Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II

[Petet]

Convoy Information

Extract from: WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1942 Sailings

11

TAMAROA

21

ATHLONE CASTLE

(Vice Commodore)

31

STIRLING CASTLE

(Commodore)

41

INDOCHINOIS

51

LARGS BAY

22

ARAWA

42

EMPRESS OF SCOTLAND

This was one of the more unusual WS convoys, in that it departed greatly from the normal route. At the end of October 1942 the first great amphibious invasion convoys were at sea heading for North Africa from both the UK and USA; hence it was highly undesirable to have an additional troop convoy crossing their routes and, indeed, the focal point of Operation TORCH. Hence WS 24, which sailed from Liverpool 30.10.42 and the Clyde 31.10, was routed far to the west in the Atlantic and was obliged to use the port of Bahia in Brazil, who had declared war on the Germany and Italy on 22.8.42, as a fuelling stop rather than Freetown.

During the passage INDOCHINOIS lost the convoy on 7.11 and proceeded independently; to the anxiety of the Commodore and Senior Officer of the Escort who had no idea as to her fate or whereabouts. She eventually rejoined the convoy, at sea, on 30.11.42! TAMAROA made a more decorous exit, being detached to Freetown on 8.11 escorted by the whaler SOUTHERN PRIDE.

Escorts were, from Liverpool to the Clyde, the destroyers SARDONYX and SKATE, from the Clyde HOLCOMBE, OFFA, ONSLOW, ORIBI and ROTHERHAM to 3.11, the US seaplane tender BARNEGAT 31.10 to 2.11.

Ocean escort was provided by the armed merchant cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA joining 3.11 to 17.11, destroyer ILEX 9 to 17.11 and cruiser DESPATCH and destroyer ROTHERHAM 11 to 17.11.

The convoy arrived at Bahia 17.11 to fuel and water and, while there, took the rare opportunity to land troops (at the insistence of the Brazilian authorities) for a route march which turned into something of a Victory Parade for the inhabitants excited by the Allied landings in North Africa ten days previously.

Sailing from Bahia 20.11 the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruisers QUEEN OF BERMUDA joined by ALCANTARA and destroyer ROTHERHAM to Durban, arriving 4.12 while the cruiser DESPATCH was present until 23.11 and destroyer ILEX until 25.11. The destroyer NORMAN joined 29.11, corvette ROCKROSE 30.11 and destroyer NEPAL 1.12, all to Durban. Corvette THYME was present 30.11 to 2.12.

Sailing from Durban 6.12.42, ATHLONE CASTLE and STIRLING CASTLE were escorted by the cruiser FROBISHER to 12.12 and then by the cruiser MAURITIUS to arrive at Bombay on 17.12.42.