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The page of HMS Durban was last updated in February 2023.

30 Aug 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Plymouth for Gibraltar. (1)

2 Sep 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. She departed for Freetown later the same day. (2)

2 Sep 1939

Convoy AB 1/1.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 2 September 1939 and arrived at Capetown on 29 September 1939.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; British Ardour (British (tanker), 7124 GRT, built 1928), British Loyalty (British (tanker), 6993 GRT, built 1928), British Motorist (British (tanker), 6891 GRT, built 1924), British Princess (British (tanker), 7019 GRT, built 1917), British Progress (British (tanker), 4581 GRT, built 1927), City of Hereford (British, 5101 GRT, built 1927), City of Shanghai (British, 5828 GRT, built 1917) and Rowanbank (British, 5159 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the light cruisers HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. A. Poland, RN). Shortly after sailing four destroyers joined for A/S escort. These were HMS Douglas ( Cdr. R.F.B. Swinley, RN), HMS Watchman (Cdr.(Retd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN), HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, RN) and they remained with the convoy until 0800/3.

At 1300/11, HMS Dauntless parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Freetown where she arrived around 1100/13.

At 0830/13, HMS Despatch turned over the convoy to HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) which had departed Freetown around 1900/12 to join the convoy. HMS Despatch arrived at Freetown around 0615/14.

At 1045/29, the convoy was dispersed near Capetown after which most of the ships proceeded into Capetown harbour. HMS Durban arrived at Simonstown around 1700/29. (3)

8 Sep 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Freetown where she joined the South Atlantic Station. (2)

12 Sep 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Freetown for convoy escort duty.

[See the event ' Convoy AB 1/1 ' for 2 September 1939 for more information on this convoy.] (2)

29 Sep 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Simonstown after convoy escort duty. (2)

4 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Simonstown to patrol off the Cape of Good Hope. (4)

6 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) returned to Simonstown. (4)

10 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Simonstown to patrol off the Cape of Good Hope. She returned to Simonstown later the same day. (4)

13 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Simonstown for Mauritius.

HMS Durban is to join the China Station. (4)

20 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Mauritius. She departed for Colombo later the same day.

HMS Durban is to join the China Station. (4)

24 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) made a short stop at Diego Garcia before continuing to Colombo later the same day. (4)

27 Oct 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Colombo. (4)

28 Oct 1939
Around 0840EF/28, HMS Eagle (Capt. A.R.M. Bridge, RN), HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN), departed Colombo for Singapore where they arrived around 0830GH/1.

The cruiser were to join the China Station to replace more modern cruisers there which had left for other stations.

HMS Eagle was to dock and undergo some repairs at the Singapore Dockyard. (5)

2 Nov 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) departed Singapore for Hong Kong. (6)

6 Nov 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) arrived at Hong Kong. (6)

9 Nov 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) is docked at Hong Kong for a short refit. (6)

13 Nov 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, RN) is undocked. (6)

28 Nov 1939
With her refit completed, HMS Durban (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN), conducted exercises at Hong Kong. (6)

29 Nov 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) departed Hong Kong for a patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas. (7)

9 Dec 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) arrived at Hong Kong from patrol and also having escorted the transport Taksang (British, 3471 GRT, built 1935) carring troops coming from Qinhuangdao to Hong Kong on the way back. (7)

16 Dec 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) departed Hong Kong to make rendezvous of Cape St. Jacques with French transports and escort them to Singapore. (8)

21 Dec 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) arrived at Singapore. (7)

26 Dec 1939
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) departed Singapore to patrol in the Sunda Strait and along the south-west coast of Sumatra. (7)

9 Jan 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) returned to Singapore from patrol. (9)

12 Jan 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) departed Singapore to escort the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) part of the way to Colombo.

The (troop) transport was turned over to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) at 0715G/15. (10)

16 Jan 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) made a short call at Nancowry Island. (9)

18 Jan 1940
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). (11)

20 Jan 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) and the (troop) transport Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) arrived at Singapore. (9)

29 Jan 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Singapore to patrol in the Sunda Strait and along the south-west coast of Sumatra. (9)

12 Feb 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) returned to Singapore from patrol. (12)

22 Feb 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) both conducted exercises off Singapore. (13)

23 Feb 1940
HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) both conducted exercises off Singapore. (13)

24 Feb 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (12)

1 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (12)

2 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) arrived at Penang. (12)

3 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Penang to escort the river gunboats HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr R.S. Stafford, RN) and HMS Ladybird (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.F. Blackburn, RN) to Nancowry Island and fuel them there.

They arrived at Nancowry Island on 5 March. (14)

6 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN), HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr R.S. Stafford, RN) and HMS Ladybird (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.F. Blackburn, RN) departed Nancowry Island. Shorty after deparuture they made rendezvous with HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN) which then took over the escort of the gunboats which were to proceed to the Mediterranean via Colombo and Aden. (14)

7 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) arrived at Penang. (14)

14 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Penang for a patrol around Sumatra. (14)

24 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (14)

25 Mar 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Singapore for patrol around Sumatra. (14)

4 Apr 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) arrived at Penang from patrol.

She had to break off her patrol early due to condenser trouble. (15)

11 Apr 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) departed Penang for a patrol in the Sunda Strait and then around Sumatra. (15)

20 Apr 1940
In the morning, HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN), fuelled from the RFA tanker Appleleaf (5892 GRT, built 1917). (15)

21 Apr 1940
HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) is relieved on patrol near Padang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies, by HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN).

HMS Danae then set course to proceed to Penang. (16)

30 Apr 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. L.S. Saunders, RN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (15)

4 May 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to patrol in the Sunda Strait. (17)

14 May 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Singapore from patrol. (17)

23 May 1940
During 23/24 May 1940, HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN), HMS Ceres (Capt. E.G. Abbott, AM, RN) and HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (18)

30 May 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Labuan. (17)

1 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Labuan. (19)

3 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Labuan to return to Singapore. (19)

5 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Singapore. (19)

7 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (19)

8 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (19)

9 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang for a patrol in the Andaman Sea. (19)

10 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) anchored off Hastings Island. (19)

11 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Hastings Island to continue her patrol. (19)

15 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Penang from patrol. (19)

17 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang to patrol in the Andaman Sea. (19)

19 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) anchored off the Nicobar Islands. (19)

20 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed the Nicobar Islands to continue her patrol. (19)

25 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Penang from patrol. (19)

26 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang for Singapore. (19)

27 Jun 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore. (19)

5 Jul 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is taken in hand for refit at Singapore. (20)

9 Jul 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Singapore. (20)

25 Jul 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is undocked. (20)

19 Aug 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) completed her refit at Singapore. (21)

22 Aug 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted post refit engine and steering trials at Singapore. On completion of these she ran over the degaussing (DG) range several times. (21)

23 Aug 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials off Singapore. (21)

26 Aug 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Hong Kong. (21)

30 Aug 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Hong Kong. (21)

3 Sep 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. These included a range an inclination exercises with HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (22)

