Summary of HMS Egret's Narrative of Voyage

Apr. 3-1941:
The Gibraltar-U.K. Convoy HG 58 of 24 ships and escort formed up in 8 columns south of Carnero Point, proceeding at 17:30.
Speed: 7 knots.
22:15 - Course was altered to 235°, Spartel Light bearing 347° 4.5 miles. It was an extremely dark night, with occasional heavy rain.

Apr. 4:
The convoy was badly scattered at dawn, so speed had to be reduced to 6 knots, all stragglers regaining station by 10:00, except the Greek Aghios Spyridon in station 42.
Throughout the day, flying boat escort was present.
At 17:30, a Spanish trawler crossed the front of the convoy from south to north.

Apr. 5:
Aghios Spyridon had caught up by dawn, but she did not take her station, and "by her subsequent behaviour it would appear did not intend doing so"*.
10:00 - 6 of the 8 ships with large caliber A/A guns carried out H.A. firing at smoke burst target fired by HMS Egret, which also carried out a practice, with the escort.
10:30 - All the ships in the convoy carried out small arms A/A practice in accordance with a memorandum issued to the Commodore. HMS Asphodel detached to interrogate a ship on an opposite course to southward, reported to be S.S. Calendar, with Swiss markings, bound for Gibraltar.
P.M. - Hand steering had to be used, due to a defect in the steering engine. This was "most disappointing, as after giving continual trouble on the voyage out, it was given a complete overhaul during the period at Gibraltar".
15:00 - The remaining 2 ships fitted with A/A guns were given practice at a smoke burst.
17:00 - Asphodel parted company, proceeding as per previous orders.
The weather was calm with "extreme visibility".
18:00 - HMS Azalea investigated a ship sighted to the southwest, which turned out to be the Portugese trawler Azuego Gomed with destination Lisbon.
20:00 - HMS Fleur de Lys, which had dropped astern to carry out a sweep, and to speek to the straggling Greek ship, reported that Azuego Gomed had turned and was following on the convoy's course, but retired at once upon sighting Fleur de Lys.
The convoy now kept good station in the calm moonlit night.

*Aghios Spyridon maintained her station at 7 knots, until about midnight on the day of departure. When the convoy speed was reduced, and the stragglers regained their stations in the morning of Apr. 4, she was the furthest astern, being about 7 miles distant. She started to catch up, but when about 4 miles astern, she obviously reduced her speed. HMS Azalea dropped astern to investigate and was told she was doing her maximum speed. By dawn the next morning, Apr. 5, she was in a position to regain her station, but instead of doing so, she commenced dropping astern again for the rest of the day. When Fleur de Lys dropped back at 20:00 to interrogate the ship, the same reply was received; she was doing her maximum speed. Egret's commander says in his report, "This I considser was an untrue statement". On Apr. 6 and 7th, she was still in sight from the crow's nest, and by her smoke from the bridge, on a steady bearing on the starboard quarter for 48 hours. "This I consider conclusively proves that he could very well have kept with convoy had he so desired. His behaviour was a danger to the safety of the convoy as a whole, as his station keeping at that distance might well have attracted enemy attention which would otherwise have been avoided".

Apr. 6
was also a calm day, with maximum visibility. Divine service was held at 10:00.

Apr. 7:
08:40 - Azalea reported A/S contact and dropped depth charges in position 3 cables on the port bow of the convoy. Egret and Coreopsis immediately proceeded and a hunt was commenced, while the convoy made an emergency turn to starboard. However, no further contact was made, and Egret rejoined the convoy, leaving the 2 corvettes to continue the hunt, instructed to keep it up for an hour if no contact was made. The convoy now resumed its course.
09:30 - The Dutch submarine (O 21) carried out a dive for trim for half an hour.
11:00 - The 2 corvettes rejoined the convoy, no contact having been confirmed.
11:05 - A ship sighted to the west/southwest proved to be the British Malvernian, destination Gibraltar - signal was passed to her for N.C.S.O., reporting the straggler, which was still in sight over the horizon on the starboard quarter.
14:00 - Medical assistance "in shape of a bottle" was given to the Greek Nadin.
14:25 - Ships were seen over the horizon to northward, believed to be the Gibraltar bound Convoy OG 57 (this convoy had left Liverpool on March 27, arrived Gibraltar on Apr. 11).
19:20 - In contact with the British Registan.

Apr. 8:
Noon position: 36 56N 20 20W - course altered to 310°.
13:00 - Proceeded ahead of the convoy with the Dutch submarine and transferred a case of suspected appendicitis from her.
21:30 - Course was altered to 358° - speed: 7 knots.

