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Porpoise (N 14)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: G2
Fate: Possibly sunk off Penang by Japanese A/S aircraft on or about 11th January 1945.

On 3rd January 1945 the Submarine left Trincomalee in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) for her 23rd War Patrol (4th in the Far East) with orders to lay a minefield off Penang. On 9th Jan 1945, Lt. Cdr. H B Turner, DSC is understood to have reported by signal that he had successfully laid her mines off Penang. On 13th January 1945,

HMS Stygian was sent a signal informing her that Porpoise was in trouble 17 miles northwest of Pulo Perak). This information came from an Ultra decrypt (now in the National Archives in London) reporting that on 11th January a Nakajima B6N2 bomber had attacked a Submarine, dropping two 60kg bombs.

Further bombing attacks we made later but there was no further contact. Japanese records show that a submarine was spotted and bombed by aircraft in the vicinity of Penang. Although not destroyed in this attack, the submarine was wounded and leaking oil that left a trail for the Japanese anti-submarine forces to follow as they closed in for the kill.

HMS Porpoise was later declared overdue and then as lost with all hands.
Porpoise
Porpoise
Porpoise
Porpoise
Rear view of Porpoise showing mine laying doors
Rear view of Porpoise showing mine laying doors

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Commanders
1934: Lieutenant Commander   Roderick Latimer Mackenzie Edwards
1938: Commander   George Walter Gillow Simpson
1939: Commander   Philip Quellyn Roberts
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Jack Gethin Hopkins
1941: Lieutenant Commander   Edward Fowle Pizey DSO
1942: Lieutenant Commander   Leslie William Abel Bennington DSC
1943: Lieutenant   Edward Ashley Hobson
1943: Lieutenant   John Bertram de Betham Kershaw DSO
1943: Acting Lieutenant   Allan Harold MacCoy (SANF(V)) DSC
1943: Lieutenant Commander   Hubert Anthony Lucius Marsham OBE
1944: Acting Lieutenant Commander   Hugh Bentley Turner DSC

1940 - 2nd Flotilla. HMS Forth, Rosyth.

The mines were carried on a single line of rails fitted on top of the pressure hull and enclosed by a non-watertight high casing. This extended from 65 feet from the bow to the stern doors. The rails ran down the centre line of the boat. This resulted in the periscopes and mast etc. being offset to starboard and special ballas being carred on the port side to balance weights.

Adoption

By Dr Peter Schofield

Adoption Plaque presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Workington to Commemorate the Adoption of HMS Porpoise during Warship Week Feb 28th 1942
Adoption Plaque presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Workington to Commemorate the Adoption of HMS Porpoise during Warship Week Feb 28th 1942

The adoption plaque is held at the Helena Thompson Museum, Workington. With an adoption target of £300,000 the town fell short raising £252,355 in war savings. The diamond shaped crest differed from the crest of the post war HMS Porpoise. Today's shapes date from 1940 when it was decided to give new ships a round frame. HMS Porpoise helped save Malta as Britain's first submarine tanker carrying supplies of aviation fuel and ammunition during the Luftwaffe attacks on convoys. Operating in the Far East, HMS Porpoise was sunk (with all hands) by Japanese aircraft in the Malacca Strait on 19 January 1945.

Lancashire Evening Post, Wednesday 3 March 1943 reported that Lt.-Cdr Leslie Bennington, Commander of the submarine HMS Porpoise is visiting Workington soon to accept the boroughs plaque recording that the Porpoise is the towns adopted vessel.

If Leslie Bennington accepted the presentation plaque from Workington and it was kept onboard Porpoise, then it would have been lost along with the submarine.

