Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt, RN
| Born | 11 Apr 1892 | Bromley, London, England | |
| Died | 19 Dec 1959 | (67) | London, England |
| Ranks
Retired: 27 Jan 1953 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Duke of York (17) | Capt. | Battleship | 15 Apr 1941 | 16 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Prince of Wales (53) | Capt. | Battleship | 16 Jul 1941 | 1 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Duke of York (17) | Capt. | Battleship | 1 Aug 1941 | 4 Sep 1942 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Battleship HMS Prince of Wales (53)
19 Jul 1941
HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, RN) shifted from Rosyth to Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) and HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN). (1)
28 Jul 1941
HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, RN) conducted gunnery exercises inside Scapa Flow. (1)
29 Jul 1941
HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, RN) conducted gunnery exercises inside Scapa Flow. (1)
30 Jul 1941
HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, RN) conducted exercises to the west of Scapa Flow. During these exercises she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, RN), HMS Charlestown (Lt.Cdr. T. Johnston, RN) and HMS Castleton (Cdr. (Retd.) F.H.E. Skyrme, RN).
Also participating in the exercises was HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN). (1)
Battleship HMS Duke of York (17)
24 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) is commissioned for trials at Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. (2)
7 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) proceeded from Clydebank to Greenock (Tail of Bank). (3)
8 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials on the D/G range off Helensburgh. (3)
14 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
No.1 Graving Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard, holding the uncompleted battleship Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) is flooded but the battleship is not undocked yet. (4)
17 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The uncompleted battleship Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) is undocked. (4)
27 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed the basin of the Rosyth Dockyard and anchored in the Firth of Forth. (4)
2 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800A/2, the new battleship Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed the Firth of Forth for trials and subsequently Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Berwick (Capt. G.H. Faulkner, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Punjabi (Cdr. S.A. Buss, MVO, RN) and HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN).
On leaving the Firth of Forth, they were joined off May Island by the destroyer HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) which came from Sheerness.
Around 0810A/3, the destroyer HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomas, DSC, RN) joined and took over from HMS Punjabi which then proceeded to Scapa Flow where she arrived 1010A/3.
The battleship, cruiser and the remaining destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow around 1605A/3. (5)
6 Nov 1941
Around 0900A/6, at Scapa Flow, A/V.Adm. A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, (Second-in-Command Home Fleet) hoisted his flag in HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN).
He had left Rosyth with his staff around 1600A/5, on board the destroyer HMS Montrose (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Phipps, OBE, RN). She had arrived alongside HMS Duke of York at Scapa Flow around 0800A/6 after which the passengers were disembarked. (6)
24 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exericses at Scapa Flow. (6)
25 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exericses at Scapa Flow. (6)
3 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (7)
8 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises and D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (7)
9 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Scapa Flow, A/V.Adm. A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, (Second-in-Command Home Fleet) transferred his flag from HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) to HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN).
HMS Duke of York departed Scapa Flow for Greenock around 1600A/9. She was escorted by HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN), HMS Foresight (Cdr. J.S.C. Salter, RN) and HMS Matabele (Cdr. A.C. Stanford, DSC, RN).
At 1253A/10, they were recalled and ordered to return to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 1010A/11.
They then departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde around 1630A/11 and arrived at Greenock around 1500A/12. (8)
13 Dec 1941
Around 1230A/13, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), with Prime Minister Churchill and staff on board, departed Greenock for Annapolis, Maryland, USA. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN), HMS Foresight (Cdr. J.S.C. Salter, RN) and HMS Matabele (Cdr. A.C. Stanford, DSC, RN).
Due to the bad weather conditions in the North Atlantic it was decided to proceed via the Azores. So the group first proceeded to the Irish Sea.
On the 14th speed had to be much reduced due to the bad weather conditions as otherwise the destroyers could not keep up. This was the same for the 15th.
On the 16th weather improved but due to the bad swell the destroyers still had trouble to keep up.
On the 17th the weather again deteriorated and around mid morning HMS Foresight had to heave to due to defects to her steering engine. She was able to catch up soon afterwards.
Shortly after 1800N/17, the destroyers were detached to fuel at the Azores after they had been relieved by HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and HMS Lightning (Cdr. R.G. Stewart, RN) coming from the Azores.
