Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | Corvette |
Class | Flower |
Pennant | K 15 |
Built by | Harland & Wolff Ltd. (Belfast, Northern Ireland) |
Ordered | 19 Sep 1939 |
Laid down | 14 Nov 1939 |
Launched | 20 Apr 1940 |
Commissioned | 4 Jun 1940 |
End service | 3 Apr 1942 |
History | Transferred to the USN on 3 April 1942. |
Career notes | To the United States Navy as USS Courage |
Commands listed for HMS Heartsease (K 15)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
Commander | From | To | |
1 | Lt.Cdr. Edward John Robert North, RNR | May 1940 | Nov 1940 |
2 | Lt.Cdr. (retired) Francis Babington Proudfoot, RN | Nov 1940 | 10 Jul 1941 |
3 | Lt.Cdr. John Albert Baragwanath, RNR | 10 Jul 1941 | 2 Dec 1941 |
4 | Lt. George Charles Wilson Meldrum, RD, RNR | 2 Dec 1941 | early 1942 |
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Notable events involving Heartsease include:
13 Jun 1940
Convoy HX 50.
This convoy departed Halifax on 13 June 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Antonis (Greek, 3729 GRT, built 1930), Arosa (Norwegian, 5043 GRT, built 1924), Auretta (British, 4564 GRT, built 1935), Balla (Norwegian, 2578 GRT, built 1923), Baltrover (British, 4916 GRT, built 1913), Canadian (Panamanian, 5802 GRT, built 1919), Chelsea (British, 4804 GRT, built 1925), City of Hankow (British, 7360 GRT, built 1915), Ekaterini Coumantarou (Greek, 7777 GRT, built 1917), Falsterbo (Swedish, 4085 GRT, built 1925), Gitano (British, 3956 GRT, built 1921), Grey County (Norwegian, 5194 GRT, built 1918), Haakon Hauan (Norwegian (tanker), 6582 GRT, built 1935), Joannis (Greek, 3667 GRT, built 1909), Kingswood (British, 5080 GRT, built 1929), Louis L.D. (French, 5795 GRT, built 1936), Manchester Commeerce (), Marathon (Greek, 7926 GRT, built 1919Greek, 7926 GRT, built 1919), Michael L. Embiricos (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1918), Mill Hill (British, 4318 GRT, built 1930), Monkleigh (British, 5203 GRT, built 1927), Nolisement (British, 5084 GRT, built 1928), Pacific President (British, 7113 GRT, built 1928), Prince Rupert City (British, 4749 GRT, built 1929), Prins Maurits (Dutch, 1287 GRT, built 1936), Rio Dorado (British, 4507 GRT, built 1924), Risanger (Norwegian, 5489 GRT, built 1921), Toronto City (British, 2486 GRT, built 1925), Trecarrel (British, 5271 GRT, built 1919), Urla (British, 5198 GRT, built 1924) and Vigrid (British, 4765 GRT, built 1923).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire (Capt.(Retd.) C.L. Bate, DSO, RN) and the auxiliary patrol vessels HMCS Acadia (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) and HMCS French (A/Skr. W. Philpott, RCNR).
The auxiliary patrol vessels were to part company with the convoy about half an hour after sunset on the 13th.
Around 2130P/15, in position 41°15'N, 53°40'W, the Arona dropped out of the convoy. She did not rejoin and arrived in Barry Roads on 26 June.
Around 1330P/19, Convoy BHX 50, coming from Bermuda, join the the convoy. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy; Appalachee (British (tanker), 8826 GRT, built 1930), Athelduke (British (tanker), 8966 GRT, built 1929), Athelmonarch (British (tanker), 8995 GRT, built 1928), Athelprincess (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Bradford City (British, 4953 GRT, built 1936), British Viscount (British (tanker), 6895 GRT, built 1921), Conus (British (tanker), 8132 GRT, built 1931), Cornish City (British, 4952 GRT, built 1936), Culebra (Panamanian, 5260 GRT, built 1919), Geo W. McKnight (British (tanker), 12502 GRT, built 1933), Mactra (British (tanker), 6193 GRT, built 1936), Monkleigh (British, 5203 GRT, built 1927), Queen Victoria (British, 4937 GRT, built 1936), Raranga (British, 10043 GRT, built 1916), Somerville (Norwegian, 4265 GRT, built 1929) and Zealandic (British, 8281 GRT, built 1928).
