivor

[Batstiger]

Thanks Stanj, I'm a thicky at heart and couldn't see the wood for the trees.
Let's hope Ivor can get another scan.

Bob.

[alffox]

Seeking information on George Fox - he joined the PUFFIN on 2nd March 1939 as a leading telegraphist - promoted to Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist on 3rd March 1940 and then on 3rd March 1941 to Petty Officer Telegraphist. Although I have received details of his service from the Ministry of Defence - his service records end on 3rd March 1941 - presumably he was transferred to another vessel. All remains blank until his discharge on 5th December 1945 although on the rim of his medals his last ship is recorded as HMS HAYDEN - which was I believe a destroyer. My first post as two of his brothers also served for long periods in the Royal Navy and I am sure that I will be checking on more details. Both George and brother Albert joined as Boy Entrants aged 15 and a half while Joseph (oldest brother) joined some few years earlier. Oddly enough while both George and Joseph's service records are interrupted during the war with no details supposedly available I do have the complete war record of Albert. Hopefully some one on these posts will have some clues to help me in my search.

Alfred Fox (nephew)

[ivorthediver]

Welcome to the thread Alffox......

"Is that the cavalry I see coming over the Hill....?"

I'm sure some one will assist you on this point soon.....

Regards

[plumber]

Puffin crew from 1937

[ivorthediver]

Thank you very much Plumber,

Warm welcome to the website and my thanks for the picture.

Whatever the reason you chose to join it,.... I am confident that you will get a lot out of it

Do you have any more you would like to share with us please ?

Regards and again my thanks... Ivor

[plumber]

Thank you very much Plumber,

Warm welcome to the website and my thanks for the picture.

Whatever the reason you chose to join it,.... I am confident that you will get a lot out of it

Do you have any more you would like to share with us please ?

Regards and again my thanks... Ivor

Ivor, my Father has more photos and he has joined the site so he will be adding them shortly

mark

[ivorthediver]

I ..no... We would all love to see them so please ask your farther to let us see them.

Look forward to your future posts with interest


Regards Ivor

[dennis a feary]

`Et Al', do not know much aboutHMS PUFFIN personnel or other history, but here is a `success' attributed to her for sinking a U-boat ;

U 16
Type: II.B, coastal.
Constructor: Deutsche Werke, Kiel.
Armament: 6 Torpedoes, 1 x 20mm.
Commissioned: 16.6.36. Operational: Pre-war.
Service Life: 2. Operational Life: 2. Patrols: 3.
Theatre: Atlantic. Sank 2 m/vs (3,435 grt), 1 of which lost to
mines. Laid mines off Tees Bay on 5.9.39. In September, 1939 carried
out a reconnaissance of the several entrances to the Naval base at
Scapa Flow. His report led to the outstanding achievement of U 47
(KK G. Prien) who entered Scapa Flow and sank HMS Royal Oak (BB) on
14.10.39. Departed: 16.10.39, Kiel; for minelaying off Dungeness,
UK. Last Action: 24.10.39, `Lohs' U-Flotille, while minelaying off
Inner Dowsing, British East coast, sunk by HMS Puffin (CVT L.Cdr
Hon.J.M.G. Waldegrave) and HMS Cayton Wyke (AST Cdr H.R.B.
Hammond-Chambers) in position 51.05n 01.28E, English Channel.
The Commander and all the crew were lost.
Commanders: KL H. Weingaertner 10.37-10.39. KL H. Wellner 10.39.
KL Weingaertner (KK) commanded 24.U.Flotille 11.39-07.42.
M/V attacked/damaged/sunk : Nyland(S), (Weingaertner)
Ste. Clair(S), (Wellner).

Regards Sadsac

[ivorthediver]

Thanks Sad sack,
Did you know she also rammed and sank a sub off Lowestoft to ?

