HMS Pretoria Castle

During her second voyage she damaged her rudder when she grounded in Delagoa Bay necessitating repairs at Prince Edward Dock, Durban.

On completion of that voyage she was requisitioned for use as an Armed Merchant Cruiser being fitted with eight 6 inch guns together with AA and machine guns.

With a black hull and buff upper works and funnel she was commissioned in the November and based at Freetown in Sierra Leone.

From 1943 to 1945 as Escort/Trainer carrier

Being rebuilt as Aircraft Carrier by Swan Hunter

Capt R Bell-Davies RN

VC CB DSO AFC

Supermarine Seafire landing on HMS Pretoria Castle

The naval version of the Spitfire

Fairey Baracudda

being launched from HMS Pretoria Castle

Fairey Firefly ready for stowing

In November 1944 seen from the air

Small watercolour of Pretoria Castle in 3 Guises

Taken up by the Admiralty and converted first to an Armed Merchant Cruiser, and later to an Escort Carrier.

She spent most of her time as the Trials Carrier for development of Naval Aircraft and flight deck operations.

She was returned to her original configuration and re named Warwick Castle.

Artist - Jim Rae

HMS Pretoria Castle - Art Gallery

Picture owned by The Imperial War Museum

Artist - Stephen Bone

No Room for Error by Stephen West

Capt Eric (Winkle) Brown launches his Seafire TM379, from the deck of the trials carrier HMS Pretoria Castle in July 1945.

Unlike other carriers, those used for trials, usually had their decks clear of other aircraft.

On this day, once the aircraft is launched the carrier’s crew streamed onto the deck to check the surface and clear anything that may obstruct a landing.

TM379, was the first prototype, Seafire Mk 45 and was fitted with a Rotol contra prop, modified fin, rudder and tail hook.

Captains

From

E J Shelley RN

Captain

9/1939

2/1941

A V Hemming RN

Captain

3/1941

3/1943

Armed Merchant Cruiser 1940 - 1942

Convoy No.

Naval Escorts

Merchant Vessels

Date

Left

For

SLF 15

Pretoria Castle

Salopian

Autolycus

Port Huron

Otazo

Clan MacTavish

Norman Star

Port Adelaide

Northumberland

City of Winchester

6 January

23 January

Freetown

Dakar

Freetown

SL 19

Pretoria Castle

Mooltan

McGregor Laird

Clan MacWhirter

Darlington Court

Marionga

Lagosian

Leonian

Hermiston

Westbury

Cape St Andrew

Cape Clear

Hollinside

St Elwyn

Bradburn

St Rosario

Kumasian

Harperley

Robert L Holt

Matadian

King John

Allybryn

1 February

25 February

Freetown

Dakar

Freetown

SL 23

Pretoria Castle

Jervis Bay

Deidi

Urbino

Ilvington Court

Wearwood

Viking Star

Sacramento Valley

Gaelic Star

Marton

Treminnara

Cocherane

Bereby

Ernebank

5 March

19 March

Freetown

Left convoy

Plymouth

Belfast

SL 29

Pretoria Castle

Dilwara

Devonshire

Lancashire

Cornwall

Orion

Reina del Pacifica

City of Pittsburg

AlbionStar

Natia

Observer

Somme

Ethiopian

Southern Express

Tysa

Dulwich

Marylin

Kingsbury

Jonathon C Holt

Ousebridge

Harbledown

Errington Court

Sven Foyn

Innerton

Oakworth

Bonheur

10 April

Belfast

Dakar

Patrol

Pretoria Castle

19 April

23 April

9 May

17 May

26 May

10 June

12 June

14 June

17 June

2 July

13 July

Dakar

Freetown

Plymouth

Dakar

Freetown

Dakar

Ordered to Westmore

Towing Westmore

Left Westmore

Montevideo

Rio De Janeiro

Freetown

Plymouth

Dakar

Freetown

Dakar

Rendevous

Montevideo

Rio de Janeiro

Freetown

4 Jun 1940

The troopships Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935) and Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931) departed Takoradi. At sea they joined their escort, the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN).