Workington Warship Week was held 21-28 February 1942

Roll of Honour
75
 
Adams, Albert Edney  DSC (Ex.M38365)
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Warrant Engineer Aged: 36
Ansell, Leonard Basil Albert  C/SSX 17588
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 27
Bolden, Jack  P/JX 275768
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 24
Brennan, James  D/JX 140144
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Aged: 27
Brockbank, Arthur Parker  C/LX 24620
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Steward Aged: 27
Bullen, Herbert  C/KX 166023 Born: 3rd Jun, 1924. 
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Carter, Jack  C/SSX 22808
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Signalman Aged: 24
Chitty, Clement Arthur Charles  P/JX 217497
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 27
Clark, William Mason  D/MX 101709
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 37
Clarke, Kenneth Ezekiel  C/JX 544372
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Cooper, Arthur  D/JX 365441
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Coupe, Trevor  D/JX 202891
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Seaman Aged: 25
Cowton, Alan Dodsworth  C/MX 97715
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 22
Crouchman, Victor Thomas  P/JX 179071
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Draper, Arthur Douglas  DSM* MID P/KX 89439
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 26
Drew, Victor Henry Frank  (RNVR)
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Lieutenant Aged: 25
Dyall, Walter Frank  D/JX 421908
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Edwards, Walter Gordon  D/JX 141920
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 26
Fraser, James Norris McKay  P/MX 63827
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 25
Gascoigne, William  P/JX 384495
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Gibson, Adam  C/SSX 19866
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
Griffiths, Arthur Edward  D/JX 399217
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Healey, Alfred  D/KX 82866
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Stoker Aged: 35
Henderson, Arthur  D/MX 75673
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 22
Henson, Leslie  P/KX 156695
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 20
Hiscock, Wilfred Jack  DSM* P/MX 47948
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 30
Hood, Alfred Gerald  P/JX 177782
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Hughes, Charles William Thomas  C/KX 123998
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Julian, Richard Ernest Bartholomew  C/JX 543451
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Also as C/JX 543541 in CWGC/FWR
Kennedy, Mungo Hamilton McLeod 
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Lieutenant Aged: 22
Kerry, Lewis Lloyd  O/N P/JX 155610
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 21
from New Cross, London
Lewis Kerry is reported to have died from meningitis in the 42nd General Hospital in Kantara in Egypt.

Joel Blamey, who was the Engineer of Porpoise, reported that Lewis Kerry had not been well for a number of days whilst at sea and died a few days after returning to harbour.

Lewis Kerry was the son of Mr. G V Kerry MM & Mrs N Kerry, and the husband of Doreen Jessie Kerry
Lee, Arthur  P/MX 78168
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 24
Livingston, Alexander  P/KX 145231
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Lucking, Cecil Jeffrey  P/KX 86421
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 29
Malliband, Guy Gordon  P/KX 150619
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Martin, Basil Hedley  D/JX 145032
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Aged: 24
Nash, John Raymond  D/JX 550070
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Oliffe, John  D/J 101353
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 39
Oliver, Terance  P/MX 163832
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Palliaser, Harry  MID C/KX 135113
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 22
Passmore, Jack  D/KX 149398
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 24
Proudfoot, Abraham Patterson  (RNVR) BEM P/UD/X 1324
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Seaman Aged: 25
Ranken, Terence Alexander  D/JX 162760
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 20
Richardson, Thomas Stanley  P/JX 163327
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Roberts, Douglas David George  MID
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Lieutenant Aged: 24
Rogers, Phillip  P/JX 322506
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Rogers, Richard  C/J 114288
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Aged: 36
Rowlands, George  C/SSX 28164
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Sant, Albert William James  D/KX 155271
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 20
Sherrif, John  P/JX 232707
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Telegraphist Aged: 22
Simpkins, George Alexander  P/JX 128626
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Aged: 34
Skeoch, James McKay  P/JX 407094
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Smith, Albert George  D/KX 140733
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 21
Smith, Frank  C/MX 50326
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Cook Aged: 31
Smith, John  D/MX 510996
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 31
At birth Smith, Jack
Smith, Leslie John  P/JX 377637
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Smith, Philip Roy  P/KX 524286
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 2nd Class Aged: 19
Spencer, Edward Ronald  P/KX 137051
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 22
Taylor, Edward Owen Malvern  (RNVR) MID
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Lieutenant Aged: 28
Thomas, Ralph  C/SSX 25692
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Seaman Aged: 25
Trier, Colin Ernest  (RNVR)
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 21
Turner, Hugh Bentley  DSC
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 29
Tyler, Walter John  C/JX 188978
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Vaughan, Frederick John  C/MX 55223
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 22
Webb, John Herbert Thomas  P/KX 140877
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 20
Webber, Grahame Mark  P/JX 300198
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Telegraphist Aged: 22
Weeden, William Henry  C/KX 141642
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Weston, James  D/KX 162600
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Whittaker, Robert  P/JX 385870
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Wilkins, Arthur Francis  P/KX 162377
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Williams, Arthur Frederick Charles  D/JX 156792
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Petty Officer Aged: 22
Williams, Frederick Sidney  C/JX 193551
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Wimble, Will  C/KX 141189
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Woodward, Stanley  P/KX 147579
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Leading Stoker Aged: 32
Wright, James  C/KX 140927
Died: 11th Jan, 1945.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 21

