• 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

Evening Post (Wellington, NZ), Volume CX, Issue 109, Wednesday 5 November 1930, Page 15
A naval wedding of much interest took place at St. Mark's Church, Auckland, yesterday after-noon, when Jcnii Kathleen Florence, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Lawford, "Edenholme," Remuera, Auckland, was married to Lieutenant Vivian J Corman Thew, of H.M.S. Laburnum, son of Madame Despordes and the late Major N. Thew, Northumberland, England. The church was decorated in shades of lemon and gold summer flowers, the Rev. G. J. Cruickshanks officiating. Mr. Pascoe was at the organ. The bride, who was escorted by her brother, Mr. John Curling Lawford, wore a frock of cream triple ninon, embroidered in all-over design of delicate gold roses. The frock was made in simple old English fashion, long gold tassels falling from the picture cuffs and finishing the draped train, which fell in two fish points. Her veil was of Brussels lace, and was fastened with clusters of orange blossoms. She carried a large sheaf of white and yellow tea roses. The three bridesmaids were Misses Joeelyn Riddiford (Wellington), Audrey Horton and Marjorie Vaile. They wore dainty organdie frocks shaded from primrose to deep russet pink, the skirts alternating the shades in graduated tucks. The bodices were finished with Berte collars, and they wore gold Juliet caps trellised with pearls. They carried golden coloured bouquets. Little Betsy Reed was a train-bearer, and Michael Russell and Warwick Gray were pages. The best man was Lieutenant Westmacott, and the groomsmen Surgeon-Commander Quinn and Lieutenant J. Warrand. The ushers were Messrs. Dennis Lawford, Jack. Russell, Bruce Elliott, and Mervyn Reed. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents. A huge marquee was erected in the garden, and all the decorations were in the same shades as the bridesmaid's frocks. (source: Evening post, Wellington, NZ).

Evening Post (Wellington, NZ), Volume CXXXIII, Issue 66, Thursday 19 March 1942, Page 9
The commander of the British destroyer Jupiter, which was sunk in the Java Sea battle, was Commander Vivian Thew, R.N., who has served twice on the New Zealand Station. He married Miss Jean Lawford, daughter of Mrs. C. E. Lawford, of Auckland, in 1930. Commander Thew, who first visited New Zealand with the special service squadron in 1924, later served here in H.M.S. Laburnum for three years. After being transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, he returned to H.M.S. Philomel. He later went to England and was on the destroyer Basilisk. As commander of the destroyer Anthony, Commander Thew took part in an engagement led by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten in January,, 1941, when a squadron of destroyers sank several enemy supply ships off the Hook of Holland. He spent three days at the evacuation of Dunkirk. Aged about 35, Commander Thew joined the Royal Navy in 1918 and served on the China Station as a cadet. (source: Evening post, Wellington, NZ)

He died in Auckland, New Zealand on 8 December 1972 and was cremated 9 December 1972 at the Puwera Crematorium. His widow died in Southland NZ on 7 September 2000.

Destroyer HMS Anthony (H 40)

1 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. N.J.V. Thew, RN) picks up 27 survivors from the Greek merchant Efploia that was torpedoed and sunk earlier that day by German U-boat U-101 about 130 nautical miles north-west of Ireland in position 55°27'N, 13°17'W.

26 Sep 1940
HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. N.J.V. Thew, RN) picks up 42 survivors from the British passenger ship City of Benares that was torpedoed and sunk on 18 September 1940 by German U-boat U-48 253 nautical miles west-south-west of Rockall in position 56°43'N, 21°15'W.

Destroyer HMS Jupiter (F 85)

18 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) shifted from Dartmouth to Plymouth. (1)

1 Dec 1940
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Plymouth at 1055 hours to join HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) and HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) at sea. Apparently she was to relieve HMS Jackal which was to proceed to Immingham with defects.

The destroyers then joined the minelayer HMS Adventure (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN) which had departed Milford Haven at 1000 hours to lay minefield GQ 1 off the Little Sole Bank early on 2 December.

23 Jan 1941
Around 1640A/23, HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Plymouth for Gibraltar where they were expected to arrive around 1300A/26. (2)

26 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Plymouth. (2)

12 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) is docked at Gibraltar for inspection. It was found that there was damage to the rudder which would take about eight days to repair. (2)

24 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN), departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow where she was to work-up. (2)

26 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) is ordered to proceed to Londonderry, refuel and then proceed into the North-Atlantic to join the destroyer screen of the battleship HMS Rodney (Capt. F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, RN).

