John Montagu Howson, RN

Born  1 Jun 1893
Died  19 Mar 1959(65)


If you can help with photo or any information on this Officer please
use our comment form
.

Ranks

15 May 1911 Mid.
15 Sep 1913 A/S.Lt.
15 May 1914 S.Lt.
15 Dec 1915 Lt.
15 Dec 1923 Lt.Cdr.
31 Dec 1928 Cdr.
31 Dec 1936 Capt.

Retired: 2 Jan 1946


Decorations

16 Aug 1940 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
25 Aug 1942 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
1 Jan 1944 CBE
18 Jan 1944 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)

Warship Commands listed for John Montagu Howson, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Effingham (D 98)Capt.Light cruiser17 Apr 193918 May 1940

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Light cruiser HMS Effingham (D 98)


25 Aug 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Reserve Fleet at Portland. (1)

29 Aug 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (1)

30 Aug 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Late in the evening, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), conducted night gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

31 Aug 1939
Around 1800A/31, the Home Fleet departed Scapa Flow to patrol between Scotland, Iceland and Norway for returning German merchant vessels.

Ships that participated in this patrol were; battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.M. Forbes, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Rodney (Capt. E.N. Syfret, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (Capt. A.J. Power, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. Wells, CB, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Middleton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.H.C. Hallifax, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. E. de F. Renouf, CVO, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) (from the 18th Cruiser Squadron), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), HMS Cardiff (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN), HMS Dunedin (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CVO, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) (from the 12th Cruiser Squadron), HMS Caledon (Capt. C.P. Clark, RN), HMS Calypso (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), HMS Diomede (Commodore E.B.C. Dicken, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) (from the 7th Cruiser Squadron. These ships were escorted by destroyers from the 8th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Faulknor (Capt. C.S. Daniel, RN), HMS Fame (Cdr. P.N. Walter, RN), HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Firedrake (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Norris, RN), HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN), HMS Fortune (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, RN), HMS Foxhound (Lt.Cdr. P.H. Hadow, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN).

To patrol off the Skagerrak was the battlecruiser squadron which was made up of the battlecruisers HMS Hood (Capt. I.G. Glennie, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Repulse (Capt. E.J. Spooner, DSO, RN) which were escorted by destroyers from the 6th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Somali (Capt. R.S.G. Nicholson, DSC, RN), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. St. J.A. Micklethwait, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. J.T. Lean, RN) and HMS Tartar (Capt. G.H. Warner, DSC, RN). These ships departed Scapa Flow around the same time.

Some of the ships had already been at sea for exercises.

The bulk of the Fleet returned to Scapa Flow in the morning of September 6th.

Most of the cruisers had acted independently to inspect shipping. HMS Caledon, HMS Calypso, HMS Cardiff and HMS Dunedin returned to Scapa Flow in the early morning of September 5th.

HMS Aurora and HMS Sheffield returned to Scapa Flow in the evening of September 5th.

HMS Belfast returned to Scapa Flow on the 6th after having joined other ships for exercises on the 5th.

HMS Diomede, HMS Dragon, HMS Effingham and HMS Emerald returned to Scapa Flow in the morning of the 7th.

Most of the destroyer had to return to Scapa Flow once to refuel, HMS Somali and HMS Ashanti were at Scapa Flow between 0100/2 and 0400/2.

HMS Faulknor, HMS Fearless, HMS Firedrake, HMS Fortune and HMS Foxhound were at Scapa Flow between 1000A/3 and 1530A/3.

HMS Bedouin, HMS Eskimo, HMS Punjabi and HMS Tartar were at Scapa Flow between 1100A/3 and 1600A/3.

HMS Fame was detached at 2359A/3 to go to the aid of the torpedoed liner Athenia but she was not needed to pick up survivors and proceeded to the Clyde arriving in the moring of the 5th having carried out an A/S sweep en-route.

HMS Matabele was detached to Scapa Flow at 1130/5. Around 2030A/5, she grounded near the boom and damaged her propellers.

HMS Foresight, HMS Forester, HMS Fury and HMS Mashona did not refuel before they returned with the Fleet in the morning of the 6th. (2)

31 Aug 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 31 August to 7 September 1939 see the map below.

7 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (3)

9 Sep 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 9 to 17 September 1939 see the map below.

(3)

17 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (3)

20 Sep 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 20 to 28 September 1939 see the map below.

(3)

28 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (3)

1 Oct 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Plymouth.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 1 to 3 October 1939 see the map below.

