The Wartime Memories Project - HMS Pandora

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Search this site:     Home     Index of Memories.     Index of Photographs  Features     Airfields     Allied Forces     Axis Forces     Home Front     Prisoner of War     Secret Places of WW2     Ships of WWII     Women at War     World War One  Submissions     How to add Memories     Add Your Memories     Can you Answer?     Message Board     View the Guestbook     Sign the Guestbook     Printable Memories Form  Schools     School`s Study Center     Children's Bookshop  Information     Your Family History     Contact us     News     Bookshop     About     Links    Newsletter. World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII

Information. HMS Pandora was a Royal Navy Parthian class submarine, with a crew of 53. She was built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, and was launched on the 22nd August 1929. Before the outbreak of war she spent the most of the time in Far East, but in later 1939 she moved in Mediterranean and was based in Alexandria, Egypt. During 1940 she sank the French colonial sloop "Rigault de Genouilly", and three Italian cargo ships between 1941 and 1942. The Pandora was also engaged in carrying supplies to Malta during the siege. She was bombed on the 1st April 1942 whilst at Hamilton Wharf, Valetta dockyard, Malta by Italian aircraft on 1 April 1942. She had just arrived at Malta from Gibraltar loaded with supplies. Some of the survivors were killed a few weeks later, along with survivors from other downed subs, they left Malta on the 8th May 1942, to travel back to Britain onboard the British submarine HMS Oympus. The submarine struck a mine 6 miles out from St Elmo Light and was lost. The Pandora was raised in September 1943 but was not repaired, she was scrapped in 1955. On the war memorial at Earsdon, Tyne & Wear is listed- Heseltine R Able Seamen Royal Navy On checking with the CWGC the following additional details emerged: Ronald James, C/JX 199487,HM Submarine "Pandora" died 01/04/1942, Age: 22. He was the son of James & Anna Heseltine of Earsdon and is listed on the Chatham Naval Memorial 54.2. From the date he was obviously one of the initial casualties Colin Boyd I have a collection of letters from Bob Hitchcock, HMSubmarines ERA. Bob died when his submarine the Pandora was bombed in Malta harbour April 1st 1942. He was 24 and had been married to my mother for under a year. I calculate from the letters that they had about four weeks together in total after their marriage. Denise Lynn-Nicholson Update: Robert (Bob) Hitchcock was my mother's brother and had nine other brothers and sisters. He also served on HMS Hood. Bob is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 67, Column 2. His father, Walter Sydney, served in the Great War in the Highland Light Infantry. His older brothers also served in the army. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served on HMS Pandora Ronald James Heseltine. (d. 01 April 1942)Read his story Robert Hitchcock. ERA. (d. 01 April 1942)Read his story Cdr. John Wallace "Tubby" Linton VC DSO DSC. Read his story Seeley If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a ship or sailor, please get in touch. Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project Links Ships Index Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII - All Rights Reserved