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Unique (N 95)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U1
Fate: Returned to the UK for refit. On completion did a short period in UK waters before returning to the Mediterranean.

On 10th October 1942 Submarine HMS Unique was on passage from UK to Gibraltar and had been ordered to conduct a patrol off North Spain on the way to intercept any possible 'blockade runners'.

Submarine HMS Ursula which had similar orders heard sounds of explosions whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay and assumed that Submarine HMS Unique was being attacked. No claim for an attack was made but it was assumed that the Submarine was lost with all hands after the attack.
Unique
Unique

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Commanders
1940: Lieutenant   Anthony Foster Collett
1941: Lieutenant   Arthur Richard Hezlet
1942: Lieutenant   Robert Evelyn Boddington MID

Ex P36

1941: 10th Flotilla - Malta

Adoption

By Dr Peter Schofield

HMS Unique was adopted by Pontefract but lost in October 1942; HMS Upstart was then adopted

Good Morning, Tuesday 14 August 1945:
Warship Week Plaque
Warship Week Plaque
Seven members of the crew of Upstart recently spent a weekend at Pontefract, the guests of Upstarts Comforts Fund Committee. The visitors were Sub-Lt. Turbett, P.O. Best, A.B. Francis, A.B. Stoker. Leading Stoker Walker, A.B. Webb and Signalman Long. They were met on Friday afternoon by members of the committee including the chairman, Mrs. F. Pybus, and the secretary, Miss E. Waddington; and they were entertained to tea. Later in the day, they were accompanied by members of the committee to a Civic Reception and Dinner at which the Mayor of Pontefract presided. The following day, Upstart visited Dunhill's Liquorice Works, and as a memento of his visit, each man received a box of sweets from the management. These came in handy in the afternoon when they visited Pontefract race meeting, and their day ended with a visit to the home of Mrs. Pybus for tea. At trip to Pontefract Castle occupied the Sunday morning, and after lunch in the town, Upstart received a grand send off from the Mayor and members of the Comforts Fund. It was a weekend which they will remember.

Roll of Honour
34
 
Adlard, Gwynne Addison 
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Lieutenant Aged: 21
Amos, Kenneth Douglas  C/JX 147961
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Bartley, Andrew  D/KX 81278
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 30
Boddington, Robert Evelyn  MID
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Lieutenant Aged: 26
Commanding Officer
Bond, Raymond Walter John  DSM P/JX 137669
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Yeoman of Signals Aged: 26
Booth, George Edward  C/KX 97214
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Bowlt, Benjamin  C/TD/X 1603
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Breen, William  (RNVR) P/CD/X 2536
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
Bryson, Andrew Birridge  C/KX 129491
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 30
Burgess, John William  D/JX 304613
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 19
Chapman, Clifford  DSM P/KX 79256
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Petty Officer Aged: 33
Collins, Leopold Albert Edward  D/J 102084
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Petty Officer Aged: 37
Denne, Albert Edward John  MID D/KX 98707
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 44
Ex.K32855
Edgar, Stanley Martin  D/SKX 315
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 19
Fennell, Albert Ernest  D/J 109248
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Petty Officer Aged: 35
Fitall, Sydney Charlie Frank  P/SSX 21488
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 26
Frith, Geoffrey George Wesson  C/SSX 31461
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 21
Frith, Ronald  C/MX 51674
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 31
Garner, Cecil Edward  C/MX 72050
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 23
Holland, George Henry  P/SSX 28337
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Martin, Anthony Howard 
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Lieutenant Aged: 21
Meade, Jack Barker  C/JX 189345
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Morten, Maurice Furness  C/JX 203146
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Moss, Edward  P/KX 83224
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 27
Niel, Stanley Munro  C/JX 162242
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Reed, Charles Ian 
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 20
Riley, Leslie John  C/JX 144677
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 23
Thewlis, Norman  MID D/JX 201123
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 31
Tuck, Allen Royson  D/J 98271
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Chief Petty Officer Aged: 38
Turnbull, Roy Frederick Howard  P/JX 141679
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 23
Venn, Leonard Jack  D/JX 137882
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 25
Waterhouse, George Albert  D/MX 74895
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 5th Class Aged: 20
Woodman, Edward John Humphrey  C/SSX 26124
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Worland, Arthur George  C/JX 301424
Died: 10th Oct, 1942.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 19

Events

 30-10-1939   Laid Down
 06-06-1940   Launched
 27-09-1940   Completed
 23-12-1940   Arrived Gibraltar, she was the first U class boat to attack shipping in the Med, albeit unsuccessful.
 18-02-1941   Arrived Malta, commanded by Lt. A.F. Collett.
 10-03-1941   HMS Unique torpedoes and sinks the Italian passenger/cargo ship Fenicia about 95 nautical miles north-west of Tripoli, Libya.
 03-06-1941   HMS Unique torpedoes and damages (total loss) the Italian cargo ship Arsia at Lampedusa harbour.
 20-08-1941   HMS Unique torpedoes and sinks the Italian troop tansport Esperia 11 nautical miles off the Tripoli lighthouse, Libya.

Consequently attacked by aircraft and damaged resulting in her return to Malta.
 05-01-1942   HMS Unique attacks the Italian battleship Littorio with torpedoes in the Gulf of Taranto but miss the target.
 24-10-1942   Lost cause unknown to the west of Gibraltar
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