(4)

3 Oct 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Plymouth. (4)

9 Oct 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Plymouth for the Western Atlantic and her rendez-vous position with convoy KJ 3.

For the daily position of HMS Effingham during the period of 9 to 27 October 1939 see the map below.

(4)

15 Oct 1939
In the morning, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), made rendez-vous with large convoy (45 ships) KJ 3 coming from the Carribean. She took over the escort duties from HMS Berwick (Capt. I.M. Palmer, DSC, RN) and HMAS Perth (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN). (4)

26 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) parted company with convoy KJ 3 and proceeded to Plymouth. (4)

27 Oct 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Plymouth for boiler claining. (4)

7 Nov 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Plymouth for Halifax.

[No log is available for November 1939 so no map can be displayed.] (5)

15 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Halifax. (5)

19 Nov 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Halifax for Bermuda.

[No log is available for November 1939 so no map can be displayed.] (5)

21 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Bermuda. (5)

24 Nov 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Bermuda for Kingston, Jamaica.

[No log is available for November 1939 so no map can be displayed.] (5)

1 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Kingston. (6)

3 Dec 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Kingston for Halifax.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham from 3 to 6 December 1939 see the map below.

(6)

6 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Bermuda.

HMS Effingham had departed Kingston, Jamaica for Halifax on the 3rd but on the 5th she had developed a serious leak on the starboard condenser and she had to put into Bermuda for repairs. (6)

22 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. (6)

23 Dec 1939
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Bermuda for Halifax.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham from 23 to 26 December 1939 see the map below.

(6)

26 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Halifax. (6)

29 Dec 1939

Convoy HX 14

This convoy departed Halifax on 29 December 1939.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Athelsultan (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), Baron Lovat (British, 3395 GRT, built 1926), Baron Pentland (British, 3410 GRT, built 1927), Benedick (British (tanker), 6978 GRT, built 1928), Blairmore (British, 4141 GRT, built 1928), Bonheur (British, 5327 GRT, built 1920), Bridgepool (British, 4845 GRT, built 1924), Bristol City (British, 2864 GRT, built 1920), Brookwood (British, 5100 GRT, built 1929), Dallas City (British, 4952 GRT, built 1935), El Ciervo (British (tanker), 5841 GRT, built 1923), El Oso (British (tanker), 7267 GRT, built 1921), Greyburn (British, 6342 GRT, built 1938), Grelhead (British, 4274 GRT, built 1925), H.H. Rogers (Panamanian (tanker), 8807 GRT, built 1916), H.M. Flagler (Panamanian (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1918), Horn Shell (British (tanker), 8272 GRT, built 1931), Inverilen (British (tanker), 9456 GRT, built 1938), Kenbane Head (British, 5225 GRT, built 1919), Keramiai (Greek, 5085 GRT, built 1917), Limousin (French (tanker), 7619 GRT, built 1930), Luculus (British (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1929), Montreal City (British, 3066 GRT, built 1920), New Westminster City (British, 4747 GRT, built 1929), Penrose (British, 4393 GRT, built 1928), Queen Adelaide (British, 4933 GRT, built 1936), Queen Anne (British, 4937 GRT, built 1937), Reginolite (British (tanker), 9069 GRT, built 1926), Ridley (British, 4993 GRT, built 1937), Rio Branco (Norwegian, 3210 GRT, built 1924), Saranac (British (tanker), 12049 GRT, built 1918), Solstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5952 GRT, built 1927), South America (Norwegian (tanker), 6246 GRT, built 1931), Swiftpool (British, 5205 GRT, built 1929), Tacoma City (British, 4738 GRT, built 1929), Vaclite (British (tanker), 5026 GRT, built 1928), Vancouver (British (tanker), 5729 GRT, built 1928), Wellfield (British (tanker), 6054 GRT, built 1924) and Winamac (British (tanker), 8621 GRT, built 1926).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tisdall, RCN) and the submarine HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN).

Around 1800Q/30, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

Several ships straggled during the voyage but all were able to rejoin the convoy except the Grelhead which arrived at Leith on 14 January 1940.

Before the local escort joined two of the merchant vessels were detached to take the 'northern route'. This were most likely the El Ciervo (arrived at Scapa Flow on 11 January) and Horn Shell (arrived at Invergordon on 11 January). [Their names are not given in the Commodore's report but given their arrival dates at their destinations it seems logical this were the two ships that had been detached early.]