HMS Jupiter arrived at Londonderry later the same day. She quickly fuelled and then immediately departed again. (2)

27 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Shortly after 1700 hours, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), joined the Home Fleet at sea. (3)

29 May 1941
Around 1230 hours, HMS King George V (Capt. W.R. Patterson, CVO, RN, flying the flag of A/Adm. J.C. Tovey, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO, RN), HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. S.A. Buss, MVO, RN), HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, RAN) and HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN) arrived at Loch Ewe.

30 May 1941
HMS King George V (Capt. W.R. Patterson, CVO, RN, flying the flag of A/Adm. J.C. Tovey, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, DSO, RN), HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, RAN) and HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN) departed Loch Ewe for Scapa Flow around 0600 hours. They arrived at Scapa Flow around 1300 hours.

The destroyers HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. S.A. Buss, MVO, RN) and HMS Zulu (Cdr. H.R. Graham, DSO, RN) had sailed with them but parted company soon after departure to proceed to Scapa Flow ahead of the other ships. (4)

25 Jun 1941
The light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) and the destroyers HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Scapa Flow to intercept a German weather reporting ship that was operating near Jan Mayen Island. (4)

26 Jun 1941
HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) fuelled at Skaalefjord before proceeding towards the vicinity of Jan Mayen Island. (5)

30 Jun 1941
HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow at 1630 hours followed by HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) at 2200 hours. (4)

4 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Scapa Flow. (6)

5 Jul 1941
With her work-up programme complete and after being undocked from the floating dock, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), departed Scapa Flow for Greenock where she is to undergo some repairs before being sent to the Mediterranean. (4)

6 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at the Scott's shipyard at Greenock. (2)

12 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Greenock for Liverpool where more repairs would be undertaken. (2)

13 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Liverpool. (2)

31 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her repairs now completed, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), departed Liverpool for the Clyde. (2)

1 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived in the Clyde. (2)

9 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Ponta Delgada to fuel after which she immediately departed again to rejoin convoy WS 10. (2)

26 Aug 1941
Around 0900Z/26, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel. After doing so she departed around 1700Z/26 for Simonstown. (7)

30 Aug 1941
Around 0930B/30, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Simonstown from St. Helena. (7)

2 Sep 1941
Around 1945B/2, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Simonstown for Durban. (7)

5 Sep 1941
Around 0640B/5, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Durban from Simonstown. (7)

12 Sep 1941
Around 1720B/12, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini. (7)

16 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Kilindini from Durban. (2)

17 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Kilindini for Aden. (2)

21 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Aden from Kilindini. After fuelling she departed later the same day for Suez. (2)

24 Sep 1941
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Port Said from Aden having passed the Suez Canal northbound this day.

She departed Port Said for Alexandria later the same day. (2)

25 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Fleet. (2)

18 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said to pick up HMS Glenroy (Capt.(Retd.) Sir J.F. Paget, RN) and escort her to Alexandria. (8)

19 Oct 1941
HMS Glenroy (Capt.(Retd.) Sir J.F. Paget, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (8)

23 Oct 1941
The light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN) and HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN) departed Alexandria around 0845B/23 on a bombardment operation.

During the night of 23/24 October the light cruisers and the escort destroyers bombarded the Bardia area. Petrol dumps and a building, thought to be the Army headquarters were the main targets.

The four fleet destroyers had been detached and bombarded the Sollum area.

All ships then returned to Alexandria. The cruisers arrived around 1145B/24. (8)

25 Oct 1941
The light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) and the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN), HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN), HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN) and HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria around 1400B/25 for further bombardment operations.

The light cruisers and the destroyers HMAS Napier, HMAS Nizam and HMS Hasty bombarded the Bardia area during the night of 25/26 October.

The destroyers HMS Jervis, HMS Jaguar, HMS Jupiter and HMS Kimberley were detached to go to the assistance of the fast minelayer HMS Latona (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) which had been bombed and later sank as result of the damage.

All ships returned to Alexandria very late in the morning or in the first half of the afternoon of the 26th. (8)

15 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) departed Alexandria to proceed to the Far East. (8)

16 Nov 1941
Having transited the Suez Canal southbound, HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), departed Suez for Aden. (2)

19 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) arrived at Aden. (2)

20 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) departed Aden for Colombo. (2)

26 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) arrived at Colombo. (2)

28 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee but they returned to Colombo later the same day due to defects in HMS Encounter. (9)

6 Dec 1941
HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) returned to Singapore.

HMS Jupiter was then taken in hand for repairs which were thought to take about three weeks. (10)

21 Dec 1941

Convoy BM 9A.

