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Notable events involving Abercrombie include:

19 Jun 1943

Combined convoy OS 50/KMS 17G.

This combined convoy assembled off Oversay on 19 June 1943.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Anglo-Indian (British, 5609 GRT, built 1938), Balteako (British, 1328 GRT, built 1920), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), Baron Ramsay (British, 3650 GRT, built 1929), Baron Ruthven (British, 3178 GRT, built 1925), Basil (British, 4913 GRT, built 1928), Blairesk (British, 3300 GRT, built 1925), Calgary (British, 7206 GRT, built 1921), City of Dundee (British, 5273 GRT, built 1921), City of Eastbourne (British, 5563 GRT, built 1923), Coity Castle (British, 2767 GRT, built 1919), Colytto (Dutch, 4408 GRT, built 1926), Como (British, 1295 GRT, built 1910), Corcrest (British, 2373 GRT, built 1918), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Dalcross (British, 4557 GRT, built 1930), Dordrecht (Dutch, 4402 GRT, built 1928), Dornoch (British, 5186 GRT, built 1939), Dumfries (British, 5149 GRT, built 1935), Empire Candida (British, 2908 GRT, built 1943), Empire Fal (British, 4880 GRT, built 1914), Empire Franklin (British, 7292 GRT, built 1941), Empire Harp (British (tanker), 861 GRT, built 1942), Empire Nightingale (British, 5698 GRT, built 1918), Evviva (Norwegian, 1597 GRT, built 1921), Fort Abitibi (British, 7122 GRT, built 1942), Fort Liard (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942), Fort Nipigon (British, 7132 GRT, built 1942), Fort Senneville (British, 7131 GRT, built 1942), Glenwood (British, 4897 GRT, built 1940), Godfrey Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929), Helencrest (British, 5233 GRT, built 1941), Henzada (British, 4161 GRT, built 1934), Kristianiafjord (Norwegian, 6759 GRT, built 1921), Lafian (British, 4876 GRT, built 1937), Llanberis (British, 5055 GRT, built 1928), Lysaker V (Norwegian, 1571 GRT, built 1936), Marga (Norwegian, 1583 GRT, built 1923), Merkland (British, 1363 GRT, built 1934), Nijkerk (Dutch, 5843 GRT, built 1915), Norfalk (British, 5675 GRT, built 1919), Ocean Viceroy (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Pendeen (British, 4174 GRT, built 1923), Pentridge Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1941), Phemius (British, 7406 GRT, built 1921), Richmond Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1940), Saltwick (British, 3775 GRT, built 1929), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939), Silverash (British, 7750 GRT, built 1926), Souliotis (Greek, 4299 GRT, built 1917), Stad Maasluis (Dutch, 6541 GRT, built 1918), Stanhope (British, 2337 GRT, built 1919), Tiba (Dutch, 5239 GRT, built 1938), Tombouctou (British, 5636 GRT, built 1919), Trevaylor (British, 5257 GRT, built 1940), Uranienborg (British, 5257 GRT, built 1940) and Vigsnes (Norwegian, 1599 GRT, built 1930).

On assembly of Oversay the convoy was escorted by the sloops HMS Enchantress (Cdr. A.E.T. Christie, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), HMS Aberdeen (Lt.Cdr. H. Day, RN), HMS Folkestone (Cdr.(Retd.) J.G.C. Gibson, OBE, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. H.V. Gordon, DSC, RNVR), HMS Coreopsis (T/Lt. B.C. Hamilton, RNR) and HMS Violet (Lt. C.N. Stewart, RNR) which joined coming from Londonderry.

The monitors HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN) and HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN) were also taking passage in this convoy as was the RFA tanker Orangeleaf (5983 GRT, built 1917).

On 21 June HMS Folkestone was detached to return to Londonderry for repairs to defective hull plating.

On 24 June the merchant vessel Dornoch straggled from the convoy. The next day HMS Folkestone was ordered to search for her. She had departed Londonderry to overtake the convoy on 24 June having effected repairs there.

Cover for the convoy during part of the passage was provided by the AA cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. G.A.W. Voelcker, RN).

En-route the merchant vessels Baron Ramsay, Merkland and Stanhope were detached to Lisbon as was the Coity Castle which was detached to Huelva.

