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HMS Whimbrel, a Black Swan Class Sloop, was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland, UK in 1942. HMS Whimbrel was adopted by the small Yorkshire seaside resort of Hornsea in the Autumn of 1942 and in 1945 an appeal was made to girls in Honsea to become penpals with members fo her crew. She undertook escort duties with Captain Johnnie Walker’s second support group in the Atlantic during the conflict and was present in Tokyo Bay, for the Japanese Surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945.
In 1949 the Whimbrel was sold to the Egyptian navy and was re-named El Malek Farouq. Recently a campaign has been launched to bring HMS Whimbrel back to the UK to be restored as a memorial to all those who served in the Battle of the Altlantic.
If you or any member of your family served on HMS Whimbrel, or if you were a penpal to one of the crew, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact us:Click to send an email.
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HMS WHIMBREL (1942-1949) BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC MEMORIAL - Appeal for information
The Project led by Vice Admiral Mike Gretton is forging ahead with its plans to raise £2m to return to Britain the former Second World War Escort Sloop HMS WHIMBREL which presently languishes in the Egyptian Naval Base at Alexandria. A detailed specification to conserve the ship and restore her to her 1940s RN condition has been completed but the Project needs much more authentic information to supplement presently available drawings and photographs.
An appeal is therefore made for any firsthand (or second hand) knowledge of the Black Swan Class from former crew members, shipyard or dockyard workers, designers, historians or other experts who might be able to fill in the gaps. In particular any photographs of the interior of WHIMBREL or any others of the class could be very helpful. We need to collect a wide range of contemporary ie WW2 items to help tell the story of life on board during Atlantic Convoy days. Sometimes snaps of crew members can show good background detail, such as mess kit and domestic articles, engine room controls, bridge detail etc. Although the Egyptian Navy has made few major modifications to machinery and weapons systems, not surprisingly hardly any original communications or Radar equipment has survived. This is an area that will take time to restore - in some cases using replicas, illustrations and display boards to give an impression of the former function and layout. Any information and especially photographs of WT, Transmitting Station & RDF rooms would therefore be extremely valuable.
But all information however slight would be welcome. For example: Who remembers when the original Western Approaches blue and white camouflage paint scheme was changed, or what changes were made during her wartime refits? What was the colour of the deck in the crew's galley? and What colours were used for hand wheels in the Engine Room? There are very few photographs of HMS WHIMBREL between first commissioning in January 1943 and leaving Chatham under the Egyptian flag in December 1949. Perhaps someone has snaps of her whilst being built at Yarrows or during her last refit?
If you think you can help please contact Rod Pudduck who is the naval architect and member of the project team who carried out the initial survey and has written the refit specification. He can be contacted at home by e-mailing: rodshome@dsl.pipex.com or at work: rod.pudduck@atkinsglobal.com Please telephone 01454 288108 or send by post to Rod Pudduck, Atkins Ltd., 280 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4SY. All offered material will be carefully handled and returned if required, with acknowledgement and appreciation by the Project.
For more information and news visit the Project website at www.hmswhimbrel.org
Photographs
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If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served on HMS Whimbrel during World War Two
- Lt Commander Norman R Murch.
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
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