[jbryce1437]

Just came across another pic of HMS Puffin K52

[alffox]

Hello Plumber,

Picture of HMS "PUFFIN" -

Pretty sure your picture of the crew in 1939 show my uncle George Fox - as you view the photograph third row up on the right. What are his arm badges saying?

Alffox

[qprdave]

I'm not sure if you know

The left arm badges denotes rank. The right arm denotes Branch/trade

For a start he has two stripes. This shows that he has done 8 yrs service with good conduct (or not getting caught)

This started at the age of 18. If he joined before that age, it wouldn't count
He also has cross anchors which denotes that he was a Petty Officer. Although the uniform that he is wearing is for junior rates. This could mean that he was promoted and was not able to get fitted out with a senior rates uniform. That would have to wait until the ship arrived at a Royal Navy Port/Dockyard.

It also could mean that he was promoted "Acting Local". Which would be a temporary promotion on that ship. In wartime perhaps someone was killed or injured and he would be promoted until a replacement could be found or the injured person returned to the ship.

Either way, If he left the ship, he would go back to his original rank.

I can't see any badge on his right arm so I don't know what branch he belonged to e.g. Gunner, Stoker, Chef etc.

[ivorthediver]

OK lads Can you answer these questions for me please ?

On my Uncle David's Service Cert' in the section regarding "Wounds received in action is an entry which says:-
" 19Jan 46= W.S.I. [3]" .............. to what doe's this refer please?

Some thing eligible in a box has been stamped under that...

and in the bottom of that box is an entry saying :-

19 March 46=Salvage award S2 " GRAIN...." £1.9.10d and signed by a Captain?

I would be grateful for any help you may give here.

[qprdave]

As far as the Salvage is concerned, Ivor

If the RN saved a ship from sinking and got it back to harbour. The crew would recieve a portion of the salvage money that was recieved. I think that the Admiralty got the biggest wedge and the rest was given to the crew. The Captain getting the largest amount and getting less as it went down the ranks/ratings.

[ivorthediver]

Thanks for that qprdave,

I was so surprised to even see it let alone understand what happened

I thought that this went out with piracy ?

[qprdave]

Expansion of my previous post, Ivor


Most naval personnel hope that their ship will be able to take part in a salvage operation. Those serving on LOCH class frigates between 1950 and 1964 had every reason to think that their chances were somewhat above average as many of this type of escort had been so involved. The attraction was that payments were made to all on board any warship involved in the successful recovery of a vessel in distress. The basic criterion was acknowledgement by the Master of the vessel that help had been requested to ensure the safety of his ship and its' cargo. This was done by completing an insurance document [Lloyds Open Form]. One drawback to this arrangement was that no payment was made in the event of the distressed ship being lost. The basic rule was No cure, No Pay and although great skill and bravery is needed to deal with fires and other hazards, particularly in the case of tankers, no insurance money is then payable. The cases of MV DARA and SS SKAUBRYN described below are examples of this constrain.



Salvage payments.



After a successful operation, agreement has to be reached between the Admiralty and the insurers concerned in respect of the amount of salvage money to be paid. Once this is established, it is necessary to determine how much will be retained by the Admiralty to cover costs involved, that is, fuel used by ships diverted to assist in rescue work and naval stores used for fire fighting and repair work. The balance is available for payment of salvage money and is divided into share units. The number of units allocated to individual officers and ratings depends upon the class appropriate to their rank.



There are 13 classes for Commanders and below, each having a number of share units. Flag Officers and Captains are covered by 17 separate special classes. These vary considerably according to rank, responsibility and seniority with unit allocations varying between 1,250 for a full Admiral and 100 for a Captain with less than 3 years seniority. Other examples are — a Commander-in-command has a first class allocation with 60 shares and a Petty Officer gets eight shares. The lowest category (13th class) covers supernumeraries who have two shares. The special classes are used to cover instances when a Captain or a Flag Officer is in command of a salvage operation.

[ivorthediver]

Very Grateful to you Dave,

I was not aware of that.