Late in the afternoon of 20 December 1941 the destroyers parted company to proceed to Bermuda and HMS Duke of York proceeded unescorted until she was joined late in the afternoon of the following day by the American destroyers USS Warrington (Lt.Cdr. H.R. Demarest, USN), USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Campbell, Jr., USN) and USS Bristol (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Wood, USN) which remained with her until the battleship arrived in Chesapeake Bay in the afternoon of 22 December 1941. The battleship then proceeded to the Norfolk Navy Yard where the passengers were disembarked to attend the Arcadia Conference. (7)
3 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715R/3, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed Norfolk, Virginia, USA for Bermuda. Prime Minister Churchull had decided to remain in the White House much longer then had been anticipated and it was therefore decided to sent the battleship to Bermuda to continue her work up programme there. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and HMS Lightning (Cdr. R.G. Stewart, RN). They arrived at Bermuda around 1045Q/5. (9)
7 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at anchor at Bermuda, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering exercises. (9)
9 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at anchor at Bermuda, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) held AA exercises while being ' attacked ' by American aircraft. (9)
13 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at anchor at Bermuda, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) held AA exercises while being ' attacked ' by American aircraft. (9)
14 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at anchor at Bermuda, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises. (9)
16 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at anchor at Bermuda, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises. (9)
17 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030P/17, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed Bermuda for the U.K. Prime Minister Churchill was not on board as he had decided to fly home on a flying boat with part of his entourage. The other part of his entourage had boarded the battleship for the passage.
On departure from Bermuda the battleship was escorted by the destroyers USS Lang (Lt.Cdr. E.A. Seay, USN), USS Edison (T/Cdr. A.C. Murdaugh, USN) and USS Nicholson (T/Cdr. J.S. Keating, USN).
At 1010N/21, the three American destroyers were relieved by the destroyers HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and HMS Lightning (Cdr. R.G. Stewart, RN) which came from St. Johns, Newfoundland.
Around 1300Z/23, the destroyer HMS Wivern (Cdr. M.D.C. Meyrick, RN) and escort destroyers HMS Badsworth (Lt. G.T.S. Gray, DSC, RN) and HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) joined.
Around 1730A/24, HMS Badsworth and HMS Lamerton were detached.
Around 2055A/24, HMS Highlander and HMS Harvester were detached.
Around 0015A/25, HMS Duke of York, HMS Lightning and HMS Wivern arrived at Greenock. (9)
29 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1315A/29, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1230A/30. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Verity (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Lauderdale (Lt. G.D. Pound, RN). (9)
11 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (10)
14 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow during which she was escorted by the destroyer HMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Grove (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Rylands, RN) and HMS Aldenham (Lt. J.M. Palmer, RN). (10)
19 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off and at Scapa Flow.
[No details available on a possible destroyer escort during her exercises when outside Scapa Flow.] (10)
26 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at and later off Scapa Flow.
[No details available on a possible destroyer escort during her exercises when outside Scapa Flow.] (10)
27 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises to the west of Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, OBE, RN) and HMS Tartar (Cdr. R.T. White, DSO, RN). (10)
3 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600Z/3, battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet), battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Kenya and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSC, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) and HMS Punjabi (Lt.Cdr. J.M.G. Waldegrave, DSC, RN) departed Hvalfjord, Iceland to provide distant cover for convoy PQ 12 to and convoy QP 8 from Northern Russia.
[For more info on these convoys see the event ' Convoys PQ 12 and QP 8 ' for 1 March 1942.] (11)
10 Mar 1942
Around 2330A/10, the battleships HMS King George V (Capt. W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Berwick (Capt. G.H. Faulkner, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A. de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. R.T. White, DSO, RN), HMS Javelin (Cdr. G.E. Fardell, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Grove (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Rylands, RN) and HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations. The destroyers HMS Lancaster (A/Cdr. N.H. Whatley, RN) and HMS Wells (Lt. L.J. Pearson, RN) as well as the escort destroyers HMS Woolston (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN) and Verdun (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC, RN) were detached from the force in the Pentland Firth. The destroyers then proceeded to Port ZA while the escort destroyers proceeded to Rosyth. (12)
22 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000A/22, the battleships HMS King George V (Capt. W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet), HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Punjabi (Lt.Cdr. J.M.G. Waldegrave, DSC, RN), HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destoyers HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt. R.deL. Brooke, RN) departed Scapa Flow to provide distant cover for convoy operations to and from Northern Russia.
[For more info on these convoys see the event ' Convoys PQ 13 and QP 9 ' for 20 March 1942.] (12)
7 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet) and USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, DSO, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), USS Wilson (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Sturges, USN), USS Sterett (T/Cdr. J.G. Coward, USN) and USS Madison (T/Cdr. W.B. Ammon, USN). (13)
22 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1920B/22, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet) departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord, Iceland where she arrived around 1015Z/24. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) and HMS Eskimo (Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN). (14)
1 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2045B/1, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet) departed from Hvalfiord for convoy cover operations. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN) and HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN).
