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Medway (F25) 1928 - 1942

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Fate: HMS Medway was sunk by 2/3 torpedoes from U372 on 30th June 1942

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Medway
Medway
Medway
Medway

Medway was the first large submarine depot ship designed and built for the Royal Navy.

She sailed with six Submarines to replace the Titania and her L Class boats remaining on the China station until April 1940, when she was sent to the Mediterranean based at Alexandria and operating the 1st Submarine flotilla.

On the 30th June 1942 she was torpedoed by U-372 off Alexandria whilst on passage to Haifa and Beirut. 30 of her crew were lost with a 3rd officer mentioned in dispatches. Fortunately 47 of her stock of 90 Torpedoes floated clear but much valuable equipment was lost with her.

The small depot ship Talbot moved from Malta to take her place at Beirut and changed her name to Medway II

Roll of Honour

7
Died: 12-02-1942
Vine, Charles Oliver Mansfield  (RNR)
Lieutenant Died: 12-02-1942 Aged: 27
from Emsworth
Charles Vine was the son of Charles John and Nellie Olive Vine
Died: 30-06-1942
Bradbury, Frederick William  D/KX 138547
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 30-06-1942
Coates, Kenneth Gordon  J94731
Leading Seaman Died: 30-06-1942
Eden, Walter  D/KX 134890
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 30-06-1942
Quaife, Thomas   J93794
Chief Petty Officer Died: 30-06-1942
Sutcliffe, Rennie  C/JX 207986
Able Seaman Died: 30-06-1942
Tarbuck, Albert  J31444
Able Seaman Died: 30-06-1942

Events

19-07-1928 Launched at Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow
06-07-1929 Commissioned at Devonport
30-06-1942 Submarine Depot Ship HMS Medway was torpedoed and sunk off Alexandria by U-372
Comments

Comment by: Keith Pengelley on September 30, 2020

My Grandfather W H Pengelley (J43432) served on board and survived. I am currently writing an account of his life. I remember him very well and spent much time listening to his account of the sinking, he warned the officers about the portholes above the water line being open as the ship would flood very quickly if torpedoed, he was ignored. He was last man off the ship as he went to free his canary and suffered barnacle cuts and abrasions that scarred him.

He was also at the sharp end of the 2nd Battle of Narvik and was one of the shore party that went ashore and lost a friend sat next to him to enemy fire.

He was a proud Guernseyman and served 1915 - 1946

Keith Pengelley, Guernsey

Comment by: Robert Broderick on April 12, 2019

S/M Dave Davis served on HMS Medway in 1942 and survived the sinking on the 30th June. Dave was a member of the Sittingbourne Branch RNA . Dave recentley crossed the bar aged 97yrs of age. Wondered if any other servivor is still around.

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Pandora 1902 - 1939 Ambrose (F08) 1903 - 1946