HMS Philomel & HMS Karanja

[Melv.]

My turn to request some help please. :D

I do have some information on the above but I am just checking to see if anyone has better access to info. than myself and I might add I am sure they do!


Petty Officer and later Chief Petty Officer 174749 B.G. Ellis

Royal Navy prior to World War 1 and during WW1

Can anyone give me information on the Ships and the Man?

Thanks very much.

[Stan.J]

H.M.S.Philomel, A Peal Class Third class Cruiser. Most of the class were scrapped befre WW1 but Philomel was transferred to tthe New Zealand Government in 1914 and served as escort in the Indian Ocean and off the Syrian coast until 1917. She was then no longer used for active service but she served as a base ship until 1949.Cannot find anything yet about The Karanja.
Cheers, Stan.

[Stan.J]

I have not found the H.M.S.Karanja but found a cargo ship that name built in 1907 by R.Thompson .Southwick yard. 1829 tonns and built for Unison Stm.Shipping Co.Ltd of London..She may have been requisitioned by the Navy during the War???

[John Brown]

Melv

HMS Karanja seems to have been a merchant ship taken from the British India line for use as troop and landingship. There is reference to her having sailed in Convoy WS17 from Greenock to Freetown.

She was involved in landings at Diego Suarez and was there on 30/05/42 when HMS Ramillies was hit by a torpedo. Karanja was involved in the 'Operation Torch' North African landings and I believe she may have been sunk on 10/11/1942. (not certain about that)

Hope this helps....John

[Batstiger]

This is the Karanja? That's what it says on the captions.

[tomsam]

Hi Melv.
Don't know much about an HMS Karanja in WW1 except what has been said by John.However for interests sake there was an HMS Karanja in WW2. She was a merchant vessel commandeered by the RN and used in the North Africa landings at Bougie in Algeria. She was sunk there by german planes in November of 1942. Acting Captain Cedric Naylor survived.
Regards
Tomsam

[kc]

Only info on HMS Karanja I can find is similar to above, different details though:

Displacement 9891 tons.
Armament 1 x 6 inch, 1 x 12 pounder, 12 - 20 mm,
Hired by the Royal Navy as a landing vessel (Algeria as above) 24th July 1941. Sunk by air attack as described above, although the date I have is 11th December 1942.

[John Brown]

Melv

Found this report on the landings in North Africa. Karanja is mentioned a couple of times. Seems her crew may have put up a good fight before she was lost.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 MARCH,1949
1525
OPERATION TORCH