4 Sep 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (22)

5 Sep 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (22)

11 Sep 1940
HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (23)

12 Sep 1940
HMS Danae (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (23)

16 Sep 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Hong Kong to patrol in the East China Sea. (24)

23 Sep 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Hong Kong from patrol. (24)

1 Oct 1940
During 1/2 October 1940, HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN), conducted a patrol off Hong Kong. (25)

4 Oct 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Hong Kong for the Yangtse estuary. (25)

7 Oct 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) made rendezvous with the river gunboats Cricket (Lt. J.L. Goatley, RN) and Tern (Lt.Cdr. M.H.R. Crichton, RN) off the Yangtse estuary. They then set course for Hong Kong. (25)

10 Oct 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN), Cricket (Lt. J.L. Goatley, RN) and Tern (Lt.Cdr. M.H.R. Crichton, RN) arrived at Hong Kong. (25)

21 Oct 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Hong Kong for Singapore. She is escorting the river gunboat Tarantula (Cdr.(Emgy.) R.C.F. Creer, RAN). (26)

29 Oct 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and Tarantula (Cdr.(Emgy.) R.C.F. Creer, RAN) arrived at Singapore. (26)

9 Nov 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (27)

10 Nov 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (27)

10 Nov 1940
The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis (Schiff 16) captured the Norwegian tanker Ole Jacob (8306 GRT, built 1939) in the Bay of Bengal, west of the Nicobar Islands in position 06°29'N, 90°16'E. On receiving a raider report from the tanker the Commander-in-Chief East Indies despatched the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN), light cruisers HMS Capetown (Capt. P.H.G. James, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and armed merchant cruiser HMAS Westralia (A/Capt.(Emgy.) H.V. Hudson, OBE, RAN) to search for the German raider, but none made contact with the German ship. (28)

11 Nov 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang to patrol in the Indian Ocean to the west of Northern Sumatra following a signal from the tanker Ole Jacob (Norwegian, 8306 GRT, built 1939), which was en-route from Singapore to Suez, that she was being attacked by an enemy raider (This was Atlantis, which captured the tanker) in position 06°29'N, 90°16'E. The following day a distress message was received from the transport Automedon from approximate position 04°00'N, 90°00'E which was sunk by the same raider. (29)

15 Nov 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Nancowry Island where she fuelled from the RFA tanker Pearleaf (5911 GRT, built 1917). HMS Durban resumed her patrol in the Indian Ocean, west of Northern Sumatra, the following day. (27)

28 Nov 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang from patrol. After fuelling she immediately departed again to escort the transport Alipore (British, 5273 GRT, built 1920) part of her way into the Indian Ocean. The Alipore was a valuable cargo of explosives on board.

She parted company with the Alipore at 2000 hours (zone -7 1/3) on 30 November in position 06°45'N, 92°00'E (27)

3 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore. (30)

5 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Singapore. (30)

7 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is undocked. (30)

12 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (30)

13 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (30)

23 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (30)

24 Dec 1940
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted full power trials off Singapore. (30)

2 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (31)

3 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (31)

5 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang for Rangoon. (32)

7 Jan 1941

Convoy WS 5B

This convoy departed U.K. ports on 7 January 1941 for variuos ports in the Far East and Mediterranean (see below).

The convoy was made up of the following troop transports; Arundel Castle (British, 19118 GRT, built 1921), Athlone Castle (25564 GRT, built 1936), Britannic (British, 26943 GRT, built 1930), Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Duchess of Richmond (British, 20022 GRT, built 1928), Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Empress of Australia (British, 21833 GRT, built 1914), Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930), Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Highland Chieftain (British, 14131 GRT, built 1929), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915), Ormonde (British, 14982 GRT, built 1917), Pennland (Dutch, 16082 GRT, built 1922), Samaria (British, 19597 GRT, built 1921), Winchester Castle (British, 20012 GRT, built 1930) and Windsor Castle (British, 19141 GRT, built 1922).

Four of these ships departed Avonmouth on 7 January and six sailed from Liverpool. These ships anchored in Moelfre Bay for several days as the eleven ships that were to be sailed from the Clyde could not do so due to thick fog.

The Avonmouth (Bristol Channel) section of the convoy had been escorted to Moelfre Bay by the destroyer HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN).

The Liverpool section was escorted to Moelfre Bay by the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (Capt. R.R. Stewart, RN) and the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Highlander (Cdr. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) and HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN).

The ships and their escorts anchored in Moelfre Bay from 8 to 11 January. The escorts remained there for A/S patrol and AA protection and were joined by the destroyer HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN) which had departed Liverpool on the 8th and the light cruiser HMS Naiad (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.L.S. King, CB, MVO, RN) which came from the Clyde.

When it became clear that the ships from the Clyde were finally able to sail the ships in Moelfre Bay sailed for Lough Foyle (near Londonderry, Northern Ireland) to take on board additional water.

The ships from Lough Foyle and the Clyde made rendez-vous at sea on 12 January and course was then set to Freetown.

The convoy was now escorted by the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, light cruisers HMS Phoebe (Capt. G. Grantham, RN), HMS Naiad, destroyers HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Harvester, HMS Highlander, HMS Fearless (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN), HMS Witherington, HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN), HMS Vansittart, HMS Lincoln (Cdr. A.M. Sheffield, RN), HMS Leamington (Cdr. W.E. Banks, DSC, RN) and Léopard (Lt.Cdr. J. Evenou).

On 14 January the destroyers HMS Witherington and FFS Leopard parted company.

The light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) departed Plymouth on 12 January. She joined the convoy around noon on the 15th. Shortly afterwards HMS Naiad then parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Scapa Flow where she arrrived around 1430/17.

HMS Phoebe and HMS Fearless also parted company with the convoy escorting the Capetown Castle and Monarch of Bermuda to Gibraltar where they arrived in the afternoon of the 18th. On the 17th they were joined by the destroyer HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) and on the 18th by two more destroyers; HMS Duncan (A/Capt. A.D.B. James, RN) and HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN).

At Gibraltar the two troopships took on board troops from the damaged troopship Empire Trooper. They departed Gibraltar for Freetown on 19 January being escorted by the destroyers HMS Fury, HMS Fearless and HMS Duncan until 21 January when they parted company. Both troopships arrived at Freetown on 26 January escorted by HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN) and HMS Forester.

Meanwhile convoy WS 5B had coninued its passage southwards.

On the 16 January all remaining destroyers parted company.

Around 0330Z/17, HMS Ramillies parted company with the convoy. She took the troopship / liner Duchess of York with her.

When approaching Freetown local A/S vessels started to join the convoy. On 21 January the corvettes HMS Asphodel (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN) and HMS Calendula (Lt.Cdr. A.D. Bruford, RNVR) joined and the next day the destroyer HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) also joined the convoy. Finally on 24 January the destroyer HMS Vidette (Lt. E.N. Walmsley, RN) also joined the convoy.

On 25 January 1941 the convoy arrived at Freetown escorted by HMAS Australia, HMS Emerald, HMS Velox, HMS Vidette, HMS Asphodel and HMS Calendula.