[For more info see the event ' Convoys PQ 15 and QP 11 and the sinking of HMS Edinburgh and HMS Punjabi ' for 26 April 1942.] (15)
5 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2115B/5, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet), HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. A.S. Russell, RN), HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, DSO, RN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Martin (Cdr. C.R.P. Thomson, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN) and HMS Oribi (Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations. (16)
6 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Scapa Flow, Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN, second in command Home Fleet, transferred his flag from HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) to HMS Nelson (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN). (17)
11 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted RDF calibration trials at Scapa Flow. These were followed by gunnery exercises inside the Flow. (18)
12 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow.
[No details available on the destroyer escort.] (18)
15 May 1942
Around 0400B/15, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSC, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt. R.deL. Brooke, RN) departed Scapa Flow to provide cover for the passage of the damaged light cruiser HMS Trinidad from Northern Russia to Iceland.
[For more info see the event ' Attempted passage of the damaged light cruiser HMS Trinidad from northern Russia to Iceland ' for 12 May 1942.] (12)
17 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330Z/17, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN, with Rear-Admiral R.C. Griffen, USN on board), HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN, HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN), USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. L.P. Johnson, USN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSC, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, DSC, RN), USS Mayrant (Cdr. C.C. Hartman, USN), USS Rhind (Lt.Cdr. H.T. Read, USN), USS Rowan (Lt.Cdr. B.R. Harrison, Jr., USN), HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt. R.deL. Brooke, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord from operations. (12)
23 May 1942
Around midnight during the night of 22/23 May 1942, thebattleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN, with Rear-Admiral R.C. Griffen, USN on board), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN), heavy cruiers USS Wichita (Capt. H.W. Hill, USN), HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN), destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A. de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSC, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN), HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), and HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.de.L Brooke, RN) departed Hvalfiord to provide distant cover for convoy's PQ 16 and QP 12.
[For more info see the event ' Convoy operation to and from northern Russia, convoy's PQ 16 and QP 12 ' for 21 May 1942.] (12)
29 May 1942
Around 1700B/29, HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN, with Rear-Admiral R.C. Griffen, USN on board), HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN), USS Wichita (Capt. H.W. Hill, USN), USS Wainwright (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Gibbs, USN), USS Mayrant (Cdr. C.C. Hartman, USN), USS Rhind (Lt.Cdr. H.T. Read, USN), USS Rowan (Lt.Cdr. B.R. Harrison, Jr., USN), HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN), HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), and HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.de.L Brooke, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations (12)
2 Jun 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (19)
11 Jun 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (19)
12 Jun 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by destroyers but their identity is currently not known to us except that HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN) was one of them. (19)
16 Jun 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) briefly conducted a 14" gunnery calibration shoot at Scapa Flow. (19)
17 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) briefly conducted a 14" gunnery calibration shoot at Scapa Flow. (19)
19 Jun 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow.
[No details available on her destroyer escort.] (19)
16 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery and aircraft launching and recovering exercises at Scapa Flow. (20)
17 Jul 1942
The battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) escorted by the destroyers USS Hambleton (T/.Cdr. F. Close, USN), USS Rodman (T/Cdr. W.G. Michelet, USN), USS Emmons (T/Cdr. T.C. Ragan, USN) and USS Macomb (T/Cdr. W.H. Duvall, USN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. Also out for exercises were the light cruisers light cruiser HMS Manchester (Capt. H. Drew, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN), HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, CB, RN) and HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, RN).
During the night of 17/18 July 1942, HMS Jamaica remained at sea for night encounter exercises with the destroyer HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN). (21)
22 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (20)
26 Jul 1942
Around 1730B/26, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord, Iceland. She is escorted by the destroyers USS Hambleton (T/.Cdr. F. Close, USN), USS Rodman (T/Cdr. W.G. Michelet, USN), USS Emmons (T/Cdr. T.C. Ragan, USN) and USS Macomb (T/Cdr. W.H. Duvall, USN). The heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) was in company until 2135B/26 when she parted company to proceed to Greenock. (22)
Sources
- ADM 53/114890
- ADM 53/114151
- ADM 53/114152
- ADM 53/114153
- ADM 53/114154 + ADM 199/395 + ADM 199/399
- ADM 53/114154
- ADM 53/114155
- ADM 53/114155 + ADM 199/396 + ADM 199/399
- ADM 53/115826
- ADM 53/115827
- ADM 53/115828 + ADM 53/116121 + ADM 53/116521 + ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
- ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
- ADM 53/116522
- ADM 53/115829 + ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
- ADM 53/115830 + ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
- ADM 53/115830 + ADM 53/116123 + ADM 53/116737 + ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
- ADM 53/115830 + ADM 53/116350 + ADM 199/427
- ADM 53/116135
- ADM 53/116136
- ADM 53/115832
- ADM 53/115405 + ADM 53/115832 + ADM 53/117680
- ADM 53/115832 + ADM 199/427 + ADM 199/429
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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