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

Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships lost touch with convoy and/or returned to port.

The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.

Notes:
The British Beachy was rescue vessel for this convoy, on her 2nd voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde with the westbound Convoy OB 263 on Dec. 23, detached Dec. 26. Joined HX 96 on Dec. 27, to Clyde Dec. 30.

Commodore A. T. Tillard was in Norwegian, Vice Commodore in Everleigh (or Madras City?).
Oban Commodore: In Beechwood.
Clyde Commodore: In Empire Caribou.

The convoy had 32 ships, sailing at an average speed of 7.75 knots. 27 were still present on arrival rendezvous with local escort on Dec. 26.

The following ships lost touch, being unable to maintain prearranged speed:
Empire Mariner on the night of Dec. 14/15.
Jenny on the night of Dec. 18/19.
Trolleholm, night of Dec. 21.
Everleigh, night of Dec. 22/23.
Beursplein, night of Dec. 23/24.
Mount Othrys, night of Dec. 17/18 - subsequently rejoined.

The Commodore says that
Station keeping was poor. Visual signalling was poor with the exception of Madras City, Kedoe and Kantara who were very good. Most of the foreign ships were bad.

Route was altered by Admiralty message 1536/20. Everleigh was out of signalling distance then, but Ocean Escort dropped astern to give it to her and to cancel original route. Everleigh was subsequently attacked by gunfire from submarine in 58 36N 21 ?W to 59 20N 21 20W and thus appears to have followed cancelled route. Voyage uneventful.

"Suggest that signal C.P. in Consigs. be altered to read "about time indicated". Suggest that if there is not a suitable ship for Commodore sailing from Liverpool that Commodore should go to Bermuda; a ship being diverted if necessary; or alternatively that ships should be kept at Liverpool for this. Commodore is of little value in unsuitable ship. Many ships leave Liverpool in ballast. I understand that there is an urgent need of anthracite in Halifax and suggest that this might be exported in these ships.

Escort: HMS Ranpura(?) - parted company in 60 35N 20 64W at 13:40, Dec. 25 -1940.
Local Escort: HMS Fleur de Lys, HMS Gardenia, HMS Rochester, HMS Venomous, HMS Wild Swan - met at 13:45 on Dec. 26, in 60 09N 14 30W. Parted company at 11:55 on Dec. 27, in 57 50N 9 38W.
Air Escort: Met at 10:00 on Dec. 27 in 56 07N 9 38W.

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