Eric Roland John Oddie DSO, RN
| Born | 10 Apr 1903 | ||
| Died | 2 Dec 1980 | (77) |
| Ranks
Retired: 1 Aug 1947 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Eric Roland John Oddie, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Narwhal (N 45) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 18 Jul 1939 | 26 Feb 1940 |
| HMS Triad (N 53) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 27 Feb 1940 | 15 Aug 1940 |
| HMS Indomitable (92) | Cdr. | Aircraft Carrier | 24 Jan 1944 | 30 Jan 1944 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Narwhal (N 45)
4 Sep 1939
After completing a refit at the Devonport Dockyard HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) carried out trials off Plymouth.
Upon completion of these trials course was set for Portsmouth. She was escorted by HMS Shikari (Cdr. J.H. Lewis, RN). (1)
5 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (1)
6 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
7 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. This included laying six dummy mines. (1)
14 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
15 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. This included laying ten dummy mines. (1)
19 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
20 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
26 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
27 Sep 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
3 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Portland. (2)
10 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
11 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
12 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
13 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
16 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
18 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
19 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
20 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
21 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
26 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Portland. (2)
31 Oct 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) shifted from Portland to Portsmouth. (2)
3 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed Portsmouth for passage to Rosyth. She made the passage together with HMS Snapper (Lt. W.D.A. King, RN). They were escorted by HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Dover, RN).
In the afternoon they put into Sheerness to await a convoy for onward passage. (3)
4 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is ordered to return to Portsmouth instead of proceeding to Rosyth. (3)
7 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed Sheerness for Portsmouth. At sea he joined HMS L 27 (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) and their escort HMS Saltburn (Lt.Cdr. G.E.C. Wood, RN). (3)
8 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (3)
11 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) was docked at Portsmouth. (3)
14 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) was undocked. (3)
15 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed Portsmouth for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to proceed to Halifax, Canada escorting convoy OA 36 part of the way.
For the daily positions of HMS Narwhal during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
19 Nov 1939
Convoy OA 36 was dispersed. HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) now proceeded to Halifax. (4)
27 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Halifax. (4)
29 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted A/S exercises with HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN) and Canadian destroyers. (4)
30 Nov 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted A/S exercises with Canadian destroyers. (4)
2 Dec 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed Halifax together with HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN). They were to proceed to the U.K. escorting convoy HXF 11 en-route.
This was Narwhal's 2nd war patrol.
For the daily positions of HMS Narwhal during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
14 Dec 1939
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Portsmouth. (4)
8 Jan 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed Portsmouth for Rosyth. She made the passage together with HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN).
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this passage. (3)
10 Jan 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) arrived at Rosyth. (3)
14 Jan 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises in the Firth of Forth. (3)
15 Jan 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) joined convoy ON 8 off Methil. The convoy was to proceed to Bergen, Norway where it arrived on the 19th.
At Bergen convoy HN 8 was then formed. This convoy was then escorted to Methil where it arrived on the 22th.
This was Narwhal's 3rd war patrol. As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (4)
22 Jan 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Rosyth. (4)
4 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises in the Firth of Forth. (3)
5 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) joined convoy ON 10 off Methil. The convoy was to proceed to Bergen, Norway where it arrived on the 8th.
At Bergen convoy HN 10 was then formed. This convoy was then escorted to Methil where it arrived safely on the 11th.
This was Narwhal's 4th war patrol. As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (4)
11 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) arrived back at Methil with convoy HN 10.
At Methil she joined convoy ON 11 that was to proceed to Bergen. (4)
12 Feb 1940
During the night of 11/12 February 1940 HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) lost contact with convoy ON 11. Narwhal then returned to Rosyth where she arrived later this day ending her 4th war patrol. (4)
17 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) joined convoy ON 14 off Methil. The convoy was to proceed to Bergen, Norway where it arrived with some delay on the 22th.
The convoy put into Kirkwall on the 19th as German surface ships had been spotted in the North Sea. The convoy departed again on the 20th.
At Bergen convoy HN 14 was then formed. This convoy was then escorted to Methil where it arrived on the 26th.
This was Narwhal's 5th war patrol. As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (4)
26 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Rosyth. (4)
Submarine HMS Triad (N 53)
28 Feb 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. (5)
2 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is undocked. (3)
13 Mar 1940
Around 0030A/13, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 6th war patrol. She was part of operation R.3. She was to proceed to the west of Denmark and then wait for orders to enter the Baltic in a last ditch effort to help Finland. A few hours later Finland signs the armistice and operation R.3 is cancelled.
For the daily positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
17 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) proceeded to a new patrol area to west-north-west of her current patrol position. (6)
21 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In position 56°51'N, 04°25'E, in the central North Sea, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) stopped the Dutch merchant vessel Iris (905 GRT, built 1920). She was allowed to proceed. (6)
24 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed her patrol area for approximate position 57°20'N, 08°08'E (Skagerrak). (6)
25 Mar 1940
HMS Triad observed the German merchant ship Ostpreussen (3014 GRT, built 1920) being aground off Hirtshalls. She is in Danish territorial waters and there she was not attacked.
