Heneage Cecil Legge DSC, RN
| Born | 17 Aug 1890 | ||
| Died | 28 Sep 1956 | (66) |
| Ranks
Retired: 17 Aug 1936 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Heneage Cecil Legge, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Ranchi (F 15) | Capt. (Retd.) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 30 Aug 1939 | 17 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Ranchi (F 15) | Capt. (Retd.) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 29 Aug 1941 | 13 Sep 1941 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Ranchi (F 15)
23 Oct 1939
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) is commissioned at Bombay and successfully conducted her gunnery trials. She then commenced a training period. Her outfitting was fully completed on 8 November 1939.
[No log is available for the period of 23 October to 9 December 1939 so some details for this period might be missing.] (1)
13 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her work-up programme at / off Bombay HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed that place for Colombo where she was to arrive on 16 November.
While on passage she was ordered to patrol in position 06°00'N, 77°00'E.
On the 16th, she was ordered to patrol the Kardiva Channel, Maledives and to proceed to Colombo afterwards.
She eventually arrived at Trincomalee on 19 November 1939. (2)
28 Nov 1939
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and
the French troop transport Cap Tourane (French, 8009 GRT, built 1923, 1000 troops) arrived at Colombo.
[Unknown when HMS Ranchi had left Trincomalee, she had joined the French troopship, which came from Saigon via Singapore, near Sabang.] (3)
4 Dec 1939
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo escorting the French troop transports Cap Tourane (French, 8009 GRT, built 1923, 1000 troops) and D'Artagnan (French, 15105 GRT, built 1925, 850 troops) to Bombay. (4)
7 Dec 1939
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the French troop transports Cap Tourane (French, 8009 GRT, built 1923, 1000 troops) and D'Artagnan (French, 15105 GRT, built 1925, 850 troops) arrived at Bombay from Colombo. (2)
20 Dec 1939
Around 0730D/20, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from escort duty and patrol. (5)
22 Dec 1939
Around 1800D/22, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Aden to take a Political Officer to Socotra with the intention to establish an airbase there. She was also to transport petrol and bombs to Mukalla and Salalah where air bases had already been established.
She returned to Aden around 0730D/31. (5)
2 Jan 1940
Around 1900D/2, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. She is escorting the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913). (6)
8 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0500EF/8, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (7)
10 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1015EF/10, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) departed Bombay for Colombo. (7)
14 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730EF/14, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) arrived at Colombo from Bombay.
They departed again around 1345EF/14. The (troop) transport was to proceed to Singapore. HMS Ranchi was to escort her towards the northern end of Sumatra. (6)
18 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800F/18, the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) was turned over near Sabang in approximate position 06°00N, 95°30'E, by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) to the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN). (8)
20 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1830F/20, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from escort duty. (6)
26 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630F/26, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Aden. (6)
31 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130D/31, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo. (6)
1 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000D/1, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Aden to take a Political Officer to Socotra. She was also to transport petrol and bombs to Mukalla and Salalah air bases.
She returned to Aden around 2030D/7. (9)
8 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0130D/8, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Aden to join the (troop) transport Lancashire (British, 9557 GRT, built 1917) to Bombay. (9)
13 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0130EF/13, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transport Lancashire (British, 9557 GRT, built 1917) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (9)
17 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700EF/17, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (9)
20 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900EF/20, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (9)
24 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530EF/24, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Aden. On leaving harbour she first conducted gunnery exercises. (9)
3 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo.
[No logs are available for the months of March, April and May 1940, so some details for these months might be missing.] (10)
6 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Port Victoria, Seychelles where petrol and bombs were to be landed for the Air Force. (10)
11 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Aden. (10)
12 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Durban. (10)
19 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from Port Victoria. At Durban she commenced boiler cleaning. (10)
30 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Mozambique Channel area. (10)
7 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) returned to Durban from patrol. (10)
10 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is to search for Danish and Norwegian merchant vessels. (10)
16 Apr 1940
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) returned to Durban from patrol.
She departed Durban again later the same day escorting the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931) part of her way to Suez. (10)
22 Apr 1940
Around 0845D/22, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) turned over the escort of the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931) to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN). (11)
23 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from escort duty. (10)
26 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Seychelles / Madagascar area. (10)
10 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol. (10)
11 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa escorting the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931) northwards.
While en-route she was ordered to patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland until she was relieved. (10)
16 May 1940
Around 1515C/16, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) was relieved on patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland by HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).