The convoy departed Freetown on 29 January with the addition of troop transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920) still escorted by HMAS Australia and HMS Emerald. A local A/S force remained with the convoy until 1 February and was made up of the destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Forester, sloop HMS Milford (Capt.(Retd.) S.K. Smyth, RN) and the corvettes HMS Clematis (Cdr. Y.M. Cleeves, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Cyclamen (Lt. H.N. Lawson, RNR).

HMS Emerald arrived at Capetown on 8 February escorting Arundel Castle, Athlone Castle, Capetown Castle, Duchess of Bedford, Durban Castle, Empress of Australia, Empress of Japan, Monarch of Bermuda and Winchester Castle. The light cruiser then went to Simonstown.

HMAS Australia arrived at Durban on 11 February with Britannic, Cameronia, Duchess of Richmond, Franconia, Highland Chieftain, Highland Princess, Nea Hellas, Ormonde, Pennland, Samaria and Windsor Castle.

The Capetown section departed that place on 12 February and the Durban section on 15 February after which a rendez-vous of Durban was effected.

On 21 February the troopships Empress of Australia, Empress of Japan, Ormonde and Windsor Castle were detached to Kilindini / Mombasa escorted by HMS Emerald. They arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on 22 February. In the approaches to Kilindini / Mombasa the convoy was joined by the destroyer HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN).

The remainder of the convoy continued on Suez escorted by HMS Australia (until 2040D/22) and HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) which joined the convoy shortly before HMS Emerald and the four troopships for Kilindini / Mombasa were detached.

Around 1200D/26, the light cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. C.P. Clarke, RN) joined. HMS Hawkins then parted company and proceeded to Aden with the Duchess of Richmond.

On 27 August the sloops HMS Auckland (Cdr. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) and HMAS Parramatta (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Walker, MVO, RAN) joined the convoy. HMS Hawkins and the Duchess of Richmond also rejoined after which HMS Caledon parted company to return to Aden.

Also on 27 August, the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Aden with the following (troop) transports; President Doumer (British, 11898 GRT, built 1935), Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924), Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914) and Waimarama (British, 12843 GRT, built 1938).

Around daylight on 1 March, HMS Auckland was detached to proceed to Port Sudan taking the President Doumer with her.

Around 1600C/1, HMAS Parramatta was detached to return to Aden.

In the morning of 2 March, HMS Hawkins was detached to proceed to Aden.

The convoy arrived at Suez on 3 March 1941, still escorted by HMS Kingston.

The 'Kilindini / Mombasa section' meanwhile departed there on 24 February as convoy WS 5X now escorted by light cruiser HMS Enterprise (Capt. J.C. Annesley, DSO, RN). On 27 February light cruiser HMS Capetown (Capt. P.H.G. James, RN) joined this convoy as additional escort. The convoy arrived at Bombay on 3 March 1941.

Convoy WS 5BX, now made up of the troopship Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914) and Empress of Japan, departed Bombay for Singapore on 5 March escorted by HMS Enterprise. The convoy was joined on 8 March by the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN). HMS Enterprise left the convoy on 9 March. The convoy arrived at Singapore on 11 March. HMS Durban had parted company with the convoy the day before.

8 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Rangoon. (32)

13 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Rangoon for patrol in the Andaman Sea. (32)

15 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Port Blair. (31)

16 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Port Blair to resume her patrol. (31)

18 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) anchored off Nancowry Island. (31)

21 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Nancowry for Penang. (31)

23 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (31)

25 Jan 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang to patrol in the Indian Ocean to the west of Northern Sumatra. (32)

2 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (33)

4 Feb 1941

Convoy US 9.

This convoy departed Sydney on 4 February 1941 and arrived at Bombay on 22 February 1941.

The convoy was made up of the troopships; Aquitania (British, 44786 GRT, built 1914), Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) and Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936).

On departure from Sydney, around 1420K/4, the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN).

Off Melbourne, at 1650K/6, the convoy was joined by the troopship Mauretania (British, 35739 GRT, built 1939).

The convoy arrived at Fremantle around 0800H/10 and departed again on 12 February 1941 but now escorted by the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN).

Around 1500G/16 the convoy made rendezvous with the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) in position 08°12'S, 104°00'E which took the Queen Mary with her to Singapore where they arrived on the 18th.

Around 0900E/20, HMAS Canberra was relieved by the light cruiser HMS Leander (from the New Zealand Division) (Capt. R.H. Bevan, RN) in position 06°44'N, 77°27'E.

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 22 February 1941.

11 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore escorting the troopship Queen Elizabeth (British, 83673 GRT, built 1939) from Singapore until 08°00'S. (33)

13 Feb 1941
At 1915 hours (zone -7u20min), HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN), parted company with the troopship Queen Elizabeth (British, 83673 GRT, built 1939) in approximate position 08°40'S, 105°30'E. (34)

14 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) made a short stop off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island. (34)

16 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) made rendezvous with convoy US 9 and the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Singapore escorted by HMS Durban.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 9 ' for 4 February 1941.] (34)

18 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) arrived at Singapore. (34)

27 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (34)

28 Feb 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (34)

3 Mar 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to make rendezvous with convoy WS 5BX and take over the escort.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 5B ' for 4 January 1941.] (35)

8 Mar 1941

Convoy BM 4.

This (troop) convoy departed Bombay on 8 March 1941 and arrived at Penang on 17 March 1941. Some ships went on to Singapore, arriving on 17 March 1941.

The following transports / troopships were part of this convoy; Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), El Madina (British, 3962 GRT, built 1937), Felix Roussel (French, 17083 GRT, built 1930), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926), Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926), Santhia (British, 7754 GRT, built 1925), Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923), Varela (British, 4651 GRT, built 1914).

On departured from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN). On the 12th it was joined by the light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) after which HMS Antenor parted company and returned to Bombay. On the 13th the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) joined. On the 14th the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) also joined. HMS Emerald parted company with the convoy on the 15th.

On the 17th, HMS Durban arrived at Penang with the Elma, El Madina, Felix Roussell, Santhia and Talma.

On the 18th, HMS Dauntless arrived at Singapore with the Rajula, Rohna and Varela. (36)

11 Mar 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang after convoy escort duty.

After fuelling she departed again to make rendezvous with convoy BM 4.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy BM 4 ' for 8 March 1941. (35)

17 Mar 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang with the ' Penang section ' of convoy BM 4. (37)

17 Mar 1941

Convoy BM 5.

This troop convoy departed Bombay on 17 March 1941 and arrived at Singapore on 27 March 1941.

The following transports / troopships were part of this convoy; Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Jalakrishna (British, 4991 GRT, built 1937), Jalapadma (British, 3935 GRT, built 1929) and Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912).

On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN).

On the 20th, HMS Hector was relieved by the light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) in position 06°30'N, 77°35'E.

On 22 March 1941 the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) joined the convoy in position 07°10'N, 84°55'E. HMS Enterprise parted company with the convoy the following day.

