Further details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939". R. W. Jordan
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Fi=Finnish, Gr=Greek, Sw=Swedish
s=sunk, † = dead

B = Bermuda portion

Arnold Hague has also included the Nowegian Astra in this convoy, but no station number is given (not included in original convoy documents). See Hague's listing for HX 53 at ships in all HX convoys. She's said to have joined at sea from St. John's, N.F. on June 28 - follow the link to my page about Astra.

Lycia and Celtic Monarch are not mentioned in the Advance Sailing Telegram. They both appear in the AST for HX 54 - both crossed out. (Lycia is listed in HX 55, while Celtic Monarch sailed in HX 56).

Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

MoWT=Ministry of War Transport

The convoy had a total of 42 ships, including 11 joining from Bermuda - 40 ships were present upon arrival at local escort rendezvous (July 7).

Average speed: 8.2 knots.

The Norwegian Janna (Captain T. Bøttger) lost touch with the convoy. She left Halifax again on June 29 in order to join up with the next convoy out, HX 54 - follow link to Janna for more info.
Rosenborg, Thistlegarth and Bjerka also seem to have had problems keeping the pre arranged speed.

The commodore praises Aracataca, Pacific Shipper, Dalcross, Taybank, Mataroa and Tilsington Court for their visual and W/T signalling. He adds, however: "There was considerable oscillation on several occasions."

Humber Arm, on a voyage from Corner Brook for River Mersey with a cargo of 1000 tons steel, 5450 tons newsprint, 300 tons lumber, and 450 tons pulp, was sunk by U-99 on July 8-1940. She had a crew of 42 and 1 passenger - all saved.

The convoy arrived rendezvous on July 7.

Ocean Escort: HMS Alaunia from Halifax until 10:15 on July 7, parting company in 50 19N 13 30W when local escort arrived.
Other escorts - HMS Leith (sloop) and HMS Clarkia (corvette), HMS Hurricane, HMS Vanquisher, HMS Winchelsea, HMS Scimitar, and HMS Sabre.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of HX convoy escorts received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Alaunia - From 25/06/40 to 07/07/40
Assiniboine - From 25/06/40 to 26/06/40
Clarkia - From 07/07/40 to 10/07/40
Hurricane - From 08/07/40 to 09/07/40
Leith - From 07/07/40 to 10/07/40
Ottawa - From 25/06/40 to 26/06/40
Sabre - From 07/07/40 to 10/07/40
Scimitar - From 07/07/40 to 10/07/40
Vanquisher - From 08/07/40 to 09/07/40
Winchelsea - From 08/07/40 to 09/07/40

Related external link:
The attack on Humber Arm

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