This convoy departed Bombay on 21 December 1941 and arrived at Singapore on 3 January 1942.

It was was made up of the following ships; Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Lancashire (British, 9445 GRT, built 1917), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926), Ethiopia (British 5575 GRT, built 1922) and Varsova (British, 4691 GRT, built 1914).

On departure from Bombay it was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. H. Hickling, DSO, RN) and the patrol vessel HMIS Sonavati (T/Lt. G.W. Barnes, RINR).

At 1340/22, in position 14°03'N, 73°02'E, HMIS Sonavati obtained a strong A/S contact and attacked with six depth charges but the contact appeared to be non-sub.

On 24 December the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) and sloop HMS Falmouth (Cdr. U.H.R. James, RN) departed Colombo and they joined the convoy around 0800EF/25 in position 05°20'N, 80°00'E. HMS Glasgow then parted company with the convoy.

On 27 December HMS Falmouth and HMIS Sonavati parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Colombo.

Around 1200GH/30, in position 02°22'S, 98°00'E, the light cruisers HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Dragon (A/Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and the destroyer HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) joined the convoy.

Around 1530GH/31, in position 06°10'S, 101°52'E the destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) joined the convoy.

The Dutch light cruisers HrMs De Ruyter (Cdr. E.E.B. Lacomblé, RNN and flagship of Rear-Admiral K.W.F.M. Doorman, RNN), HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN) and the Dutch destroyers HrMs Piet Hein (Lt.Cdr. J.M.L.I. Chompff, RNN) and HrMs Banckert (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Goslings, RNN) departed Batavia on 1 January 1942 to reinforce the convoy escort. The Dutch ships joined the convoy at 1345GH/1 and remained with the convoy until 2000GH/2.

The convoy arrived safely at Singapore on 3 January 1942. (9)

24 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) departed Singapore (presumably for patrol). (11)

26 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) returned to Singapore. (11)

28 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Singapore. (12)

31 Dec 1941
HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) joined the escort of convoy BM 9A. Earlier (most likely on 30 December) they had made a short stop at Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies, presumably to fuel.

[See the event ' Convoy BM 9A ' for 21 December 1941 for more information on this convoy.]

9 Jan 1942
The auxiliary minelayer HMS Teviotbank (Cdr.(Retd.) R.D. King-Harman, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Singapore for Trincomalee. She was escorted through the Sunda Strait by the destroyers HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) which had joined her from Batavia. The destroyers parted company in the evening and then set course to join convoy DM 1.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy DM 1 ' for 30 December 1941.] (10)

10 Jan 1942
Having parted company with the auxiliary minelayer HMS Teviotbank (Cdr.(Retd.) R.D. King-Harman, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), the destroyers HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) joined convoy DM 1 in position 05°30'S, 100°55'E around 1330 hours.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy DM 1 ' for 30 December 1941.]

12 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) departed Singapore for Batavia. They had on board a party of naval ratings and Army personnel no longer required at Singapore.

En-route HMS Jupiter was ordered to the Palembang area to escort tankers from there to Batavia.

17 Jan 1942 (position 6.00, -105.00)
The Japanese submarine I-60 (built 1929) (offsite link) is sunk by HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) about 25 miles North-North-West of Krakatoa Island in position 06°00'N, 105°00'W.

HMS Jupiter had just parted company with the American troop transport Mount Vernon (24289 GRT, built 1932) which she had escorted westwards through the Sunda Strait.

HMS Jupiter is damaged in the action with her 'A' twin 4.7" gun mounting out of action due to an enemy shell hit. Three of the crew of HMS Jupiter were killed while 9 were wounded.

Later the damaged gun mounting was replaced for which she went to Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies by a single 4.7" gun mounting.

[We have seen a signal that HMS Jupiter was at Surabaya on 24 January (probably alread arrived before that date) and that it was estimated that she would be ready for service again on January, 27th.]

30 Jan 1942

Convoy MS 3.

This convoy departed Fremantle on 30 January 1942 and part of the convoy arrived at Batavia on 8 February 1942 the other part of the arrived at Palembang on 9 February 1942.

