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Regulus (N 88)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: R2
Fate: Lost, possibly mined in the Guild of Taranto 26 November 1940.
Regulus (N 88)
Regulus (N 88)

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Commanders
1931: Lieutenant Commander   Lancelot Milman Shadwell
1934: Lieutenant Commander   Robert Cecil Somers Garwood
1937: Commander   George Cunningham Paton Menzies
1938: Lieutenant Commander   John David Luce
1939: Commander   John Marston Money
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Frederick Basil Currie

Ex 88R Served in Chinese waters until being sent to the Mediterranean in 1940.

1930-1931: Portsmouth
1931-1935: Mediterranean.
1935-1940: China Station.
1937 - 4th Flotilla: HMS Medway, Hong Kong.
1938 - 4th Flotilla: HMS Medway, Hong Kong.
1939 - 4th Flotilla: HMS Medway, Singapore
1940 - 1st Flotilla: HMS Medway, Alexandria.
1940: Mediterranean.

It should be noted that although some boats were attached to HMS Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast and 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.

Roll of Honour
55
 
Baker, George Francis Charles  C/M 38805
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 31
Bellamy, Leslie Waeghe  C/JX 141684
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Blair, William Albert  P/KX 86257
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Brown, William  D/KX 88989
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
Bulger, Cecil  C/MX 48563
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 25
Burton, John Thomas  C/JX 13005
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 29
Coe-Smith, Harry  C/JX 1282257
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Chief Petty Officer Aged: 29
Born Smith, Harry. Served as Coe-Smith, Harry
Currie, Frederick Basil 
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Davis, Frederick James  P/KX 79005
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 33
Dudd, Percy Charles George  D/SSX 17399
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Duffay, Owen Vernon Hugh  D/J 111996
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 32
Fielden, William Ralph  (Ex.M18332)
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Warrant Engineer Aged: 40
Forrester, George Wettin  C/KX 84677
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 25
Green, Anthony Moulton 
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 24
Hackett, Frederick George  C/J 96353
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 36
Hitchcock, Ronald George  D/MX 45291
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 30
Hopcroft, Thomas George  C/JX 134065
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
Horwood, Eric Stanley  C/M 38742
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 31
Johnson, Frederick  P/K 61069
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 25
Jones, Stanley Frederick  D/JX 125397
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 30
King, Alfred George  C/JX 111194
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 32
Kirby, Norman Vincent  C/JX 131229
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Signalman Aged: 29
Kirby, William Eric  P/JX 133601
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 27
Leech, Arthur James  D/JX 126602
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 30
Mack, Frank Cecil Howard  P/J 107637
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Telegraphist Aged: 33
Mann, Donald Alfred William George  C/JX 134823
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 25
Manton, Thomas  D/KX 80436
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
McAteer, Robert Bateson Pelan  D/MX 48386
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Cook Aged: 28
McCombe, Ronald Booth  D/JX 134852
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 25
McGhee, Edward  D/KX 81015
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 28
McMilling, James Andrew  C/JX 141127
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 21
Mitchell, Jack Hardy  C/JX 136589
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 25
Morton, Robert James  P/KX 82410
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 26
Mullens, John Henry  P/M 27287
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 38
Muntz, Sir Gerard Philip Graves 
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 23
Norris, Phillips William George  D/JX 135340
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 25
Perry, William John  C/J 102887
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 37
Pretty, Roy  C/SSX 17634
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Pringle, Norman  C/KX 77504
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 32
Richardson, Joseph Benjamin Greenly  D/J 112709
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 31
Robertson, Andrew Middleton  C/KX 83546
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 30
Round, Oliver Charles 
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 22
Shaw, William  C/KX 87397
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 23
Smith, Ernest David  P/JX 128860
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 29
Smith, John Frederick  C/JX 129001
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 29
Sylvester, Eric  C/KX 81691
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 27
Targett, Arthur Leslie John  P/J 94664
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 37
Tulip, Thomas Edward  P/KX 85026
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 24
Twine, William  P/KX 84010
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Walker, Maxwell  P/MX 49774
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 29
Wescott, Joseph Ernest  D/KX 80657
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 28
White, George Francis  P/JX 158379
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 35
Ex.J100174
Whyte, John  P/KX 84416
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Wilkinson, Walter Leslie  P/J 99821
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 36
Worsley, James  P/KX 83976
Died: 26th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 27

Events

 17-07-1929   Laid Down
 11-06-1930   Launched
 07-12-1930   Completed
 06-12-1940   HMS Regulus had left Alexandria on 18th November 1940 for a patrol in the Adriatic. Her failure to return on 6th December signalled her loss with all hands. It is believed that she stuck a mine in the Straits of Taranto, although the Italians claimed to have sunk a submarine on 26th November; the former explanation is believed more likely.
Comments

Comment by: Ken Usher on March 16th, 2023

Ernest Smith, LS, on HMS Regulus, was my great uncle (who I never knew as I was born in 1961), but heard some great dits about him from my late dad. I was always told that she was sunk, but it seems that she struck a mine.

Would be interested in finding out more about the ship, if possible. Also have a photo of Ernie in rig. PS I'm an ex-skimmer and served as a sparker in the RNR on mine sweepers and on Ark Royal in 1987 for several months (continuous service) so my only direct link with the Submarine service was HMS Drake STC (2nd Sub Sqn) for basic comms training.

WIth thanks, Yours Aye, Ken

Comment by: Gerard Molyneux on October 31st, 2017

My Uncle was one of the crew members lost and I was told that the submarine had not been repainted after being in the Far East, which made them an easy target for the Italian air force.

This was confirmed by a interpreter, who had listened in to the Italian messages and she had relayed this information to my family many years later during a dinner party.

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