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La Comandante ? World Naval Ships Forums Archive

La Comandante ?

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Trying obtain information on this vessel sinking, small destroyer or frigate? Some RN personel on board and my fathers buddy and towny Fred Cleverley died when the vessel I believe hit a mine? My father once informed me that Fred managed to get into the water but was lost when he drifted under the rescue ships propellers. Fred was from , Winton,Bournemouth, Dorset.

Her name was "La Combattante" (Fighting Lady), she was a Hunt class destroyer. She is known for several successful fights against german "Schnellboats" off the coasts of occupied France (end of 1943 - beg of 1944) and took part to the D-Day (on this day, while gunning the German troops, she came so close to the shore to be more efficient that she ran aground. She get the following message from her leader - HMS Venus: "Glad to see that Free French are the first to get in touch with their country"). She is the ship De Gaulle took to come back to France in June 1944. She was sunk by a mine in February 1945. If you understand French, refer to this page: [url]http://www.france-libre.net/unites_combats/1_4_1_9_La_Combattante.htm[/url] Regards Christophe

Benbow Fred Cleverley was indeed killed when La Combattante was sunk. You will find his entry in the CWGC records here..... [url]http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2369488[/url] You will also find Mr Cleverley mentioned on this memorial page.... [url]http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/churches/st_anns/combattante.htm[/url] Good luck with your research. Regards...John

Thank you for providing the requested info team. Much appreciated.

I have located the photo my father had of his school chum Fred Cleverley lost when the "La Combattante" was sunk.
Attachments :

Thanks for the photo Benbow. I have only just realised what ship she actually was. Originally laid down as HMS Haldon (L19), she was damaged by bombing on the nights of the 14th/15th March 1941. After receiving repairs she was offered to the FNFL in 1942, and renamed [I]La Combattante[/I]. After this she most certainly led an extremely active war. In March 1943 she helped escort a convoy through the English Channel and went on to rescue 68 sailors from a liberty ship the Stell Traveller after she struck a mine. Throughout the rest of 1943 she continued with both escort and general patrol duties and received special mention for the rescue of English and Australian aircrews on the night of 29th May and also during 17th September 1943 when she rescued two British airmen. 1944 proved to be momentous to say the least. On the night of the 25th and 26th April 1944, the [I]Combattante[/I] and the frigate HMS Rowley intercepted a group of German E-boats; She managed to sink one of them - the [I]S-147[/I] and damaged another. On the night of the 12th and 13th of May she continued with action against the E-boats, destroying the [I]S-141[/I], killing amongst others the son of Admiral Donitz. On the night of the 27th and 28th May,the [I]Combattante[/I] ran across the two Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats [I]MTB-732[/I] and [I]MTB-739[/I]; Sadly the two groups mistakenly engaged each other, and the [I]MTB-732[/I] was sunk. Next came June and D-Day. She took part in Operation Neptune providing close fire support to the landing parties during the Battle of Normandy. She stayed around a mile off the beach as she shelled shore batteries; at one point she ran aground receiving a sardonic morse code message from HMS Venus saying"I am happy that a French be the first to touch the ground of France!!". The [I]Combattante[/I] destroyed several shore batteries, until troops started landing on the beach. She then returned to Portsmouth, escorting an LSD. Toward the end of June she again rescued some downed pilots - this time two Americans. On the 14th July she ferried General De Gaulle and many other important dignatories/delegates over to Normandy along 250-million francs to underwrite the introduction of the emergency US occupation currency. For the rest of the year the [I]Combattante[/I] continued to patrol the English Channel. She enjoyed further success on the night of the 25th and 26th August when she sunk four German ships ferrying an artillery unit. Finally on the 23rd February 1945, the [I]Combattante[/I] struck a mine breaking in half. She sank at once. 117 survivors out of her 181-man crew were saved.

Thank you Terry for the additional information.

No trouble my friend. I was surprised to find out what an active war she endured...

Benbow, love the photograph.....makes a great idea for association christmas cards from one member to another old ships with old photo's embellished into them. Regards Alan

[QUOTE=alanbenn;66517]Benbow, love the photograph.....makes a great idea for association christmas cards from one member to another old ships with old photo's embellished into them. Regards Alan[/QUOTE] Quite a poignant photo Alan; I spoke to my father today who informed me the photo was put together after Fred's loss as a momento of Fred for family and friends . Cheers Steve

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