Op Husky (Invasion of Sicily)

[dgjenness]

Hi there. I am looking for some information about the ship my father (Lieutenant John Lewis Jenness) sailed on in 1943. He was a member of the 4th (Canadian) Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. He was aboard a ship (name unknown) that was part of a convoy (convoy indicator unknown) that was destined to be part of the invasion of Sicily (Op Husky) in July 1943. His war records indicate that he embarked on 28 June 1943, but the port of embarkation in Britain is not indicated. Dad reported that a day after his convoy entered the Mediterranean Sea, his ship lost power and fell out from the convoy. Eventually, it drifted into Phillipville, Algeria, where he remained for several months until he finally married up with his unit in Italy in late October or early November 1943. His records only indicate that his date of disembarkation (location unstated) was 10 July 1943.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to narrow down the convoy designator or the name of the ship Dad sailed on because accounts of the Op Husky convoys tend to focus on ships lost to enemy action, not on ships that dropped out of the convoy due to mechanical failure. Dad's written recollections indicates that his convoy collected in the open ocean off England's southwest coast in late June 1943, and I have been able to determine that two Op Husky slow assault convoys departed the Clyde River in Scotland on 25 June 1943, and a fast assault convoy departed Greenock, Scotland on 28 June 1943. It seems likely that Dad was on a ship in one of these convoys, but I have not been able to narrow down further which convoy and which ship. Any information or leads would be greatly appreciated. Cheers! David G. Jenness

[phil morgan]

Welcome to the site. Someone of our gathering may be of help.

I take it that the convoys you have unearthed are: KMF18, KMS18B and KMS 19G.
A search around some other sites besides this one may be dug out by our excavators.
Good hunting

Phil

[dgjenness]

Thanks, Phil. I had found the KMF18 convoy number, but not the other two, so you have given me another lead. Appreciate your help

[de domenico]

I see on Arnold Hague's convoy database that convoy KMS 17 of 68 merchant ships, from Gibraltar 30 June 1943 to Sfax 6 July 1943, included Norwegian SS BRAZIL, 8,130 grt/1935, route Oran to Philippeville, and US SS GULF PRINCE, 6,561 grt/1921, route Algiers to Philippeville. May be one of them.

[dgjenness]

Thanks. I look into that a little closer. I suspect that because Phillipville was not the original destination, it might not be what I'm looking for, but it doesn't hurt to try. Thanks for the lead

[phil morgan]

I am afraid it is me again.
From Roskill’s Volume 3 Part1
The following units embarked from the UK:
1st,2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigades. (1st Canadian Division)
1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade
Plus British units.

He does say that Canadian forces were to sail in 4 convoys.
KMS18A, KMS18B, KMF18, KMF19.
Only Convoy KMF18 departed 28 June
A 12 knot convoy consisting of: 1 HQ Ship, 3LSTs and 8LSIs

This does narrow down the list of ships that formed your Father's convoy.

Good hunting

Phil

[dgjenness]

Wow! Thanks for the info. That should help alot. Many thanks, Phil

[phil morgan]

YES,It is me again.
From a reliable source the only ship to enter Philippeville at that time was NEA HELLAS:

Clyde, Jul 1, 1943 KMF.19 (Clyde - Algiers) Philippeville, Jul 9, 1943
KMF.19A (Algiers - Malta)
KMF.19 (Clyde - Algiers) Philippeville, Jul 10, 1943
KMF.19A (Algiers - Malta) Algiers, Jul 12, 1943

None of the other ships in the convoy are indicated as being in Philippeville.
QED
Phil

[dgjenness]

Wow! That looks very promising. Thanks so much for your legwork, Phil. I feel I am very close now. Can't wait to delve a little deeper