On 27 June 1943 the convoy was split up.

The destroyer HMS Arrow (Lt.Cdr. W.W. Fitzroy, RN), A/S trawlers HMS Reighton Wyke (Skr. G.M. Sutherland, RNR), HMS Visenda (T/Lt. S.F. Archer, RNR) and A/S whaler HMS Southern Gem (T/Lt. P.H. Riseley, RNVR) took over the escort of convoy KMS 17G. These escorts, plus the corvette HMS Columbine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.J. Griffiths, RNR) had brought out convoy OS 50G from Gibraltar which they had departed earlier on 27 June. [For the ships of convoy OS 50G see below.]

HMS Aberdeen and HMS Folkestone from the original escort also proceeded to Gibraltar escorting convoy KMS 17G.

On 28 June the convoy escort was reinforced by the escort destroyer Holcombe and Viceroy.

Convoy KMS 17G arrived at Gibraltar on 29 June.

Convoy KMS 17G was made up of the following merchant vessels; Anglo-Indian, Balteako, Baron Douglas, Baron Ruthven, Blairesk, Como, Corcrest, Cromarty, Dalcross, Dumfries, Empire Candida, Empire Fal, Empire Harp, Empire Nightingale, Evviva, Fort Abitibi, Fort Nipigon, Helencrest, Kristianiafjord, Lysaker V, Marga, Norfalk, Pendeen, Pentridge Hill, Richmond Hill, Saltwick, , Trevaylor and Vigsnes.

The Orangeleaf also was part of KMS 17G as were HMS Abercrombie and HMS Robert.

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Convoy OS 50 then continued on with the escort. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Basil, Calgary, City of Dundee, City of Eastbourne, Colytto, Dordrecht, Empire Franklin, Fort Liard, Fort Sonneville, Glenwood, Godfrey B. Holt, Lafian, Llanberis, Nijkerk, Ocean Viceroy, Sansu, Silverash, Souliotis, Tiba, Tombouctou and Unanienborg.

These were joined by the merchant vessels which had made up convoy OS 50G which had been brought out of Gibraltar by the escortx which took over convoy KMS 17G, except for HMS Columbine which joined convoy OS 50.

The merchant vessels in question were the following; Baron Herries (British, 4574 GRT, built 1940), Biafra (British, 5405 GRT, built 1933), Empire Kangaroo (British, 6219 GRT, built 1919), Empire Miranda (British, 7054 GRT, built 1943), Empire Sunbeam (British, 6711 GRT, built 1941), Fort Fairford (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Fort Lac La Ronge (British, 7131 GRT, built 1942), Fort McLoughlin (British, 7129 GRT, built 1942), Fort Vermillion (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942), Industria (British, 4850 GRT, built 1940), Junecrest (British, 6945 GRT, built 1942), Madras City (British, 5080 GRT, built 1940), Ocean Verity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Volunteer (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Temple Inn (British, 5218 GRT, built 1940), Trader (British, 6087 GRT, built 1940) and Wearpool (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936).

Later more merchant vessels joined coming from Casablanca, these were the; Dan-Y-Brin (British, 5117 GRT, built 1940), Dunkerque (French, 2477 GRT, built 1925), Elorn (French, 5482 GRT, built 1930), Finisterre (French, 1158 GRT, built 1909), Hoggar (French, 5146 GRT, built 1923), Ingleton (British, 7203 GRT, built 1942) and Schiaffino (French, 3236 GRT, built 1920).

The following merchant vessels were then detached to Casablanca; Fort Laird and Fort Senneville.

Off Dakar the following merchant vessels joined the convoy; Fort de Vaux (British, 5186 GRT, built 1918), Fort Jemseg (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Horace Williams (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Palacio (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927) and Salta (Norwegian, 3907 GRT, built 1920).

The following merchant vessels were then detached to Dakar; Calgary, Dan-Y-Bryn, Dunkerque, Elorn, Finisterre, Fort Lac La Ronge, Hoggar, Ingleton and Madras City.

The merchant vessel Godfrey B. Holt was detached to Bathurst.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 8 June 1943.

3 Sep 1943

Operation Baytown.

Allied landing between Catona and Reggio Calabria.

