Thistle (N 24)

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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


Allcoat, Albert Edwin P/KX 79607
Allcoat, Albert Edwin P/KX 79607		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 29

Beecham, Ernest Royal C/KX 89124
Beecham, Ernest Royal C/KX 89124		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Bowen, George Allan
Bowen, George Allan		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Warrant Engineer	Aged: 39
	EX.M22612

Boyse, Sidney Albert C/K 110587
Boyse, Sidney Albert C/K 110587		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 31

Brewer, Victor Leslie D/K 65999
Brewer, Victor Leslie D/K 65999		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 36

Buckie, Keith Brundle C/JX 13740
Buckie, Keith Brundle C/JX 13740		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Chapman, Thomas Alfred C/KX 82964
Chapman, Thomas Alfred C/KX 82964		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 25

Childs, George William P/MX 45759
Childs, George William P/MX 45759		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer Cook	Aged: 32

Cluney, Tom Sharpe D/JX 10861
Cluney, Tom Sharpe D/JX 10861		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 32

Davies, Joseph P/KX 88600
Davies, Joseph P/KX 88600		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 22

Dixon, John C/KX 83251
Dixon, John C/KX 83251		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 25

Dolling, Ronald William C/KX 84192
Dolling, Ronald William C/KX 84192		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 24

Drew, William Edwin Stanaslaus P/J 113174
Drew, William Edwin Stanaslaus P/J 113174		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 30

Ennor, Roland Patrick Norman (RNR)
Ennor, Roland Patrick Norman (RNR)		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 28

Evans, William George Francis D/LX 21421
Evans, William George Francis D/LX 21421		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Steward	Aged: 27

Garfin, Francis C/JX 15217
Garfin, Francis C/JX 15217		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 26

Gatward, Robert C/JX 14527
Gatward, Robert C/JX 14527		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 20

Goddard, Frank George D/J 109687
Goddard, Frank George D/J 109687		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer Telegraphist	Aged: 31

Greenslade, Rowland Hedley C/K 63187
Greenslade, Rowland Hedley C/K 63187		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 34

Hammond, Herbert Tom P/J 80048
Hammond, Herbert Tom P/J 80048		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Petty Officer	Aged: 38

Hardacre, Richard D/JX 15977
Hardacre, Richard D/JX 15977		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Harper, Kenneth James
Harper, Kenneth James		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 28

Haselfoot, Wilfrid Frederick
Haselfoot, Wilfrid Frederick		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant Commander	Aged: 32
	Commanding Officer

Healey, Michael William P/JX 13549
Healey, Michael William P/JX 13549		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 30

Healy, Walter William C/JX 13660
Healy, Walter William C/JX 13660		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 24
	Ex.SSX13221

Howard, Archibald P/MX 47240
Howard, Archibald P/MX 47240		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class	Aged: 37

Hussey, Walter Seymour P/KX 75767
Hussey, Walter Seymour P/KX 75767		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 32

I`Anson, John Hustler P/MX 51242
I`Anson, John Hustler P/MX 51242		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class	Aged: 30

Jones, Lewis Allsworth
Jones, Lewis Allsworth		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 23

Joss, Robert Frederick P/MX 48870
Joss, Robert Frederick P/MX 48870		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 24

Livesey, Cyril Joseph C/JX 14123
Livesey, Cyril Joseph C/JX 14123		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 21

Luker, Joseph Wesley D/JX 13462
Luker, Joseph Wesley D/JX 13462		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 25

Maddison, George Edgar P/KX 62055
Maddison, George Edgar P/KX 62055		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 36

Mitchell, William Edward P/M 35072
Mitchell, William Edward P/M 35072		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 1st Class	Aged: 36

Morgan, Jack Leslie C/KX 80827
Morgan, Jack Leslie C/KX 80827		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 26

Murray, Thomas Hodgson P/MX 50725
Murray, Thomas Hodgson P/MX 50725		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class	Aged: 27

Owens, William John P/KX 75140
Owens, William John P/KX 75140		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 33

Penn, Albert Edward C/JX 13244
Penn, Albert Edward C/JX 13244		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer Telegraphist	Aged: 26

Perkin, William Smith D/J 108608
Perkin, William Smith D/J 108608		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 37

Rae, Thomas C/SSX 1649
Rae, Thomas C/SSX 1649		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Reading, Joseph Frederick C/J 87590
Reading, Joseph Frederick C/J 87590		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 39

Richards, Walter George P/JX 12568
Richards, Walter George P/JX 12568		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Signalman	Aged: 29

Rousell, William Ronald P/KX 88482
Rousell, William Ronald P/KX 88482		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 22

Saunders, Leonard Roger C/KX 75319
Saunders, Leonard Roger C/KX 75319		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 33

Siddell, John Stephen P/KX 84411
Siddell, John Stephen P/KX 84411		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 26

Simpson, Harold P/J 81161
Simpson, Harold P/J 81161		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 38

Summersbee, John Frederick P/JX 12864
Summersbee, John Frederick P/JX 12864		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 28

Thompson, John Harry C/J 96699
Thompson, John Harry C/J 96699		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Petty Officer	Aged: 35

Todd, Joseph P/M 29775
Todd, Joseph P/M 29775		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer	Aged: 42

Vass, James (Ex.J81928) D/JX 14262
Vass, James (Ex.J81928) D/JX 14262		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 38

Warden, James Henry C/KX 80943
Warden, James Henry C/KX 80943		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 30

Wheeler, Fred D/JX 13525
Wheeler, Fred D/JX 13525		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 24

Whittaker, James P/KX 75377
Whittaker, James P/KX 75377		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 32

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.

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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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

Class:	1935 - 1970: Improved S Class
Built By:	Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group:	S3
Fate:
Scrapped Charlestown 14th September 1962.

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Thistle (N 24)

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