The convoy was made up of the following ships; Antilochus (British, 9082 GRT, built 1906), Charon (British, 3703 GRT, built 1936), Elsa (Norwegian (tanker), 5381 GRT, built 1928), Erling Brovig (Norwegian (tanker), 9970 GRT, built 1937), Herborg (Norwegian (tanker), 7892 GRT, built 1931), Mangola (British, 3352 GRT, built 1931), Manvantara (Dutch (tanker), 8237 GRT, built 1931), Marella (British, 7475 GRT, built 1914), Marpessa (Dutch (tanker), 7408 GRT, built 1927), Merula (Dutch (tanker), 8228 GRT, built 1932) and Seirstad (Norwegian (tanker), 9916 GRT, built 1937).

On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) until near Christmas Island where on 6 February the British light cruisers HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) took over. These cruisers had departed Batavia on 5 February 1942.

In the morning of 7 February 1942 the convoy was joined by the destroyers HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) which had departed Batavia on 6 February.

The merchant vessels Antilochus, Charon, Mangola and Marella split off from the convoy and arrived at Batavia on 8 February. The tankers continued on to the Palembang area where the arrived on the 9th.

The escorts then proceeded to Batavia where they arrived on the 10th.

7 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) joined the escort of convoy MS 3.

[see the event ' Convoy MS 3 ' for 30 January 1942 for more information on this convoy.]

10 Feb 1942
Around 0640FG/10, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) arrived at Batavia from convoy escort duty.

10 Feb 1942
Around 1635GH/10, the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), destroyer HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and the auxiliary patrol ship HMS Kedah (Cdr.(Retd.) J.L. Sinclair, DSO, RD, RNR) departed Batavia for Singapore.

They were joined at sea in the early hours of the next day (the 11th) by the destroyer HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN).

Around 1145 hours on the 11th, HMS Durban was hit by a bomb during an air attack. Eight ratings were killed and several were wounded. Also the forward 6" gun was out of action due to the damage sustained. She was able to continue to Singapore though but it was no longer possible to undertake repairs there.

12 Feb 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN), HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) and HMS Kedah (Cdr.(Retd.) J.L. Sinclair, DSO, RD, RNR) arrived at Singapore around 0300 hours. They departed again before daylight having embarked shore based naval personnel. They took the merchant vessels Empire Star (13479 GRT, built 1935) and Gorgon (British, 3533 GRT, built 1933) with them.

During air attacks the merchant vessel Empire Star was hit three three times but was able to continue.

All ships, except HMS Jupiter, non the less arrived at Batavia on the 13th . En-route HMS Jupiter and HMS Stronghold had been ordered to give as much escort to merchant vessels as possible that were fleeing from Singapore to Batavia.

HMS Jupiter, with the Australian minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) P.H. Hirst, RAN) also provided escort for tankers leaving Palembang to the southwards.

14 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) arrived at Batavia with the merchant vessels Elsa (Norwegian (tanker), 5381 GRT, built 1928), Erling Brovig (Norwegian (tanker), 9970 GRT, built 1937), Herborg (Norwegian (tanker), 7892 GRT, built 1931) and Seirstad (Norwegian (tanker), 9916 GRT, built 1937) in company. (13)

16 Feb 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Batavia in the late afternoon escorting the small convoy SJ 1 made up of the merchant vessel Empire Star (British, 13479 GRT, built 1935) and Plancius (Dutch, 5955 GRT, built 1924) westwards through the Sunda Stait.

Admiral Hart, USN, late Naval Commander in the ABDA area, was on board HMS Durban.

Around 2000/17 the Empire Star and HMS Jupiter parted company from HMS Durban and Plancius. These last two ships proceeded in company towards Colombo where they arrived on 22 February while the Empire Star proceeded independently to Fremantle. HMS Jupiter returned to Batavia on the 17th. (13)

18 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Batavia for Oosthaven, Sumatra.

There she joined the merchant vessels Armilla (Dutch (tanker), 3008 GRT, built 1931), Benakat (Dutch (tanker), 4763 GRT, built 1935) and another vessel (Crocus ???) and escorted them part of the way to Tjilatjap.

After having parted company with the merchant vessels, HMS Jupiter set course to return to Batavia where she arrived on the 19th. (13)

23 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
As enemy submarines had been reported HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) left Batavia around 0700GH/23 to conduct an A/S patrol to the north of Batavia but northing was found. She returned to Batavia in the evening. (13)

You can help improve officers Norman Vivian Joseph Thompson Thew'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