Top
Home → Boats → Submarines → T Class → Thistle

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 being launched
Thistle (N 24)
Thistle (N 24)

Upload An Image Of This Boat

Commanders
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Wilfrid Frederick Haselfoot

1939-1940: Home Station

Involved in the Norwegian campaign of 1940.

Roll of Honour
53
Died: 10-04-1940
Allcoat, Albert Edwin  P/KX 79607
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 29
Beecham, Ernest Royal  C/KX 89124
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 21
Bowen, George Allan 
Warrant Engineer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 39
EX.M22612
Boyse, Sidney Albert  C/K 110587
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 31
Brewer, Victor Leslie  D/K 65999
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 36
Buckie, Keith Brundle  C/JX 13740
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 23
Chapman, Thomas Alfred  C/KX 82964
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 25
Childs, George William  P/MX 45759
Petty Officer Cook Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 32
Cluney, Tom Sharpe  D/JX 10861
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 32
Davies, Joseph  P/KX 88600
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 22
Dixon, John  C/KX 83251
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 25
Dolling, Ronald William  C/KX 84192
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 24
Drew, William Edwin Stanaslaus  P/J 113174
Telegraphist Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 30
Ennor, Roland Patrick Norman  (RNR)
Lieutenant Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 28
Evans, William George Francis  D/LX 21421
Leading Steward Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 27
Garfin, Francis  C/JX 15217
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 26
Gatward, Robert  C/JX 14527
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 20
Goddard, Frank George  D/J 109687
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 31
Greenslade, Rowland Hedley  C/K 63187
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 34
Hammond, Herbert Tom  P/J 80048
Chief Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 38
Hardacre, Richard  D/JX 15977
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 21
Harper, Kenneth James 
Lieutenant Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 28
Haselfoot, Wilfrid Frederick 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Healey, Michael William  P/JX 13549
Leading Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 30
Healy, Walter William   C/JX 13660
Leading Telegraphist Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 24
Ex.SSX13221
Howard, Archibald  P/MX 47240
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 37
Hussey, Walter Seymour  P/KX 75767
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 32
I`Anson, John Hustler  P/MX 51242
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 30
Jones, Lewis Allsworth 
Lieutenant Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 23
Joss, Robert Frederick  P/MX 48870
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 24
Livesey, Cyril Joseph  C/JX 14123
Leading Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 21
Luker, Joseph Wesley  D/JX 13462
Telegraphist Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 25
Maddison, George Edgar  P/KX 62055
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 36
Mitchell, William Edward  P/M 35072
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 36
Morgan, Jack Leslie  C/KX 80827
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 26
Murray, Thomas Hodgson  P/MX 50725
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 27
Owens, William John  P/KX 75140
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 33
Penn, Albert Edward  C/JX 13244
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 26
Perkin, William Smith  D/J 108608
Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 37
Rae, Thomas  C/SSX 1649
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 22
Reading, Joseph Frederick  C/J 87590
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 39
Richards, Walter George  P/JX 12568
Leading Signalman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 29
Rousell, William Ronald  P/KX 88482
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 22
Saunders, Leonard Roger  C/KX 75319
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 33
Siddell, John Stephen  P/KX 84411
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 26
Simpson, Harold  P/J 81161
Leading Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 38
Summersbee, John Frederick  P/JX 12864
Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 28
Thompson, John Harry  C/J 96699
Chief Petty Officer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 35
Todd, Joseph  P/M 29775
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 42
Vass, James (Ex.J81928)  D/JX 14262
Leading Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 38
Warden, James Henry  C/KX 80943
Leading Stoker Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 30
Wheeler, Fred  D/JX 13525
Able Seaman Died: 10-04-1940 Aged: 24
Whittaker, James  P/KX 75377
Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-04-1940 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 26, 2024

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

Add A Comment (click to open)

This form is for you to comment on, or add additional information to this page. Any questions will be deleted. If you wish to ask a question contact the Branch or the Webmaster using the Contact Us page or ask your question on our Facebook Page

Name E-Mail
Your email will not be shown, but is required
Anti Spam: Type the following code exactly as shown into the box below.

VUYe    
Note: All submissions are subject to approval prior to appearing on the page. As a SPAM prevention measure, any comments containing links to other sites will be automatically discarded.

Triumph (N 18) Thetis (N 25)