Around 0815Z/9, in position 49°50'N, 12°30'W, the destroyers HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, RN), HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. C.G.W. Donald, RN), HMS Walker (Cdr. W.J.C. Robertson, RN) and HMS Whitshed (Cdr. E.R. Conder, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Effingham then parted company to proceed to Portsmouth.

Around 1645Z/9, the convoy was split into two sections.

The Irish Sea / West coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Douglas (arrived at Newport on 11 January), Baron Lovat (arrived at Belfast on 12 January), Baron Pentland (arrived at Cardiff on 11 January), Blairmore (arrived at Cardiff on 12 January. She had collided with the merchant vessel Leonard Pierce () in the Bristol Channel on 11 January. The Leonard Pierce sank as a result of this collision), Bonheur (arrived at Liverpool on 11 January), Bristol City (arrived at Swansea on 11 January), Brookwood (arrived at Liverpool on 12 January), El Oso (mined and sunk off the Bar lightvessel on 11 January. The mine had been laid on 6 January 1940 by the German submarine U-30), Kenbane Head (arrived at Belfast on 11 January), Luculus (arrived at Avonmouth on 11/12 January), Montreal City (arrived at Milford Haven on 11 January), New Westminster City (arrived at Liverpool on 11 January), Penrose (arrived at Ardrossan on 13 January), Queen Adelaide (arrived at Avonmouth on 12 January), Queen Anne (arrived at Liverpool on 12 January), Ridley (arrived at Liverpool on 12 January), Rio Branco (arrived at Liverpool on 11 January), Saranac (arrived at Avonmouth on 11/12 January), Solstad (arrived at Liverpool on 12 January), Swiftpool (arrived at Liverpool on 12 January), Tacoma City (arrived at Liverpool on 11 January) and Winamac (arrived at Greenock on 12 January). They were escorted by HMS Vimy and HMS Walker which both arrived at Liverpool on 12 January. During 11/12 January 1940 these destroyers patrolled in Liverpool Bay after the sinking of the El Oso.

The Channel / East coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Athelsultan (arrived at Plymouth on 11 January), Benedick (arrived at Le Verdon, France on 13 January), Bridgepool (arrived in the Downs on 12 January), Dallas City (arrived in the Downs on 12 January), Greyburn (arrived in the Downs on 12 January), H.H. Rogers (arrived at Southampton on 12 January), H.M. Flagler (arrived at Le Havre on 12 January), Inverilen (arrived in the Downs on 12 January), Keramiai (arrived at Falmouth on 11 January), Limousin (arrived at Le Havre on (most likely) 12 January), Reginolite (arrived at Southampton on 12 January), South America (arrived at Le Verdon, France on 13 January), Vaclite (arrived in the Downs on 12 January), Vancouver (arrived at Southampton on 12 January) and Wellfield (arrived in the Downs on 12 January). They were escorted by HMS Antelope and HMS Whitshed which both arrived at Dover around 1000Z/12. HMS Cachalot was also with the Channel / East coast section and arrived in the Downs around 1025Z/12. She later proceeded to Sheerness and then to the Chatham Dockyard for refit.

The Athelsultan, Benedick and South America parted company in the afternoon of the 10th and proceeded to their destinations independently.

At dusk on the 11th the ships for Southampton and Le Havre had been detached. (7)

29 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily positions of HMS Effingham from 29 December 1939 to 10 January 1940 see the map below.

9 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) detached from convoy HX 14 and proceeded to Portsmouth. (8)

10 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Portsmouth for repairs and refit. (8)

17 Feb 1940
During her refit, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), moved to No.14 dock at the Portsmouth Dockyard. Most likely the dock was pumped out two days later, on Monday 19 February 1940. (9)

6 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) is undocked. She then continued her refit at the Portsmouth Dockyard. (10)

11 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) ran trials off Portsmouth. (10)

12 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) ran trials off Portsmouth. (10)

13 Apr 1940
Having completed her refit, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), departed Portsmouth for Scapa Flow to join the Home Fleet.

For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 13 to 15 April 1940 see the map below.

(10)

15 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow. (10)

16 Apr 1940
HMS York (Capt. R.H. Portal, DSC, RN), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, RN) and HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Norwegian waters.

Late on the same day they were ordered to proceed to Aandalsnes to prevent the Germans from landing troops there as 5 German destroyers were reported by aircraft.