The convoy arrived at Singapore on 25 March 1941. (36)

19 Mar 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang for escort duty with convoy BM 5.

[See the event ' Convoy BM 5 ' for 17 March 1941 for more info on this convoy.] (35)

27 Mar 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore with convoy BM 5. (35)

7 Apr 1941

Convoy US 10.

This convoy departed Wellington, New Zealand on 7 April 1941. It arrived at Colombo / Trincomalee on 26 April 1941.

On departure from Wellington, around 1620M/7, the convoy was made up of the troopships; Mauretania (British, 35739 GRT, built 1939) and Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938).

They were escorted by the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (Capt. R.R. Stewart, RN) and the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) and HMS Achilles (from the New Zealand Division) (Capt. H.M. Barnes, RN).

Around 0430K/10, HMS Achilles parted company in position 35°15'S, 152°45'E and proceeded to Jervis Bay where the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) is anchored under the protection of the light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN). When HMS Achilles arrived HMAS Sydney departed Jervis Bay for Sydney.

The remainder of the convoy meanwhile went to Sydney where they arrived around 1000K/10.

Around 0830K/11, the convoy departed Sydney with two more troopships in it, these were the Ile de France (British, 43450 GRT, built 1926) and Queen Elizabeth (British, 83673 GRT, built 1939). Escort was HMAS Australia.

In the afternoon of the 11th they were joined in position 35°24'S, 152°05'E by the Queen Mary and HMS Achilles. HMS Achilles then parted company to proceed to Sydney.

The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 16 April and departed from there in the same composition on 19 April.

In the afternoon of 22 April the convoy made rendezvous in position 08°30'S, 104°45'E with the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) which then took the Nieuw Amsterdam with her to Singapore. They arrived at Singapore on 24 April.

In the afteroon of the 25 April the convoy made rendezvous in position 03°00'N, 84°45'E with the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN) which then took the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary with her to Trincomalee where they arrived on 26 April.

HMS Australia with the Ile de France and Mauretania proceeded to Colombo where they arrived on 26 April. (36)

9 Apr 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to patrol off Phuket where three Italian merchant vessels are though to be making preparations to escape.

The next day, the 10th, HMS Durban was joined by HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) coming from Penang.

They arrived off Phuket in the evening.

They remained on patrol until 13 April after which HMS Tenedos returned to Penang and HMS Durban to Singapore. (38)

14 Apr 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore from patrol. (39)

18 Apr 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to make rendezvous with convoy US 10 in the Indian Ocean.

Rendezvous was effected in the afternoon of 22 April and HMS Durban then took the troopship Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) with her to escort this ship to Singapore where they arrived on 24 April.

[For more information on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 10 ' for 7 April 1941.] (39)

29 Apr 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (39)

30 Apr 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (39)

1 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (40)

6 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (40)

7 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (40)

9 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang to make rendezvous with the troopship Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) which departed Singapore on the same day.

They made rendezvous in the morning of the 10th in approximate position 06°35'N, 96°46'E. They parted company with each other in the afternoon of the 11th. (40)

13 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) returned to Penang. (40)

15 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted trials of Penang. (40)

25 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang to make rendezvous with the troopship Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929) later in the day and then escort her to Colombo. (40)

29 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and the troopship Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929) arrived at Colombo. (40)

31 May 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Colombo for Penang.

[No logbooks are available for June, July and August so some datails might (and will) be missing for these months.] (40)

4 Jun 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (41)

21 Jun 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Penang together with the transport Ellenga (British, 5196 GRT, built 1911). HMS Durban was to escort this ship until about 85°E. (42)

29 Jun 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore. (41)

11 Jul 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to make rendezvous in the Indian Ocean between Ceylon and Northern Sumatra with HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) escorting the troop transport Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927) and the RAF tender Shengking (British, 2999 GRT, built 1931). (43)

16 Jul 1941
Around 1600G/16, in position 04°25'N, 86°50'E, the troop transport Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927), RAF tender Shengking (British, 2999 GRT, built 1931) and their current escort HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) made rendezvous with HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) which then took over the escort of the two ship to Singapore.

HMS Mauritius then set course for Colombo. (44)

19 Jul 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore escorting the troop transport Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927) and the RAF tender Shengking (British, 2999 GRT, built 1931). (41)

27 Jul 1941

Convoy WS 9AX.

This convoy departed Bombay on 27 July 1941.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Capetown Castle (British, 27000 GRT, built 1938), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938) and Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Antenor (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN).

The convoy arrived at Colombo on 30 July 1941.

On 1 August 1941, the Capetown Castle and Empress of Japan departed Colombo for Singapore. On departure from Colombo they were not escorted.

Around 0730FG/2, the light cruiser HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined as escort. She came from Trincomalee.

Around 0715FG/4, in approximate position 06°40'N, 96°00'E, escort was turned over to HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN).

The convoy arrived at Singapore on 5 August 1941. (45)

28 Jul 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Miri. (46)

30 Jul 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Miri. (46)

31 Jul 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Miri for Singapore.

2 Aug 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore from Miri. (46)

2 Aug 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore to make rendezvous near northern Sumatra with HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) escorting convoy WS 9AX.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 9AX for 27 July 1941.] (47)

5 Aug 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Singapore with convoy WS 9AX.

Subsequently HMS Durban is then taken in hand for refit. [As no log is available for August 1941, no further details are known.] (42)

29 Sep 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) completed her refit at Singapore. Ammunitioning of the ship then began. (48)

30 Sep 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) conducted full power trials off Singapore. She also ran over the degaussing range eight times. (48)

3 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore.

HMS Durban also conducted D/F calibration trials. (48)

4 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (48)

5 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (48)

6 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) departed Singapore for Penang. (48)

7 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) arrived at Penang. (48)

15 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Penang for Port Blair. (49)

17 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Blair. (49)

19 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Port Blair to visit several places in the Andaman Islands. She returned to Port Blair on 21 October. (49)

21 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Port Blair for Nancowry. (49)

22 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Nancowry.

She departed for Penang later the same day. (49)

24 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Penang. (49)

27 Oct 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Penang escorting the river gunboats HMS Seamew (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Cooper, RN) and HMS Scarab (Lt. J.B. Cox, RN) and two tugs and the auxiliary HMS Mata Hari.

On the 30th HMS Durban fuelled the river gunboats and the tugs coaled from the Mata Hari. They departed for Trincomalee later the same day except for the Mata Hari.

HMS Durban, HMS Seamew, HMS Scarab and the two tugs arrived at Trincomalee on 3 November.

On 4 November they departed Trincomalee for Colombo where they arrived on 6 November. (50)

8 Nov 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Singapore. (51)

12 Nov 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Singapore. (51)

14 Nov 1941
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Singapore to make rendezvous south-west of the Sunda Strait with the (troop) transport Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) and her escort, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN). (51)

17 Nov 1941
Around 1115GH/17, south-west of the Sunda Strait, in approximate position 07°50'S, 104°40'E, HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) took over the escort of the troopship Zealandia (Australian, 6660 GRT, built 1910) from HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN).

HMS Durban and the Zealandia arrived at Singapore on 20 November 1941.