HMS Triad departed the area after dark for the Lister area off the south coast of Norway where she subsequently patrolled for a day after which she left patrol to return to Rosyth in the evening of the 26th. (6)
28 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Rosyth. (6)
8 Apr 1940
Around 0920A/8, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
11 Apr 1940 (position 58.30, 10.35)
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) torpedoed and damaged the German transport Ionia (3102 GRT, built 1922) in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord, Norway in position 58°30'N, 10°35'E. The damaged ship sank the next day after salvage attempts had failed.
0630A/11, Commenced attack on 4000 tons merchant vessel in position 58°55'N, 10°32'E. Two torpedoes were fired, the second torpedo hit the target. She sank around 0705A/11 after an attempt to take her in tow fails.
Triad was hunted by A/S trawlers (most likely from the 7th VP Flotilla) during the remainder of the day. Enemy A/S activity by aircraft and ships in this area would high for the entire time HMS Triad was there. (6)
12 Apr 1940
During the morning, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) was hunted by three A/S trawlers but she managed to escape from them.
Around 1700A/12, three German destroyers (identified as Type 1934) were seen leaving the Oslofjord and proceeding southwards. No attack was possible as they were out of range. An enemy report was sent by W/T. These were however not Type 1934 destroyers but three old torpedo boats from the Torpedo School Flotilla; T-107, T-108 and T-110 which left the Oslofjord for Frederikshavn around that time. (7)
13 Apr 1940 (position 58.52, 10.20)
At 1250A/13, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is bombed by an aircraft while submerged at 50 feet. The sea is glassy calm but the submarine escapes damage (position is near 58°52'N, 10°20'E). This was the second time she was bombed from the air that day. In the morning, no time and position given, she had also been bombed without sustaining damage.
At 2200A/13, two destroyers were sighted passing astern. HMS Triad was in the path of the moon. No attack was possible as HMS Triad had no stern tube. As the destroyers appeared to be turning towards so HMS Triad dived but she was not attacked. (6)
14 Apr 1940 (position 58.49, 10.45)
While still patrolling off the Oslo Fjord, an area that was still heavily patrolled by German A/S vessels and aircraft, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) attacks a convoy of two merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer.
Later HMS Triad attacked a destroyer with torpedoes. Both attacks however failed to produce hits on the targets.
The first attack was most likely on the convoy made up of the transports Urundi (5791 GRT, built 1920) and Utlandshörn (2642 GRT, built 1928) escorted at that time by six auxiliary minesweepers from the 11th M-Flotilla; M 1101, M 1102, M 1103, M 1104, M 1105 and M 1106. The convoy was en-route from Kiel to Oslo.
The destroyers sighted (and attacked) may have been the torpedo boats Jaguar and Falke en-route from Kristiansand to Frederickshavn.
1748A/14, in position 58°49'N, 10°45'E fired two torpedoes against two merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer. Range was very long, 12000 yards. No hits were obtained.
2130A/14, Surfaced.
2204A/14, Sighted a destroyer in position 58°44'N, 10°19'E. Fired two torpedoes. Range was 2 nautical miles. No hits were obtained.
2205A/14 - Dived. Another ship, though to be a cruiser passed overhead. (6)
15 Apr 1940 (position 58.43, 9.50)
While charging the batteries on the surface HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is detected by an enemy surface vessel. Triad dived and was depth charged.
These events had most likely something to do with the sinking of the German gunnery training ship Brummer that was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Sterlet around that time also in this area. Brummer was escorted by the torpedo boats Falke, Jaguar and the sloop F 5.
2312A/15, in position 58°43'N, 09°50'E two flares were fired into the air about one nautical mile away. Triad dived and was subsequently depth charged. Eight charges were dropped, all were fairly close.
0047A/16, surfaced. (6)
18 Apr 1940
In the evening HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN), which had been patrolling off Arendal for a few days, set course to return to the area to the south of the Oslofjord. (6)
19 Apr 1940 (position 58.18, 10.49)
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) fires four torpedoes against a German convoy in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord in position 58°18'N, 10°49'E. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.
The targets were actually M 81/Nautilus escorting the transports Moltekefels (7862 GRT, built 1940), Hanau (5892 GRT, built 1921) and Porto Alegre (6105 GRT, built 1936) that were returning from the Oslofjord to Germany.
0445A19, sighted ' what was thought to be the German depot ship Tsingtao escorted by four A/S trawlers. Started attack.
0459A/19, in position 58°18'N, 10°49'E fired four torpedoes from 9000 yards. All missed. (6)
20 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) attacked a German convoy with six torpedoes. One or two hits were claimed.
This convoy was made up of transports Togo (5042 GRT, built 1938) and Pionier (3264 GRT, built 1934). They were escorted by the torpedo-boats Jaguar, Falke, escort vessels F-5, F-8 and five R-boats. No torpedo hits were obtained. Three torpedo track wwere seen by F-8 and it was this escort which dropped the depth charges.
0930A/20, sighted a convoy of three ships escorted by four destroyers and one MTB.