The Assault on Bougie and Djidjelli.
78. At 1700 10th November, the slowassault
convoy sailed for Bougie, consisting of the
M.T. ships GLENFINLAS (Commodore),
STANHILL, URLANA, and OCEAN VOLGA,
escorted by H.M. Ships ROBERTS,
BLYSKAWICA, SAMPHIRE, PENSTEMON,
HOY, INCHOLM and RYSA.
The fast assault convoy consisting of L.S.I.sKARANJA,
MARNIX and CATHAY escorted by H.M.
Ships SHEFFIELD, TYNWALD, BRAM-
HAM, CADMUS, ALBACORE, ROTHER
and SPEY, sailed at 2000.
79. The oiler DEWDALE left Algiers at
1800 10th November, having been delayed by
oiling ships.
H.M.S. MULL of the slow
assault convoy escort remained behind to
escort her to Bougie. DEWDALE and MULL
arrived Bougie at 0600 HtJrNovember.
80. At 2310, L.S.I. AWATEA escorted by
BICESTER and WILTON sailed for the
assault on Djidjelli. STRATHNAVER had
been detailed to carry out this task but had
developed engine-room defects which restricted
her speed; R.A.F. Commandos, stores and
petrol had been transferred to AWATEA
during the day.
It was then intended that STRATHNAVER
should accompany the fast assault convoy to
Bougie but she was not able to get away hi
time.
81. The Armistice at this time had not been
signed, but I had been assured of a friendly
reception. The Commandos for the assault of
coast defence batteries were not despatched.
Information was received after the assault
shipping had sailed that the landing at Bougie
might be opposed and in consequence I sent
a signal to that effect to the Naval Commander,
Captain N. V. Dickinson, R.N. On receipt
of this signal at about midnight, Captain
Dickinson ordered all landings to take place
on D WHITE Beach, this beach being outside
the range of shore batteries.
82. At 0345, H.M.S. SHEFFIELD (C.S. 10)
left the fast assault convoy and acted inde-
pendently to give surface cover to the assault.
83. H.M.S. ROBERTS escorted by PEN-
STEMON and SAMPHIRE parted company
from the slow assault convoy when off Cap
Carbon and stood off prepared to bombard.
84. At 0445, L.S.I.s stopped in the' release
position (105° Cap Carbon 7). Troops for
the assault had been embarked in L.S.I.s
MARNIX and CATHAY.
KARANJA's
boats were despatched to ferry CATHAY's
assault troops ashore. The assault flight left
for D WHITE Beach at 0530 from MARNIX
and at 0600 from CATHAY. First troops
landed at about 0615.
85. At 0609, KARANJA, MARNIX and
CATHAY followed up astern of the assault
flight, being swept in by ALBACORE, SPEY
and CADMUS, and stopped one mile'off D
WHITE Beach.
86. At dawn, Force "O", consisting of
H.M. Ships ARGUS, SCYLLA, CHARYB-
DIS, escorted by VANOC and WRESTLER,
were off Bougie and provided a continuous
fighter patrol off the beaches. The direction
of fighters was carried out by TYNWALD.
It was the intention that Fleet Air Armfighters
should provide fighter cover until the R.A.F.
Spitfires could, be established at Djidjelli aero-
drome—the nearest suitable aerodrome to
Bougie. H.M.S. ARGUS had been hit by a
bomb at 1717/10 and had .only 7 Seafires
serviceable.
At dawn, I ordered H.M.S.
AVENGER, at the time in Algiers with engine
defects, to put to sea and to fly off two sorties
of four Hurricanes each to reinforce ARGUS.
One of these sorties was unable to locate
ARGUS and returned to AVENGER.
87. The slow assault convoy hove in sight
at 0547 and closed the L.S.I.S.
At 0614,
AWATEA and escort were sighted.
The
S.N.O., Commander P. Stu'bbs, R.N., had de-
cided to abandon the assault on Djidjelli ber
cause of the swell, which was causing heavy
surf on the beaches.
AWATEA carried
R.A.F. stores, maintenance personnel, and
petrol, it having been the intention to operate
R.A.F. fighters from Djidjelli aerodrome by
noon at the latest to provide cover. This de-
cision was to have far reaching effects.
88. In the meantime, friendly signals had
been received from the coastguard station, and
at 0540 ships were invited to enter. At 0702,
BRAMHAM was ordered by the Naval Com-
mander to enter the port and to find out the
French intentions. At about the same time,
Rear-Admiral
Commanding, 10th Cruiser
Squadron ordered WILTON to carry out a
similar mission..
89. At 0720, the Naval Commander decided
to hoist all craft and close the harbour. Com-
mander Thery and the Military Commander
of Bougie boarded WILTON at .0800. As a
result of the ensuing interview, KARANJA,
CATHAY, MARNIX and AWATEA were
anchored in Bougie Bay at 1000. The M.T.
