Pembroke - Ship sunk ww2 by German U boats?

[berkeley]

Hi folks, i have only just joined & this is my first post. While looking for info on Hms Berkeley, sunk during operation jubilee (the Dieppe raid), on 19-8-1942, The site i was using was www.naval-history.net, looking for casualties info. I noticed that ther were casualties for Pembroke  (2 deaths) & Pembroke11, (6 deaths),also operation jubilee, so unless Germany bombed Chatham at the same time i think there were boats of that name, off Dieppe on that date. Dave.

[HMac]

Hello and welcome,

Please see reply #13 from Seaweed. Just to confirm there was no seagoing ship called HMS PEMBROKE or HMS PEMBROKE II.
PEMBROKE was a shore establishment in Chatham and PEMBROKE II was an accounting base. Just because a seaman was noted as a casualty at sea belonging to PEMBROKE simply means he was detached from PEMBROKE [the accounting base] - often the actual ship he was attached to is not always named.

Regards
Hugh

[Fredg]

My father was Tommy Gospell and was stationed at HMS Pembroke between 1939 and 45.  He was on HMS Pelican torpedoed, and lost at sea.  MOD sent a telegram to my Grandmother with the bad news, to be followed by another telegram the next day from my father to say he had been picked up by a fishing boat, and was due home on leave!!  Has anyone got any further info on HMS Pelican?

[HMac]

Hope this helps: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4004-13APR04.htm

The ship was not torpedoed but was bombed during the Norwegian campaign. There were about 57 killed.

Sloop PELICAN, en route with a Naval Base Party (under the Command of Captain C H Champness) for Molde, was attacked by two German Ju.87 bombers at 1350 in Romdalsfjord in 62‑49N, 4‑20E . She was badly damaged after a bomb hit caused the detonation of her depth charges. Lt Cdr H R Thompson of the sloop, Cdr A A F MacLeish (ret), Lt Cdr H N C  Webber, Paymaster Lt E F Burkitt and Boatswain H Howell of the Base Party, and forty seven ratings from both units were killed, and Lt A A F Talbot of the Base Party wounded. The uninjured members of the Base Party were put aboard steamer ST SUNNIVA, which escorted by destroyer SOMALI proceeded to Molde for fuel. The wounded were put aboard destroyer JACKAL and sloop FLEETWOOD. Steamer ST MAGNUS was coaling at Aalesund, while destroyer JAVELIN was standing by. JAVELIN was then attacked by four German Ju bombers in Heisse Fjord but was undamaged.
 
JACKAL and ST SUNNIVA departed the fjord at 0500/23rd for Kirkwall, while PELICAN was towed by FLEETWOOD and escorted to Lerwick by JACKAL,  SOMALI and sister ship TARTAR joining them at 1930/22nd. Tug ST MELLONS came out from Lerwick and tug BRIGAND was detached from destroyer HOTSPUR's convoy. While screening PELICAN, JACKAL attacked a submarine contact at 2307/22nd in 62‑44N, 03‑48E. She also attacked a contact at 1524/23rd. SOMALI (D.6) arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600/24th, and PELICAN, in tow of ST MELLONS at Lerwick at 1000/24th.
 
JACKAL and TARTAR proceeded from Lerwick and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500. On 2 May at 1020, PELICAN left Lerwick in tow of BRIGAND and escorted by destroyer WANDERER to Rosyth. They were diverted en route to Sheerness and  arrived in the Nore at 2200 on 5 May. PELICAN was taken to Chatham for repairs lasting until 3 December 1940.

Regards
Hugh

[Regdor]

HMS Pembroke was definitely landbased and I think it was a training establishment. I have a photo of my Uncle in his HMS Pembroke Uniform, but letters written later in 1944/45 are from the HMS Artifex . I had wondered why the name on his cap in the picture differed from the ship he sailed on, but I think the picure is from when he first joined, hence the link with training.
 
HMS Artifex was the new name for the Aurania after it was repaired from the torpedo attack and converted to a support ship. See wikipedia, where the sole survivor's capture/rescue by the German crew is mentioned

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Artifex_%28F28%29

 

[Regdor]

To Swardale - my father was a dentist on HMS Artifex from mid-1944 until early 1946. The only document which I have relating to that period of his naval service is a 'Crossing the Line' certificate on HMS Artifex dated 28th January 1945 when she left Ceylon on route for Australia. You mention that you have your uncle's letters from his service. Do you have any information about the movements of this ship for this period.

[seaweed]

The movements of HMS ARTIFEX for the period you suggest should be in the following piece at the British National Archive.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=8307036&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5
 For a more detailed view, her logbooks for the period  10/May/1944 until 31/July/1946 are also in TNA in series ADM53
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?fldResultMarker=1&fldSearchNumber=183636&SearchInit=1
As far as I am aware you cannot view these documents online, so a trip to Kew would be your best bet.

[Regdor]

Thanks Seaweed. Unfortunately the reference of 183636 for the HMS Artifex log books at TNA series ADM53 does not seem to exist.

[seaweed]

Sorry still useing the old Catalogue, try---------
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=artifex&_sd=yyyy&_ed=yyyy&x=43&y=23