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H 31

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: H21
Fate: At the time that the German Battle Cruisers Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen were expected to leave Breast, H31 was sent to form part of a circle of submarines around the French Port. H31 was escorted as far as the Wolfe Rock and left her escort on 19th December 1941.

Nothing more was seen or heard of H31 which was presumed lost in the Atlantic along the Northwest Coast of Spain. There were no survivors.
Alecto with submarines H47, H28, H31 and H50 alongside at Portland in 1942
Alecto with submarines H47, H28, H31 and H50 alongside at Portland in 1942
H31
H31

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Commanders
1922: Lieutenant   Ralph Adam Nicholson
1927: Lieutenant   William Richmond Fell
1929: Lieutenant   William Cowley Thomas
1930: Lieutenant   Hugh Geary Cooke
1939: Lieutenant   Peter Ronald Ward
1939: Lieutenant Commander   William Richmond Fell OBE
1940: Lieutenant   Richard Evelyn Coltart
1940: Lieutenant   Reginald Denis Whiteway-Wilkinson DSC
1940: Lieutenant   Malcolm David Wanklyn
1940: Lieutenant   Rowland John Hemingway
1941: Lieutenant   Frank Bridger Gibbs MID
1941: Lieutenant   Rowland John Hemingway DSC

Roll of Honour
33
Died: 24-12-1941
Bailey, Joseph Stanley  C/KX 117457
Stoker 1st Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 24
ADM104/127 P144 Service number is given as C/JX 227846
Bartlett, Edward  P/K 65556
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 39
Benson, Ronald  C/JX 277411
Ordinary Telegraphist Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 22
ADM104/127 P282 Service number is given as C/JX 190448
Campbell, Peter Donald Nathaniel  (RNR)
Sub Lieutenant Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 28
Carson, John Harris  P/SKX 224
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
Champion, Charles Henry Bernard  DSM P/JX 132918
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 28
Corry, James  D/KX 90385
Leading Stoker Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 30
Crager, Alfred John  C/MX 76209
Engine Room Artificer 5th Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
Doughty, Harold  P/SSX 23412
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 21
Dowdell, Frank Harold George  P/JX 161520
Telegraphist Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 18
Ensby, Albert Edward  D/JX 212952
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 24
ADM104/130 P1209 Service number is given as D/JX 221299
Eynon, Maurice  (RNVR)
Lieutenant Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 35
Fraser, Allan  C/MX 70093
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 23
Gibbs, Frank Bridger  MID
Lieutenant Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 27
Commanding Officer
Goodman, Levi Thomas  P/J 67558
Leading Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 41
Grainger, Joseph James  D/SKX 1220
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
Harley, William Leonard George  C/JX 190830
Telegraphist Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 25
Holroyd, Wilfred  C/K 64818
Leading Stoker Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 28
Hurley, John Bartle  P/JX 263581
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
ADM104/132 P1209 Service number is given as P/JX 203581
Jarvis, Eric Newton  C/M 38817
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 32
Jarvis, Kenneth Sylvester  C/JX 178820
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 23
Jones, Norman Cyril  C/SSX 34101
Signalman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 19
Maynard, Arthur Edward  C/SSX 32166
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
Merritt, Alexander Ian  (RNZN)
Lieutenant Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 23
Morse, Robert Frederick  C/JX 233982
Ordinary Signaller Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 20
Munns, Sidney William Thomas  C/J 91162
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 40
O, Wilfred Augustine  P/J 20699
Leading Telegraphist Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 45
Richards, John Conway  P/JX 141477
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 22
Rollins, Stanley Edward  C/MX 92306
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 21
Smith, Alexander  P/JX 154288
Able Seaman Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 26
Spencer, Dennis  C/JX 126519
Petty Officer Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 31
Stamper, John McGregor  C/KX 91029
Leading Stoker Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 23
Truckle, Major Thomas  C/JX 136099
Petty Officer Died: 24-12-1941 Aged: 33

Events

 19-04-1917   Laid Down
 16-11-1918   Launched
 21-02-1919   Completed
 18-07-1940   Sank UJ-126 in the North Sea
 24-12-1941   HMS H-31 sunk by mine in Bay of Biscay

In December 1941 news was received of a possible break out from Brest, by the German battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen. In expectation of this eight submarines were sent to the area but although the breakout did not take place, H31 failed to return. The submarine had sailed from Falmouth on 19th December. She was requested to signal her position on the 24th but did not do so.
Comments

Comment by: Richard Waring on May 18, 2022

Between 24 April to 13 June and 15 July to 31 August of 1941, HMS H31 was at HMS Ferret Londonderry for A/S Exercises.

My Grandfather & Grandmother had a Sailors Home for tea/lunch & the sailors from H31 were among them. My grandmother took it very hard when H31 was reported missing in 1942. They lived above the EBNI showroom in Strabane, Co. Tyrone. Grandfather oversaw the electrical supply to HMS Ferret. He was in the RN from 1915 until 1928 and then the RNR until 1938

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