ships of the slow convoy anchored soon after-
wards.
90. At 1140, Rear-Admiral Commanding,
10th C.S. received my order for Force "O "to
withdraw to the westward.
SHEFFIELD
therefore closed ARGUS and her screen and
withdrew as ordered.
Fighter protection of
shipping ceased at 1200. R.A.F. fighters were
to have flown on to Djidjelli aerodrome during
the forenoon of the llth, but when the news
of the failure to land petrol and stores at
Djidjelli reached Algiers, their, departure was
delayed until the following day.
91. At 1345, the shipping in the bay was
attacked by five S.M. 79 torpedo bombers. One
was shot down, one probably destroyed, and
two were damaged. There was no damage to
ships.
92. During the afternoon the M.T. ships
URLANA, GLENFINLAS and STANHELL
entered harbour. Unloading of personnel from
KARANJA, CATHAY, AWATEA and
MARNIX continued from the bay.
93. At 1305, BLYSKAWICA and BRAM-
HAM sailed for Algiers, where they arrived at
1740. They were required to escort STRATH-
NAVER to Bougie.
94. At 1625, AWATEA had finished un-
loading R.A.F. personnel, stores and petrol,
and sailed for Algers with H.M.S.
BICESTER and H.M.S. WILTON as escorts.
95. At 1640, a very heavy dusk ah- attack by
about 30 Ju. 88s developed. This wasfollowed
by a T/B attack by He. Ill aircraft. One
T/B was shot down.
96. S.S. AWATEA was hit by four bombs,
one bomb causing a fire in No. 2 hold and
others flooding the engine-room, causing a list
of 40°. PENSTEMON, detached from A/S
patrol by S.N.O., immediately proceeded along-
side. Later BICESTER proceeded alongside
too, but efforts to extinguish the fire were abor-
tive and the ship was abandoned. About 300
survivors were taken off by PENSTEMON, .26
others were rescued from 1 lifeboat by
BICESTER, and 3 boat loads by MULL. The
ship sank by 2300 in deep water.
97. H.M.S. ROBERTS was hit by two
bombs. One of these exploded in the issue
room and one on the sloping side armour.
Boiler room fans were put out of action and
the inner and outer bilges on the port side
flooded, but otherwise the ship's fighting
efficiency was not impaired.
98. CATHAY was hit by one bomb in the
galley, which did not explode, and had some
near misses. She still had 1,200 troops on
board. All the available landing craft were
sent over and the majority of the soldiers
landed. The ship was abandoned by all. At
2315, a fire started. This took hold and the
ship burned all night.
99. As CATHAY was known to have depth
charges on board, KARANJA and MARNIX
shifted berth.
MARNIX anchored off Cap
Aokas outside the A/S patrol.
100. The vital petrol for the fighters at
Djidjelli had been landed from AWATEA
before 1630, but as the AWATEA carried no
M.T. (except a few Bren-gun carriers which
were appropriated by the 5th Buffs) and as the
M.T. ships had not yet been unloaded, the
R.A.F. Servicing Commandos had no trans-
port to take it to the aerodrome. It was not
until 2030 that the S.N.O. ex AWATEA,
Lieutenant R. H. H. Webber, R.N., who had
taken over Beach Master in control of landing
craft at the Eastern Boat Slip was asked by the
M.L.O.,* Major Jordan, if the Navy would
undertake the transportation of petrol to the
aerodrome as there was no army transport
available, priority one having been allocated
to the 5th Buffs. Lieutenant Webber then
volunteered to take the petrol, stores and
R.A.F. Commandos by landing craft at dawn
the next day.
101. At 0445 12th November, H.M.S.
TYNWALD weighed anchor in readiness for
the expected dawn air attack. Thirty minutes
later, two violent explosions occurred and the
ship settled down in seven fathoms of water.
The ship was abandoned and survivors were
picked up by boats from ROBERTS and
SAMPHIRE. The cause of the explosion is
not known, but it is thought to be mines laid
by aircraft as flares were dropped over the
harbour at 0205.
102. At dawn (0540), a small sharp air attack
was delivered by a number of Ju. 88s from low
cloud. KARANJA was hit by at least two
bombs. An oil fuel fire immediately broke
out and the amidships. portion burst into
flames.
103. The fire spread very rapidly. Survivors
from CATHAY and some military personnel
lowered the lifeboats without orders.
The
ship's company of KARANJA behaved in an
exemplary fashion, salvaging some Oerlikon
guns and ammunition, and eventually abandon-
ing ship at 0830 when nothing further could
be done. The ship.was empty except for some
petrol.


