HMS MEYNELL (L 82)
Type I, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer
BATTLE HONOURS
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1941-43 - NORTH SEA 1941-45 - ARCTIC 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
BADGE
On a Field Red, an escallop Gold charged with a fox's mask Red.
Lost overboard while on the Arctic Convoys between Kola Inlet, Russia and Loch Ewe in Scotland.
DRANSFIELD, Frederick, Able Seaman, C/JX 196193, MPK. (Missing Presumed killed)
SHAW, Douglas A, Able Seaman, C/JX 213707, MPK (Missing Presumed killed)
HMS Meynell was laid down on 10th August 1939 and launched on 7th June 1940 and completed on 30th December 1940, taking over a year and four months to build. Previous Hunt Class Destroyers had taken around a year to build and completion of the Meynell was delayed due to the urgency of repair work on ships damaged at Narvik and Dunkirk.
Adopted by the civil community of Ashbourne, Derbyshire HMS Meynell was named after the Meynell Fox Hunt in Derbyshire. In turn the Meynell Hunt was named after Hugo Meynell (June 1735 – 14 December 1808) who is considered to be the father of modern fox hunting. Meynell Hunt still exists today and has a thriving Pony Club.
HMS Meynell making smoke. November 1943, on board HMS Vivacious.
Not completed until December 1940 HMS Meynell was not around to take part in the Dunkirk Evacuations.
1st Feb 41. HMS Meynell made passage to Sheerness to join the 21ST Destroyer Flotilla for escort and patrol duties in the North Sea and English Channel.
3rd Feb 41. HMS Meynell escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer Teviot Bank to reinforce the East Coast Mine Barrier to better suit anti-invasion requirements. Mine laying operations were often targeted by the Luftwaffe (German Airforce) and only a month later the Teviot Bank was damaged by a near miss from bombs.
7th Feb 41. Returned to Sheerness to continue escort and patrol duties in the North Sea and English Channel with the 21ST Destroyer Flotilla.
March 41. A 20mm Bofors gun was fitted in bow structure for defence against E-boats.
25 March 41. HMS Meynell rescued three Dutchmen who had escaped from German occupied Holland. They were drifting in a small boat near the Sunk Lightship. They were transferred to the Harwich Minesweeper which took them to Harwich while Meynell continued on with her escort duties.
11th to 13th February 1942. Anticipating that the German Fleet consisting of the Pocket Battle ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen together with escorting Destroyers and E-boats and with air cover would attempt to break through the English Channel the 21st Destroyer Flotilla, based at Sheerness and the 16th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Harwich where combined to form two temporary flotillas.
When the order came to attack the German Battle Fleet the Meynell like many other Destroyers, Motor Torpedo boats and Bombers were given insufficient notice. By the time the Meynell raised steam she was too far behind to catch the German armada.
1942 throughout and 1943. HMS Meynell continued with her escort duties escorting ships along the East Coast through the notorious “E-boat Alley”. These journeys were not without incident as attack by E-boats, from the air or the sinking of ships by mines were a common occurrence.
15 Feb 43.HMS Meynell escorted Russian Convoy JW53 which departed Loch Ewe in Scotland and arrived at the Kola Inlet, Northern Russia on the 27 Feb 43. The Convoy consisted of 28 Merchant ships, mainly Liberty ships carrying guns, planes and war materials to help Russia fight against the Germans. It also contained a massive 47 war ships escorting the cargo ships. Six merchant ships turned back because of the severe weather. The Russian convoys were attacked mercilessly from the air and by U-boats. Survival of a man in the freezing sea was measured in minutes.
1st March 43.HMS Meynell escorted Russian Convoy RA53 which departed the Kola Inlet, Russia on the 1st March 43 and arrived at Loch Ewe on the 14 March 43. The convoy consisted of 30 Merchant ships and 36 war ships. Many of the ships returned with cargos of timber and ore. The convoy was attacked by the enemy again with four American ships being sunk. The cargo ship Executive was torpedoed and sunk by U 255 with the loss of nine of her 62 crew. The Puerto Rican was sunk when she straggled behind the convoy and was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 64 of her 65 crew. The lone survivor was rescued by HMT St. Elstan. The Richard Bland was torpedoed on 10 March by U-255 and split in two. The stern section sank with the loss of 34 of her 69 crew, the bow section was towed to Akureyri in Iceland. The American Liberty ship J L M CURRY foundered in a storm. This was perhaps a forewarning of the Liberty ship weaknesses. They were constructed from poor quality steel and cold weather, such as that found in the North Atlantic Ocean or the Arctic, made it brittle. Liberty ships were welded and not riveted and once a crack started there was nothing to stop it.
