Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.
Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port..

Part of the A 1 form is difficult to decipher and, therefore, I'm not sure which station number some of these ships had (hence the question marks).
Note also that one of the documents is hard to decipher, but by comparing to ships cancelled from HX 235, and ships sailing in subsequent convoys, as well as the Commodore's notes, I've been able to guess most of the illegible names. However, some question marks still remain.

Notes:
Commodore, Captain T. L. Owen R.D. R.N.R. was in Themistocles. He had also been the Commodore for the westbound Convoy ONS 1, which sailed on March 15 with 34 ships, another 8 joining from Iceland - arrived Halifax on Apr. 5. He then returned with HX 236, which had 47 ships on departure, 1 returned to port, 13 were tankers, 27 "specials".
Vice Commodore was the captain of Taranaki.

Average speed: 9.6 knots.

The Commodore says:
Chief Officer H. Winyard acted most of voyage for Master who was sick (not sure if he's referring to Themistocles in HX 236).

There's a note under "ships parting company" saying "Manchester Exporter (which is then crossed out and replaced with Moses Cleaveland), at 02:00/25 in 48 11N 41 30W with engine defects" and "Fort Townshend (not listed in Advance Sailing Telegram) detached at 08:15/24 in 43 14N ?W for Halifax". However, it looks like that entire sentence has been crossed out(?)

Taranaki, Tamaroa, Penrith Castle, and Salamis detached at 19:30 on May 5 in 51 00N 20 00 W for Liverpool and Belfast.
Alexia, Richard Stockton, Empire Newton, Empire Marlowe, Fort Liard, Dettifoss, Philander C. Knox and Hannibal Hamlin detached at 18:00 (date illegible) in 55 04N ? W for Loch Ewe.
Davila detached at 09:30 on the 8th in 55 24N 7 04W for Londonderry.
British Glory, Diloma, Naticina, Belgian Freighter, and Moses Cleaveland(?) detached at 15:00 in 55 14N 5 59W on May 8 for Clyde. (Note that Moses Cleaveland is said to have returned to New York in the Advance Sailing Telegram, and is listed as sailing in the next convoy, HX 237).
Belfast portion, Empire Reynolds, Gulfcoast, and George B. McClelland were seen to leave at 18:00 on May 8.

Station keeping and visual signalling: Good.

Commodore's vessel was "Most suitable in all respects. Signalling arrangements excellent. Master and officers capable and co-operative. Engine revolutions very steady. Accomodation good. It is recommended that an extension loud speaker be fitted from R/T set in radio office to bridge."

Port Campbell, Captain Lawry and Montgomery City were "outstandingly good station keepers in a good station keeping convoy. A good passage until approaching North Channel when convoy encountered strong Easterly gale which rather scattered the convoy. Hove to outside Mersey at 03:00/9 N.W. gale prevailing. 07:00/9 signalled ships in sight to act independently."

Escorts:
Mulgrave, Alberni (left at 08:15 Apr. 27 in 43 14N 61 23W), and Truro.
St Clair, Chicoutimi? and -illegible- (looks like Ivesvil or similar) joined at 10:30 Apr. 27 in 43 15N 61 00W - left, along with Truro at 07:30 Apr. 30 in 44 13N 45 30W.
Lancer and Bustler joined at 05:30 Apr. 30 in 44 12N 46 00W.
Hurricane, Kate, Monkshood?, Wallflower, Borage and Dahlia joined at 07:30 Apr. 30 in 44 13N 45 30W - Hurricane, Kate, Monkshood? and Borage left at 12:00 May 8 in 55 29(24?)N 6 42W, while Dahlia left at 09:30 May 8.
Meadowsweet joined at 14:00 May 1 in 44 20N 38 32W - left at 14:10 May 8, when local escort joined.
Starling, Woodpecker, Wild Goose, Cygnet and Kite joined at 05:00 May 3 in 44 48N 29 30W - left at 16:00 May 5 in 50 26N 20 28W.
Rockingham joined at 17:00 May 3 in 45 00N 26 51W - left, along with Wallflower, at 20:00 May 5 in 51 00N 20 00W.
At 18:00 May 8, off Mardens, local escort left with Belfast portion, "his W/T was out of action".

All the Norwegian ships sailing in this convoy are listed on this website - see alphabet index below.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Some of the ships listed as American in the table above were Liberty ships. This website lists them alphabetically.
This site has more on the the "Fort" ships mentioned in this convoy.
Empire Ships listed in alphabetical order. The site also has a section listing the Liberty ships.

Back to Convoy Index