regards...John

[Batstiger]

EURIKA ! I have found it at last.

[John Brown]

I knew you'd come through Bob!

'Everything comes those who wait'


Regards...John

[tomsam]

Thats how it should be. Well thought out ,well researched and a positive conclusion. Well done all but Bob will stay behind in class until he can spell UREKA ( LOL)
Tomsam

[Batstiger]

I managed the spelling of "EURIKA" without the help of a dictionary! I have just confirmed the spelling and, whilst I can take constructive critism, I think you ought to do the same Tomsam!
Slap on the wrist, naughty boy.

Bob.

[herakles]

And so will you tomsam!

EUREKA

The name of a famous battle in 1854 in Victoria Australia when the miners rebelled against the miners tax. They lost! At the time it cost 1 pound!

The miners designed a flag for the occasion. It is unofficial today but some Australians are pushing for it to become the national flag.

The first thumbnail is the original flag housed in the museum at Ballaarat where the uprising took place.

[Stan.J]

Going back to firstpost .. I thought it was about the First world war.????We seem to have got to the Second!!

[herakles]

One of the nice things I like about the forum stan is the way that threads can wander!!

[tomsam]

OOPs! At least you won't be lonely in detention Bob.:o

[John Brown]

As the first post asked for 'information on the ships' giving details of WW1 activities only would be just relating half the story.

regards....John

[astraltrader]

If it is of any help I have a few more photos of the old cruiser HMS Philomel...

[John Brown]

Great photos Terry.

Melv must be having a spot of leave!

Regards..John

[Melv.]

Thanks everyone for your efforts.

I am still a working boy so I can only come onto the forum from time to time. :(

Yes, it has to be WW1 for both ships.

Has anyone managed to come up with anything re CPO Ellis?

I have located him on a crew manifest when he took part in some naval action in Aden.

I know he completed 22 years in the RN and it would appear he had a fairly busy time seeing action in the middle east mainly.

[astraltrader]

Always glad to help, John.

[Odin]

My first post so excuse me if I get things wrong.

I'm afraid you have got the wrong vessel. The HMS Karanja you are looking for was an 87 Ton Armed Launch. It served in the Middle East before WWI and those serving on it received the Naval General Service Medal 1915 with clasp Persian Gulf 1909 -1914.

One of the recipients from this ship was PO BG Ellis No 174749. He is shown on the medal roll. In total 87 men received the medal for service on Karanja (29 RN and 58 Royal Indian Marine who were mainly stokers and engine drivers).

HMS Philomel was also involved in that campaign and Ellis could also have served in that theatre on Philomel.

I have attached a picture of HMS Karanja at Henjam

[Odin]

I've just dug out some more information. Karanja was one of eight armed launches used in the Persian Gulf Campaign (trying to stop arms running from the Middle East to supply Afghanistan - sounds familiar). The others were:

HMS Harold HMS Mashona HMS Miner HMS Muzbee HMS Panther HMS Sheik Berkhud HMS Tamil

They were all quite small vessels and at one time the crew consisted of something like:

1 Lieut RN 1 Gunner RN (Warrant Officer) 1 PO 1 LS 3 or 4 ABs 1 Signaller 2 or 3 Marines (RMLI).

The rest of the crew was made up from Indian Marine personnel - stokers, cooks etc. I have a photo of Miner's crew which has 11 europeans on board (plus 1 dog, 1 cat and two rabbits!).

Although the vessels operated largely independently, they used RIMS Minto as a depot / repair ship. Also the crews are usually shown on their service papers as being on the books of HMS Fox, rather than on the individual gunboats. HMS Fox was a cruiser which spent most of the time in this theatre.

I am particularly interested in this campaign and hence I've started with this thread.

[rumrat]

HMS HAROLD at Muscat
Regards
Dave

[Odin]

Thank you Dave (Rumrat) for that photo of HMS Harold - have been looking for one for ages. I now have Harold, Karanja and Miner - just five to go!

[Stan.J]

Well searched Odin, It looks like a new useful member of the site has arrived. Welcome.