Most likely around 2200N/22, in approximate position 49.00'N, 25.00'W the Louis L.D. deserted the convoy. Messages regarding the French armistice had been received and she had been ordered to proceed to a British port instead of a French one. The ship most likely made independently for a French port.
Around 1215N/24, in position 50°21'N, 17°43'W, HMS Voltaire parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax. The convoy now proceeded unescorted for the moment.
Around 1130A/25, in position 50°30'N, 13°35'W, the destroyers HMS Whirlwind (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Rodgers, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN) and the corvettes HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. A. Blewett, RNR) and HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr. E.J.R. North, RNR) joined.
Around 1600A/25, HMS Whirlwind and HMS Volunteer parted company to proceed to hunt the enemy submarine which had torpedoed and sunk the merchant vessels Windsorwood and Saranac that had been torpedoed and sunk in convoy OA 172. The attackhad been the German submarine U-51. HMS Whirlwind and HMS Volunteer rejoined convoy HX 50 around 2015A/25.
Around 0800A/26, the convoy was split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelduke (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Athelmonarch (arrived in the Clyde on 28 June), Athelprincess (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Auretta (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), Balla (arrived in Barry Roads on 27 June), Baltrover (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Bradford City (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), British Viscount (arrived in the Clyde on 28 June), Canadian (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Chelsea (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), Conus (arrived in the Clyde on 28 June), Ekaterini Coumantarou (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Grey County (arrived at Belfast on 2 July (???), Haakon Hauan (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Joannis (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Macra (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Manchester Commerce (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Marathon (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Mill Hill (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), Monkleigh (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), Solisement (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Prince Rupert City (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), Queen Victoria (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Raranga (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Somerville (arrived at Liverpool on 28 June), Toronto City (arrived at Milford Haven on 27 June), and Trecarrel (arrived at Barrow in Furness on 29 June). They were escorted by HMS Whirlwind and HMS Volunteer which arrived at Liverpool on 28 June.
The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Antonis (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Appalachee (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), City of Hankow (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Cornish City (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Culebra (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Falsterbo (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Geo W. McKnight (arrived at Southampton on 28 June), Gitano (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Kingswood (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Michael L. Embiricos (arrived at Southampton on 28 June), Pacific President (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Prins Maurits (arrived at Weymouth on 28 June), Rio Dorado (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Risanger (arrived at Falmouth on 28 June), Urla (arrived in the Downs on 28 June), Vigrid (arrived at Falmouth on 28 June) and Zealandic (arrived at Weymouth on 28 June). They were escorted by HMS Arabis and HMS Heartsease which arrived at Dover on 28 June. (1)
15 Jun 1940
HrMs O 10 (Lt. G. Quint, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Portland together with HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr. E.J.R. North, RNR) and two minesweepers. (2)
28 Aug 1940
Convoy HX 69.
