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Wolfe (F37) 1920 - 1952

Built By: John Brown and Co (Cylde)
Build Group: F37
Fate: Paid off Feb 1949 and scrapped at Faslane, Scotland in Nov 1952.

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Roll of Honour

3
Blakey, Kenneth Norman
P/JX 387738
Died: 28th Mar, 1944.
Aged: 19
From: Holbeach, Lincolnshire
Able Seaman
'Died in the Johnson Hospital at Spalding in Lincolnshire. He was at home on leave at the time and it is understood that he died from accidental coal gas poisoning overnight in the 'Writing and Rest Room' at the 'Toc H' Headquarters in Spalding.

Two other men (assumed to be friends but non-submariners) are also reported to have died in the accident and a verdict of misadventure was reported at the inquest.

He was the son of George Edward and Louie Blakey, of Algarkirk and Earl's Marsh Farm, Forsdyke.
Hay, Ernest Frank
P/JX 426018
Died: 15th May, 1944.
Aged: 18
From: Little Missenden, Buckinghamsh
Able Seaman
The son of Charles Edward and Lily Hay of Holmer Green, Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire. He is understood to have been accidentally drowned in the River Tyne.
Swadling, Douglas Charles
P/SKX 1146
Born: 20th May, 1922.
Died: 14th Aug, 1945.
Aged: 23
From: Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Acting Leading Stoker
The son of Charles Henry and Alice May Swadling. He had a younger brother Gordon Swadling. In September 1939 he was employed as a Gas Fitters Mate and was living with his parent at 130, Little Marlow Road, Marlow. Buckinghamshire.

After the outbreak of WWII he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker. By August 1945 he had been advanced to Acting Leading Stoker and he was serving in the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Wolfe at Trincomalee in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

He isreported to have died from injuries received in an accidental fall on board HMS Wolfe.

Events

 03-07-1920   Launched
 17-10-1940   Commissioned as HMS Wolfe (F37)
 22-05-1942   Recommissioned as a submarine depot ship
 08-11-1952   Arrived Faslane for breaking up
F37 Specification
Displacement  19,000 tons
Length  575ft
Beam  70ft
Draught  28ft
Speed  17 knots
Armament  Four 4inch guns
  Nineteen 20mm guns
Compliment  480
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Usk (N 65)

Class: 1936 - 1958: U Class
Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U1
Fate:
Mined and sank off Cape Bon 3 May 1941.
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