1008A/20, near position 58°14'N, 10°50'E fired six torpedoes from 2700 yards. Triad went deep upon firing. One or two hits were claimed.
1020A/20, depth charging started. They were quite close causing some minor damage. Triad retired to the South at slow speed. HE slowly faded away.
Triad had now expanded all torpedoes so after dark, on surfacing, course was set to return to Rosyth. (8)
23 Apr 1940
Around 0800A/23, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Rosyth. (6)
6 May 1940
Around 1900A/6, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea to the North-West of the Dutch coast.
For the positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
9 May 1940 (position 53.22, 3.36)
At 0047A/9, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) sighted a submarine on the surface in position 53°22'N, 03°36'E. This was thought to be the French submarine Calypso (Lieutenant de Vaisseau (= Lt.) J.M. Petit) but this was not the case.
In fact it was the German U-boat U-7 that also reported sighting a submarine at 0144B/9 in position 53°21N, 03°45'E. (9)
15 May 1940 (position 54.36, 4.00)
Around 1206A/15, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) stops the Danish fishing trawler Siscator (33 GRT) in position 54°36'N, 04°00'E. (The Danish trawler was fishing from the Dutch port of IJmuiden). After inspection she was allowed to proceed. (6)
16 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2200A/16, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) surfaced in position 54°42'N, 03°35'E after a days submerged patrol. Course was then set to return to Rosyth. (6)
18 May 1940
Shortly after 0730A/18, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Rosyth. (6)
29 May 1940
Around 1800A/29, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea to the North-West of the Dutch coast.
For the daily positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
12 Jun 1940
Shortly before 0600A/12, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Rosyth. The patrol had been uneventful. (6)
15 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is docked in the floating dock (AFD 3) at the Rosyth Dockyard. (10)
19 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is undocked. (10)
25 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (10)
27 Jun 1940
Around 2000A/27, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the West coast of Norway, near Trondheim.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
28 Jun 1940 (position 57.24, 0.36)
At 0855A/28, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is bombed in position 57°24'N, 00°36'E by a biplane believed to have been a German Heinkel 59. HMS Triad fortunately escapes without damage. (6)
3 Jul 1940 (position 64.53, 7.59)
At 2330A/3, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is bombed near position near 64°53'N, 07°59'E by a flying boat as the submarine is charging her batterie. Again HMS Triad suffers no damage.
(6)
7 Jul 1940 (position 65.15, 8.32)
At 1930 hours HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is bombed by a seaplane near position 65°15'N, 08°32'E and sustains slight damage to the CO2 cooling system, lamps and telephones. (6)
9 Jul 1940
HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) makes a torpedo attack on a so far unidentified vessel. The vessel had Swedish markings on her side but might have been a German Q-ship.
0525A/9, in position 65°29'N, 07°03'E fired two torpedoes at a vessel with Swedish markings on her side. The target was about the size of a large trawler. Range was 1000 yards. Both torpedoes were set to 4 feet and due to the heavy swell they may have been affected and missed. (6)
11 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0615A/11, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) left patrol to return to Rosyth. (6)
13 Jul 1940
Around 0600A/13, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Rosyth. (6)
27 Jul 1940
At 2025A/27, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the West coast of Norway, near Bergen.
For the positions of HMS Triad during this patrol see the map below.
(6)
2 Aug 1940
At 2230A/22, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) left patrol to return to Rosyth. She left patrol early as she is to leave home waters and join the Mediterranean Fleet. (6)
3 Aug 1940 (position 58.33, 1.23)
HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) attacks the German U-Boat U-46 with gunfire. U-46 dived before hits were obtained.
2218A/3, dived near position 58°33'N, 01°23'E. Almost at once picked up loud diesel HE. Shortly afterwards sighted a type 7 U-boat 1000 yards away.
2230A/3, surfaced for gun action. Fired three rounds at a range of 3500 yards before the U-boat dived. The last shot was seen to fall close to the U-boat.
2235A/3, dived and manoeuvred to attack with torpedoed or to ram. Contact was however soon lost. (11)
4 Aug 1940
Around 1940A/4, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) ended her 11th war patrol at Rosyth. (6)
8 Aug 1940
HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) proceeded from Rosyth to Dundee. She was escorted by HMS White Bear (Capt. R. Gill, RD, RNR).
9 Aug 1940
HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) is docked in the eastern graving dock at Dundee for a short refit before she is to proceed to the Mediterranean. (12)
Sources
- ADM 173/15791
- ADM 173/15792
- ADM 199/373
- ADM 199/1827
- ADM 173/16612
- ADM 199/1847
- ADM 199/1847 + war diary of the German torpedo school flottilla for 12 to 15 April 1940 (NARA roll T1022/2682)
- ADM 199/1847 + war diariy of the German torpedo boat Jaguar for the period of 16 to 30 April 1940 (NARA T1022 roll 3109)
- ADM 199/1847 + KTB U-7 (NARA T1022 roll 3113)
- ADM 173/16615
- ADM 199/1847 + KTB U-46 (NARA T1022 roll 3116)
- ADM 173/16617
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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