Apr. 9:
In consultation with the Commodore it was decided that it was necessary to inform the authorities that HG 58 was 48 hours ahead of schedule, and was likely to be so at the rendezvous, considering the prevailing weather and forecast. Therefore, HMS Coreopsis was despatched to a position 200 miles astern in order to make the necessary signal, her orders including a rendezvous at 09:00 on the 11th with Fleur de Lys and Azalea for return to Gibraltar.
Noon position (Commodore and Egret) - 39 31N 20 31W.
Wind: N.E. 4, cloudy - speed: 6.5 knots.

Apr. 10:
Wind: N.E. 4, cloudy.
Changes in convoy numbers were made as a result of a message from Admiralty (1949/9) to the Commodore giving new destinations.
10:30 - The Panamanian Csikos reported a serious leak in the upper forepeak with subsequent bad leakage into Hold No. 1. Every attempt was being made to keep the water down, but she was given permission by the Commodore to proceed to the Azores if absolutely necessary.
14:30 - Csikos reported bulkhead shored and leak held by pumps.
21:00 - Fleur de Lys and Azalea detached to return to Gibraltar, and to rendezvous with Coreopsis at 09:00 on the 11th, as previously ordered.
21:30 - A message from C.-in-C. W.A. (1141/10) was received, regretting that HG 58 could not be received 48 hours early, but it was not immediately passed to the Commodore as it was then dark. The Ocean Escort was disposed for the night, with Egret on the starboard and Arctic Ranger on the port side of the convoy.

Apr. 11:
05:45 - The submarine called with a blue light, reporting a ship ahead, which was seen almost at once by Egret. It appeared to be a warship crossing from west to east 3 miles ahead. Speed was increased and course altered in order to manoeuvre ahead of the convoy, between the vessel and the convoy, and a smoke float was dropped, wile the Commodore was requested to turn the convoy away to port. Egret rejoined the convoy when the vessel finally disappeared to the eastward.
At daylight, the message mentioned above (1141/10) was passed to the Commodore, and at noon the convoy was turned 180° with the intention of turning north again at 08:00 on the 12th. However Pinto continued steaming north, having failed in the 2nd 40° turn, and making no attempt to remedy her error. By the time the convoy had completed the 180° turn, she was out of sight over the horizon, and though she regained her station that afternoon it was considered that she "set a poor example - especially to the many foreign ships present".
This being Good Friday, a service was held on board.
Meanwhile, the appendicitis case from the submarine "continued to respond to treatment and to give hope that an operation would not be necessary at sea".
P.M. - A heavy swell now set in from the east.

Apr. 12:
08:00 - The convoy resumed course 360°.
10:30 - The submarine dived for trim for half an hour. Csikos reported leak well under control.
16:00 - The submarine and Arctic Ranger were detached in 43 06N 21 35W in order to meet the Gibraltar bound Convoy OG 58 (left Liverpool on Apr. 6), as instructed by a message from C.-in-C. W.A. (1055/12). Due to the trawler's speed being limited to 10 knots, it was considered unlikely that the sub would make contact with OG 58 on the 13th, and "it was unfortunate that the two convoys should pass their nearest point at night".

Apr. 13:
02:00 - Another defect developed in the steering engine and hand steering again had to be used, but the engine was in action again at 05:30 after repairs had been carried out.
Divine service was held, as this was Easter Sunday.
Weather at this time was fine, with good visibility.

Apr. 14:
10:45 - Egret exercised with 0.5 and Lewis guns ahead of the convoy, the Commodore and the convoy having been warned beforehand.
13:30 - Egret and Avoceta (Commodore's ship) hauled out ahead and a CO2 bottle was transferred from the former to the latter by whaler.
The convoy zig-zagged all day to reduce speed of advance. Arctic Ranger caught up during the night and resumed her station at dawn, the submarine having successfully joined Convoy OG 58, though not until 19:00 on Apr. 13.

Apr. 15:
A message from C.-in-C. W.A. (1108/15) was received, warning of an enemy submarine in position 50 01N 21 00W at 10:09, this position being the very position in which HG 58 found itself at that time.

Apr. 16:
09:00 - HMS Verity joined in 52 00N 19 30W.
17:54 - HMS Chelsea joined in 52 00N 18 03W, having been in communication with Verity by R/T all day.
19:40 - Convoy course altered to 065° as ordered by C.-in-C. W.A. (1825/16).

Apr. 17:
Kites were flown by the convoy - 3 successful, 4 failed (only 7 ships appeared to be fitted with kites).
12:15 - A large unidentified aircraft was sighted at extreme range to the eastward, moving fast from the northeast to the southwest.
Strong N.W. winds, force 6 - rough sea, average swell.

