Ronald George Bowes-Lyon, RN
| Born | 22 Jun 1893 | Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England, U.K. | |
| Died | 17 Apr 1960 | (66) | London, England, U.K. |
 | Ranks
Retired: 5 Jul 1945 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Ronald George Bowes-Lyon, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Dragon (D 46) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 31 Jul 1939 | 27 Aug 1940 |
| HMS Adventure (M 23) | Capt. | Minelayer | 12 Aug 1942 | Dec 1943 |
Career information
He was the son of the Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon and Lady Anne Catherine Sybil Lindsey. He was the grandson Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (the father of the late Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth I (Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon).Events related to this officer
Light cruiser HMS Dragon (D 46)
9 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south-west of the Faeroer Islands. (1)
16 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Scapa Flow from patrol. (1)
18 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (1)
25 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Scapa Flow from patrol. (1)
28 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (1)
4 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Scapa Flow from patrol. (1)
10 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (2)
15 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Sullom Voe from patrol. (2)
20 Oct 1939
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Sullom Voe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south of the Faeroer Islands. (2)
25 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Sullom Voe from patrol. (2)
27 Oct 1939
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Sullom Voe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (2)
3 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Sullom Voe from patrol. (3)
7 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Sullom Voe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south / south-west of the Faeroer Islands. (3)
12 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Sullom Voe from patrol. (3)
14 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Sullom Voe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (3)
20 Nov 1939
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at ' Port A ' (Loch Ewe) from patrol. She had arrived with weather damage and also needed to boiler clean. (3)
26 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed ' Port A ' (Loch Ewe) to patrol in the Norwegian Sea. (3)
2 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to ' Port A ' (Loch Ewe) from patrol. (4)
8 Dec 1939
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed ' Port A ' (Loch Ewe) for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap. (4)
12 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol. (4)
15 Dec 1939
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol south-west of the Faeroer Islands. (4)
18 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the early evening, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN), departed her patrol area to proceed to the Chatham Dockyard where she was to refit. (4)
21 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Sheerness from the Northern Patrol. (4)
22 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) proceeded from Sheerness to the Chatham Dockyard where she was immediately docked in No.5 Dock. (4)
18 Jan 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) is undocked. She continued her refit afloat in the basin. (5)
28 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN), proceeded from the Chatham Dockyard to Sheerness. (6)
5 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Sheerness for Portland. (6)
6 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) made a short stop at Portland before departing for Gibraltar to join the Mediterranean Station. (6)
10 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. After fuelling she departed immediately for Malta. (6)
13 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Malta. (6)
14 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Malta for contraband patrol in the Otranto Straits. (6)
22 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from patrol. (6)
26 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Alexandria for contraband patrol in the Aegean. (6)
3 Apr 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Alexandria from patrol. (7)
7 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Alexandria for contraband patrol in the Aegean. (7)
15 Apr 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN), which had been on passage from her patrol area to Malta, took the gunboat HMS Ladybird (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.F. Blackburn, RN) in tow which had broken down in heavy weather while on passage from Alexandria to Malta together with HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr R.S. Stafford, RN).
The destroyer HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) was also sent out from Malta to assist.
The tow parted on the 16th after which the tow was taken over by the tug HMS St. Issey. (7)
16 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Malta from patrol. (7)
18 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) is docked in No.4 Dock at the Malta Dockyard. (7)
19 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) is undocked. (7)
23 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Malta for contraband patrol off the west coast of Greece. (7)
1 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from patrol. (7)
5 May 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Alexandria for contraband patrol off the west coast of Greece. (8)
12 May 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) returned to Alexandria from patrol. (8)
17 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Alexandria for contraband patrol off the west coast of Greece. (8)
24 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Port Said from patrol. (8)
25 May 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) and HMS Caledon (Capt. C.P. Clarke, RN) passed the Suez Canal southbound and later departed Suez for Aden. They were both to join the East Indies Station but this was soon changed to the South Atlantic Station in the case of HMS Dragon while HMS Caledon was ordered to return to the Mediterranean. (9)
2 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Mombasa from Aden. (10)
4 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Mombasa to make rendezvous with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transports Inchanga (British, 7069 GRT, built 1934) and Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930) coming from Durban.
In the early evening of 6 June 1940, rendezvous was effected in approximate position 16°42'S, 40°46'E.
HMS Durban and the ships she was escorting arrived at Mombasa in the morning of 9 June 1940. (11)
10 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Mombasa for Durban. (10)
15 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Durban from Mombasa. (10)
22 Jun 1940
After some repairs had been made, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN), departed Durban for Capetown. She was escorting the troopships Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935) and Reina del Pacifico (17702 GRT, built 1931). (10)
25 Jun 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) and the troopships Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935) and Reina del Pacifico (17702 GRT, built 1931). arrived at Capetown from Durban.
