Cecil Ashworth Kershaw, RN

Birth details unknown

Ranks

15 Feb 1917 Lt.
15 Feb 1925 Lt.Cdr.
31 Dec 1930 Cdr.
 Cdr.(Retd.)
3 Feb 1940 Capt.(Retd.)

Retired: 14 Jul 1933


Decorations

12 Aug 1941 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
14 Nov 1944 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)

Warship Commands listed for Cecil Ashworth Kershaw, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Queen Emma (4.180)Capt.(Retd.)Landing Ship Infantrymid 19415 Sep 1941
HMS Alaunia (F 17)Capt.(Retd.)Armed Merchant Cruiser1 Oct 194111 Apr 1943
HMS Bulolo (F 82)Capt.(Retd.)Armed Merchant Cruiser20 Dec 1943mid 1944

Career information

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

Events related to this officer

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alaunia (F 17)


15 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted D/G trials on the D/G range off Helensburgh. (1)

16 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials off Greenock. (1)

17 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted D/F calibration and gunnery trials in the Clyde area. (1)

22 Dec 1941
Around 1730A/22, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN), HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN), HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN), HMS Worcestershire (A/Capt.(Retd.) E.H. Hopkinson, RN), transport Empire Fulmar (British, 7775 GRT, built 1941) departed the Clyde for Freetown. They were escorted by the destroyers ORP Garland (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) K.F. Namiesniowski) and HMS Sultanhisar.

Around 0110Z/23, near Oversay, the destroyer HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) joined.

Around 0815A/26, in approximate position 45°30'N, 22°40'W, ORP Garland parted company.

Around 1800A/26, in approximate position 43°40'N, 23°06'W, HMS Active parted company.

At midnight during the night of 27/28 December 1941 HMS Sultanhisar parted company to fuel at the Azores. She rejoined the convoy around 0800N/31 in position 18°54'N, 22°25'W.

Around 1540N/1, in approximate position 12°30'N, 20°40'W, the destroyer HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) joined.

Around 1000N/3, the convoy, minus the Empire Fulmar, which had been detached the previous day, arrived at Freetown. (2)

5 Jan 1942
Around 0915Z/5, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) departed Freetown for Durban. They were escorted until 0900Z/6 by the destroyer HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN). (3)

18 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100B/18, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) arrived at Durban from Freetown. (3)

6 Feb 1942
Around 0840B/6, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. (4)

11 Feb 1942
Around 1630C/11, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (4)

18 Feb 1942
Around 1630C/18, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. She is escorting the troop transport Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928). (5)

23 Feb 1942
Around 1330B/23, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and the troop transport Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (4)

2 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730B/2, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. She is escorting the troop transport Narkunda (British, 16632 GRT, built 1920). (6)

9 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2000C/9, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and the troop transport Narkunda (British, 16632 GRT, built 1920) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (6)

25 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100C/25, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and the troop transport Staffordshire (British, 10683 GRT, built 1929) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa. (6)

8 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930EF/8, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and HMS Worcestershire (A/Capt.(Retd.) E.H. Hopkinson, RN) arrived at Bombay with the 'Bombay section' of convoy WS 16. (7)

10 Apr 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted D/G trials at Bombay. (8)

11 Apr 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay. (8)

18 Apr 1942
Around 0900EF/18, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (8)

21 Apr 1942
Around 1430F/21, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (8)

3 May 1942
Around 1600C/3, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa. (9)

5 May 1942
Around 0715C/5, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Colombo. On leaving she hit the quay with her port propeller causing damage to one blade. (10)

13 May 1942
Around 0915F/13, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Colombo from Kilindini / Mombasa.

The ship was then placed in quarantine until 20 May as a rating had been hospitalised on arrival which was subsequently diagnosed as smallpox. (9)

12 Jun 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) is docked in the outer graving dock at Colombo. (11)

14 Jun 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) is undocked. (11)

17 Jun 1942
Around 0930F/17, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Colombo for Addu Atoll.

On board were almost 300 passengers, mostly military personnel. (11)

19 Jun 1942
Around 0945F/19, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Colombo. (11)

21 Jun 1942
Around 0700F/21, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia. (11)

22 Jun 1942
Around 1420F/22, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll. (11)

25 Jun 1942
Around 0700EF/25, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Diego Garcia for Port Victoria, Seychelles. (11)