Events

 22-09-1931   Laid Down
 30-07-1932   Launched
 10-02-1937   Completed
 16-04-1940   HMS Porpoise fires 6 torpedoes against the German submarine U-3 about 10 nautical miles south-west of Egersund, Norway. All torpedoes miss.
 16-04-1940   Sank the U1
 16-05-1940   HMS Porpoise lays minefield FD 11 (48 mines) off Kalvag, Norway.
 14-06-1940   HMS Porpoise lays minefield FD 18 (50 mines) off the Ramsoyfjord, Norway.
 29-07-1940   HMS Porpoise lays minefield FD 23 (50 mines) off southern Norway.
 13-09-1940   HMS Porpoise lays minefield FD 26 (48 mines) in the Bay of Biscay north-west of La Rochelle, France.
 07-03-1941   While enroute to Halifax, Canada, HMS Porpoise makes an unsuccessful torpedo attack on a submarine in the North Atlantic.
 09-12-1941   HMS Porpoise torpedoes and heavy damages the Italian passenger/cargo ship Sebastiano Venier about 5 nautical miles south of Navarino. The Sebastiano Venier is transporting more then 1800 Allied POW's. Despite the bad weather almost 1700 of these are rescued.
 11-01-1942   HMS Porpoise lays 50 mines off Suda Bay, Crete.
 18-01-1942   HMS Porpoise torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Citta di Livorno about 15 nautical miles north-east of Cape Maleka, Crete.
 12-08-1942   HMS Porpoise lays a minefield (46 mines) off Ras el Tin, Libya and torpedoes and sinks the Italian transport Ogaden 9 nautical miles from Ras el Tin, Libya.
 15-08-1942   HMS Porpoise torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Lerici about 120 nautical miles north of Ras Amir, Libya.
 19-08-1942   HMS Porpoise attacks the Italian merchant Iseo off Derna, Libya. All torpedoes miss. During the counter attack by the Italian escorts, Porpoise was damaged by depth charges from the torpedo boat Lince.
 03-10-1942   HMS Porpoise lays a minefield (46 mines) west of Tobruk, Libya.
 18-11-1942   HMS Porpoise torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Giulio Giordani about 45 nautical miles north-east of Misurata, Libya.
 19-11-1942   HMS Porpoise fires a torpedo against the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel F 39/Fertilia off the Libyan coast. The torpedo missed.
 23-11-1942   HMS Porpoise sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel F 39/Fertilia with gunfire off Kerkennah, Tunisia.
 06-07-1944   HMS Porpoise sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca. Also on this day she lays 30 mines off the mouth of the Deli river, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies.
 08-07-1944   HMS Porpoise lays 16 more mines of the mouth of the Deli river and 10 mines in the Strait of Malacca.
 09-12-1944   HMS Porpoise lays minefield ML 019 with 50 mines off Penang.
 10-12-1944   HMS Porpoise sinks a small Japanese sailing vessel in the Strait of Malacca.
 09-01-1945   On or around this date HMS Porpoise lays mines off Penang.
 19-01-1945   Last British submarine to be lost during WW2

On 2nd January 1945 HMS Porpoise left Trincomalee to lay mines in the vicinity of Penang. The signal received from the submarine confirming that this had been successfully carried out was the last contact made. Japanese records show that a submarine was spotted and bombed by aircraft in the vicinity of Penang. Although not destroyed in this attack, the submarine was wounded and leaking oil that left a trail for the Japanese anti-submarine forces to follow as they closed in for the kill.
Comments

Comment by: Hywel Thomas on September 6th, 2020

My Uncle was Leading Seaman Ralph Thomas. He was from Machen and Rudry in South Wales. His name is listed on the Cenotaph at St James Church, Rudry Nr. Caerphilly.

He had joined up in 1938 and had served at the battle of Narvik on HMS Foxhound. He was one of the crew manning the launch from Foxhound with Capt Holland to Admiral Gensoult at Oran when some of the French fleet were sunk. I have some letters he wrote home days before his last mission with Porpoise in Jan 1945. Current records indicate Porpoise was bombed by Japanese bomber aircraft at least three times on 11th January 1945.

He was a keen sportsman, a good boxer and by all accounts a popular chap. I have nearly finished putting together quite a thorough account of his life, for the family, the Thomas clan. Well done for helping to keep their important legacy alive too.

Diolch yn Fawr.

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