HMS Dragon departed Capetown for Simonstown later the same day. (10)
26 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Capetown. She departed for Walvis Bay later the same day. (10)
28 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived Walvis Bay from Simonstown. (10)
29 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Walvis Bay for Lagos. (10)
3 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Lagos from Walvis Bay. (12)
4 Jul 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Lagos for Santa Isabel, Fernando Poo (now Malabo, Equatoriaal-Guinea, on the Island of Bioko). Here she was to evacuate British Indian subjects which she did the following day. She then sailed for Manoka arriving there on the 6th. (12)
7 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) proceeded from Manoka to Douala. (12)
9 Jul 1940
On 9 July 1940, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN), at Douala, reported that the French Naval Officer in Charge and the Military Commandant had received orders from Dakar to attack all British Men of War without warning within 20 miles of the coast. Both French Autorities stated that these orders would be disregarded. The Governor stated that he would support the British, disobey Dakar and requisted HMS Dragon to remain at Douala. The requist was granted the following day. (13)
24 Jul 1940
Convoy RS 5.
This convoy departed Liverpool on 24 July 1940 for Suez.
It was made up of the troopship Reina del Pacifico (17702 GRT, built 1931) and the transport Clan Ferguson (7347 GRT, built 1938).
On departure from Liverpool the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Cdr. H.F.H Layman, DSO, RN).
Also on the 24th the aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. H.C. Bovell, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja (A/Capt. V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) and the destroyers HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall A'Deane, DSC, RN) and HMS Gallant (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, RN) departed Greenock. They made rendezvous with the ships coming from Liverpool around 0600A/25.
At 1000A/26, HMS Argus and the destroyers parted company to proceed direct to Gibraltar. They arrived at Gibraltar around 0700A/30.
The convoy, escorted by HMS Maloja, continued on towards Freetown where it arrived on 4 August 1940.
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The then convoy departed Freetown on 5 August 1940 for Capetown.
On departure from Freetown the convoy was now escorted by the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN).
Around 1200Z/11, the light cruiser HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Hermes then parted company to proceed independently on patrol and then on to Simonstown.
The convoy arrived at Capetown on 15 August 1940.
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The convoy, still in the same composition and still escorted by HMS Dragon departed Capetown for Durban on 16 August 1940.
The convoy arrived at Durban on 19 August 1940.
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The convoy departed Durban for Aden on 21 August 1940 now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).
Around 1500C/30, the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) joined.
The convoy arrived at Aden in the morning of 31 August 1940.
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The convoy departed Aden for Suez on 31 August 1940 now escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN) and the destroyer HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN). The armed boarding vessel HMS Chakdina (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR) was also with the convoy for a while.
At 1830C/2, the Reina del Pacifico parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead to Suez where she arrived on 4 September 1940.
At 1920C/2, HMS Kandahar parted company with the convoy to proceed to Port Sudan to fuel.
At 0910C/3, the sloop HMS Grimsby (Cdr. K.J. D'Arcy, RN) took over the escort of the Clan Ferguson from HMAS Hobart which in turn took over HMS Grimsby's southbound convoy.
HMS Grimsby and the Clan Ferguson arrived at Suez on 5 September 1940. (14)
28 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Douala for Lagos. The political situation in the French Cameroons was still not stable though. (12)
29 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Lagos from Douala. (12)
3 Aug 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Lagos to search for the Vichy French transport Touareg (5135 GRT, built 1924) that had been reported to be underway from Dakar to Douala. (15)
8 Aug 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Lobito to fuel. The search for the Vichy French transport Touareg (5135 GRT, built 1924) that had been reported to be underway from Dakar to Douala had been uneventful as the French ship had put into Abidjan. (15)
9 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Lobito to make rendezvous with convoy RS 5.
For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy RS 5 ' for 24 July 1940.] (16)
15 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Capetown escorting convoy RS 5. (16)
16 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Capetown escorting convoy RS 5.
For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy RS 5 ' for 24 July 1940.] (16)
19 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Durban escorting convoy RS 5. (16)
20 Aug 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) departed Durban for Capetown. (16)
23 Aug 1940
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) arrived at Capetown from Durban. She is immediately docked. (16)
Sources
- ADM 53/108364
- ADM 53/108365
- ADM 53/108366
- ADM 53/108367
- ADM 53/112044
- ADM 53/112046
- ADM 53/112047
- ADM 53/112048
- ADM 53/111647 + ADM 53/112048 + ADM 199/382 + ADM 199/2552
- ADM 53/112049
- ADM 53/112049 + ADM 53/113052 + ADM 199/383
- ADM 53/112050
- ADM 199/381
- ADM 53/111423 + ADM 53/112051 + ADM 53/112436 + ADM 199/381 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Hobart for August and September 1941
- ADM 53/112051 + ADM 199/381
- ADM 53/112051
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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