HMAS Sydney set course for Fremantle where she was due to arrive on 20 November 1941. This was the last time HMAS Sydney had been seen by Allied ships before she was sunk. (51)

2 Dec 1941
HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (52)

3 Dec 1941
HMS Danae (A/Capt. F.J. Butler, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (52)

19 Dec 1941
The transport Erinpura (British, 5128 GRT, built 1911) departed Singapore for Colombo, via the Sunda Strait, with some 30 officers and 700 men from the Prince of Wales and Repulse as well as some women and children. She was escorted by the light cruisers HMS Dragon (A/Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) and the destroyer HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN).

In the morning of 24 December 1941, the escort of Erinpura was taken over by the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) in position 00°44'N, 93°48'E. (53)

21 Dec 1941

Convoy BM 9A.

This convoy departed Bombay on 21 December 1941 and arrived at Singapore on 3 January 1942.

It was was made up of the following ships; Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Lancashire (British, 9445 GRT, built 1917), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926), Ethiopia (British 5575 GRT, built 1922) and Varsova (British, 4691 GRT, built 1914).

On departure from Bombay it was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. H. Hickling, DSO, RN) and the patrol vessel HMIS Sonavati (T/Lt. G.W. Barnes, RINR).

At 1340/22, in position 14°03'N, 73°02'E, HMIS Sonavati obtained a strong A/S contact and attacked with six depth charges but the contact appeared to be non-sub.

On 24 December the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) and sloop HMS Falmouth (Cdr. U.H.R. James, RN) departed Colombo and they joined the convoy around 0800EF/25 in position 05°20'N, 80°00'E. HMS Glasgow then parted company with the convoy.

On 27 December HMS Falmouth and HMIS Sonavati parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Colombo.

Around 1200GH/30, in position 02°22'S, 98°00'E, the light cruisers HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Dragon (A/Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and the destroyer HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) joined the convoy.

Around 1530GH/31, in position 06°10'S, 101°52'E the destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) joined the convoy.

The Dutch light cruisers HrMs De Ruyter (Cdr. E.E.B. Lacomblé, RNN and flagship of Rear-Admiral K.W.F.M. Doorman, RNN), HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN) and the Dutch destroyers HrMs Piet Hein (Lt.Cdr. J.M.L.I. Chompff, RNN) and HrMs Banckert (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Goslings, RNN) departed Batavia on 1 January 1942 to reinforce the convoy escort. The Dutch ships joined the convoy at 1345GH/1 and remained with the convoy until 2000GH/2.

The convoy arrived safely at Singapore on 3 January 1942. (36)

25 Dec 1941
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) and HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) arrived at Padang to fuel.

They were however unable to obtain fuel there. The RFA tanker War Sirdar (5542 GRT, built 1920) was then ordered to proceed to Palembang to load there and then proceed to Padang. (53)

29 Dec 1941
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) and HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) departed Padang to make rendezvous with convoy BM 9A.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy BM 9A ' for 21 December 1941.] (54)

30 Dec 1941

Convoy DM 1

This convoy was formed at sea near Mombasa on 30 December 1941.

It arrived at Addu Atoll (Port T) on 4 January 1942 and departed from there for Singapore on 5 January 1942. The convoy arrived at Singapore on 13 January 1942.

This convoy was made up of the following ships;
American liner (troopship) Mount Vernon (24289 GRT, built 1933), British liners (troopships) Narkunda (16227 GRT, built 1920), Aorangi (17491 GRT, built 1924), British cargo vessel Sussex (11062 GRT, built 1937), Dutch passerger / cargo ship Abbekerk (7906 GRT, built 1939).

The convoy was escorted by British light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN) until Addu Attol. From Addu Atoll onwards HMS Emerald was reinforced by the British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) and the Indian sloop HMIS Jumna (Cdr. W.R. Shewring, RIN).

On 9 January, the British light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), joined the escort in position 04°27'N, 94°47'E.

On 10 January, the Dutch light cruiser HrMs De Ruyter (Cdr. E.E.B. Lacomblé, RNN and flagship of Rear-Admiral K.W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) joined the escort for three hours in position 05°22'N, 100°34'E. Rear-Admiral Doorman then boarded HMS Emerald to discuss the route and policy with the commanding officer. After Rear-Admiral Doorman returned to his flagship HrMs De Ruyter parted company with the convoy.

Later on 10 January 1940 the British destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) joined the escort in position 05°30'S, 100°55'E.

Shortly before 1800 hours on 11 January the Dutch light cruisers HrMs De Ruyter, HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN) and the Dutch destroyers HrMs Piet Hein (Lt.Cdr. J.M.L.I. Chompff, RNN) and HrMs Banckert (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Goslings, RNN) bolstered the escort of convoy DM 1. The Dutch ships remained with the convoy until 0745/13. (55)

3 Jan 1942
HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) arrived at Singapore with convoy BM 9A. (56)

5 Jan 1942
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Singapore for Batavia where they arrived the following day.

Vice Admiral G. Layton, KCB, DSO, RN, C-in-C Eastern Fleet had hoised his flag in HMS Dragon for this passage.

The cruisers had on board the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff and their staffs which were to join ABDA Command in Batavia.

HMS Dragon then remained at Batavia for W/T duties until the arrival of the depot ship HMS Anking. (57)

7 Jan 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Batavia to join the escort of convoy BM 1.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy DM 1 ' for 30 December 1941.] (58)

12 Jan 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) departed Singapore for Batavia. They had on board a party of naval ratings and Army personnel no longer required at Singapore.

En-route HMS Jupiter was ordered to the Palembang area to escort tankers from there to Batavia.

13 Jan 1942
HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMIS Jumna (Cdr. W.R. Shewring, RIN) arrived at Singapore escorting convoy DM 1. (59)

18 Jan 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Singapore for Batavia. (57)

19 Jan 1942

Convoy BM 11.

This convoy departed Bombay for Singapore on 19 January 1942.

On departure from Bombay it was made up of the following ships; British troop ships; Duchess of Bedford (20123 GRT, built 1928), Empress of Japan (26032 GRT, built 1930)

British merchant Empire Star (13479 GRT, built 1935).

American troop ships; USS Wakefield (24289 GRT, built 1931) and USS West Piont (26454 GRT, built 1940).

Escort was initially provided from 19 January to 22 January 1942 by HMS Caledon (A/Capt. H.J. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN).

Around 1630F/22, HMS Glasgow (Capt. J.W. Cuthbert, RN) took over from HMS Caledon in position 05°10'N, 80°09'E.

Around 1500G/25, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) joined the convoy.

On 26 January 1942, HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN) and HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) joined the convoy around noon.

Around 0645GH/27, HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) took over from HMS Glasgow in position 06°32'S, 102°29'E. HMS Glasgow then set course to return to Colombo.

It appears that HMS Exeter parted company with the convoy on 28 January and proceeded to Batavia.