This convoy departed Halifax on 28 August 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Austvard (Norwegian, 3677 GRT, built 1925), Barrdale (British, 5072 GRT, built 1925), Botlea (British, 5119 GRT, built 1917), Charles F. Meyer (British (tanker), 10516 GRT, built 1938), Dalfram (British, 4558 GRT, built 1930), Haakon Hauan (Norwegian (tanker), 6582 GRT, built 1935), Iddesleigh (British, 5205 GRT, built 1927), Inger (Norwegian, 1409 GRT, built 1930), Kelbergen (Dutch, 4823 GRT, built 1914), Lapland (British, 1330 GRT, built 1936), Lylepark (British, 5186 GRT, built 1929), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939), Narragansett (British (tanker), 10389 GRT, built 1936), Penrose (British, 4393 GRT, built 1928), Pontfield (British (tanker), 8319 GRT, built 1940), Rowanbank (British, 5159 GRT, built 1919), Siris (British, 5242 GRT, built 1919), Tapanoeli (British, 7031 GRT, built 1924), Tornus (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Ulysses (Dutch, 2655 GRT, built 1918), Voco (British (tanker), 5090 GRT, built 1925), W.B. Walker (British (tanker), 10468 GRT, built 1935) and Yselhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) and the destroyer HMCS Assiniboine (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel HMCS French (A/Skr. W. Philpott, RCNR).
Around 2100P/28, HMCS French parted company to return to Halifax.
Around 2010P/29, in position 43°03'N, 59°15'W, HMCS Assiniboine parted company to return to Halifax.
Around 1300P/30, in position 42°49'N, 56°44'W, the Sydney section (Convoy SHX 69) of the convoy joined. This was made up of the following merchant vessels; Asbjorn (British, 4387 GRT, built 1935), Beaverdale (British, 9957 GRT, built 1928), Bridgepool (British, 4845 GRT, built 1924), Delilian (British, 6423 GRT, built 1923), Lord Byron (British, 4118 GRT, built 1934), Parracombe (British, 4702 GRT, built 1928), Roxby (British, 4252 GRT, built 1923), Stad Maastricht (Dutch, 6907 GRT, built 1924) and Vestvard (Norwegian, 4319 GRT, built 1925). It's escort from Sydney, the destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) had been detached around 0800P/30 when HMS Alaunia had temporarily joined the Sydney section (SHX 69) to guide it to the rendezvous with the Halifax section (HX 69).
Around 1000/1, in position 43°20'N, 48°20'W, the Bermuda section (Convoy BHX 69) of the convoy joined. This was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alhama (British, 1352 GRT, built 1938), Amakura (British, 1987 GRT, built 1924), Buesten (Norwegian, 5187 GRT, built 1927), Cape St. Andrew (British, 5094 GRT, built 1928), Condor (British, 4748 GRT, built 1920), Dolabella (British (tanker), 8142 GRT, built 1939), Dosinia (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, buil 1938), Gold Shell (British (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1931), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Oropesa (British, 14118 GRT, built 1920), San Casimiro (British (tanker), 8046 GRT, built 1936), Taron (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Traveller (British, 3963 GRT, built 1922, 3963 GRT, built 1922), Tricula (British (tanker), 3963 GRT, built 1922, 6221 GRT, built 1936) and Winamac (British (tanker), 8621 GRT, built 1926). It's escort from Bermuda, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ascania (Capt.(Retd.) C.H. Ringrose-Wharton, RN) had been detached around 0715P/30 when HMS Alaunia had temporarily joined the Bermuda section (BHX 69) to guide it to the rendezvous with the main convoy (HX 69).
Around 2015N/8, in position 58°28'N, 19°05'W, HMS Alaunia parted company to return to Halifax.
Between 0700Z/9 - 0800Z/9, in position 58°47'N, 16°22'W, the destroyers HMS Arrow (Cdr. H.W. Williams, RN), HMS Ambuscade (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN), sloop Fowey (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN), corvettes HMS Camellia (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Mackay, RNR), HMS Clarkia (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RNR) and HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr. E.J.R. North, RNR) joined.
Around 1900Z/9, in position 56°34'N, 18°42'W, the east coast section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alhama, Barrdale, Botlea, Cape St. Andrew, Dalfram, Kelbergen, Lord Byron, Martand, Parracombe, Roxby, Traveller, Tricula, Voco and Yselhaven. They took HMS Fowey and HMS Camellia with them as escorts. This section arrived in Methil Roads on 13 September. The two escorts then proceeded to Rosyth where they arrived later on 13 September.