[Odin]

I can't tell you much about PO Ellis I'm afraid but it is possible he served on HMS Philomel in the Persian Gulf and then transferred to Karanja, as both served in that campaign. Normally the medal was issued to the recipient showing the last ship that they served on that qualified for the medal.

Many sailors spent years in theatre and served on several vessels. I have one Naval General Service Medal to HMS Karanja, to Sig J R Mynett. I have calculated that he spent 716 qualifying days to earn his medal - his last ship is shown as HMS Fox (but he would have been attached to Karanja as their signaller). In total he served on five different ships! I can't find anything memorable that Karanja did in the campaign, although its name does appear in the various documents.

Discipline was more relaxed on the small gunboats but it would have been hard work for the young Lieut in Command to keep the crew happy with the cramped living space, especially if he didn't get on with his Gunner and PO. And of course his engine room was virtually all manned by Indian Marine personnel who didn't speak english.

Here are the names of all the RN/RM personnel who earned the NGS on HMS Karanja - if you do the sums this is about three whole crews.

Alleyne V P Lieut
Blagrove H E C Lieut
Rogers H P Lieut DD 1/11/14 HMS Monmouth
Teale H H J F Lieut
Gordon R J Gunner
Hartnett J C Gunner
Mallett A J Gunner
Midlane S CPO 148393
Butcher E J PO 210856
Ellis B G PO 174749
Smith G F PO 194836
Lee E B LS 203495
Downey H AB 232783
Kennedy C H AB J2957
Martin R C AB J10449
Matthews W T AB 230348
Opie J W AB 150828
Orman A J AB J7893
Parker A AB 217448 DD 1/11/14 HMS Monmouth
Mynett J R Sig 234646
Pickles C H Sig J6289
Warnsley W Sig 227824
Langmaid C T Cpl Ch15015
Bacon W Pte Po10092
Bullen J H Pte Ch16324
Collyer H E J Pte Ch14829
Hirst E J Pte Ch15119
Malcolm J Pte Po14833 DD 13/08/15
Toovey W Pte Ch13552

[rumrat]

Odin,
I recently did a search on another website to try to ID the picture of HAROLD it threw up a varity of quotes from various sources,I'll copy them onto this message just in case they are of any use to you.
Regards
Dave

Quote

"In 1913 Swiftsure lay in the stifling harbour of Muscat, beneath the two old Portuguese castles and gathered round her the FOX, ODIN, the armed launches HAROLD, MINER, MASHONA and KARANGA, constituting the Persian Gulf gunrunning preventive service.
These launches, of from 80 to 100 tons, and armed with a three-pounder Q.F., and two maxims, are practically always on active service, supporting the armed cutters of the cruisers patrolling closer in shore, or acting independently. They had had a slack time lately, but generally this service provided many stirring adventures on both coasts of the Gulf. The little KARANGA — mostly "funnel" and "wireless" — had a crew of a Gunner, petty officer, signalman and five seamen, a corporal and "detachment" of two marines, two native cooks — one a Goanese — and eight lascar stokers, three lascar "drivers" with their own cook, two Karachi boys as officers' servants, a Persian interpreter and a lieutenant in command. Rogers who commanded her then, and had a great reputation in the Gulf for dare-devilry, went down in the GOOD HOPE at the battle off Coronel".
Extracted from Reminiscences of a naval surgeon By Surgeon Rear Admiral TT Jeans.

Another quote

However G E Hubbard in "From the Gulf to Ararat" (William Blackwood, Edinburgh 1917) describing his voyage from Karachi to Basrah in Dec 1913, wrote, after leaving Muscat, "We have just stopped off a small island, a mere rock, where HMS HAROLD is lying.... The HAROLD is typical of what our naval men have to put up mwith in the Gulf; she is nothing more than a Liverpool tug, with no accommodation but the deck, and spends her time cruising about these tropical seas after gun-runners."

