• Home
• The U-boats
• The Men
• The Allies
• Maps
• Forums
• Articles
• Gallery
• Books
• Movies
• WWI

Allies in WWII

• Ships hit by U-boats
• Allied Warships
• Allied Commanders
  • Listing of officers
  • Decorations
  • Personal info
• Ships & Navies
• Aircraft & Air Forces
• Weapons & Techn.

Career information

Hilary Norman was married in Shanghai in 1934. He was the son of Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir William Henry Norman, and as such the descendant of a naval dynasty going back to the 18th century.

His wife died in Somerset in 1997.

Escort Carrier HMS Battler (D 18)

1 Nov 1944
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. She was escorted by HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN). (1)

2 Nov 1944
From 2 to 6 November 1944, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying exercises off Trincomalee. On departure, she was, most likely escorted by HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN). HMS Raider seems to have been replaced by HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) on the 3rd.

Around 1700FG/5, HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) replaced HMS Relentless.

They returned to harbour in the afternoon of the 6th. (1)

7 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Trincomalee for the U.K. via the Mediterranean. The first leg of the trip is to Suez.

On departure from Trincomalee she is escorted by HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN).

Late in the morning of 8 November 1944 the arrived off Colombo where the escorts parted company and a new escort joined, the sloop Dumont d'Urville. Sh however developed engine defects that evening and had to part company after HMS Battler continued her passage unescorted. (1)

18 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Shortly after 0800B/18, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) arrived at Suez from Trincomalee.

It had meanwhile been decided to employ HMS Battler to ferry aircraft to Australia and then return to the U.K. via the Panama Canal afterwards. (1)

23 Nov 1944
After having embarked aircraft, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Suez around 0900B/23 for Aden but while en-route she was ordered to proceed to Cochin. (1)

2 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030FG/2, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) arrived at Cochin from Suez. (2)

6 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900FG/6, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Cochin for Colombo. She was escorted by HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN). (2)

7 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1230FG/7, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) and HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN) arrived at Colombo from Cochin. (2)

2 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) is docked at the Cockatoo Dockyard at Sydney. (3)

4 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) is undocked. (3)

12 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645K/12, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Sydney for Balboa. (3)

1 Feb 1945
Around 1030R/1, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) arrived at Balboa from Sydney. (4)

2 Feb 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) made the eastbound passage of the Panama Canal. (4)

3 Feb 1945
Around 0845R/3, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Cristobal for Norfolk, Virginia. She was escorted by the destroyer USS Barker (Lt. H. Smith, USNR). (4)

8 Feb 1945
In the afternoon, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) and USS Barker (Lt. H. Smith, USNR) arrived at Norfolk, Virginia from Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. (4)

13 Feb 1945
Around 1100Q/13, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Norfolk, Virginia for New York. She was escorted by USS Moberly (?). (4)

14 Feb 1945
Around 1230Q/14, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) and USS Moberly (?) arrived at New York from Norfolk. (4)

19 Feb 1945

Convoy CU 59.

This convoy departed New York on 19 February 1945.

On departure it was made up of the following ships (New York Section);
Allatoona (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), Briar Creek (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Cape Avinof (American, 5124 GRT, built 1945), Cape Diamond (American, 5124 GRT, built 1944), Churubusco (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Crow Wing (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Edge Hill (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Empire Bounty (British (tanker), 12000 GRT, built 1944), Fort Ridgley (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), French Creek (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), James Lykes (American, 6760 GRT, built 1940), Lightning (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Marine Devil (American, 11757 GRT, built 1944), Marine Raven (American, 11757 GRT, built 1943), Marine Wolf (American, 11757 GRT, built 1944), Noonday (), Ocean Mail (), Paulus Hook (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Pine Bluff (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Queenston Heights (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1943), Robin Locksley (American, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Salmon Falls (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), Scotts Bluff (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1945), Sea Nymph (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Sea Robin (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944), Sea Serpent (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Surprise (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Towanda Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), Waxhaws (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Woodstock Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944) and Yaka (American, 6165 GRT, built 1944).

The escort carrier, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) [in an aircraft ferry role] and troop transport USS Monticello (Capt. L. Frisco, USNR) were also part of the convoy as was the RFA tanker Wave Empreror (8196 GRT, built 1944),

On departure from New York the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Winslow (T/Cdr. W.T. Samuels, USN, with T/Capt. W.L. Benson, USN on board (Commander Task Group 61.1)) and the destroyer escorts USS Thomas W. Gary (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Ayer, USNR, with Cdr. T.G. Murrell, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 57)), USS Brister (Lt.Cdr. R.D Tucker, USNR), USS Finch (Lt.Cdr. C.D. LeHardy, USNR), USS Mills (Lt.Cdr. V. Pfeiffer, USCG) and USS Richey (Lt. R.J. Auge, USCG).

At 0720Q/20, the Woodstock Victory had to stop due to engine trouble. USS Richey was detailed to escort her. They rejoined the convoy around 1930Q/20.

Around 1830Q/20, the Boston section of the convoy joined. This had departed Boston on the 19th and was made up of the following ships Bienville (American, 7626 GRT, built 1943), Hastings (American, 6065 GRT, built 1944), John Ericsson (American, 16552 GRT, built 1928), Edmund B. Alexander (American, 21329 GRT, built 1905) and USS Lejeune (T/Capt. F.W. MacDonald, USN).

