Allied Warships
HMS Butser (T 219)
ASW Trawler of the Hill class
Photo from Imperial War Museum (IWM), A-21765
| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | ASW Trawler |
| Class | Hill |
| Pennant | T 219 |
| Built by | Cook, Welton & Gemmill (Beverley, U.K.) : Holmes |
| Ordered | 20 Nov 1940 |
| Laid down | 1 Apr 1941 |
| Launched | 29 Jul 1941 |
| Commissioned | 16 Jan 1942 |
| End service | |
| History | Based at Freetown, West Africa, for convoy duties during the war. On 10 April 1946 sold to Devon Fishing Co. Ltd., Hull being renamed Balthazar, H359. Official number 181282. In November 1946 fitted for fuel-oil. On 11 January 1952 sold to Loyal Steam fishing Co. Ltd., Grimsby being renamed Royal Marine, GY213. 11 April 1960 sold to Wyre Trawlers Ltd., Fleetwood being renamed Royal Marine, FD63. On 25 July 1963 the vessel was abandoned south of the Mull of Galloway after a fire in the stoke hold. On being towed back to Fleetwood the Royal Marine was found to be damaged beyond repair and laid up. Sold for scrap to West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co. Ltd. 22 October 1963 left Fleetwood for Troon for breaking up. |
Commands listed for HMS Butser (T 219)
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. Gordon Leslie Frank Melville, RNR | 1 Dec 1941 | ca. mid 42 |
| 2 | T/Lt. Alastair Francis Cameron, RNVR | Ca. mid 42 | 6 Dec 1943 |
| 3 | T/Lt. John Dorman Drummond, RNVR | 6 Dec 1943 | 21 Feb 1944 |
| 4 | T/Lt. Ole Bernard Egjar, RNR | 21 Feb 1944 | mid 1945 |
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Notable events involving Butser include:
22 Sep 1942
P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed her builders yard for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR). (1)
13 Nov 1942
HMS H 33 (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Birdlip (Lt. E.N. Groom, RNR), HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR), HMS Mignonette (Lt. H.H. Brown, RNR) and HMS Helier 2 (A/Skr.Lt. G.L. Oleson, RNR). (2)
11 Mar 1943
HMS P 615 (Lt. C.W.St.C. Lambert, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Birdlip (Lt. E.N. Groom, RNR) and HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR). (3)
14 May 1943
Le Centaure conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Cowslip (Lt.Cdr. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR) and HMS Portsdown (Lt. E.L. Donkin, MBE, RNR). (3)
17 Jun 1943
Argo conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Cowslip (Lt.Cdr. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR) and HMS Duncton (Lt. J.N. Burgess, RANVR). (3)
21 Jun 1943
Argo conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR) and HMS Duncton (Lt. J.N. Burgess, RANVR). (3)
10 Jul 1943
Le Centaure conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Crocus (T/Lt.Cdr. J.F. Holm, RNZNR), HMS Petunia (A/Lt.Cdr. G.E. Newey, RNR), HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR) and HMS Duncton (Lt. J.N. Burgess, RANVR). (3)
15 Jul 1943
Le Centaure conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Birdlip (Lt. E.N. Groom, RNR), HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR) and HMS Southern Gem (T/Lt. P.H. Riseley, RNVR). (3)
Sources
- ADM 173/17445
- ADM 173/17231
- ADM 199/635
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.