Around 1000A/11, in position 55°09'N, 05°48'W, the Clyde section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Austvard, Buesten, Delilian, Dolabella, Narraganset, Pontfield, Rowanbank, San Casimiro, Tornus and Winamac. HMS Arrow and HMS Ambuscade also parted company and proceeded to Greenock.
Around 1315A/11, in position 54°48'N, 05°26'W, the Olympos parted company to proceed to Belfast Lough.
Around 2015A/11, in position 53°45'N, 05°08'W, the Liverpool section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Asbjorn, Condor, Dosinia, Haakon Hauan, Iddesleigh, Oropesa, Penrose, Siris, Tapanoeli, Taron and Vestvard and W.B. Walker. They took HMS Winchelsea, HMS Clarkia and HMS Heartsease with them as escorts.
Around 1200A/12, in position 50°35'N, 05°30'W, the Inger, and Lylepark parted company to proceed to Milford Haven.
Around 2300A/12, following ships arrived in Barry Roads; Amakura, Beaverdale, Bridgepool, Charles F. Meyer, Lapland, Gold Shell, Stad Maastricht and Ulysses. (3)
22 Sep 1940
HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr. E.J.R. North, RNR) picks up 31 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Simla that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-100 west of Ireland in position 55°11'N, 17°58'W.
18 Oct 1940
HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr. E.J.R. North, RNR) picks up 9 survivors from the British merchant Thistlegarth that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-103 45 nautical miles west-north-west of Rockall in position 58°43'N, 15°00'W on 15 October.
21 Mar 1941
Convoy HX 116.
This convoy departed Halifax on 21 March 1941 for Liverpool where it arrived on 9 April 1941.
Upon departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant ships: Anna Knudsen (Norwegian (tanker), 9057 GRT, built 1931), Birgitte (British, 1595 GRT, built 1930), British Dominion (British (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1928), British Prince (British, 4879 GRT, built 1935), Coulbeg (British, 5237 GRT, built 1940), Duke of Athens (British, 5217 GRT, built 1940), Ferncastle (British (tanker), 9940 GRT, built 1936), Gregalia (British, 5802 GRT, built 1929), Grey County (Norwegian, 5194 GRT, built 1918), Haakon Hauan (Norwegian (tanker), 6582 GRT, built 1935), Hercules (Dutch, 2317 GRT, built 1914), Iddesleigh (British, 5205 GRT, built 1927), Innerton (British, 5276 GRT, built 1919), Kaipara (British, 5882 GRT, built 1938), Lyras (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1918), Mahout (British, 7921 GRT, built 1925), Mariso (Dutch, 7659 GRT, built 1930), Murena (Dutch (tanker), 8252 GRT, built 1931), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), Pacific Shipper (British, 6290 GRT, built 1924), Port Campbell (British, 7851 GRT, built 1924), Richmond Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1940), San Arcadio (British (tanker), 7419 GRT, built 1935), San Florentino (British (tanker), 12842 GRT, built 1919), Sovac (British (tanker), 6724 GRT, built 1938), Stanwell (British, 5767 GRT, built 1914), Tetela (British, 5389 GRT, built 1926) and Tornus (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia (Capt.(Retd.) G.H. Freyberg, OBE, RN).
On 23 March the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN) joined the convoy.
On 31 March HMS Royal Sovereign parted company with the convoy.
On 4 March 1941 HMS Ausonia parted company with the convoy after the destroyers HMS Ambuscade (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN), HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN) and corvettes HMS Campanula (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN), HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Proudfoot, RN), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) and A/S trawler HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. R.H. Marchington, RNVR) had joined. The destroyer HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) joined on 5 April. The destroyer HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) and corvette HMS Orchis (Lt. A.D. White, RNR)both joined on 6 April. HMS Orchis was detached on 7 April.
The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 9 April.
Sources
- ADM 53/113404 + ADM 199/49 + ADM 199/53
- File 2.12.03.6374 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 53/111339 + ADM 53/111340 + ADM 199/50
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.