28 Jun 1942
Around 1200D/28, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Diego Garcia. (11)

30 Jun 1942
Around 0415D/30, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Kilindini / Mombasa (11)

3 Jul 1942
Around 1030C/3, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (12)

7 Jul 1942
Around 0730C/7, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Diego Suarez. (12)

10 Jul 1942
Around 0800C/10, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)

10 Jul 1942
Around 0800C/10, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)

12 Jul 1942
Around 0545C/12, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Mauritius. (12)

14 Jul 1942
Around 1115D/14, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Diego Suarez. (12)

16 Jul 1942
Around 1250D/16, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Mauritius for Addu Atoll. (12)

21 Jul 1942
Around 0815F/21, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Mauritius.

Around 1000F/21, she departed Addu Atoll for Colombo. (12)

23 Jul 1942
Around 0815F/23, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Colombo from Addu Atoll. (12)

26 Jul 1942
Around 0900F/26, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Colombo for Durban. (12)

6 Aug 1942
Around 0845C/6, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Durban from Colombo. (13)

16 Aug 1942

Convoy WS 21PG

This convoy departed Capetown around 1200B on 16 August 1942.

It was made up of the following transports;
American Manufacturer (American, 6678 GRT, built 1941), Mormacdale (American, 6976 GRT, built 1942) and Santa Cruz (American, 6925 GRT, built 1941).

On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN).

Around 1045C/19, in approximate position 33°00'S, 29°42'E, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and corvette HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) joined the convoy. HMS Duncan then parted company to proceed to Durban to fuel after which she was to rejoin the convoy.

Around 0945C/20, in approximate position 30°00'S, 31°40'E, the light cruiser HMS Enterprise (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), destroyer HMS Duncan and corvette HMS Cyclamen (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR) joined the convoy. HMS Thyme then parted company to proceed to Durban.

Around 1100C/25, in approximate position 10°12'S, 42°52'E, HMS Cyclamen parted company to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa.

Around 1800C/25, in approximate position 09°00'S, 43°30'E, HMS Enterprise and HMS Duncan parted company to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa.

Around 1230CD/30, in approximate position 09°24'N, 57°20'E, the Santa Cruz parted company to proceed independently to Aden.

Around 1630EF/1, the corvette HMS Marguerite (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Blundell, RNR), coming from Bombay joined the convoy.

Around 2000EF/1, in position 18°36'N, 63°20'E, HMS Alaunia parted company to proceed to Bombay.

HMS Marguerite then escorted the convoy to the Strait of Hormuz where it was dispersed. (14)

18 Aug 1942
Around 1415C/18, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) and corvette HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) departed Durban for escort duty with convoy WS 21PG.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 21 PG' for 16 August 1942.] (13)

3 Sep 1942
Around 1400FG/3, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (15)

9 Sep 1942
Around 0930FG/9, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Bombay for Khor Kuwai. (15)

12 Sep 1942
Around 1415CD/12, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Bandar Abbas from Bombay. (15)

16 Sep 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Bandar Abbas to Khor Kuwai. (15)

18 Sep 1942
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Khor Kuwai to Bandar Abbas where she was to act as guard ship. (15)

10 Oct 1942
While at anchor off Bandar Abbas, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) is struck by the merchant vessel Tahsinia (British, 7267 GRT, built 1942). HMS Alaunia suffered some damage to the hull plating at her stern, above the waterline though. (16)

4 Nov 1942

Combined convoys PA 9 and PB 10.

This combined convoy departed Bandar Abbas around 1215D on 4 November 1942.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Semple (British, 4573 GRT, built 1939), British Aviator (British (tanker), 6998 GRT, built 1924), British Chancellor (British (tanker), 7085 GRT, built 1921), British Commodore (British (tanker), 6865 GRT, built 1923), British Confidence (British (tanker), 8494 GRT, built 1936), British Integrity (British (tanker), 8412 GRT, built 1927), British Lord (British (tanker), 6098 GRT, built 1922), British Trader (British (tanker), 4204 GRT, built 1921), California (American (tanker), 10398 GRT, built 1921), City of Lyons (British, 7063 GRT, built 1926), Drafn (Norwegian (tanker), 8205 GRT, built 1931), El Segundo (Panamanian (tanker), 3664 GRT, built 1912), Empire Barrie (British, 7168 GRT, built 1942), Empire Ibex (British, 6990 GRT, built 1918), Esperance (British, 5072 GRT, built 1923), Itola (British, 6793 GRT, built 1940), Marit (Norwegian (tanker), 5563 GRT, built 1918), Melchior Treub (Dutch, 3458 GRT, built 1913), Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927), Pan Gothia (Swedish (tanker), 10409 GRT, buil 1921), Swiftarrow (American (tanker), 8207 GRT, built 1921), Tweedbank (British, 5627 GRT, built 1930), West Honaker (American, 5376 GRT, built 1920).

On departure from Bandar Abbas the convoy was escorted by the minesweepers HMAS Geraldton (Cdr.(Retd.) H.M. Harris, RNR) and HMAS Bathurst (T/Lt. C. Macdonald, RANR(S)).

