| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | ASW Trawler |
| Class | Dance |
| Pennant | T 139 |
| Built by | Hall, Russell & Co. Ltd. (Aberdeen, Scotland) |
| Ordered | 9 Sep 1939 |
| Laid down | 19 Jun 1940 |
| Launched | 29 Jan 1941 |
| Commissioned | 17 Jun 1941 |
| End service | |
| History | Sold 3 April 1946. |
Commands listed for HMS Polka (T 139)
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 | T/Lt. Kenneth Cranston Donaldson, RNVR | 21 May 1941 | early 1942 | |
| 2 | T/Lt. Richard Wallace Hart, RCNVR | early 1942 | early 1942 | |
| 3 | Gordon McIntosh Oliver, RNVR | 11 Jun 1942 | 21 Oct 1942 | |
| 4 | T/Lt. Innes Athole Thorpe, RNVR | 21 Oct 1942 | 24 May 1944 | |
| 5 | T/Lt. Edwin John Scotcher, RNVR | 24 May 1944 | ||
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Notable events involving Polka include:
4 Jul 1941
HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Balta (T/Lt. J.A.H. Punting, RNR), HMS Cotillion (A/Skr.Lt. J. Flett, RNR), HMS Polka (T/Lt. K.C. Donaldson, RNVR) and HMS Asie (Skr. F.C. Butler, RNR). (1)
6 Jul 1941
HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with FFS Alysse, HMS Asie (Skr. F.C. Butler, RNR), HMS Polka (T/Lt. K.C. Donaldson, RNVR) and HMS Minuet (T/Lt. A.M. Sullivan, RNVR). (1)
7 Jul 1941
HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Asie (Skr. F.C. Butler, RNR), HMS Polka (T/Lt. K.C. Donaldson, RNVR), FFS Alysse and HMS Minuet (T/Lt. A.M. Sullivan, RNVR). (1)
9 Jul 1941
HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Polka (T/Lt. K.C. Donaldson, RNVR), HMS Le Tiger (T/Lt. C.A. Hoodless, RNR), HMS Brora (T/Lt. L.A. Enevoldson, RNVR) and HMS Flotta (T/Lt. G.L McArthur, RANVR). (1)
2 Jun 1943
HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) conducted A/S exercises in the Firth of Forth with HMS Brimness (Skr. A.E. Larner, RNR), HMS Kingston Onyx, HMS Polka (T/Lt. I.A. Thorpe, MBE, RNVR) and HMS Berkshire (Skr. G. Bruce, RNR). (2)
3 Jun 1943
HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) conducted A/S exercises in the Firth of Forth with Verdun (Lt.Cdr. D. Parsons, RD, RNR), HMS Lady Beryl, HMS Polka (T/Lt. I.A. Thorpe, MBE, RNVR) and HMS Berkshire (Skr. G. Bruce, RNR). (2)
18 Apr 1944
HMS Ursula (Lt. A.G. Davies, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Methill with HMS Castleton (Lt. S.E. Jagger, RN), HMS Polka (T/Lt. I.A. Thorpe, MBE, RNVR), HMS Leicester City (T/Lt. C.E. Irving, RNVR), HMS Valse (T/Lt. E.J. Newell, RNVR) and HMS Spurs (A/Skr.Lt. E.J. Day, RNR). (3)
Sources
- File 2.12.03.6376 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- File 2.12.03.6390 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 173/19315
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.