There is one isolated log in the National Archives, which covers only the period 30/4/1914-30/6/1914. And a file "Naval General Service Medal 1915: medal roll of Royal Indian Marine personnel from RIM ships Minto (including dockyard artificers), Lawrence and Palinurus, HM ships Panther, Harold, Miner, Muzbee, Mashona, Karanja, Tamil and Sheik Berkhvd and the staffs of the Coal depot at Basidu and Hemjam who took part in warlike operations against gun-runners, pirates etc in Persian Gulf, Straits of Ormuz and the Sea of Oman and who were awarded the clasp "Persian Gulf".

Enjoy
Dave

[rumrat]

ss MASHONA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
built by Irvine Shipbuilding & Engineering Company ,
Yard No 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Propulsion: 500ihp 9kn 1sc
Launched: Tuesday, 11/02/1902
Built: 1902
Ship Type: Tug
Tonnage: 153grt
Length: 100.0ft
Breadth: 20.2ft
Owner History:
Price Wills & Greeves
190x Royal Indian Marine

Is this any use to you Odin ?
Dave

[Odin]

Dave you are a star! That is the first info on Mashona I've ever seen.

I've seen the bit from Hubbard in "From the Gulf to Ararat" before and you missed the best bit out (about the dog on board HMS Harold seeing the two dogs on the other ship and running about barking as they were the first of his species he'd seen for months). Also the medal roll in the National Archives has been published in book form, which I have. However I have been looking for the "Reminiscences of a Naval Surgeon" for a long time as that is where the picture of HMS Harold came from perhaps? Thank you very much for that.

I've been a member for barely one day and have already learnt so much. Just shows how good this Forum is for gaining knowledge.

[rumrat]

HMS FOX

Regards
Dave

[kc]

Odin, I'm not sure if these pics are of any interest to you. We just added them to the site last month, scanned from some glass slides. These are Hospital Ships HP4 and HP11, both, if I remember correctly built on the Clyde and served in Mesopotamia around about the time you are looking at. Both photos are 1917.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/sym0049_hp4.jpg
HP4, 1917.

Served on the Tigris river in Mesopotamia, sold in Basra in 1923.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/sym0063_hp11.jpg
HP11, 1917.

[Odin]

Thanks for the photos kc - they are interesting and I've not seen them before. The ships weren't used in the earlier Persian Gulf Campaign but are fascinating examples of some of the 'odd' vessels that have been used from time to time.

I must apologise to Merv for somewhat hijacking his thread but we have flushed out some more information on Karanja for him.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

BI's Karanja was built in 1931 and was 9,891 tons. She was lost by enemy action in 1942. A second vessel bearing that name was built for the company in 1948, she was 10,294 tons.

Ian

[Melv.]

Thanks everyone! It is appreciated.

Have been really busy this last 6 weeks work-wise hence my very limited time available to come onto the Forum.
Trying to catch up on reading all of the postings!
Cheers Melv.

[tonclass]

Melv,

here's a bit more info on Philomel (I have her down as a 'Pallas Class' Third class Protected Cruiser)

Rik

[Melv.]

Hello everyone! :D

Here is a picture of PO Ellis's General Service Medal for Persion Gulf (bar) 1909-1914. HMS Karanja

I know also he completed pension time in the RN.

I received this 'tin' of "One Man's Royal Navy Career" from an Aunt who I hadn't seen for over 40 years who lived in Australia and subsequently died in Australia and PO Ellis was obviously her Father.
It was left to me in her Will with a message that as she had no other living relative around to receive these medals it was all to be passed to me. Well, eventually through a Solicitor this tin arrived by sea-mail :D ! about 6 Months later..... and my immediate reaction was..... is that it then? 25 years of Navy Service including WW1 service crammed into a tin?
So, I started to investigate his Navy career and life.
Being an ex-military man myself I had a pretty good idea of what the medals were issued for etc.etc. but it has been a fascinating search and perhaps this Aunt was reaching out from beyond the grave for me to carry out this task.
Just a pity I didn't actually personally know the person I have been researching.:D

[herakles]

That's a lovely story Melv. I do hope you uncover everything in your search.

Why is surface mail so slow? It's been my experience also.