Around 1430D/6, the combined convoy split and convoy PA 9 set course for Aden escorted by HMAS Bathurst while convoy PB 10 set course for Bombay escorted by HMAS Geraldton.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The following merchant vessels made up convoy PA 9;
British Aviator, British Lord, California, El Segundo, Empire Barrier, Empire Ibex, Nieuw Holland, Swiftarrow and Tweedbank.

On 7 November the Empire Ibex twice straggled from the convoy due to engine trouble but both times she managed to rejoin the convoy after a few hours.

At 1630D/8, the following merchant vessels parted company with the convoy;
British Aviator (arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on 17 November), California (arrived at Durban on 25 November), Empire Barrie (arrived at Durban on 25 November), Empire Ibex (arrived at Laurenco Marques on 23 November), Nieuw Holland (arrived at Tanga on 13 November), Swiftarrow (?) and Tweedbank (arrived at Durban on 22 November).

There now only remained two merchant vessels in the convoy which was dispersed off Aden around 2300C/11 after which both the two merchant vessels and HMAS Bathurst arrived at Aden on 12 November 1942.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The following merchant vessels made up convoy PB 10;
Baron Semple, British Chancellor, British Commodore, British Confidence, British Integrity, British Trader, City of Lyons, Drafn, Esperance, Itola, Marit, Melchior Treub, Pan Gothian, West Honaker.

Around 0200E/7, in position 23°32'N, 63°04'E, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) joined convoy PB 10.

Around 1755E/7, the Karachi section of the convoy parted company. This was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Semple, British Integrity and City of Lyons.

Around 0700E/9, the Drafn straggled from the convoy due to engine trouble. She arrived at Bombay on 11 November.

Around 2215E/9, five ships parted company. This were most likely the following; British Chancellor (arrived at Adelaide on 6 December), British Confidence (arrived at Addu Atoll on 16 November), British Trader (arrived at Cochin on 13 November), Pan Gothia (arrived at Melbourne on 9 December) and West Honaker (arrived at Calcutta on 28 November).

Around noon on the 11th the convoy of five merchant vessels arrived at Bombay, this were the following;
British Commodore, Esperance, Itola, Marit and Melchior Treub.

Also HMS Alaunia and HMAS Geraldton arrived at Bombay. (17)

5 Nov 1942
Around 0815D/5, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Bandar Abbas for Bombay with a short call at Khor Kuwai early in the afternoon.

Around 0200E/7, she joined convoy PB 10.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy PB 10 ' for 4 November 1942.] (18)

11 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130FG/11, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy PB 10. (18)

22 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130FG/22, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Bombay for Khor Kuwai. (18)

26 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700D/26, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived off Khor Kuwai from Bombay. She departed again around 0730D/26 for Bandar Abbas where she arrived around 1330D/26. (18)

10 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Bandar Abbas to Khasab Bay. En-route gunnery exercises were carried out. (19)

19 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Khasab Bay to Bandar Abbas. (19)

30 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Bandar Abbas to Khasab Bay. (20)

1 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Khasab Bay to Bandar Abbas. (21)

18 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Bandar Abbas first to Khor Kuwai and then from there to Khasab Bay. (21)

19 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Khasab Bay to Bandar Abbas. (21)

30 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) proceeded from Bandar Abbas to Khasab Bay. (22)

31 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) conducted gunnery exercises and D/F calibration trials off Khasab Bay. (22)

1 Apr 1943
Around 0400D/1, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) departed Khasab Bay for Bombay. (23)

5 Apr 1943
Around 1045FG/5, HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) E.N. Kershaw, RN) arrived at Bombay from Khasab Bay. At Bombay she was then taken in hand for refit. (23)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/113548
  2. ADM 53/113548 + ADM 53/113914 + ADM 53/114883 + ADM 53/115229 + ADM 53/115268 + ADM 53/115593 + ADM 53/116456
  3. ADM 53/115268 + ADM 53/115593
  4. ADM 53/115269
  5. ADM 53/115269 + ADM 199/426
  6. ADM 53/115270
  7. ADM 53/115271 + ADM 53/116792
  8. ADM 53/115271
  9. ADM 53/115272
  10. ADM 53/116793
  11. ADM 53/115273
  12. ADM 53/115274
  13. ADM 53/115275
  14. ADM 53/115275 + ADM 53/115276 + ADM 199/2336
  15. ADM 53/115276
  16. ADM 53/115277
  17. ADM 53/115278 + ADM 199/708
  18. ADM 53/115278
  19. ADM 53/115279
  20. ADM 53/116857
  21. ADM 53/116858
  22. ADM 53/116859
  23. ADM 53/116860

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


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