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Spearfish (N 69)

Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: S2
Fate: Believed sunk by U34 off coast of Norway on 1st August 1940. Sole survivor AB William Pester later killed in an accident 01-07-1945.

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Spearfish (N 69)
Spearfish (N 69)
Spearfish (N 69)
Spearfish (N 69)
Commanders
1936: Lieutenant Commander  Reginald Robert Helbert  
1937: Lieutenant  Philip Stewart Francis  
1938: Lieutenant  John Henry Eaden  
1940: Lieutenant Commander  John Hay Forbes  DSO

1936-1939: Portland.
1939: 6th Flotilla. HMS Titania, Blyth.
1940: 6th Flotilla. HMS Titania, Blyth.

Possibly the first British warship to be attacked by the enemy. Hostilities against the Germans were commenced at 1100 hours on 3rd September 1939, Spearfish was attacked by a German submarine at 1104.

Was part of the submarine force which was in the Kattegat and off the coast of Norway during the German invasion of Norway.

Roll of Honour
41
Died: 01-07-1940
Archer, Henry Edward  (Ex. M34389)
Warrant Engineer Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 37
Best, John Philip  MID
Lieutenant Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 21
Binns, Harry Edmund  P/KX 88596
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 22
Bird, Arthur John Thomas  C/M 39323
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 38
Bird, Herbert Francis  P/JX 137358
Telegraphist Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Bruce, Robert Walton  D/KX 86483
Leading Stoker Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Carlton, Edward Curle  DSM* D/JX 136385
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Carpenter, Robert William  P/JX 137114
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 23
Carter, John Ainsworth Verdun  D/JX 136337
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Clifford, Ronald Joseph John  P/J 39219
Leading Signalman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 40
Darch, Edward John  D/K 63910
Leading Stoker Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 35
Delussey, Arthur  D/KX 86125
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 23
Evans, Maurice Allen  C/KX 92190
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 21
Forbes, John Hay  DSO
Lieutenant Commander Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 33
Commanding Officer
Foster, John William Thomas  DSM C/J 105134
Petty Officer Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 33
Gillett, Alec  C/SSX 21172
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 20
Gimblett, Arthur Robert  (RNR)
Lieutenant Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 29
Glover, Albert John  P/JX 143787
Leading Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 29
Hawes, Edward Henry Daniel  C/JX 149819
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 20
Hill, Ronald Eustace  D/SSX 14854
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 25
Ibbotson, William  D/J 48891
Chief Petty Officer Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 40
Iverson, William Stephen  C/J 95767
Leading Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 37
James, Thomas Benjamin  D/JX 135857
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Lynch, Frank  D/SSX 14231
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 25
Maxwell, Maurice James  D/KX 81056
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 27
Mordue, John William  P/KX 82401
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 25
Morey, Ernest George  DSM* C/JX 134230
Able Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 26
O'Hair, Edward Ernest Peacock  P/MX 51968
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 29
Oliver, Oswald  D/MX 53256
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 26
Peel, Stanley Noel  DSM C/M 27347
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Born: 02-04-1904 Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 36
Pirie, Donald Anthony  DSC*
Lieutenant Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 26
Rawlings, Arthur Thomas  C/KX 83005
Leading Stoker Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 26
Royle, Reginald  P/KX 75033
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 35
Smith, Arthur George  D/J 114194
Petty Officer Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 31
Smith, Ernest  C/KX 82894
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 25
Smith, Ernest Walter  P/JX 141692
Telegraphist Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 21
Smith, Jack Maunder  MID C/MX 50827
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 28
Tuson, George William  MID D/JX 136092
Leading Telegraphist Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 24
Walker, Harold William  D/KX 90217
Stoker 1st Class Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 23
Walker, Philip Gordon  D/JX 141264
Leading Seaman Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 22
Williams, Francis James  P/SSX 14240
Telegraphist Died: 01-07-1940 Aged: 25

Events

23-05-1935 Laid Down
21-04-1936 Launched
11-12-1936 Completed
24-09-1939 HMS Spearfish was heavily damaged by German warships off Horns Reef. She was unable to submerge but nevertheless managed to escape. A rescue mission was undertaken by the British Humber force and Home fleet. Spearfish safely put in Rosyth on the 26th. Repairs to Spearfish were completed in early March 1940.
13-03-1940 Lieutenant Gordon Denne Browne died in a motoring accident.
10-04-1940 Attacked and damaged the German pocket battleship Lutzow, effectively putting her out of action for one year.
20-05-1940 HMS Spearfish sinks the Danish fishing vessels S.130 and S.175 with gunfire in the North Sea.
01-08-1940 HMS Spearfish sailed from Rosyth on 31 July 1940. The next day she was hit by a torpedo from U-34 and sank. U-34 was returning from her last patrol as a combat boat. She had only one torpedo remaining after a successful patrol (already 4 ships sunk).

The U-boat surfaced to look for survivors and found AB William Pester (on his first patrol) who was the only survivor of the sinking, 29 became casualties
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