The convoy arrived at Singapore on 29 January 1940. (60)

20 Jan 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Batavia. (57)

23 Jan 1942
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Batavia to join the escort of convoy BM 11.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy BM 11 ' for 19 Janaury 1942.] (58)

29 Jan 1942
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN), HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) arrived at Singapore with convoy BM 11. (58)

30 Jan 1942

Convoy MS 3.

This convoy departed Fremantle on 30 January 1942 and part of the convoy arrived at Batavia on 8 February 1942 the other part of the arrived at Palembang on 9 February 1942.

The convoy was made up of the following ships; Antilochus (British, 9082 GRT, built 1906), Charon (British, 3703 GRT, built 1936), Elsa (Norwegian (tanker), 5381 GRT, built 1928), Erling Brovig (Norwegian (tanker), 9970 GRT, built 1937), Herborg (Norwegian (tanker), 7892 GRT, built 1931), Mangola (British, 3352 GRT, built 1931), Manvantara (Dutch (tanker), 8237 GRT, built 1931), Marella (British, 7475 GRT, built 1914), Marpessa (Dutch (tanker), 7408 GRT, built 1927), Merula (Dutch (tanker), 8228 GRT, built 1932) and Seirstad (Norwegian (tanker), 9916 GRT, built 1937).

On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) until near Christmas Island where on 6 February the British light cruisers HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) took over. These cruisers had departed Batavia on 5 February 1942.

In the morning of 7 February 1942 the convoy was joined by the destroyers HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) which had departed Batavia on 6 February.

The merchant vessels Antilochus, Charon, Mangola and Marella split off from the convoy and arrived at Batavia on 8 February. The tankers continued on to the Palembang area where the arrived on the 9th.

The escorts then proceeded to Batavia where they arrived on the 10th.

31 Jan 1942
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Singapore escorting the troopships USS Wakefield (American, 24289 GRT, built 1931), Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928) and Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930) which were to proceed to Colombo.

The cruisers arrived at Batavia on 1 February 1942. (61)

5 Feb 1942
HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Batavia to make rendezvous with convoy MS 3. On departure from Batavia they were escorting the troopship Warwick Castle (British, 20107 GRT, built 1930) which was to proceed to Fremantle with evacuees.

Rendezvous was made on 6 February between HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) and the convoy and HMS Dragon as HMS Durban was at that moment detached to Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island to pick up the survivors of the merchant vessel Eidsvold (Norwegian, 4184 GRT, built 1934) which had been torpedoed there on 20 January 1942 by the Japanese submarine I-59 (offsite link). HMS Durban joined the convoy later on the 6th.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy MS 3 ' for 30 January 1942.]

10 Feb 1942
Around 0640FG/10, HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St J. Morgan, RN) arrived at Batavia from convoy escort duty.

10 Feb 1942
Around 1635GH/10, the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), destroyer HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) and the auxiliary patrol ship HMS Kedah (Cdr.(Retd.) J.L. Sinclair, DSO, RD, RNR) departed Batavia for Singapore.

They were joined at sea in the early hours of the next day (the 11th) by the destroyer HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN).

Around 1145 hours on the 11th, HMS Durban was hit by a bomb during an air attack. Eight ratings were killed and several were wounded. Also the forward 6" gun was out of action due to the damage sustained. She was able to continue to Singapore though but it was no longer possible to undertake repairs there.

12 Feb 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN), HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Pretor-Pinney, RN) and HMS Kedah (Cdr.(Retd.) J.L. Sinclair, DSO, RD, RNR) arrived at Singapore around 0300 hours. They departed again before daylight having embarked shore based naval personnel. They took the merchant vessels Empire Star (13479 GRT, built 1935) and Gorgon (British, 3533 GRT, built 1933) with them.

During air attacks the merchant vessel Empire Star was hit three three times but was able to continue.

All ships, except HMS Jupiter, non the less arrived at Batavia on the 13th . En-route HMS Jupiter and HMS Stronghold had been ordered to give as much escort to merchant vessels as possible that were fleeing from Singapore to Batavia.

HMS Jupiter, with the Australian minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) P.H. Hirst, RAN) also provided escort for tankers leaving Palembang to the southwards.

16 Feb 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.T. Thew, RN) departed Batavia in the late afternoon escorting the small convoy SJ 1 made up of the merchant vessel Empire Star (British, 13479 GRT, built 1935) and Plancius (Dutch, 5955 GRT, built 1924) westwards through the Sunda Stait.

Admiral Hart, USN, late Naval Commander in the ABDA area, was on board HMS Durban.

Around 2000/17 the Empire Star and HMS Jupiter parted company from HMS Durban and Plancius. These last two ships proceeded in company towards Colombo where they arrived on 22 February while the Empire Star proceeded independently to Fremantle. HMS Jupiter returned to Batavia on the 17th. (62)

26 Feb 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Mauritius. (63)

4 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Mauritius. (64)

5 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Mauritius for Durban. (64)

9 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban. (64)

11 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Durban for Simonstown. (64)

13 Mar 1942
In the evening, HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), encountered the German auxiliary minelayer Doggerbank (5154 GRT, built 1929, former British Speybank). The cruiser signalled for the secret letters but these were not known on board the Doggerbank so a signal was sent ' Levernbank ex New York via Recife for Durban '. No further action was taken by HMS Durban and the Germans had a lucky escape.

14 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Simonstown. (64)

16 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Simonstown for Pointe Noire. (64)

20 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Pointe Noire. (64)

21 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Pointe Noire for Freetown. (64)

26 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Freetown. (64)

28 Mar 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Freetown for Ponta Delgada, Azores. (64)

2 Apr 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Ponta Delgada, Azores. (65)

3 Apr 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Ponta Delgada, Azores for New York. (65)

9 Apr 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at New York where she is to undergo repairs and refit. (65)

10 Apr 1942
Upon completion of de-ammunitioning, HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), proceeded to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she is taken in hand. (65)

6 Jun 1942
With the repairs and partial refit completed, HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), commenced to embark ammunition at Gravesand Bay, New York. (66)

8 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) proceeded from Gravesand Bay, New York to Norfolk. En-route full power trials and gunnery exercises were carried out. (66)

10 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (66)

11 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials in Chesapeake Bay. (66)

12 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Norfolk for Bermuda. (66)

13 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda. (66)

14 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Halifax. (66)

16 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Halifax. (66)

17 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Halifax for Hvalfjord, Iceland. (66)

22 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord, Iceland. She departed for Portsmouth later the same day. (66)

25 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (66)

29 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) is taken in hand to complete her refit at the Portsmouth Dockyard. (66)

30 Jun 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) entered a dry dock at the Portsmouth Dockyard but it appears the dock was only pumped out on 9 July. (66)

12 Aug 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) is undocked. (67)

28 Aug 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials off Portsmouth. (67)

4 Sep 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) departed Portsmouth for Scapa Flow. (68)

6 Sep 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow to commence a work-up period. (68)

8 Sep 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (68)

11 Sep 1942
During 11/12 September 1942, HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. (69)

14 Sep 1942
During 14/15 September 1942, HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. (68)

18 Sep 1942
During 18/19 September 1942, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. During these exercises HMS Howe was escorted by HMS Porcupine (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMS Oribi (Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Blean (Lt. N.J. Parker, RN). (70)

22 Sep 1942
During 22/23 September 1942, HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. (68)

26 Sep 1942
HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool. (71)

27 Sep 1942
HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Liverpool. (72)

30 Sep 1942
HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN) and HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Liverpool with part of convoy WS 23. The sailing of the convoy was however delayed and the ships anchored off Belfast the following day. (73)

5 Oct 1942

Convoy WS 23.