The Arctic Convoys were once described by Winston Churchill as “the worst journeys in the world”, carried desperately-needed military supplies to Russia.
For the rest of 1943 HMS Meynell continued with North Sea Convoy escort and patrol.
25 Feb 44. In action against E-Boats off Great Yarmouth in defence of convoy. A crew members account related four groups of two ‘E’ boats attacking on each side of HMS Meynell. Torpedo launched at the Meynell sped towards her with one passing right beneath her bow having been too deep to make contact. To read the first-hand account go here, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a8501140.shtml
6 June 44. D-day. HMS Meynell escorted the first “Follow up” convoy EMT1 departing Southend anchorage on the 6 June 44 arriving at the D-day beaches on the 7 June 1944. As the D-day invasion force was nearing the beach, Force L sailing group 1 and 2, consisting of 65 landing craft and ships with escorts left Harwich to rendezvous with group 3, 4 and 5 from the Thames Estuary. The ships from the Southend anchorage consisted of 65 landing ships and craft and 65 more cargo ships mainly carrying vehicles, 3 cable ships and the escorts Meynell, Garth, Chelmer, Halstead, Camelia, Charlock, Narcissis, Gardenia, Oxlip and 20 Queenborough Motor Minesweepers.
As the convoy passed through the Straights of Dover it was shelled from German occupied France. The British Liberty ship Sambut was hit and burnt out. There was little the escorts could do other than to make smoke to hide their charges.
Remainder of June.Continuation with escort duties in build-up phase of the Normandy invasion.
5 July 44.HMS Meynell was released from Operation Neptune (the navy side of D-day) and returned to Sheerness for North Sea patrol and convoy duties.
1 Oct 44. The Meynell together with HMS Cottesmore and HMS Garth were to escort HM Monitors Erebus and Roberts during passage to Walcheren Island for bombardment of enemy positions. It was important to clear the enemy from the banks of the Scheldt Estury to allow the Queenborough minesweepers to open the Port of Antwerp.
The Meynell passed on the wrong side of a buoy, fouled a sunken ship and suffered major damage to her starboard shaft and propeller. Meynell was towed to London to have the propeller repaired.
Nov, Dec, 44, Jan, Feb, 45. Under repair.
March 45.Re-joined the 21st Flotilla at Sheerness and continued with escort and patrol duties
Watch these short videos about the Wildfire Destroyers.
The Channel Dash: https://youtu.be/-mtOXFnLVo8
Sheerness Destroyers at D-day: https://youtu.be/iftqjOj89Xg
Some of the crew on HMS Meynell. Nevil William Adams is on the far right.
Back of photograph with names of crew.
Displacement: 1,000 tons.
Length: 278 feet (85 metres)
Beam: 28 feet (8.8 metres)
Draught: 10 feet 9 inches (3.27 metres)
Speed: 27.5 knots (31 MPH, 50.9 km/h)
Range: 3500 nautical miles (6,500 Kilometres) at 15 knots. 1000 nautical miles (1840 Kilometres) at 26 knots.
Power: 3 x water-tube boilers.
Propulsion: 2 x shafts, 2 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers.
Complement: 146 Officers and men.
Torpedo tubes: None.
Guns: 4 × QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk XVI guns. 4 × QF 2 pound (40mm) on Quad mounts. 2 x 20mm Oerlikon Anti-aircraft guns on single mounts. 40 depth charges, 2 throwers, 1 rack.
Additionally, Hunt Class Destroyers engaged on East Coast convoy work, the Type ones and the Type twos were fitted with a single QF 2 pounder "bow chaser" gun for anti-E-boat work.
HMS Meynell at Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Note the “Bow Chaser” gun used for E-boat action and the Barrage Balloons in the background.