The transports Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936) and Lancashire (British, 9445 GRT, built 1917) and their escort, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN), departed Lagos.

Both groups were to proceed to position 00°50'N, 03°30'E where they were to rendez-vous at 0800/5 after which HMS Cornwall with the troopships and transports would set course to Capetown while HMS Pretoria Castle was to proceed to Dakar. (1)

SLF 41

Pretoria Castle

Bulolo

Colytto

Pacific Star

Loch Ranza

Contractor

Margalaw

British Fortune

Tancred

Brunswick

Linge

Zouave

Dagoma

Bengkalis

Clan MacBrayne

Caithness

Johilla

Driebergan

Baron Douglas

City of Johannesburg

City of Worcester

Comliebank

Panaghis

City of Manilla

Algoras

Nigerian

Buenos Aires

Boren

Leto

Tunisia

City of Birmingham

City of Ripon

Stad Amsterdam

Lagosian

Norman Star

King Neptune

Madjerda

St Helena

Aalsum

Alpherat

23 July

15 September

Freetown

Belfast

Greenock

SL 50

Pretoria Castle

Jonathon Holt

Clan MacQuarrie

St Elwyn

St Merriel

Barrister

Vivi

Umona

Napier Star

Adviser

Robert Maersk

Manelaus

Singkep

Amerika

Maridal

Beduin

Pegasus

Nela

British Resource

British Dominion

Salamis

Llangollen

King William

King Stephen

British Splendour

Kyria-Koula

Wangi-Wangi

3 October

Freetown

WS 4A & C

Pretoria Castle

Cornwall

Stirling Castle

Scythia

Clan Lamont

Clan Chattan

Warwick Castle

Highland Monarch

City of Manchester

Almanzora

Martland

Delius

Dunedin Star

Malancha

Port Wyndham

17 November

29 November

3 December

Freetown

Cape Town

Left convoy off Durban

Cape Town

Escort with Scythia

Cape Town

Patrol

Pretoria Castle

12 December

14 December

19 December

29 December

Cape Town

Simonstown

St Helena

Simonstown

St Helena

Hunt Admiral Scheer

Freetown

Convoy WS 4A.

This convoy departed Liverpool / the Clyde on 1 / 2 November 1940 for the far east.

The Liverpool section of the convoy departed Liverpool on 1 November and was made up of the following troopships / transports; Abosso (British, 11330 GRT, built 1935), Akaroa (British, 15130 GRT, built 1914), City of Manchester (British, 8917 GRT, built 1935), Duchess of Richmond (British, 22022 GRT, built 1928), Dunedin Star (British, 11168 GRT, built 1936), Malancha (British, 8124 GRT, built 1937), Scythia (British, 19761 GRT, built 1920) and Stirling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936).

From the Bristol Channel three ships joined this convoy, these were; Delius (British, 6065 GRT, built 1937), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939) and Port Wyndham (British, 11005 GRT, built 1937).

It was being escorted by the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) and ORP Garland (Lt.Cdr. K.F. Namiesniowski). This last destroyer had been escorting the three ships that came from the Bristol Channel.

The Clyde section of the convoy departed the Clyde on 2 November was made up of the following troopships / transports;

Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Clan Lamont (British, 7250 GRT, built 1935), Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928) and Warwick Castle (British, 20107 GRT, built 1930).

They were escort by the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN), HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Wright, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, RN).

The convoy merged around 1000/2 in position 55°45'N, 07°21'W.

HMS Bulldog and ORP Garland left the convoy around 1200/3 in position 54°25'N, 14°39'W to go to the aid of the troopship Windsor Castle which had been damaged by German aircraft bombs in position 54°12'N, 13°18'W.