[Odin]

All the very best with your research Melv. An nice legacy from your Aunt. Thanks for shot of the NGS - I've got Sig Mynett's medal - perhaps he served with PO Ellis.

I would also like to thank you as it was your post title that came up on goggle when I was doing a search for HMS Karanja. Otherwise I would never have found this useful forum.

[James Cooper]

This is the Karanja? That's what it says on the captions.
Dear all,
I have just registered to the forum and have no naval experience other than to have an uncle who served and was killed whilst serving on HMS karanja on the morning of the 12th November 1942 off Bougie during operation Torch.
I have photo`s of the ship and how she was sunk for a number of years.
My question is, is there photographs of the crew relating to my uncle John Cooper Chief Petty Officer(Cook),who I believe, to have been one of fiftyfive sailors killed that morning.
Many Thanks in anticipation,
James Cooper.
I

[herakles]

Welcome James! It's good to have you here.

Your lack of naval experience doesn't mean a thing here. There are quite a few other members like that.

I don't know about crew photos. Ships yes, but crews? Maybe. Wait and see.

[James Cooper]

Hi All,
I have traced and downloaded the list of thirty nine crewmembers killed or died aboard HMS Karanja on the morning of 12th November 1942 including that of my uncle John Cooper (baker).
If any person is interested please get in touch with me James Cooper.
Bye for now.

[Melv.]

Interestingly enough look at what has turned up on ebay!

These medals will go for quite a high price I reckon... £300??

I have the identical set of medals for CPO Benjamin Ellis who also served on HMS Philomel at the same time I guess.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280258095565&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018

[Jon Ricketts]

Hi James,

I'm looking for some inforation on my uncle who served and possibly died during operation "Torch" his details are as follows;-

Ordinary Seaman Francis Joseph Ricketts Service No Jx353083

Kind Regards Jon

[peterf09]

HMS HAROLD at Muscat
Regards
DaveHello Dave (re post #24) I have been looking for information about HMS Harold for a friend he thought it was a Destroyer and I have been looking on the WEB and I came across your photo of HMS Harold I wonder if that was the only ship of that name can you help please
Regards peterf09

[astraltrader]

Peter I do not quite understand as you have already asked the same question in this thread as well.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7053

[jbryce1437]

Hello Dave (re post #24) I have been looking for information about HMS Harold for a friend he thought it was a Destroyer and I have been looking on the WEB and I came across your photo of HMS Harold I wonder if that was the only ship of that name can you help please
Regards peterf09

I think you will find that the HMS Harold in the photo pre-dates the period that you are interested in.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1508

[jbplod]

HMS HAROLD at Muscat
Regards
Dave

Hi, my son has just told me I'm a thread necromancer for this!

I have been looking for a photo of HMS HAROLD for a while and pleased to find the one you posted. My Grandfather George Chellingsworth was a Royal Marine Pte on this vessel and its interesting to connect his medal with it.

Regards jbplod

[Katmandolino]

Dear all,
I have just registered to the forum and have no naval experience other than to have an uncle who served and was killed whilst serving on HMS karanja on the morning of the 12th November 1942 off Bougie during operation Torch.
I have photo`s of the ship and how she was sunk for a number of years.
My question is, is there photographs of the crew relating to my uncle John Cooper Chief Petty Officer(Cook),who I believe, to have been one of fiftyfive sailors killed that morning.
Many Thanks in anticipation,
James Cooper.
I

I hope you are still visiting the forum James. My father, then Sub Lieutenant Frederick Nye, served on the Karanja and was terribly injured when she went down. I would be fascinated to see your photos. I will have a look through our old photos too and see what I can find.
If anyone knows anything else about this particular HMS Karanja (built 1931), or has photos of her, I would be most grateful.
Thanks,
Kate

[emason]

Here's another of the Karanja. She served as an LSI (Landing Ship Infantry) durinf WW2. I don't know where or when this was taken, probably pre WW2.

92343

[Tizme]

This booklet, published in NZ 1944 has information of HMS Philomel, the fifth ship to carry the name through to that date.