Ronald James Burch DSO, RN
| Born | 9 Jun 1907 | ||
| Died | 23 Jul 1940 | (33) | HMS Narwhal (N 45) |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for Ronald James Burch, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Narwhal (N 45) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 26 Feb 1940 | 23 Jul 1940 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Narwhal (N 45)
26 Feb 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Rosyth. (1)
3 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) joined convoy ON 17 off Methil. The convoy was to proceed to Bergen, Norway where it arrived 7th.
On the 4th Narwhal left the convoy to proceed to Scapa Flow to participate in direction finding trials.
This was Narwhal's 6th war patrol. As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
6 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow ending her 6th war patrol. At Scapa Flow Narwhal was to participate in direction finding trials. Narwhal was delayed for one day by very bad weather en-route. (1)
10 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
12 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth. She made the passage together with HMS Swordfish (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) that was en-route from Scapa Flow to Blyth. They were escorted by HMS Buttermere (Lt. E.G.P.B. Knapton, RN). (2)
13 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) had barely arrived at Rosyth when she was ordered to sea as part of the deployment of submarines for operation R.3 (assistance to Finland by the occupation of Norwegian key points). This was her 7th war patrol. (As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol.) Shortly after, it was learnt that Finland had signed an armistice but the submarines were recalled only on 16 March. It was an uneventful except when the submarine was forced to dive for a Do 17 aircraft on the morning of the 17th. (1)
18 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Rosyth. She was docked in No.3 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard later this day. (3)
28 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) was undocked. (2)
30 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid a dummy minefield south-east of the Firth of Forth, She then set course for Blyth. (2)
31 Mar 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) encountered trawler Polar Prince (194 GRT, built 1915) fishing in the East Coast mine barrage. The ship was placed under arrest and was escorted by Narwhal to Methil. (2)
1 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Blyth. She departed later the same day for Immingham where she was to embark 50 mines. (2)
2 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking a full outfit of 50 mines she departed Immingham for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield in the Heligoland Bight (minefield F.D. 1).
For the daily positions of HMS Narwhal during this patrol see the map below.
(1)
4 Apr 1940 (position 54.37, 6.35)
Between 0413 and 0422 hours, HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield F.D. 1 (50 mines) in the North Sea in position 54°37'N, 06°35'E. (1)
6 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
7 Apr 1940 (position 57.37, 6.35)
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) was docked at Blyth. The date of undocking is currently not known to us. (2)
9 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) departed Blyth for Immingham to embark a full outfit of 50 mines. (2)
10 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking mines she departed later the same day for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 5) off Skagen.
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
12 Apr 1940
At 0425 hours HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN was south of Kristiansand South and proceeding to her minelaying position when she was informed that heavy German naval units [Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Hipper] were returning to Germany and this was initially believed to be through the Kattegat. She attempted to intercept but returned to her original course when she was told that the enemy force was returning home west of Jutland.
At 2145 hours, the submarine sighted three enemy destroyers of the Leberecht Maas class in 57°55'N, 09°27'E and made an enemy report. No German destroyer was actually operating in the area. (1)
13 Apr 1940 (position 57.26, 10.45)
Between 1628 and 1644 hours HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield F.D. 5 (50 mines) north of Laeso Island in position 57°26'N, 10°45'E.
Later the same day Narwhal made a torpedo attack on a German convoy south of Skagen. No hits were obtained. The attack was unobserved and the intended victims remain unidentified.
(All times are zone -1) 2131 hours - Sighted dark objects later identified as a large and a small merchant ship escorted by two torpedo-boats or trawlers. Started attack.
2158 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 6000 yards. No hits were obtained. (1)
17 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
20 Apr 1940 (position 57.26, 10.45)
The German merchant Togo (5042 GRT, built 1938) is damaged when she hits a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) on 13 April 1940 north of Laeso Island in position 57°26'N, 10°45'E
23 Apr 1940 (position 57.28, 10.46)
The German auxiliary minesweeper M 1302 / Schwaben (436 GRT, built 1937) is sunk when she hits a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) on 13 April 1940 north of Laeso Island in position 57°28'N, 10°46'E. Minesweepers of her flotilla [the 13th] detonated 21 mines of the field.
25 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) departed Blyth for Immingham to embark a full outfit of 50 mines. (2)
26 Apr 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking mines she departed later the same day for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 6) off Skagen.
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
1 May 1940 (position 57.30, 10.43)
Between 0727 and 0753 hours HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield F.D. 6 (50 mines) in the Kattegat in position 57°30'N, 10°43'E.
Later the same day HMS Narwhal attacked a German convoy and torpedoed and sank the German troop transport Buenos Aires (6097 GRT, built 1912) and torpedoed and damaged the German troop transport Bahia Castillo (8580 GRT, built 1918) in the Kattegat in position 57°39'N, 11°03'E.