HMS Cairo left the convoy at 1830/3 in position 54°12'N, 16°13'W.

HMS Hesperus and HMS Hurricane left the convoy around 1900/3 to go to the aid of the torpedoed armed merchant cruiser HMS Laurentic.

HMS Beagle, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena parted company with the convoy at 0300/4 in position 52°30'N, 19°00'W.

HMCS Ottawa and HMS Harvester parted company with the convoy at 1600/4 in position 52°30'N, 22°25'W.

At 0310/5 the Duchess of Richmond parted company with the convoy in position 52°10'N, 26°05'E to proceed to her destination independently.

At 0630/9 the Akaroa parted company with the convoy in position 32°44'N, 22°58'W to proceed to Trinidad.

At 0855/11 the Almanzora, Abosso, City of Manchester, Darius, Malancha and Martland were detached ('slow' group) were detached in position 23°47'N, 22°15'W under the escort of the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) which had just joined the convoy.

The 'fast' section of the convoy arrived at Freetown on 14 November escorted by HMS Cornwall.

The 'slow' section of the convoy arrived at Freetown on 15 November escorted by HMS Pretoria Castle.

----------------------------------------------------

The convoy, now made up of troopships / transports Almanzora, City of Manchester, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Delius, Dunedin Star, Highland Monarch, Malancha, Martand, Port Wyndham, Scythia, Stirling Castle and Warwick Castle, departed Freetown for South Africa around 1630 hours on 17 November 1940.

They were escorted by HMS Cornwall and HMS Pretoria Castle.

At 0805 hours on 26 November the Scythia and Warwick Castle parted company with the convoy in position 22°55'S, 09°03'E to proceed to Capetown. They were escorted by HMS Pretoria Castle.

These ships arrived off Capetown on 29 October. The troopships both entered the harbour but Scythia only briefly to take on board water.

HMS Pretoria Castle rejoined to convoy around 1200 hours on 29 November. Scythia rejoined about 45 minutes later.

At 1500 hours on 2 December, while in position 32°15'S, 29°35'E, the Almanzora, City of Manchester, Delius, Malancha and Martand were left astern to enable to other ships to arrive at Durban early the next day. HMS Pretoria Castle remained with these five ships while HMS Cornwall went ahead with the others.

Pretoria Castle arrived with the five ships that had split off at Durban some hours after the others. The convoy then entered harbour while HMS Pretoria Castle set course for Capetown.

----------------------------------------------------

The convoy, now made up of troopships / transports City of Manchester, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Delius, Dunedin Star, Highland Monarch, Malancha, Martand, Port Wyndham and Stirling Castle, departed Durban for Aden around 1030 hours on 5 December 1940.

There was one more ships in the convoy, this was the troopship Dunera (11162 GRT, built 1937) who had taken over the troops of the Scythia and took her place in the convoy.

Escort was once again HMS Cornwall but she was now with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. F.E. Getting, RAN).

----------------------------------------------------

In the morning of 18 December 1940 the convoy arrived near Aden and was transferred to the Red Sea escort. HMS Cornwall and HMS Kanimbla parted company with the convoy at 0925/18 in position 11°53'N, 45°08'E. The then proceeded to Aden where they arrived around 1300/18.

The Red Sea escort joined the convoy as follows; sloops HMIS Indus (Cdr. E.G.G. Hunt, RIN) and HMAS Yarra (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Harrington, RAN) joined the convoy at 0730/18 in position 11°53'N, 45°34'E.

Light cruiser HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN) joined at 0945/18 in position 11°55'N, 45°03'E.

And the last ship to join, the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) joined at 1023/18 in position 11°57'N, 44°56'E.

Two more troopships / transports joined the convoy at 1130/18 in position 12°02'N, 44°45'E. These were the City of Agra (British, 6361 GRT, built 1936) and Melbourne Star (British, 11076 GRT, built 1936).

HMS Carlisle parted company with the convoy at 1650/20 in position 20°33'N, 38°45'E.

