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Thistle (N 24)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: T 1
Fate: In the early hours of 10th April 1940 Submarine HMS Thistle (Lt Cdr Herbert James Caldwell) was on the surface charging batteries off Skudenses in Norway when she was sighted by the U-Boat U-4 (Hinsh). Two torpedoes were fired at very close range, the first missed but the second hit and Thistle was sunk with all hands.

Thistle being launched

Thistle (N 24)

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Commanders
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Wilfrid Frederick Haselfoot

1939-1940: Home Station

Involved in the Norwegian campaign of 1940.

Roll of Honour
53
Allcoat, Albert Edwin
P/KX 79607
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 29
Stoker 1st Class
Beecham, Ernest Royal
C/KX 89124
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 21
Stoker 1st Class
Bowen, George Allan
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 39
Warrant Engineer
EX.M22612
Boyse, Sidney Albert
C/K 110587
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 31
Able Seaman
Brewer, Victor Leslie
D/K 65999
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 36
Stoker 1st Class
Buckie, Keith Brundle
C/JX 13740
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 23
Able Seaman
Chapman, Thomas Alfred
C/KX 82964
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 25
Stoker 1st Class
Childs, George William
P/MX 45759
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 32
Petty Officer Cook
Cluney, Tom Sharpe
D/JX 10861
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 32
Able Seaman
Davies, Joseph
P/KX 88600
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Dixon, John
C/KX 83251
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 25
Stoker 1st Class
Dolling, Ronald William
C/KX 84192
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 24
Leading Stoker
Drew, William Edwin Stanaslaus
P/J 113174
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 30
Telegraphist
Ennor, Roland Patrick Norman (RNR)
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 28
Lieutenant
Evans, William George Francis
D/LX 21421
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 27
Leading Steward
Garfin, Francis
C/JX 15217
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Gatward, Robert
C/JX 14527
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 20
Able Seaman
Goddard, Frank George
D/J 109687
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 31
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Greenslade, Rowland Hedley
C/K 63187
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 34
Stoker Petty Officer
Hammond, Herbert Tom
P/J 80048
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 38
Chief Petty Officer
Hardacre, Richard
D/JX 15977
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Harper, Kenneth James
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 28
Lieutenant
Haselfoot, Wilfrid Frederick
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 32
Lieutenant Commander
Commanding Officer
Healey, Michael William
P/JX 13549
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 30
Leading Seaman
Healy, Walter William
C/JX 13660
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 24
Leading Telegraphist
Ex.SSX13221
Howard, Archibald
P/MX 47240
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 37
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Hussey, Walter Seymour
P/KX 75767
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 32
Leading Stoker
I`Anson, John Hustler
P/MX 51242
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 30
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Jones, Lewis Allsworth
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
Joss, Robert Frederick
P/MX 48870
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 24
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Livesey, Cyril Joseph
C/JX 14123
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 21
Leading Seaman
Luker, Joseph Wesley
D/JX 13462
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 25
Telegraphist
Maddison, George Edgar
P/KX 62055
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 36
Stoker 1st Class
Mitchell, William Edward
P/M 35072
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 36
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class
Morgan, Jack Leslie
C/KX 80827
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Murray, Thomas Hodgson
P/MX 50725
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 27
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Owens, William John
P/KX 75140
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 33
Leading Stoker
Penn, Albert Edward
C/JX 13244
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 26
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Perkin, William Smith
D/J 108608
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 37
Petty Officer
Rae, Thomas
C/SSX 1649
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Reading, Joseph Frederick
C/J 87590
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 39
Able Seaman
Richards, Walter George
P/JX 12568
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 29
Leading Signalman
Rousell, William Ronald
P/KX 88482
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Saunders, Leonard Roger
C/KX 75319
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 33
Stoker Petty Officer
Siddell, John Stephen
P/KX 84411
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Simpson, Harold
P/J 81161
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 38
Leading Seaman
Summersbee, John Frederick
P/JX 12864
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 28
Petty Officer
Thompson, John Harry
C/J 96699
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 35
Chief Petty Officer
Todd, Joseph
P/M 29775
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 42
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Vass, James (Ex.J81928)
D/JX 14262
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 38
Leading Seaman
Warden, James Henry
C/KX 80943
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 30
Leading Stoker
Wheeler, Fred
D/JX 13525
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 24
Able Seaman
Whittaker, James
P/KX 75377
Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
Aged: 32
Stoker 1st Class

Events

07-12-1937  Laid Down
25-10-1938  Launched
04-07-1939  Completed
09-04-1940  HMS Thistle missed the German submarine U-4 with a spread of four torpedoes southwest off Stavanger, Norway
10-04-1940  Lost.

In the belief that a German invasion of Norway was imminent Flag Officer Submarines ordered HMS Thistle to Stavanger with orders to sink any enemy vessel that she may spot in the harbour.

On 10th April Thistle signaled her intentions in complying with this order and that she had two torpedoes remaining after an unsuccessful attack on a U-boat. With this in mind the Admiralty changed her orders to patrol off Skudenes.

No further contact was made with the Thistle. It was later discovered that U4, the U-boat Thistle had previously attacked had, sighted the submarine on the surface and sunk her with torpedoes.

Official
T 1 Specification
Length overall  275 ft
Beam  26 ft 6 inch
Depth  14 ft 3 inch
Displacement   1327 tons (surface)
  1575 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth  300 ft
Speed  Surface 15.25 knots (design)
  Surface 15.25 knots (service)
  Submerged 9 knots (design)
  Submerged8.75 knots (service)
No. of shafts  2
Endurance  Surface: 7500 miles at 15.25 knots (design)
  (ii) Surface: 8000 miles at 10 knots (service)
  Submerged: 80 miles at 4 knots (design)
  Submerged: 80 miles at 4 knots (service)
Armament  (i) 8 21 inch bow tubes (2 external)
  2 x 21 inch amidship tubes
  (16 torpedoes carried)
  1 x 4 inch gun
  (ii) 0.303 inch machine-guns
Complement  (peacetime) 5 Officers and 51 Ratings
  (wartime) 6 Officers and 56 Ratings
Notes  (i) As an alternative load, Group 1 submarines could carry 18 mines
  (ii) These were later replaced by, or supplemented by one 20mm Oerlikon cannon
Comments

Comment by: Aaron Cluney on January 26th, 2024

My Grandfather was one of the brave souls that lost their lives onboard Thistle. Heartwarming to know finally where they lay to rest.

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