HMS Ranchi then proceeded to Kilindini / Mombasa to boiler clean [arrival date unknown but most likely on the 17th.] (12)
25 May 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland. (10)
3 Jun 1940
Around 0730B/3, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol.
She departed again around 1700B/3, escorting the (troop) transports Inchanga (British, 7069 GRT, built 1934) and Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930) part of their way to Kilindini / Mombasa. (13)
9 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415BC/9, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from escort duty. (13)
10 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530B/10, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol the western part of the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (13)
14 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0030B/14, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) returned to Durban from patrol. (13)
17 Jun 1940
Around 0930B/17, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol the western part of the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (13)
24 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1430C/24, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Tamatave, Madagascar, from patrol. (13)
27 Jun 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100C/27, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Tamatave to resume her patrol off the Mozambique Channel and to proceed to Durban afterwards. (13)
1 Jul 1940
Around 0830B/1, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. At Durban she commenced boiler cleaning. (14)
17 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1600B/17, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. She is escorting the (troop) transports Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936) and Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926). (14)
24 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630C/24, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transports Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936) and Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (14)
28 Jul 1940
In the evening, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Bombay. She is escorting the (troop) transport Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926). (15)
5 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1430EF/5, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the (troop) transport Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Bombay from Kilindini / Mombasa. (16)
10 Aug 1940
Convoy BN 3.
This convoy departed Bombay on 10 August 1940.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Acadia (Norwegian, 5002 GRT, built 1938), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936), Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Ethiopia (British, 5574 GRT, built 1922), Khandalla (British, 7018 GRT, built 1923), Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922), Lancashire (British, 9557 GRT, built 1917), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926), Rhona (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926), Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924) and Talamba (British, 8018 GRT, built 1924).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN) and HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN).
Around 1245D/15, the light cruiser HMS Leander (from the New Zealand Division) (Capt. H.E. Horan, RN) joined the convoy. Both armed merchant cruisers then parted company with the convoy.
On 16 August 1940, the sloop HMIS Hindustan (Cdr. G.V.G. Beamish, RIN) joined the convoy, she parted company on the 17th.
Off Aden the transports Ethiopia and Khandalla were detached to the port.
Off Aden, on the 17th, seven more transports / tankers joined the convoy, these were the following; British Fusilier (British (tanker), 6943 GRT, built 1923), British Pride (British (tanker), 7106 GRT, built 1931), City of Keelung (British, 5186 GRT, built 1919), Ellenga (British, 5196 GRT, built 1911), Jessmore (British, 4099 GRT, built 1921), Malayan Prince (British, 8953 GRT, built 1926) and Raby Castle (British, 4996 GRT, built 1925).
The destroyers HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN), HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) coming from Aden. The sloop HMAS Parramatta (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Walker, MVO, RAN) also joined the convoy, she had already been at sea.
On the 19th, a patrolling Wellesley aircraft crashed into the sea near the convoy. The entire crew of the aircraft was rescued by HMS Kingston.
On 21 August 1940 the sloops HMS Grimsby (Cdr. K.J. D'Arcy, RN) and HMIS Clive (Cdr. H.R. Inigo-Jones, RIN) joined. HMS Leander, HMS Kimberley, HMS Kingston and HMAS Parramatta then parted company.
The convoy arrived at Suez on 23 August 1940. (17)
18 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1815EF/18, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (16)
4 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630EF/4, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (18)
6 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) is docked in the Hughes dry dock and taken in hand for refit at the Bombay Dockyard. (18)
10 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) is undocked. (18)
7 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) completed her refit at the Bombay Dockyard. (19)
10 Oct 1940
Convoy BN 7.
This convoy departed Bombay on 10 October 1940.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Ethiopia (British, 5574 GRT, built 1922), Felix Roussel (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930), Karagola (British, 7053 GRT, built 1917), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913), Nurmahal (British, 5419 GRT, built 1923), Subadar (British, 5424 GRT, built 1929) and Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN) and HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN).
Around 1330D/16, the light cruiser HMS Leander (from the New Zealand Division) (Capt. H.E. Horan, RN) joined the convoy. The armed merchant cruisers then parted company.
On the 18th, the sloops HMS Auckland (Cdr. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) and HMAS Yarra (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Harrington, RAN) joined.
On 19 October the Varsova was detached from the convoy and proceeded to Aden.
