Kenneth Lanyon Harkness DSC, RN
| Born | 24 Aug 1900 | ||
| Died | 12 Jan 1990 | (89) |
| Ranks
Retired: 8 Jul 1949 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Kenneth Lanyon Harkness, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Fearless (H 67) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 17 Aug 1938 | 15 Jul 1940 |
| HMS Ceylon (30) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 12 May 1945 | 13 Nov 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Fearless (H 67)
11 Sep 1939
HMS Fearless (Cdr K.L. Harkness, RN) picks up 34 survivors from the British merchant Firby that was sunk by German U-boat U-48 about 270 miles west of the Hebrides in position 59°40'N, 13°50'W.
Light cruiser HMS Ceylon (30)
17 May 1945
During 17/18 May 1945, HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) and HMS Attacker (Capt. G.F. Renwick, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (1)
29 May 1945
During 29/30 May 1945, HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) conducted exercises between Trincomalee and Palk Strait. These included night exercises.
On completion of the exercises HMS Ceylon returned to Trincomalee while HMS Suffolk went to Palk Bay. An exercise in jumping overboard with lifebelts was cancelled due to sharks being seen around the ship. (2)
30 May 1945
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee to provide cover for (smaller) warships operating close inshore off the Burmese coast. (3)
9 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Rangoon. (4)
10 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) departed Rangoon to provide cover for (smaller) warships operating close inshore off the Burmese coast. (4)
13 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Rangoon from patrol. (4)
17 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) departed Rangoon for Akyab. (4)
18 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Akyab. She departed for Trincomalee later the same day. (4)
20 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (4)
12 Jul 1945
During 12/13 July 1945, HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN), HMS Cleopatra (Capt. B.I. Robertshaw, CBE, RN), HMS Rotherham (Capt. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN), conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises.
HMS Cleopatra joined the exercises around 0500FG/13 coming from Colombo which she had departed around 1700FG/12. (5)
17 Jul 1945
HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for Bombay. (6)
20 Jul 1945
HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay.
HMS Nigeria is then immediately docked in the Hughes dry dock. (6)
27 Jul 1945
Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN) to HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) which then departed Bombay for Colombo.
HMS Ceylon then departed Bombay for Colombo. (6)
29 Jul 1945
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN, flying the Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) arrived at Colombo where she was immediately docked.
[We currently have no information on when she was undocked as there is no log available for HMS Ceylon after July 1945.] (7)
31 Jul 1945
Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN struck his flag in HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN). (7)
11 Aug 1945
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (8)
12 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. K.L. Harkness, DSC, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (9)
Sources
- ADM 53/120915 + ADM 53/121089
- ADM 53/121089 + ADM 53/122325
- ADM 53/121089 + ADM 53/121090 + ADM 199/1457
- ADM 53/121090
- ADM 53/121091 + ADM 53/121110
- ADM 53/121091 + ADM 53/121923
- ADM 53/121091
- ADM 199/2550
- ADM 53/121924
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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