The Bahia Castillo reaches port but is declared a total loss.
(All times are zone -1) 1725 hours - Sighted 9 or 10 merchant vessels escorted by surface escorts and aircraft. Started attack in which 6 torpedoes were fired from about 1000 yards. All 6 were heard to explode. Several hits must have been obtained for sure.
Depth charging started after the 4th torpedo exploded. 75 Charges were dropped during the next 3 hours but they caused no damage to Narwhal. (1)
3 May 1940 (position 57.30, 10.43)
The German auxiliary minesweeper M 1102 / H.A.W. Müller is slightly damaged when ship hit a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) on 1 May 1940 in the Skagerrak south of Cape Skagen in position 57°30'N, 10°43'E.
5 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Immingham. (1)
7 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) departed Immingham for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 10) off Feistein Island, Norway (south-west of Stavanger).
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
9 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) received a signal cancelling minefield F.D. 10. Minefield F.D. 12 had to be laid instead near Bud, Norway. (1)
11 May 1940 (position 62.58, 6.48)
Between 1701 and 1730 hours (zone -1) HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield F.D. 12 (50 mines) off Bud, Norway in position 62°58'N, 06°48'E. (1)
14 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 11th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
16 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) was docked at Blyth. The date of undocking is currently not known to us. (2)
20 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) was docked at Blyth. The date of undocking is currently not known to us. (2)
30 May 1940 (position 62.58, 6.48)
The German armed trawler V 1109 / Antares (291 GRT, built 1929) sank on a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) on 11 May 1940 off Bud, Norway in position 62°58'N, 06°48'E. Eighteen men were rescued (including five wounded) but seventeen were missing, including the Norwegian pilot.
31 May 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) departed Blyth for Immingham to embark a full outfit of mines. (2)
1 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking mines she departed later the same day for her 12th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 16) off Jaerens, Norway (south of Stavanger).
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
3 Jun 1940 (position 58.46, 5.25)
Between 1937 and 2001 hours (zone -1) HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield FD 16 (50 mines) off Jaerens Point, Norway in position 58°46'N, 05°25'E. (1)
5 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 12th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
5 Jun 1940 (position 58.46, 5.25)
The German merchant Palime (2863 GRT, built 1937) and the German minesweeper M 11 (874 tons, built 1939) both hits mines. The M 11 sank while the Palime is beached and later declared a total loss. The mines were laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) on 3 June 1940 off Jaerens Point, Norway in position 58°46'N, 05°25'E. It is possible that Clara M. Russ was damaged on 28 September 1940 (see below) and that UJ 175 was lost on this field on 7 January 1941. However flooders had been set for 19 July 1940 so there is a strong element of doubt.
9 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking mines she departed later the same day for her 13th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 19) off Haugesund, Norway.
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
12 Jun 1940 (position 59.26, 5.10)
Between 2119 and 2217 hours (zone -1) HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) laid minefield F.D. 19 (50 mines) off Haugesund, Norway in position 59°26'N, 05°10'E.
Course was then set towards Utsire where Narwhal was to patrol during 13-16 June. (1)
18 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, RN) ended her 13th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
29 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) departed Blyth for Immingham to embark a full outfit of mines. (2)
30 Jun 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) arrived at Immingham. After embarking mines she departed later the same day for her 14th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 21) off Kristiansund, Norway.
As no log is available for this period it is not possible to display a map of this patrol. (1)
4 Jul 1940 (position 63.15, 7.39)
Between 1025 and 1040 hours (zone -1) HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) laid minefield F.D. 21 (50 mines) north of Kristiansund, Norway in position 63°15'N, 07°39'E. (1)
6 Jul 1940 (position 63.15, 7.34)
At 0408 hours, near 60°08'N, 02°41.5'E, HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) sighted a flying boat and dived. Two bombs were heard but this was probably Hudson “O” of 269 Squadron which attacked HMS Sunfish in error.
Also on this day the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ D / Treff VIII (356 GRT, built 1937) sank on a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) on 4 July 1940 north of Kristiansund, Norway in position 63°15'N, 07°34'E. Although many documents show her as UJ D, she was apparently renamed UJ B on 1 June. Of a crew of 35, 13 were killed or missing. (1)
7 Jul 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) ended her 14th war patrol at Blyth. (1)
20 Jul 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) departed Blyth for Immingham to embark a full outfit of mines.
Narwhal arrived at Immingham later the same day. (2)
22 Jul 1940
HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Burch, DSO, RN) departed Immingham for her 15th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 22) north-west of Kristiansund, Norway near position 63º16'N, 07º13'E. (2)
Sources
- ADM 199/1827
- ADM 199/373
- ADM 199/1827 + Rosyth Dockyard docking register
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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