They found nothing and were later ordered to proceed northwards to provide cover for the landings at Namsen Fjord. (10)

16 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily positions of HMS Effingham during the period of 16 to 20 April 1940 see the map below.

19 Apr 1940
Early on the 19th, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), was attacked by the German submarine U-38 with four torpedoes off the Lofoten. No hits were obtained.

Late on this day, HMS Effingham, joined HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN) that was patrolling of Vest Fjord screened by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN), HMS Escapade (Cdr. H.R. Graham, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN).

20 Apr 1940
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) is ordered to proceed to Harstad where she arrived late in the evening. The next day she took on board fuel from an oiler. While at Harstad she served as AA guardship. (10)

23 Apr 1940
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) departed Harstad for the Narvik area.

For the daily position of HMS Effingham during the period of 23 to 25 April 1940 see the map below.

(10)

24 Apr 1940
A bombardment of the Narvik area was carried out by the following ships; battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), HMS Enterprise (Capt. J.C. Annesley, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Zulu (Cdr. J.S. Crawford, RN). A/S protection for these ships was provided by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Escort (Lt.Cdr. J. Bostock, RN), HMS Foxhound (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Peters, RN), HMS Havock (Cdr. R.E. Courage, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, RN), HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, RN), ORP Blyscawica (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S.M. Nahorski) and ORP Grom (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) A. Hulewicz).

HMS Effingham sank the British merhant ship (she had been captured by the Germans when they invaded Narvik) Riverton (5378 GRT, built 1928) inside Narvik Harbour. Otherwise the result of the bombardment was difficult to observe due to the bad visibility. (11)

25 Apr 1940
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) returned to Harstad.

[The log of HMS Effingham of April 1940 is the last available log for this ship. Her exact movements in datail for May 1940 are therefore not available at this moment.] (10)

1 May 1940
In the Narvik area, German forces were bombarded by the battleship HMS Resolution (Capt. O. Bevir, RN) and the light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN, flying the flag of of Admiral of the Fleet W.H.D. Boyle (Lord Cork), GCB, GCVO, RN).

3 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the Narvik area, German forces were bombarded by the light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN).

13 May 1940
French troops were landed at Bjervik, Norway today. This is just to the north of Narvik. The town was captured successfully.

Naval ships involved in landing the troops and to provide cover were; battleship HMS Resolution (Capt. O. Bevir, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) which both landed French troops, repair ship HMS Vindictive (Capt. A.R. Halfhide, RN), netlayer HMS Protector (Capt. W.Y la L. Beverley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Somali (Capt. R.S.G. Nicholson, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Havelock (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSC, RN), HMS Fame (Cdr. P.N. Walter, RN), HMS Basilisk (Cdr. M. Richmond, OBE, RN) and HMS Wren (Cdr. H.T. Armstrong, RN). They had departed Harstad (Tjeldsund) the previous day.

Air cover for this operation was provided, from a distance, by aircraft from HMS Ark Royal (Capt. C.S. Holland, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. Wells, CB, DSO, RN).

Later this day these ships also bombarded Narvik with the assistance of aircraft from the Ark Royal.

16 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While at Harstad, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), took onboard South Wales Borderers which she was to land at Bodo.

17 May 1940
HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), and loaded with troops, HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Coventry (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN) and HMS Echo (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) departed Harstad for Bodo to land Allied troops there.

18 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), ran aground on Faksen Shoal near Bliksvaer at high speed. The troops on board were taken to HMS Coventry (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, RN) by being ferried by HMS Echo (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN).

HMS Coventry also hit rocks and damaged a fuel tank. HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN) was more seriously damaged to her hull when she too grounded. She was able to get off. She returned to the U.K. for repairs which took until mid-August to complete.

HMS Effingham could not be salvaged and was torpedoed by HMS Matabele not to be of use to the enemy.

On 21 May 1940, while en-route to the U.K. for repairs, HMS Matabele shelled and torpedoed the wrecked cruiser again to be she was throroughly wrecked.

Sources

  1. ADM 53/108472
  2. ADM 199/393
  3. ADM 53/108473
  4. ADM 53/108474
  5. ADM 199/2553
  6. ADM 53/108475
  7. ADM 53/108475 + ADM 53/112132 + ADM 53/113383 + ADM 53/113414 + ADM 53/113441 + ADM 199/52
  8. ADM 53/112132
  9. ADM 53/112133
  10. ADM 53/112135
  11. ADM 234/332

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


You can help improve officers John Montagu Howson'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.

Allied Commanders main page