Pandora (N 42)
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | P |
| Fate: | During an air raid on Malta on 1st April 1942, Pandora was alongside Grand Harbour, Malta, off-loading stores, when she was hit by two bombs, which sank the submarine in less than four minutes. Twenty-five of the crew were killed in the sinking. The wreck of Pandora was raised and beached in Kalkara Creek. Salvaged in September 1943 and scrapped in 1945. |
Commanders
| 1931: | Lieutenant Commander | B W Galpin | |
| 1934: | Commander | Edward Russell Gibson | |
| 1936: | Lieutenant Commander | Robert Witherington Peers | |
| 1938: | Lieutenant | Michael Armitage Langley | |
| 1940: | Lieutenant Commander | John Wallace Linton | |
| 1941: | Lieutenant | Robert Love Alexander |
Ex 42P Served in Chinese waters and went to the Mediterranean in 1940.
1930: Portsmouth.
1931-1940: HMS Medway, China Station.
1940-1942: HMS Medway, Alexandria.
It should be noted that boats attached to 1st Flotilla in Alexandria were likely to spend much of their time at Malta even though Malta had been given up as a submarine base due to the air attacks. Although submarines did still operate from Malta during this period the 10th Flotilla was not recognised as such until September 1941.
She was laid down originally as Python. However, it was observed that several ships with snake names had suffered disasters. Serpent was lost in 1890 with the loss of 173 lives. Whilst both Viper and Cobra were wrecked within weeks of being commissioned in 1901, the latter broke in two off the Yorkshire coast with the loss of 67 of her crew. Asa result Python was renamed Pandora
June 1940 - Carried out patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean.
July 1940 - In operations against the French Fleet at Oran.
August 1940, Participated in the 'Magic Carpet' runs to supply Malta during the blockade of the island.
September - 1940 Survives depth charge attak by the Italian torpedo boat Cosenz.
Sank a supply ship in September 1940 off Benghazi.
Sank the Palma 2,700 tons South of Sardinia January 1941 also motor transport vessel Valdivagna 5,500 tons as well as a 4,000 ton ship off Cape Spartivento (Calabria).
Presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Royal Burgh of Selkirk to commemorate the adoption of HMS Pandora during Warship Week, November 8th to 15th 1941
Adoption
By Dr Peter Schofield
The adoption plaque is held at the Municipal Building, Selkirk. The plaque shown is one of two, the second being presented to Galashiels. Both towns were involved in raising a county target of £350,000 in war savings to adopt the submarine, the final total raised being £405,420.
It was reported that a bronze plaque, commemorating Selkirkshire Warship Week was to be presented to the submarine. The plaque bore the county crest, and was emblazoned with the county motto Leal to the Border the work of Messrs Henshaw, Edinburgh.
Roll of Honour |
27
|
| Breen, Ernest Charles D/J89821 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Chief Petty Officer | Aged: 41 | ||
| Cockwill, George Henry D/JX154246 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 20 | ||
| Colbourne, Wilfred James D/M38811 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Chief Engine Room Artificer | Aged: 32 | ||
| Cook, Stephen John Charles P/JX 162713 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Telegraphist | Aged: 19 | ||
| Garland, John P/KX 75494 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Stoker Petty Officer | Aged: 37 | ||
| Grummitt, Arthur Edward C/JX144446 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 22 | ||
| Heseltine, Ronald James C/JX199487 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 22 | ||
| Hickman, Frank John DSC Ex M38354 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Warrant Engineer | Aged: 33 | ||
| from Southsea, Hampshire. UK | |||
| Hitchcock, Robert Douglas P/MX 55833 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | Aged: 24 | ||
| from Blyth, Northumberland. UK | |||
| Hogben, George Henry P/KX 82690 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Stoker Petty Officer | Aged: 27 | ||
| Hughes, John Arthur P/KX 91147 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Stoker | Aged: 25 | ||
| from Battersea, London. UK | |||
| Jones, Thomas Benonoi P/JX 151718 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Telegraphist | Aged: 21 | ||
| Kirton, John Philip C/MX62679 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Cook | Aged: 26 | ||
| Legg, Reggie P/SKX 216 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 2nd Class | Aged: 20 | ||
| Lewin, Arthur Collis D/KX63629 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Stoker | Aged: 39 | ||
| Lynch, John Francis P/JX128952 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Petty Officer Telegraphist | Aged: 30 | ||
| Marsh, Leslie P/KX 86061 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 1st Class | Aged: 24 | ||
| Mechen, William Thomas P/KX 134592 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 2nd Class | Aged: 21 | ||
| Paton, John Herbert Thomas C/JX136388 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 26 | ||
| Seeley, Henry C/LX22470 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Steward | Aged: 22 | ||
| Slade, Peter Donald D/MX58175 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | Aged: 24 | ||
| Smith, George William John P/JX 145167 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 21 | ||
| Vernon, Arthur P/J 103781 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Chief Petty Officer | Aged: 36 | ||
| Walford, Lyndon (RNR) | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 24 | ||
| Watts, Stanley William James C/J80287 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Telegraphist | Aged: 39 | ||
| West, Philip D/J105383 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 35 | ||
| Worth, Desmond Thomas D/JX151384 | |||
| Died: 1st Apr, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 21 | ||
Events
| 09-07-1928 | Laid Down |
| 22-08-1929 | Launched |
| 30-06-1930 | Completed |
| 04-07-1940 | Sinks the French colonial sloop Rigault de Genouilly off Algiers. |
| 01-04-1942 | HMS Pandora bombed & sunk at Malta HMS Pandora arrived at Malta loaded with stores on 31st March 1942. Having discharged her oil she was moved to Hamilton Wharf at dawn the following day. A bombing raid began as she was being further unloaded and rather than delay her progress it was decided to continue despite the raid. Between 1500 and 1600 on the afternoon of 1st April Pandora received two direct hits from bombs and sank. |
| 01-07-1957 | The funeral of two crew members from HMS Pandora took place. HMS Pandora was raised and beached in Kalkara Creek. In 1957 the submarine was broken up and during the breaking up the skeletons of two crew members were found. These remains were buried at sea from the submarine, HMS Tudor. The burial service was read by the former Commanding Officer of HMS Pandora, Captain R L Alexander DSO, Royal Navy. |
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