OFFICERS from Navy List Dec.1940
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Lieut. Com. W. H. Farrington. 14 Aug 40.
Lieut. Com. D. T. McBarnet, DSC. 12 Aug 40.
Gunner. J. J. Clark (act). 7 Sept 40.
Cd. Engineer A. L. Ludford. 13 Feb 40.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1941
Lieut. Com. W. H. Farrington. 14 Aug 40.
Lieut. Com. D. T. McBarnet, DSC. 12 Aug 40.
Temp. Surg. Lieut. RNVR. W. McL. Gillespie, MB, BCh. 22 Nov 40
Sub-Lieut.Temp. RNVR. J. W. L. Jessop. 23 Nov 40.
Sub-Lieut.Temp RNVR. A. D. Macllwaine. 25 Nov 40.
Temp. sub Lieutenant. RNVR. B.H. Theobald. 21 Mar 41.
Gunner J. J. Clark (act). 7 Sept 40.
Cd Engineer. A. L. Ludford. 13 Feb 40.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 42.
Lieut. Com. W. H. Farrington. 14 Aug 40.
Temp. Lieutenant. H. H. Ridler. 22 May 41.
Temp. Surg. Lieut. RNVR. A. M. Christie, MB, chB. 22 Dec 41.
Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. J.L.T. Godfrey. 11 Mar 43.
Temp. Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. B. H. Theobald. 21 Mar 41.
Temp. Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. T. Jobbing. Nov 41.
Temp. Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. J. C. Nixon. 9 Feb 42
Cd. Engineer. A. L. Ludford. 13 Feb. 40.
Temp Gunner. S. G. W. Crowe(act). 10 Apr 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 43
Lieutenant. B. M. D. I'Anson 25 Aug 42 (In Command.)
Lieutenant. H. H. Ridler. 22 May 41.
Lieutenant. P. R. Michell. 27 Oct 42.
Temp. Surg. Lieut. RNVR. P. F. Rudd, MB, chB. 5 Jan 43.
Sub-Lieut.Temp. RNVR. J. L. T. Godfrey. 11 Mar 43.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. T. Jobbing. Nov 41 .
Temp. Act. Sub-Lieut. R. Stark. 17 Feb 43.
Cd. Engineer. A. L. Ludford. 13 Feb 40.
Temp. Gunner. S. G. W. Crowe. 10 Apr 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 44.
Lieutenant. B. M. D. I'Anson 25 Aug 42 (In Command.)
Lieutenant. R. D. Macdonald 29 June 43
Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. R. Stark. 21 Aug 43.
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. W.S. Livsey. 26 Nov 43.
Surg. Lieut. Temp. RCNVR. S. B. Nelles, LMSSA. 22 Apr 44.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. J. C. Mason. 19 Oct 43.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. T. Jobbing. Nov 41.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. H.M. Taylor 19 Aug 43.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNZNVR. A. H. Gorringe. 23 May 43.
If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.
Thank you.
Contact: Johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
Model of HMS Meynell L82
Thank you to Jenny Mead for telling us the stories her dad, who served on HMS Meynell, told her.
NEVIL WILLIAM ADAMS, HMS MEYNELL.
Nevil William Adams worked in a tailors in Bishopsgate, London before he joined the Royal Navy at the beginning of World War 2. He was assigned office duty, but felt embarrassed going home each night when his neighbors sons were doing active duty so he applied for active service.
He trained as a signal man and joined the HMS Meynell (L82), a Hunt class destroyer. He was sea sick before the ship left the harbour but the ships cook made him a drink of hot water mixed with curry powder and he was never sick again.
He didn't talk much about all the action he saw which must have been extensive as the HMS Meynell escorted the Russian convoys through the narrow passage between Norway and the Artic icepack where the German U boats used to wait.
He enjoyed the comradery but admitted that he was a cocky teenager and so was introduced to the initiation ceremony fairly soon after sailing, which consisted of raspberry jam on his bottom and his cap thrown overboard.
Each sailor was given a tot of rum by the Navy, a custom that no longer exists, he and a mate would share one tot and put the other one in a bottle to drink when they were off duty.