The 5th Division, 13 Corps and the 1st Canadian Division were landed on three beaches between Catona and Reggio Calabria during the early hours of the morning. Troops and stores were ferried across the Straits of Messina in 22 LST's, 65 LCI(L)'s, 38 LCT's, 100 LCM's and 70 LCA's.

Support for the landing was provided by the light cruisers HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN), monitors HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN), HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN), HMS Erebus (Cdr.(Retd.) H.W. D'Arcy-Evans, RN), destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), Loyal, HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN),ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S.T. Dzienisiewicz), monitors HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN), HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN), HMS Erebus (Cdr.(Retd.) H.W. D'Arcy-Evans, RN) and the (river) gunboats HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr. F.Y. Bethell, RN) and HMS Scarab (T/Lt. E. Cameron, RNZNVR).

A heavy barrage by 8th Army artillery sited on Sicily preceded the landing and the first assault wave touched down at 0430B/3 and found very little opposition. By 0730B/19 advance elements of the Canadian Division were on the outskirts of Reggio Calabria and the aerodrome was captured during the morning. The 8th Army reached Cannitello during the day.

The population was reported as friendly. 2500 Prisoners were taken the majority being Italians.

By 1400B/3, a second flight was well under way, all first flights loads having been cleared well ahead of the planned programme.

The naval port party had entered Reggio Calabria at 0945B/3. In the harbour the outer breakwater was found to be undamaged, with bollards intactand wholly clear of underwater obstructions. Other quays have suffered damage through bombing but should be quickly repairable.

During the day the C-in-C, Mediterranean, Admiral of the Fleet Sir A.B. Cunningham, GCB, DSO and 2 Bars, RN, inspected the landing beaches from the destroyer HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN).

During the night three of the destroyers, HMS Quilliam, HMS Quail and HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), patrolled south-east of the Straits of Messina and coastal forces north of Messina and off the south Calabrian coast to guard against interference with enemy surface forces. The two cruisers and the remaining destroyers patrolled north of Cape Santa Groce (near Augusta) and east of 16°E. The monitors and gunboats anchored south of Taormina during the night.

HMS Quilliam, HMS Quail and HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN) had been ordered to leave patrol around 0600B/4 and then proceed to Malta arriving there around 1030B/4.

HMS Mauritius, HMS Orion, HMS Offa, HMS Loyal and ORP Piorun returned to Augusta around 0800B/4.

HMS Erebus, HMS Aphis and HMS Scarab remained off the landing beaches to give fire support if required.

[The movements of HMS Abercrombie and HMS Robets are not clear and will have to be further reseached. It appears though that thy had already returned to Augusta on 3 September.] (1)

9 Sep 1943
Around 1700 hours on this day HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN) drifted into an unswept area and hit a mine amidships. She was supporting the Salerno landings at this moment. It exploded under the starboard bulge abreast of the tripod foremast. The mine opened a hole measuring 20 feet by 12 feet and she took a list of 10 degrees, however, with prompt counter-flooding, she again achieved trim. There was little damage inboard of the bulge. The most significant damage occurred to the fittings. Radar and the main director were put out of commission. She was no longer capable of indirect fire and it was feared that use of the main armament would further weaken her. Her machinery was undamaged so two days later she left for Palermo. She then went to Bizerta and finally to the Taranto dockyard on 7 October.

21 Aug 1944
After the damage from the mine hit on 9 September 1943 was repaired HMS Abercombie arrived at Malta on 15 August 1944. Bad luck continued to follow her as on 21 August, while on an exercise south-east of Malta, she struck two mines. One hit on the starboard bow, creating a hole 16 feet by 4 feet but the other struck the bottom. Although, the hole was only 10 feet by 4 feet, the explosion bent both shafts and broke the starboard support strut. Trawlers found four more German mines in the area. She reached Valetta for another 11 months in the dockyard. After repairs were completed she was sent to the Pacific but had only reached Aden, Yemen when the Japanese surrendered.

16 Jul 1945
From 16 to 18 July 1945, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

These included exercises with HMCS Ontario (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, DSO, RCN), HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Avon Vale (Lt. I. Hall, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt. N.R.H. Rodney, RN). (2)