Unique (N 95)
Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
Build Group: | U1 |
Fate: | Returned to the UK for refit. On completion did a short period in UK waters before returning to the Mediterranean. On 10th October 1942 Submarine HMS Unique was on passage from UK to Gibraltar and had been ordered to conduct a patrol off North Spain on the way to intercept any possible 'blockade runners'. Submarine HMS Ursula which had similar orders heard sounds of explosions whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay and assumed that Submarine HMS Unique was being attacked. No claim for an attack was made but it was assumed that the Submarine was lost with all hands after the attack. |
Commanders
- 1940: Lieutenant Anthony Foster Collett
- 1941: Lieutenant A R Hezlet
- 1942: Lieutenant Commander R E Bodington
Ex P36
1941: 10th Flotilla - Malta
AdoptionBy Dr Peter Schofield HMS Unique was adopted by Pontefract but lost in October 1942; HMS Upstart was then adopted Good Morning, Tuesday 14 August 1945: |
Seven members of the crew of Upstart recently spent a weekend at Pontefract, the guests of Upstarts Comforts Fund Committee. The visitors were Sub-Lt. Turbett, P.O. Best, A.B. Francis, A.B. Stoker. Leading Stoker Walker, A.B. Webb and Signalman Long. They were met on Friday afternoon by members of the committee including the chairman, Mrs. F. Pybus, and the secretary, Miss E. Waddington; and they were entertained to tea. Later in the day, they were accompanied by members of the committee to a Civic Reception and Dinner at which the Mayor of Pontefract presided. The following day, Upstart visited Dunhill’s Liquorice Works, and as a memento of his visit, each man received a box of sweets from the management. These came in handy in the afternoon when they visited Pontefract race meeting, and their day ended with a visit to the home of Mrs. Pybus for tea. At trip to Pontefract Castle occupied the Sunday morning, and after lunch in the town, Upstart received a grand send off from the Mayor and members of the Comforts Fund. It was a weekend which they will remember.
Roll of Honour |
34
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Died: 10-10-1942 | |||||
Adlard, Gwynne Addison | |||||
Lieutenant | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 21 | |||
Amos, Kenneth Douglas C/JX 147961 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 22 | |||
Bartley, Andrew D/KX 81278 | |||||
Leading Stoker | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 30 | |||
Boddington, Robert Evelyn MID | |||||
Lieutenant | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 26 | |||
Commanding Officer | |||||
Bond, Raymond Walter John DSM P/JX 137669 | |||||
Yeoman of Signals | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 26 | |||
Booth, George Edward C/KX 97214 | |||||
Stoker 1st Class | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 22 | |||
Bowlt, Benjamin C/TD/X 1603 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 25 | |||
Breen, William (RNVR) P/CD/X 2536 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 26 | |||
Bryson, Andrew Birridge C/KX 129491 | |||||
Stoker 1st Class | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 30 | |||
Burgess, John William D/JX 304613 | |||||
Ordinary Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 19 | |||
Chapman, Clifford DSM P/KX 79256 | |||||
Petty Officer | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 33 | |||
Collins, Leopold Albert Edward D/J 102084 | |||||
Petty Officer | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 37 | |||
Denne, Albert Edward John MID D/KX 98707 | |||||
Leading Stoker | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 44 | |||
Ex.K32855 | |||||
Edgar, Stanley Martin D/SKX 315 | |||||
Stoker 1st Class | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 19 | |||
Fennell, Albert Ernest D/J 109248 | |||||
Petty Officer | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 35 | |||
Fitall, Sydney Charlie Frank P/SSX 21488 | |||||
Petty Officer Telegraphist | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 26 | |||
Frith, Geoffrey George Wesson C/SSX 31461 | |||||
Telegraphist | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 21 | |||
Frith, Ronald C/MX 51674 | |||||
Chief Engine Room Artificer | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 31 | |||
Garner, Cecil Edward C/MX 72050 | |||||
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 23 | |||
Holland, George Henry P/SSX 28337 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 22 | |||
Martin, Anthony Howard | |||||
Lieutenant | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 21 | |||
Meade, Jack Barker C/JX 189345 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 23 | |||
Morten, Maurice Furness C/JX 203146 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 22 | |||
Moss, Edward P/KX 83224 | |||||
Leading Stoker | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 27 | |||
Niel, Stanley Munro C/JX 162242 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 19 | |||
Reed, Charles Ian | |||||
Sub Lieutenant | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 20 | |||
Riley, Leslie John C/JX 144677 | |||||
Leading Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 23 | |||
Thewlis, Norman MID D/JX 201123 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 31 | |||
Tuck, Allen Royson D/J 98271 | |||||
Chief Petty Officer | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 38 | |||
Turnbull, Roy Frederick Howard P/JX 141679 | |||||
Leading Telegraphist | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 23 | |||
Venn, Leonard Jack D/JX 137882 | |||||
Telegraphist | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 25 | |||
Waterhouse, George Albert D/MX 74895 | |||||
Engine Room Artificer 5th Class | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 20 | |||
Woodman, Edward John Humphrey C/SSX 26124 | |||||
Able Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 21 | |||
Worland, Arthur George C/JX 301424 | |||||
Ordinary Seaman | Died: 10-10-1942 | Aged: 19 | |||
Events
30-10-1939 | Laid Down |
06-06-1940 | Launched |
27-09-1940 | Completed |
23-12-1940 | Arrived Gibraltar, she was the first U class boat to attack shipping in the Med, albeit unsuccessful. |
18-02-1941 | Arrived Malta, commanded by Lt. A.F. Collett. |
10-03-1941 | HMS Unique torpedoes and sinks the Italian passenger/cargo ship Fenicia about 95 nautical miles north-west of Tripoli, Libya. |
03-06-1941 | HMS Unique torpedoes and damages (total loss) the Italian cargo ship Arsia at Lampedusa harbour. |
20-08-1941 | HMS Unique torpedoes and sinks the Italian troop tansport Esperia 11 nautical miles off the Tripoli lighthouse, Libya. Consequently attacked by aircraft and damaged resulting in her return to Malta. |
05-01-1942 | HMS Unique attacks the Italian battleship Littorio with torpedoes in the Gulf of Taranto but miss the target. |
24-10-1942 | Lost cause unknown to the west of Gibraltar |
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