LADY SHIRLEY H464
Built
1937
Cook Welton & Gemmell
Off Number
165653
Length Ft
163.5
Tons Gross
472
Yard Number
615
Breadth Ft
27.2
Tons Net
177
Launched
25 02 1937
Engine Builder
C D Holmes
Hp
120 HP
Registered
19 04 1937
Knots
12 K
Registered LADY SHIRLEY H464 Owners 1937 Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd Hull
  H.M.T LADY SHIRLEY Owners 1939 Admiralty
    Owners  
Fate :11 Dec 1941 lost and claimed by U 374 which was later sunk herself so no official record of sinking.
Admiralty Requisition
Pennant No
Role
Returned
1939
Auxiliary Patrol
Lost
31st A/S Group Gibraltar
 

 

Pre War Crewmen
       
FIREMAN   MINNS - WALT  
       
       

 

Lady Shirley and U boat 111

Lady Shirley was part of the 31st A/S Group and was stationed and operated from Gibralter with the trawlers Erin of 7th A/S GP and Lady Hogarth, Lady shirley was a escort / patrol trawler.she was fitted with Asdic anti-submarine dome. October 4 1941 found Lady Shirley on lone patrol South of the Canaries the Lookout spotted something that looked like a ships funnel and reported it to Watch officer Sub Lieutenant French. French went to investigate and as he observed the object it dissapeared. It could have been a funnel or the conning tower of a U boat, Shirley`s captain immediately altered course to head for the position. Having a positive contact from the Asdic equipment Lady Shirley went into attack. A pattern of depth charges were dropped and shortly afterwards to the stern of Lady shirley a U boat surfaced, Lady Shirley turned hard to port to bring the 4 inch gun to bear on the U boat, as Lady Shirley`s point five guns opened fire they were answered by a stream of cannon shells. The four inch gun fired but was a near miss, the U boat fired at the same time and tracer flasheds went everywhere. This burst of tracer mortally wounded the gun layer, Seaman Pizzey who was hit by a cannon shell, he called out "they`ve got me !" he staggered back, collapsed and died. A replacement quickly took over as gun layer and another shot was fired, all the while the Hotchkiss gunners firing at the U boat. The crew of lady Shirley could not understand why the U boat had not returned fire with it`s big gun. The U boat crew started to abandon ship and very quickly afterwards the U boat sank. All the Germans were taken aboard from the water 45 in total, 8 were unaccounted for including the captain. On the voyage back to Gibralter that afternoon a Funeral service was held for Seaman Pizzey, another sevice was held the day after for a wounded German.

After 4 days sailing Lady Shirley arrived back in Gibralter to a hero`s welcome, Winston Churchill cabled his personal congratulations to Lady Shirley. Lieutenant Commander Callaway was awarded an immediate DSO 'For daring and skill in a brilliant action against a U boat in which the Enemy was sunk and surrendered, to H.M.T Lady Shirley.

 

December 1941 The Loss of Lady Shirley

Except for the wounded and a couple of crew replacements : Sub Lieutenant Allan Waller been one , the crew was virtually the same as for the victory over the U boat. In early December there had been some U boat activety in the Straits so four trawlers were detailed to do a sweep, Lady Shirley and St Nectan were two of these trawlers. At 3.45 am on Dec 11th Lieutenant Osborne came on watch on the St Nectan, he looked across at Lady Shirly who was about half a mile off on station, a sudden rain squall descended the two trawlers lasting for approximately 25 minutes, when it cleared Lieutenant Osborne looked again at lady Shirley at 4.10 am, Lady Shirley had vanished. Nothing more was heared or seen of Lady Shirley, or her four officers and twenty nine men.. Although it is claimed that a U boat sunk Lady Shirley there is no evidence of this, one possibility surfaced in January 1942. Three trawlers moored in Gibralter, Erin, Little Hojo, and the Imperialist, the middle trawler of the three exploded, causing fire damage to the other two trawlers. It was found a time bomb had been placed on a depth charge on Erin, this had been carried out by a Spanish agent for the Germans. Could this have been done to the Lady Shirley.