Also on the 19th, 24 more transports / tankers joined the convoy off Aden, these were the following; Arundo (Dutch, 5163 GRT, built 1930), Askot (Norwegian, 1323 GRT, built 1938), Australind (British, 5020 GRT, built 1929), British Colonel (British (tanker), 6999 GRT, built 1921), Cranfield (British, 5332 GRT, built 1919), Egero (Norwegian (tanker), 7590 GRT, built 1929), Erica (South African, 5112 GRT, built 1926), Hannah Moller (British, 2931 GRT, built 1911), Hatarana (British, 7522 GRT, built 1917), Inviken (Norwegian, 4131 GRT, built 1925), Jalakrishna (British, 4991 GRT, built 1937), King Arthur (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928), Kingswood (British, 5080 GRT, built 1929), Mandalay (British, 5529 GRT, built 1911), Marcella (British, 4592 GRT, built 1928), Margot (British, 4545 GRT, built 1926), Marion Moller (British, 3287 GRT, built 1909), Myrtlebank (British, 5150 GRT, built 1925), Nyco (Norwegian, 1345 GRT, built 1938), Nyholm (Norwegian (tanker), 5843 GRT, built 1927), Odysseus (British, 4577 GRT, built 1913), Serbino (British, 4099 GRT, built 1919) and Tyndareus (British, 11361 GRT, built 1916).
The Turkish minelayer Sivrihisar that had been built in the U.K. and was on passage to Turkey for delivery was also part of the convoy.
Also the destroyer HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN) and the minesweepers HMS Derby (Lt.Cdr. F.C.V. Brightman, RN) and HMS Huntley (Lt.Cdr. H.R.A. King, RNR) joined the convoy.
On 19 October 1940 and also on 20 October 1940 the convoy was attacked by Italian aircraft but no damage was done.
During the night of 20/21 October 1940, the Italian destroyers Pantera, Leone, Nazario Sauro and Francisco Nullo. No damage was done and the destroyers were driven off by the escort.
At dawn on 21 October one of the Italian destroyers, Francisco Nullo, was seen to be aground on Harmil island. She had been in battle with HMS Kimberley which then closed to finish off the damaged and grounded Italian destroyer. However HMS Kimberley was taken under fire by Italian shore batteries and sustained damage in her engine room. She was towed clear by HMS Leander during which both ships were unsuccessfully bombed. Later the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) took over the tow and she towed her damaged sistership to Port Sudan.
HMS Derby and HMS Huntley arrived at Port Sudan on 22 October 1940.
On 23 October 1940, HMS Auckland, Cranfield, Erica, Felix Roussel, Hatarana, Nevasa and Nurmahal arrived at Port Sudan. After taking on board water the Felix Roussel sailed again to rejoin the convoy.
Also on 23 October 1940, the remaining escorts parted company and the sloops HMS Grimsby (Cdr. K.J. D'Arcy, RN) and HMIS Clive (Cdr. H.R. Inigo-Jones, RIN) had joined.
On 24 October 1940, HMAS Yarra arrived at Port Sudan.
The convoy arrived at Suez on 26 October 1940. (17)
21 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900EF/21, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from convoy escort duty. (19)
25 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1715EF/25, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for patrol. On leaving harbour she conducted gunnery exercises. She was ordered to patrol off the Maledives. (19)
29 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) made a short stop at Diego Garcia before resuming her patrol. (19)
4 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0945EF/4, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo for patrol. (20)
7 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100EF/7, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Bombay. (20)
10 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100EF/10, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (20)
21 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0945EF/21, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from convoy escort duty and patrol. (20)
29 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900EF/29, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo to make rendezvous with the transport Alipore (British, 5273 GRT, built 1920).
She joined the transport around 0830F/1 in approximate position 06°45'N, 89°27'E. (20)
4 Dec 1940
Around 0550EF/4, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) parted company with the transport Alipore (British, 5273 GRT, built 1920) which arrived at Colombo later the same day.
HMS Ranchi did not enter harbour but went on patrol. She was ordered to patrol from position 01°30'S, 73°30'E to position 01°30'N, 81°00'E and arrive at Colombo on 8 December.
On 6 December 1940, she was ordered to patrol from position 02°00'N, 78°00'E to 04°00'N, 82°00'E and arrive at Colombo on 10 December. (21)
10 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915EF/10, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from patrol. (21)
12 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000EF/12, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Durban via the Seychelles.
On the 14th, her destination was changed to Kilindini / Mombasa. (21)
17 Dec 1940
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) made a short stop at Port Victoria, Seychelles before continuing her passage to Kilindini / Mombasa conducting a short patrol en-route. (21)
23 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100C/23, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol. (21)
23 Dec 1940
Convoy KD 2.
This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 23 December 1940.
It was made up of the troop transports; Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927, 226 troops) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918, 799 troops).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN).