Apr. 18:
09:39 - A Focke Wulf approached from astern, dropping 4 bombs close to the ship in station 32 (identity not given), despite of escort's fire. Also, Csikos had 3 casualties as a result of machine gun fire, before the aircraft retired to the southwest, jettisoning its remaining bombs.
10:50 - A Hudson aircraft was observed to port on N.E. course - answered the challenge.
11:00 - Chelsea closed Csikos and took the 2 wounded men on board, the 3rd had died. The convoy's speed was then reduced and large zig-zag carried out to let Csikos catch up.
13:20 - Large aircraft sighted ahead, making for the convoy, also recognized as a Focke Wulf.
13:21 - Opened fire with bow guns up the lane between the 2nd and 3rd columns of convoy, and plane sheered off to the eastward across the bows of the convoy, under fire from Verity, jettisoning its bombs and retiring to the south very low.
14:30 - Medical officer transferred to Chelsea to operate, in an attempt to save 1 of Csikos casualties. A bullet was extracted, but the patient died, and the medical officer returned to Egret at 16:15.
16:32 - A "strange" aircraft was seen approaching on the starboard side of the convoy. It was challenged repeatedly, but continued to appraoch, so fire was opened on it - 55 27N 11 17W. The plane immediately fired recognition cartridges and answered challenge. As it turned out, this was a Catalina flying boat, which those on Egret apparently had not seen before. She passed a signal by lamp "regretting the necessity for firing but protesting against such an approach by a friendly aircraft towards a convoy". The Catalina had been looking for Convoy HG 58, and remained as escort till the evening.
18:00 - Csikos reported she was leaking badly again, assumed to have been caused by the close bombing. The Commodore agreed with a suggestion that she should proceed directly to Londonderry as fast as she could. A signal was sent that it was advisable for a salvage tug to be provided, and an escort was also requested from Londonderry, as the convoy could not afford to lose any of the 2 local escort vessels to take her in. In the end, however, Chelsea was detached to do so, as no extra escort was forthcoming.

Apr. 19:
Overcast and misty, with S.E. wind.
05:00 - Oban section of 5 ships were detached for their destinations, escorted by Arctic Ranger.
14:00 - Egret parted company in order to fuel at Moville, and while there saw that Csikos had arrived safely. Egret had met Chelsea on arrival at 16:30, and the latter was ordered to rejoin the convoy at once. Egret also sailed again at 22:00 to rejoin, after having completed with oil fuel. Inspection of damage to the port bilge keel was also possible there, and it was evident that the defect would have to be fixed before the next seagoing duty.

Apr. 20:
09:00 - Egret rejoined. The Clyde, Belfast and the North of Mersey sections of the convoy had been detached during the night. Chelsea was sent on to Liverpool, while Egret proceeded with the two 11 knots ships, leaving Verity with the remaining three 8 knots ships.

15:00 - Convoy HG 58 arrived Bar Light Vessel. Egret berthed at 17:00 and disembarked the Dutch seaman from the submarine to hospital.

Signature illegible, last name looks like Haas
Commander, R.N.

Remarks to above report by Captain "D" and N.O.I.C. Londonderry
to The Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Dated Apr. 29-1941

Contacts by Azalea at 08:40 on Apr. 7 - Non sub.

Nearly 60% failure to fly defensive kites on Apr. 17.

Focke Wulf attacks on Apr. 18 - Strange that bombs should be so readily jettisoned.

Bad lookout by Catalina flying boat who was actually looking for HG 58 to escort.

Panamanian Csikos leaking badly and proceeded to Moville.

1st air attack, Apr. 18 - Considered that H.A. from H.M. ships might have caused unsteady aim by Focke Wulf.
N.B. - No merchant ship was seen to open fire. Position "U" is not considered best defensive position for H.A.

2nd air attack, Apr. 18 - There is no doubt that H.A. fire from Egret, Verity and Dutch Djambie was successful in giving 100% protection to convoy and possibly damaging aircraft. In any case morale effect of counter offensive was excellent.

Sighting of unknown warship (Apr. 11) - It is considered practice that friendly warships should identify themselves to allied convoys. Consider, however, action by Egret was well judged.

Concur with remarks made by Egret re. conduct of Greek Aghios Spyridon.

Disposition of A.A. practice - Interesting and well conducted.
Disposition of A.A. defense (day) - Adequate.
Disposition of A/S defence (night) - Stations in accordance with W.A.C.I. but should be at 15:00 or visibility whichever is the lesser for maximum protection.

Signed
Captain "D" and Naval Officer in Charge (name illegible).

Page 1 - Ships in convoy

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