 

IN REMEMBERANCE OF
JOHN MACLENNAN
DIED
AUGUST 30 1940
AGED 19
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
WILLIAM LESLIE PIZZEY
DIED
OCTOBER 04 1941
AGED 30
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN


IN REMEMBERANCE OF
RICHARD BANKS
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 21
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
PATRICK JAMES BARRETT
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 20
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SIGNALMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
IAN P BOUCANT - DSC
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

LIEUTENANT
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
GEORGE ALEXANDER BUSSEY - DSM
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
HMT LADY SHIRLEY
SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ARTHUR HENRY CALLAWAY - DSO
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 35
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
FREDERICL LAWRENCE DERRICK
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 23
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
FREDERICK EDWARD FRENCH - DSC
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 24
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SUB-LIEUTENANT
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
FREDERICK WILLIAM GOULD
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 31
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
WILLIAM HAMPTON
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 21
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
PATRICK . A . HAROLD HARDINGE- KATON
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 25
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

LIEUTENANT
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
KENNETH FRANCIS HIBBS
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
NEVILLE CECIL LOADER
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 26
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
IAN ROBERT McCREADY - DSM
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 30
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ALBERT MILNE - DSM
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 24
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
NORMAN MITCHELL
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 22
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
JOHN MURDOCH
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 21
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
SAMSON RANSLEY
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 25
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ROBERT KEAY SCOTT
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 25
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
HENRY SOADY
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 27
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

LEADING COOK
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
JOHN SISNEY TERRENCE STEELE
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 36
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ROBERT HENRY STEPHENSON
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 33
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

ENGINEMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
WILLIAM TALBOT
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 24
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
EDWIN JAMES WHITE
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 26
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

ORDINARY SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
DANIEL WHITEHEAD
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 25
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
DONALD HENRY WICKS
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 24
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ALBERT EDWARD WILCOX
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 32
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

STOKER
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
GEORGE ALEXANDER WYATT
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 37
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

CHIEF ENGINEMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
GEORGE WILLIAM DIMBYLOW
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SIGNALMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
ALEXANDER JOHN LUMSDEN
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
JOHN MACAULEY
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
WILLIAM HENRY MACKRILL- DSM
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

SEAMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
EDWARD EVAN WILLIAM THOMAS
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

ORDINARY SIGNALMAN
IN REMEMBERANCE OF
JAMES RENDER PORTEOUS
DIED
DECEMBER 11 1941
AGED 24
HMT LADY SHIRLEY

ORDINARY TELEGRAPHIST

 

Previous War Service Crewmen before loss
       
Sub Lieutenant   WALLET - ALAN Posted to desk job in Gibralter after U 111 capture
       
Seaman   BLOWERS - ? Injured during U 111 Action
    WINDSOR - WILLIAM Distinguished Service Medal
    HALCROW - SIDNEY Conspicuous Gallantry Medal :
    McINNENEY - ANDREW Distinguished Service Medal
    HARTLEY - WILLIAM Hull man
       
Signalman   NEVILLE - WILSON  
    WARBRICK - JAMES - HENRY  
       
Stoker   SUMMERS - RONALD Mentioned In Despatches
       

 

The Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant Commander Callaway RANVR

The Distinguished Service Cross

Lieutenat Ian Penn Boucant R.A.N.V.R H.M.T Lady Shirley

Temporary Sub - Lieutenant Frederick Edward French R.N.R Lady Shirley

The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal :

Seaman Sidney Halcrow LT/JX 181736 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Who was so badly wounded that he was ordered to go below, but stood to his gun till the action was over. When he fainted

The Distinguished Service Medal

Leading Seaman William Henry Mackrill, LT/X.IQ533A H.M.T Lady Shirley.

Seaman George Alexander Bussey LT/JX.227388 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Seaman Albert Milne LT/JX.241157 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Seaman William Windsor LT/JX.i87257 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Stoker Ian Robert McCready LT/KX. 115433 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Seaman Andrew Mclnenny, LT/JX. 186675, H.M.T. Lady Shirley.

Mentioned In Despatches ( Posthumous )

Seaman Leslie William Pizzey LT/JX.174714 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Mentioned In Despatches

Chief Engineman George Wyatt LT/KX.98I55 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Seaman Kenneth Francis Hibbs LT/JX.242731, H.M.T. Lady Shirley.

Seaman Andrew McInenny LT/JX. 186675, H.M.T Lady Shirley

Ordinary Signalman James Henry Warbrick P/JX.26oi22 H.M.T Lady Shirley

Stoker Ronald Summers LT/KX. 124754 H.M.T Lady Shirley

The KING has been graciously pleased .to
Approve that the following be Mentioned, in
recognition of distinguished services rendered
.during the successful action of H.M. Trawler
" Lady Shirley " against a U-boat on the 4th
•October, 1941:

No. 1899813 FITTALL H. J. , Corporal Corps of Royal Engineers.