The convoy arrived at Durban on 29 December 1940. (17)
31 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630B/31, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol in / off the Mozambique Channel. (22)
11 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/11, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (23)
17 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0910C/17, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) joined the (troop) transport Selandia (South African, 8482 GRT, built 1938, 211 military personnel) which she was to escort northwards.
They parted company around 0515C/19. HMS Ranchi resumed patrol and the Selandia arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on 22 January 1941. (23)
25 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1430BC/25, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at East London from patrol. She then commenced boiler cleaning. It had been intended to boiler clean at Durban but this was not possible due to congestion in the harbour there. (23)
2 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415B/2, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed East London for Durban. (24)
3 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415B/3, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from East London. (24)
4 Feb 1941
Around 1600B/4, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel.
She also provided cover for the (troop) transport Selandia (South African, 8482 GRT, built 1938) during her passage from Durban to Kilindini / Mombasa from 8 to 13 February 1941. (24)
15 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1730C/15, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (24)
19 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630B/19, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Mozambique Channel. (24)
27 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) made a very short stop at Durban and the departed again to resume her patrol. (24)
2 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol.
[No log is available of HMS Ranchi for the month of March 1941 so some details might be missing.] (24)
4 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban to make rendezvous with the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.H. Edelsten, RN) and the captured Vichy French merchant vessel Ville de Strasbourg (7007 GRT, built 1920). She was to take over the escort of the Vichy vessel to Durban. (25)
7 Mar 1941
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the captured Vichy French merchant vessel Ville de Strasbourg (7007 GRT, built 1920) arrived at Durban.
HMS Ranchi departed Durban for patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol off the Mozambique Channel. She also provided cover for the (troop) transport Dalia (South African, 5188 GRT, built 1931) during her passage from Durban to Kilindini / Mombasa from 15 to 23 February 1941. (25)
20 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (10)
21 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for East London. (10)
22 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at East London from Durban. She then commenced boiler cleaning. (10)
31 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed East London for patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (10)
8 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1345C/8, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (26)
9 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1430B/9, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban escorting the (troop) transport Selandia (South African, 8482 GRT, built 1938, 307 military personnel) part of the way to Kilindini / Mombasa.
They parted company around 1050B/11 on reaching latitude 22'S. (26)
13 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130B/13, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from escort duty. (26)
16 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915B/16, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (26)
24 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700B/24, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (26)
27 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100B/27, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (26)
6 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1515C/6, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (27)
9 May 1941
Around 0730C/9, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban to makerendezvous with convoy SW 6.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy SW 6 ' for 1 May 1941.] (27)
16 May 1941
Around 1330C/16, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban with convoy SW 6.
HMS Ranchi is then taken in hand for a docking and for repairs to her boilers. (27)
17 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) is docked at Durban. (27)
19 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) is undocked. (27)
3 Jun 1941
Around 0930C/2, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (28)
17 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730B/17, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (28)
22 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1545B/22, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol to the east of Durban. (28)
28 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400B/22, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban van patrol. (28)
1 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030B/1, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel and to the east of Durban. (29)
13 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1230B/13, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (29)
22 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530B/22, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel and to the east of Durban. (29)
31 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0715B/31, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (29)
8 Aug 1941
Around 0900B/8, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Mozambique Channel. On the 11th she is to join the troop transport Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938) and take over from that ships current escort. (30)
16 Aug 1941
Around 1600BC/16, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) and the troop transport Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938) arrived at Durban.
HMS Ranchi is then taken in hand for refit. (30)
Sources
- ADM 199/368 + ADM 199/2568
- ADM 199/368 + ADM 199/382
- ADM 187/3 + ADM 199/382 + ADM 199/2568
- ADM 199/368 + ADM 199/382 + ADM 199/2568
- ADM 53/110153
- ADM 53/113050
- ADM 53/113050 + ADM 199/368
- ADM 53/112101 + ADM 53/113050
- ADM 53/113051
- ADM 199/2568
- ADM 53/111748 + ADM 53/111748
- ADM 53/111749
- ADM 53/113052
- ADM 53/113053
- ADM 53/113053 + ADM 199/383
- ADM 53/113054
- ADM 199/383
- ADM 53/113055
- ADM 53/113056
- ADM 53/113057
- ADM 53/113058
- ADM 53/113058 + ADM 53/114940
- ADM 53/114940
- ADM 53/114941
- ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114942
- ADM 53/114943
- ADM 53/114944
- ADM 53/114945
- ADM 53/114946
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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