This convoy was formed off Oversay on 5 October 1942.

It consisted of the following transports / troopships; Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913), Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928), Kina II (British, 9823 GRT, built 1939), Moreton Bay (British, 14193 GRT, built 1921), Port Jackson (British, 9687 GRT, built 1937), Silverandal (British, 6770 GRT, built 1930) and Straat Malakka (Dutch, 439 GRT, built 1939).

Initial escort consisted of the light cruisers HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.D. Cochrane, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Beagle (Cdr. R.C. Medley, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Bicester (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN), HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), HMS Zetland (Lt. J.V. Wilkinson, RN) and RHS Kanaris.

At 2200Z/6, HMS Durban parted company with the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada to fuel.

At 1850Z/8, HMS Beagle parted company with the convoy to return to the UK. HMS Zetland had a leaking Asdic dome and was apparently also detached on the 8th to return to the UK for a docking and repairs.

At 1000Z/9, HMS Puckeridge arrived at Ponta Delgada to refuel. She departed to rejoin the convoy at 1345Z/9. RHS Kanaris arrived at 1100Z/9 and departed again at 1430Z/9. [It is currently not known to us when they had left the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada.]

At 1545Z/9, HMS Durban rejoined the convoy. HMS Despatch was then detached to fuel at Ponta Delgada.

At 1900Z/9, HMS Puckeridge and RHS Kanaris rejoined the convoy.

At 0100Z/10, HMS Wrestler and HMS Bicester parted company with the convoy to fuel at Ponta Delgada after which they were to return to the UK.

At 0810/Z/13, HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Sinclair, RN) joined the convoy shorly afterwards followed by HMS Velox (Lt. G.B. Barstow, RN).

On 16 October 1942 the convoy arrived at Freetown escorted by HMS Despatch, HMS Durban, HMS Queen of Bermuda, HMS Antelope, HMS Velox, HMS Puckeridge and RHS Kanaris.

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The convoy departed Freetown for Durban on 20 October 1942.

The same ships made up the convoy plus the merchant vessels Hai Lee (Norwegian, 3616 GRT, built 1934) and Tamesis (Norwegian, 7256 GRT, built 1939).

On departure from Freetown the convoy escort was made up of the light cruisers HMS Despatch, HMS Durban, armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), RHS Kanaris, sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) the Hon. V.M. Wyndham-Quin, RN) and the corvette HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR).

At 1020A/23, HMS Avon Vale parted company. HMS Southern Gem (T/Lt. D.C. Hayes, RNVR) had joined just before. She had sailed from Takoradi on the 22nd.

At 1842A/23, HMS Durban parted company with the convoy to proceed to Takoradi to repair a defect. She arrived at Takoradi around 0745/24 and departed again around 0230A/25. She rejoined the convoy around 0945A/27.

Also detached on 23 October were the two Norwegian merchant vessels and the corvette HMS Tamarisk. These were also to proceed to Takoradi.

The corvette HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR) joined on the 25th coming from Ponte Noire. After she joined HMS Southern Gem was detached to Ponte Noire due to engine trouble.

On the 26th, HMS Amaranthus parted company to join convoy CF 7.

On 30 October the destroyer HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) and the corvettes HMS Rockrose (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR) and HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) joined the convoy. These ships had sailed from Walvis Bay, the corvettes at 0600Z/29 and HMAS Norman at 2000Z/29. HMAS Norman joined the convoy around 1300B/30 and the corvettes around 1530B/30.

At 2100B/30, HMS Durban, HMS Despatch and HMS Milford were detached to fuel at Walvis Bay where they arrived around 0840/30. HMS Durban departed Walvis Bay aroud 1845B/31 and she rejoined the convoy around 1800B/1

On 2 November the transport / troopship Rimutaka (British, 16576 GRT, built 1923) joined the convoy coming from Capetown.

At 1330C/2, the destroyer HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN) joined coming from Simonstown.

Around 1545C/2, RHS Kanaris parted company to refuel at Simonstown. She rejoined the convoy around 0100C/3.

At 2215C/2, HMS Rockrose and HMS Thyme were detached to search for survivors from ships that had been torpedoed by German submarines.

At 1950C/4, HMS Express was detached to search for survivors from a ship that had been torpedoed by a German submarines.

At 0530C/5, the escort destroyer HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) joined.

The convoy arrived at Durban in the early afternoon of 5 November escorted by HMS Durban, HMS Carthage, HMAS Norman, HMS Catterick, HMS Derwent and RHS Kanaris.

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The convoy departed Durban around noon on 9 November 1942, now made up of Capetown Castle, Empress of Russia, Highland Monarch, Kina II, Port Jackson, Silversandal and Straat Malakka.

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Cdr.(Retd.) N.G. Leeper, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage, destroyers HMAS Norman, HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), escort destroyers HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN), RHS Kanaris and the corvettes HMS Genista (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR) and HMS Jasmine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.D.B. Coventry, RNR).

At 1700C/10, HMS Insconstant, HMS Genista and HMS Jasmine were detached.

At 1500D/11, HMS Dauntless, HMAS Norman, HMS Blackmore and RHS Kanaris were detached.

At 1830D/11, the cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) joined.

At 1600E/16, HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined and at 1230E/16, HMS Hawkins parted company with the convoy to proceed to Kilindini taking the Empress of Russia with her. They arrived at Kilindini around 1700D/18.

At 1800E/17, the convoy was split up into the ' Aden section ' and the ' Bombay section '.

The ' Aden section ' was made up of the Highland Monarch, Kina II, Port Jackson and the Straat Malakka. They were escorted by HMS Carthage and arrived at Aden around 1300C/21. They had earlier been joined by the destroyer RHS Panther around 0615/20.

The ' Bombay section ' was made up of the other transports escorted by HMS Mauritius. They arrived at Bombay around 1000FG/24 except for the Silversandal which had been detached on November 22nd to proceed to Karachi where she also arrived on the 24th. (74)

20 Oct 1942
The light cruisers HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), RHS Kanaris, sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) the Hon. V.M. Wyndham-Quin, RN) and the corvette HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR) departed Freetown as escorts for convoy WS 23.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 23 ' for 5 October 1942.] (75)

5 Nov 1942
During the afternoon, HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN), HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN), HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and RHS Kanaris arrived at Durban with convoy WS 23. (76)

3 Dec 1942
Having spent a few weeks at the Durban Dockyard for repairs, HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN), departed Durban for Kilindini. (77)

8 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) grounded on entering Kilindini harbour. She was towed off the following morning but some damage had been sustained. (77)

20 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini for the Bombay Dockyard via the Seychelles and Cochin. (77)

23 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles to fuel. (78)

24 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Port Victoria for Cochin. (78)

28 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Cochin to fuel. She departed for Bombay later the same day. (78)

30 Dec 1942
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Bombay. (78)

5 Jan 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) is docked at the Bombay Dockyard and taken in hand for repairs. (79)

11 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) is undocked. (80)

16 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted D/F calibration and compass swing trials off Bombay. (80)

17 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted D/G trials off Bombay. (80)

20 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay. (80)

21 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay. (80)

22 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay. (80)

26 Mar 1943

Convoy WS 27.