On departure from Boston this section was escorted by the escort destroyers USS Sellstrom (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Morrison, USCG with Cdr. J.H. Forney, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 23)), USS Ramsden (Lt.Cdr. S.T. Baketel, USCGR), USS Rhodes (Lt. A.C. Wagner, USCG) and USS Savage (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Norton, USCGR).

At 0530O/24, the Cape Diamond had to stop due to engine trouble. USS Ramsden was detailed to escort her. They rejoined the convoy around 1800N/25.

At 0730N/26, in approximate position 47°49'N, 22°45'W, the Irish Sea section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the following ships; Allatoona, Briar Creek, Churubusco, Empire Bounty, Fort Ridgley, French Creek, Paulus Hook, Wave Emperor and HMS Battler. USS Thomas W. Gary, USS Brister and USS Savage went with them as escorts.

At 1100A/28, to the west of Brest, the escort of the Channel section was reinforced by the destroyer HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN) and the escort destroyers HMS Tanatside (Cdr. B.J. de St. Croix, DSC, RN) and HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.D.E. Vivian, DSC, RN).

At 0030A/1, HMCS Iroquois was detached.

At 0045A/1, the escort of the Channel section was further reinforced by the frigates HMCS New Waterford (T/A/Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, DSC, RCNR), HMCS Teme (T/Lt. D.P. Harvey, RCNVR), HMCS Loch Achanalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.W. Hart, RCNVR), HMCS Loch Morlich (T/Lt. G.F. Crosby, RCNVR) and HMS Hotham (A/Lt.Cdr. S. Ayles, RNR).

At 0145A/1, the Pine Bluff and Sea Serpent were detached to Cherbourg escorted by HMCS New Waterford, HMCS Loch Achanalt and HMS Hotham.

At 0500A/1, the Edge Hill was detached to Southampton. Apparently unescorted.

At 0800A/1, the Cape Avinoff, Crow Wing, James Lykes, Lightning, Ocean Mail, Queenston Heights, Salmon Falls, Scotts Bluff and Waxhaws were detached to proceed to ports on the east coast of the U.K / Antwerp. They were escorted by HMS Tanatside and HMS Brissenden.

The remainder of the convoy arrived in Le Havre roads around 1330A/1. HMCS Teme and HMCS Loch Morlich were detached.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Irish Sea section had meanwhile proceeded towards the North Channel and was joined at 1635A/28, to the north of Ireland, in position 56°14'N, 07°59'W, by Force 33, which was made up of 4 corvettes of the 30th Escort Group; HMS Pevensey Castle (Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR), HMS Caistor Castle (A/Lt.Cdr. H. Hutchinson, RN), HMS Kenilworth Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.J. Allon, RNR) and HMS Launceston Castle (Lt. R.M. Roberts, RNR).

At 2345A/28, in position 55°08'N, 05°50'W the Empire Bounty was detached to Belfast escorted by USS Savage.

At 0500A/1, west of the Isle of Man, in position 54°04'N, 05°06'W the British support group Force 33 parted company.

At 0605A/1, in position 53°45'N, 05°08'W the Barry Roads section of the convoy was detached escorted by USS Brister. It arrived in the Bristol Channel late on the 1st.

USS Thomas W. Gary meanwhile continued with the Liverpool section, which included HMS Battler. The Liverpool section arrived at its destination in the afternoon of the 1st.

4 Mar 1945
Around 1700A/4, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Liverpool for Greenock where arrived around 1115A/5. She was escorted by HMS Lotus (T/Lt. T.S. Cox, RNVR).

HMS Battler was to join the carrier training group based in the Clyde area. (5)

24 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburg. (6)

30 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (6)

1 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

2 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

4 May 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

5 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

9 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

10 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

11 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

12 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

13 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

14 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

17 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

19 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

20 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

21 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

22 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

24 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

25 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

26 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

27 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (7)

28 May 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde / North Channel area. She ended the day at Belfast Lough. (7)

29 May 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Belfast Lough. (7)

30 May 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Belfast Lough. (7)

31 May 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Belfast Lough to Rothesay.

[No logbook of HMS Battler is available for the month of June 1945, therefore no details for this month can be given.]

She left Rothesay on 2 June 1945 for Methil where she arrived on 4 June 1945. Flying training then continued in that area. (8)

2 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

3 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

4 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

5 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

7 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Methil to Rosyth. (9)

9 Jul 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to Methil. (9)

10 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

12 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

14 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Methil to Rosyth. (9)

16 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to the Methil area where flying exercises were carried out. (9)

17 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

18 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

19 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

20 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

21 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Methil to Rosyth. (9)

23 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to the Methil area where flying exercises were carried out. (9)

24 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil on completion of which she proceeded to Rosyth. (9)

26 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to the Methil area where flying exercises were carried out. (9)

27 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

28 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

29 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Methil to Rosyth. (9)

30 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to the Methil area where flying exercises were carried out. (9)

31 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (9)

1 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

2 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Methil to Rosyth. (10)

6 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to Methil where flying exercises were carried out. (10)

7 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

8 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

10 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

11 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

12 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil. (10)

13 Aug 1945
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil on completion of which course was set for Greenock. (10)

15 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) arrived at Greenock from Methil. (10)

28 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) departed Greenock for Methil. (10)

30 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) arrived at Methil from Greenock. She then carried out flying exercises. (10)

31 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil.

[HMS Battler continued flying training duties for almost the remainder of the year.] (10)

You can help improve officers Hilary Norman's page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this officer.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve his page.

• Front page
• About
• Contact us
• FAQ
• Glossary
• What's new

 © 1995 - 2024 Guðmundur Helgason