The name Meynell was named after a hunt estate in East Shropshire who used to send food to the ship, meat, poultry, but he did feel guilty eating all this good food when families at home had very little to eat. He said you would peel your potatoes, choose your meat and vegetables and give your plate to the cook who would cook it for you. One time, when on night duty, he and some others found the captains American pancake mix and cooked them up. He said there was a humorous egg fight although this was a waste of food it was a way of feeling normal and relieving stress.
As signalman he was stationed on the bridge near to the captain who he said was a fair man. Sometimes he would be asked to signal the other ships when they were in dock to invite their captain for drinks.
He remembered seeing Saint Elmos Fire, electric blue lights across the rigging of the ship, a sight he never forgot. Other strange things he remembered was having to climb up the ships mast and being amazed that, when he looked down, it seemed that he was not moving but the ship was.
Regular training, when not on battle duty was having to swim around the ship which, as a good swimmer, was not a problem for him.
His duty, when in dock, was to get up early before the ship left dock, to go and collect the ships instructions for the captain before they left. This particular morning he over slept so he put his coat on over his pajamas and went ashore to find the command office. It took him so long to find it that he when he finally got the ships instructions he had to run back to the ship and jump over the rails onto the deck as the ship was already moving. You are very lucky, he was told.
When the ship was on battle stations and you were off duty you got used to sleeping anywhere, on tables, floors etc. One time they could hear the sound of torpedoes coming towards the ship but the captain turned the ship and so the torpedoes missed them. Other ships weren't so lucky and the ship behind them was hit.
In the Arctic it was extremely cold and they all wore special dark waterproof suits when on duty at night on deck. The Captain had two white small balls put on his suit so the rest of the crew could identify him. He said it was because the crew used to pinch each other’s bottoms to surprise them sometimes and the captain was not easily identified as the captain.
If the crew needed to get from one end of the ship to the other there was a rope for them to hold onto to steady them while the ship was rolling badly. When the weather was extreme, the crew were meant to go below and walk the length of the ship but on one occasion two crew members decided it would be alright to still use the rope. A big wave hit the ship and swept them overboard. The Captain called the ships doctor on the bridge and asked him how long the men would survive in the cold water. The doctor said no longer than five minutes which was not enough time to slow the ship and rescue them. Even when he was 93 he said he often saw the men waving for help, one of them was married with a child.
He was training another young sailor in signals duty when he saw something at sea and told the trainee to tell the Captain which he did. The Captain reprimanded both of them by saying the trainee should have noticed it and Nevil should not have wasted time but should have told him directly . He said the Captain was right . He was often called Fanny by his comrades because of his last name but he didn't mind.
The Meynell was one of the many ships that went to Dunkirk to rescue the Army from the beaches. The sea was full of floating bodies by the time they got there and he said they had many dead men on the deck of the ship which was really distressing and he thought about their mothers. He was not injured during the war but suffered some deafness in one of his ears from the sound of the guns but his friend lost his hand from operating the gun. He met up with his friend later in life but he said it wasn't the same between them when they were in their 60s.
The Meynell was in Hamburg when Germany surrendered. The destruction of the town was terrible. There were a lot of children who were asking for food and cigarette for Mumma. Many sailors were seen walking around with the women and their children following behind. He said it was still dangerous as there were snipers around. Him and some others snuck out on land at night as they had heard there were some girls around on another ship. It wasn't true and they were shot at but made it back to the ship safely. Piled high on the dock were discarded German helmets, he took one as a memento and it remained in his possession all his life. He also took a small gun and cut the shape of it out of the leaves of a book, cut out the shape of the gun inside the leaves so he could hide the gun in it. He hid the gun so he could bring it home as this was not allowed. He kept it for many years hidden, until his wife was not happy with it being in the house so he threw it into a canal near his home.
When he was 93 he was awarded the Ushakov Medal by the Russians for his bravery in the war escorting the Russian convoys and the Arctic Star Medal. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the presentation at the Russian Embassy in London, so his daughter represented him and received the medal and were thanked formally for their bravery, along with other Veterans.
They were also presented with Russian honey cake and Russian Vodka. Which was exceptional. To our surprise few people at the ceremony spoke English.