Part of the convoy that proceeded from South Africa to the Gulf of Aden.

A part of the convoy departed Capetown on 26 March 1943.

The composition of the convoy on departure from Capetown was as follows; Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913), Duchess of Richmond (British, 22022 GRT, built 1928), Leopoldville (Belgian, 11509 GRT, built 1929), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937) and Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN) and HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN).

On 29 March 1943 the ' Durban section ' of the convoy departed Durban, it was made up of the; Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927), Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932) and Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935).

On departure from Durban this section was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Lt. J.R.L. Moore, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN). The destroyers which had escorted the ' Capetown section ' then went to Durban.

The four destroyers parted company at 2100C/1 to return to Durban.

Around 1500C/3, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) joined.

On the 4th the transport Bergensfjord was detached to Kilindini.

Around 0930D/5, the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) took over the escort duty from HMS Frobisher which then set course for Kilindini.

On 9 April 1943 the convoy was dispered in the Gulf of Aden.

27 Mar 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Bombay for Kilindini. (81)

3 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (81)

4 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini to join convoy WS 27.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 27 ' for 26 March 1943.] (82)

9 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Aden after convoy escort duty. (82)

16 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Aden. (82)

19 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (82)

23 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Bombay. (82)

24 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Bombay for Bahrein. (82)

28 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Bahrein. (82)

1 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Bahrein for Shatt-al-Arab. (83)

2 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Shatt-al-Arab. (83)

3 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Shatt-al-Arab for Hormuz. (83)

4 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Hormuz. (83)

6 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Hormuz for Khor Kuwai. (83)

7 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Khor Kuwai to Khasab Bay. (83)

8 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Khasab Bay to Sharjah. (83)

9 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Sharjah to Henjam Island. (83)

11 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Henjam Island to Hormuz via Khasab Bay. (83)

13 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Hormuz to Henjam. (83)

15 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Henjam Island. (83)

17 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Henjam to Hormuz. (83)

18 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Hormuz to Khor Kuwai. (83)

20 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted torpedo firing and gunnery exercises off Khor Kuwai. (83)

27 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Khor Kuwai to Henjam via Khasab Bay. (83)

29 May 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded Henjam to Hormuz. (83)

31 May 1943

Convoy PB 43.

This convoy departed Bandar Abbas on 31 May 1943 and arrived at Bombay on 5 June 1943.

It was made up of the following transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Brangaza (Norwegian, 6327 GRT, built 1924), British Fusilier (British (tanker), 6943 GRT, built 1923), El Madina (British, 3962 GRT, built 1937), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913), Valentijn (Dutch, 2071 GRT, built 1928) and Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914).

The convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and the minesweepers HMAS Bathurst (T/Lt. C. Macdonald, RANR(S)) and HMIS Carnatic (T/Lt. C.S. Loughnane, RINVR). (84)

6 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Bombay for Bahrein. (85)

10 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Bahrein. (85)

14 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Bahrein for Khasab Bay. (85)

15 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Khasab Bay. (85)

17 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Khasab Bay for Aden. (85)

21 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Aden. (85)

22 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini. (85)

27 Jun 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (85)

4 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini for Tulear, Madagascar. (86)

4 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini for Tulear, Madagascar. (86)

8 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Tulear. She departed for Simonstown later the same day. (86)

13 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Simonstown. (86)

17 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) are docked together at Simonstown. (86)

29 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) are undocked. (86)

31 Jul 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Simonstown for Durban. (86)

2 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban. (87)

6 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini. (87)

10 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez having been diverted en-route. (88)

11 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Kilindini. (87)

13 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (87)

18 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Kilindini. (87)

22 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini for Port Victoria, Seychelles. (87)

24 Aug 1943

Convoy KR 6.

This convoy departed Kilindini on 24 August 1943 for Colombo where it arrived on 3 September 1943.

The convoy was made up of the transports; Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) and Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Kilindini the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN).

The convoy was joined by the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) in the morning of 28th August.

The convoy arrived at Colombo on 3 September 1943.

25 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles. (87)

27 Aug 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles to make rendezvous with convoy KR 6.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy KR 6 ' for 24 August 1943.] (87)

3 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Racehorse (Cdr. A.F. Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo escorting convoy KR 6. (89)

6 Sep 1943
The light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and destroyer HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN) departed Colombo for Kilindini. They were escorting the transport Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927).

At 0300D/11, HMS Durban parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Port Victoria, Seychelles to fuel. She arrived at Port Victoria at 1145D/11.

The Nieuw Holland still escorted by HMS Quadrant arrived at Kilindini on 13 September 1943. (90)

11 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles to fuel at 1145D/11.

Around 1700D/11, she departed for Kilindini. (89)

14 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (89)

19 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini to escort the transport Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922) to Colombo via the Seychelles. (89)

23 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and the transport Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles. (89)

24 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and the transport Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Colombo. (89)

30 Sep 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and the transport Khedive Ismael (Egyptian, 7290 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Colombo. (89)

9 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Colombo for Cochin. (91)

10 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Cochin. (91)

11 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Cochin for Aden. (91)

16 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Aden. (91)

17 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Suez. (91)

20 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Suez. (91)

21 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) transited the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said. She departed for Alexandria later the same day. (91)

22 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (91)

23 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. (91)

25 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Malta. (91)

27 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar. (91)

29 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (91)

31 Oct 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Gibraltar for Plymouth. (91)

4 Nov 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Plymouth. (92)

5 Nov 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Plymouth to Portsmouth. (92)

19 Nov 1943
HMS Durban is reduced to Care and Maintenance at Portsmouth. (92)

2 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), which has been selected for use as 'blockship' in a breakwater during the Normandy landings, departed Portsmouth for Rosyth via the eastcoast. (41)

3 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), arrived at Oban. (41)

4 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), departed Oban for Rosyth. (41)

7 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), arrived at Rosyth. (41)

23 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), departed Methil for Oban. (41)

27 May 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), is at Oban. (41)

2 Jun 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), departed Oban for Normandy. (41)

4 Jun 1944
With the landings in Normandy postponed for 24 hours, HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN), is diverted to Poole. (41)

6 Jun 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN) proceeded from Poole to Ouisterham. (41)

9 Jun 1944
HMS Durban (A/Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN) is sunk as part of No.5 Goosberry breakwater. (41)

3 Aug 1944
The hulk of HMS Durban is hit by a German torpedo.