Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

?

Algiers

13.1.43

Escort duties between Algiers and Gibraltar with Hussar

?

Gibraltar

25.1.43

Escort duties between Algiers and Gibraltar with Hussar

29.1.43

Algiers

29.1.43

Escort duties between Algiers and Gibraltar with Hussar

    'Our four inch terror'

Photo: Henry Brown, Sickberth Attendant HMS Speedwell

30.1.43

Phillipeville

30.1.43

2.2.43

Oran

3.2.43

The docks at Oran from HMS Speedwell

Photo: Henry Brown, Sickberth Attendant HMS Speedwell
 

4.2.43

Algiers

?

10.2.43

Gibraltar

11.2.43

12.2.43

Gibraltar

?

15.2.43

Gibraltar

16.2.43

20.2.43

Gibraltar

?

26.2.43

Gibraltar

9.4.43

9.4.43

Oran

10.4.43

13.4.43

Gibraltar

14.4.43

22.4.43

Gibraltar

?

2.5.42

SPEEDWELL to return to UK with MKS12.

4.5.43

Casablanca

?

7.5.43

Gibraltar

7.5.43

Photo: Henry Brown, Sickberth Attendant HMS Speedwell

In May 1943 HMS SPEEDWELL was involved in Operation 'Antidote', a minesweeping operation in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Tunisia, which had just been cleared of enemy forces. For the work performed by his ship in this operation, SPEEDWELL’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander T E Williams, RD, RNR, was awarded the DSC.
 

8.5.43

Algiers

10.5.43

10.5.43

Bone

11.5.43

12.5.43

0545 MMS89 hit mine 5 miles NE Cape Galita, crew transferred to SPEEDWELL.

26.5.43

Bizerta

28.5.43

30.5.43

Algiers

5.6.43

   Sunset off Algiers from HMS Speedwell

Photo: Henry Brown, Sickberth Attendant HMS Speedwell
 

8.6.43

Gibraltar

?

20.6.43

Aultbea

21.6.43

23.6.43

Rosyth

30.9.43

26/6 SPEEDWELL taken in hand by Henry Robb, Leith for docking and refit, completing 28/8.
31/8 Taken in hand for machinery repairs

30.9.43

Scapa

9.10.43

SPEEDWELL was ordered to relieve her sister BRITOMART in N. Russian waters, and first she proceeded to Akureyri (Iceland) in early October. While there she acted as local escort to Convoys RA54A (13 ships) and JW54 (14 ships) in November. Next she joined the through ocean escort of JW55A.

12.10.43

Hvalfjord

13.10.43

 13/10 Left Hvalfiord for Akureyri escorting oiler CULPEPER

While escorting the US tanker CULPEPPER on 25 October 1943, the SPEEDWELL ran aground off Akureyri. No damage was caused and both ships arrived at Hvalfjord later.

"The Commander freed the ship by ordering the ranks to jump up and down in a unified fashion, and on a particular area of the ship"
Source: Charles Carson (crew) Jan 2007

27.10.43

Iceland

28.10.43

31.10.43

Scapa

5.11.43

8.11.43

Seidisfiord

?

13.11.43

Scapa

13.11.43

14.11.43

Aberdeen

?

21.11.43

Aultbea

?

22.11.43

SPEEDWELL formed part of local escort to JW54B from Loch Ewe until it got to Iceland on 25/11.

29.11.43

Scapa

?

11.12.43

Aultbea

12.12.43

15.12.43

At sea

22.12.43

SPEEDWELL joined JW55A as part of the ocean escort, arriving Kola Inlet without being attacked on 22/12. Because of the high risk of surface attack from Scharnhorst (part of the convoy’s purpose was to draw her out), Admiral Fraser sailed the Duke of York, Jamaica and four destroyers all the way to the Kola Inlet. (Duke of York and the rest of the fleet later attacked and sank Scharnhorst on 26/12)

Proclamation that Leading Sick Berth Attendant Henry Brown crossed the Arctic Circle on 16th Dec 1943

Having arrived Kola Inlet, SPEEDWELL worked through the turn of the year with Russian destroyers and minesweepers on local duties. The enemy had laid 25 minefields that summer off Murmansk and in the Kara Sea; the Admiralty's policy of maintaining RN minesweepers in the area was amply vindicated.
 

?

Dvina Bar

28.12.43

31.12.43

Dvina Bar

?

31.12.43

At sea

1.1.44

Halcyon, Hussar and SPEEDWELL provided local eastern escort to RA55B (8 ships).