It sounds like a great deal of effort with a slim chance of success ...but side stepping the material gain for a moment..there is the human "rescue" to be
addressed and I assume the salvage rights add to the incentive to carry this out ?

Thank you for letting me know that.

Regards Ivor

[alffox]

Thanks for your information Dave,

George Fox was promoted Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist on 3rd March 1940 from Leading Telegraphist and then promoted Petty Officer Telegraphist on 3rd March 1941 - his records at the Ministry of Defence then remain blank. So I have no further idea of whether he stayed with the PUFFIN or was transferred to another ship. I presume every Navy man had a Service Certificate - must check wuth a relative to see if it still survives as I have his medals.

alffox

[meljor]

Hello all i have recently come across what looks like an old metal match box holder/clip and is crudly inscribed HMS Puffin and it has the initials of, J Hawks on the back and also 1941 on the side i found this in my grandads affects and he was called H Hawks and had a brother called Tommy Hawks but i think he or my grandad may have had the first name John.
Is there a list of names for the personel on board HMS Puffin around this time any information would be a help
many thanks
Melanie

[balrog]

the picture of the puffin crew dated 1937 is the wrong date i think as my grandfather william sanderson stoker is on it as i have the same photo on my wall he is stood next to the man with peak cap on the right below the bridge 2nd from the right have mislaid for now his service record so cant remember when he joined puffin also have him listed on pembroke,badger,terror and several LSTs was great to see the pics as have searched all over trying to find info

[FrankL]

Hi

When HMS Puffin rammed the midget sub & damaged itself, it also
possibly damaged a nearby frigate, K555 HMS Retalick.

Anyone know what damage may have occurred to the frigate?

Thanks

[david diwell]

I was on H M S Puffin in 1944 until she paid off after ramming the Submarine in March 1945. I was the Q.M. on the wheel at the time. Can you give any other information about the person you are asking about such as rank, christian name or branch. I am one of the people in the photo taken on for's'le.

Let me know if I can help you in your search.

I am looking for information on my father who served on the Puffin, his name was Arthur William Diwell. I believe he was a Petty Officer but I could be wrong. I would appreciate any information you might have. David W Diwell

[FrankL]

Thanks.

My father was "chief" on the HMS Retalick & somewhere/sometime he won a DSC for what he did in the engine room after an attack went wrong & caused damage to the engine room.

I am trying to find out what action it was. Someone suggested it was
HMS PUFFIN that caused the damage.

Regards
Frank

[tpc252]

I was on H M S Puffin in 1944 until she paid off after ramming the Submarine in March 1945. I was the Q.M. on the wheel at the time. Can you give any other information about the person you are asking about such as rank, christian name or branch. I am one of the people in the photo taken on for's'le.

Let me know if I can help you in your search.

I wonder if you can help me too - my Grandfather was on HMS Puffin 1938-1945 - Chief Stoker William Charles Lawrence - he was awarded the DSM 12th June 1943

[VictorMacMeldrew]

Does anyone have a photograph of HMS Pintail?

[tjstoneman]

Victor,

There's a photo of PINTAIL in the Imperial War Museum online collection - ref number A 7577. Go to their search page (http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryMain.php) and type in "HMS PINTAIL". You'll see a small reproduction of the photo.

Tim

[VictorMacMeldrew]

Thank ypu TJ, that's my collection of Kingfisher complete.

[tpc252]

Ivor, my Father has more photos and he has joined the site so he will be adding them shortly

mark

My Grandfather is on this photo - I'd like to see more photos if you have them.

[paulos]

Hi All, I'm new to this site and was wondering whether there are any crew lists available for HMS Puffin. My Granddad was a Leading Stoker on HMS Puffin from Dec '36 to April '37. I'd really like to see his name appear on a list or even a photo with him in it so I can show my dad. Probably a long shot but I hope you can help?

[ludsie]

Hi so was the grounding and bow damage due to the ramming of a midget submarine... might have missed something