HMIS Indus and HMAS Yarra parted company with the convoy at 1730/20 in position 20°42'N, 38°41'E.

At 1200/21, the Dunedin Star, Melbourne Star and Stirling Castle, escorted by HMS Kingston proceeded ahead. They arrived at Suez at 1500/22.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Suez at 0700/23 escorted by HMAS Perth. (2)

19 Dec 1940

HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel. They departed to reume patrol in the morning of the 20th. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) was now also with them. They were now to patrol much further to the West as the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer had captured the British merchant vessel Duquesa (8651 GRT, built 1918) in position 00°57'N, 22°42'W on the 18th. (3)

28 Dec 1940

HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) and HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel. They departed to resume patrol the following day. (4)

31 Jan 1941

HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Plymouth at 1912 hours. They made rendez-vous around 1500/1 with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN) which came from Belfast and was to proceed to Portsmouth.

2 Feb 1941

HMS Pretoria Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.J. Shelly, RN), HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) arrived at Portsmouth.

The destroyers departed Portsmouth later the same day for Plymouth

1940

Convoy No.	Naval Escorts	Merchant Vessels		Date	Left	For
SL 62	Pretoria Castle	Adda Clan MacIver Clan Murdoch Siris Austvard Olympier Vancourver Seapool Clan Colquhoun Randfontein Brabant Gdynia Clan MacDougall Nestor Raranga Port Caroline	Athel Regent Corinaldo Mantola Lafian City of Christiana Historian Jonathon Holt Marylyn Trevalgan Tordene Thermistocles Bayano Borgland Armdale Rowanbank Tyre	31 January	Belfast	Southampton
WS 8A	Pretoria Castle Repulse	Strathaird Empress of Russia Dominion Monarch Empire Song New Zealand Star Clan Campbell Abbeykerk	Clan Chattan Reina del Pacifico Sobieski Highland Chieftain Empress of Asia Clan Lamont Aronda	26 April 11 May 19 May	Greenock Freetown Captured Lt St Loubert Bie	Freetown Durban
Convoy WS 8A This convoy departed the Clyde on 26 April 1941 for various ports in the Far East and Mediterranean (see below). The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels and troop transports; Abbekerk (Dutch, 7889 GRT, built 1939), Aronda (British, 8328 GRT, built 1941), Clan Campbell (British, 7255 GRT, built 1937), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Clan Lamont (British, 7250 GRT, built 1939), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), Empire Song (British, 9228 GRT, built 1940), Empress of Asia (British, 16909 GRT, built 1913), Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913), Highland Chieftain (British, 14135 GRT, built 1929), New Zealand Star (British, 12436 GRT, built 1935), Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931), Sobieski (Polish, 11030 GRT, built 1939) and Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932). The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) also took passage in the convoy. On departure from the Clyde the convoy was escorted by the battlecruiser HMS Repulse (Capt. W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), light cruiser HMS Naiad (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.L.S. King, CB, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, DSC, RN) and HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, RN), HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Legion (Cdr. R.F. Jessel, RN), HMS Beagle, (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN), HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, OBE, RN), HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), ORP Piorun (Cdr. E.J.S. Plawski) and the escort destroyer HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN). In the morning of the 29th HMS Beagle and HMS Eridge were detached to join the escort of convoy SL 71. Shortly afterwards HMS Hurricane was detached to search for the survivors of the liner City of Nagpur that had been torpedoed and sunk earlier that day. On 30 April, at 0400 hours, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Saguaenay, HMS Legion and ORP Piorun parted company. On 2 May the light cruiser HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined shortly after noon. HMS Naiad was then detached and proceeded to Gibraltar where she arrived around 0900/4. Earlier that morning HMS Repulse, HMS Harvester, HMS Havelock and HMS Hesperus had parted company with the convoy taking the transports Clan Campbell, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Empire Song and New Zealand Star with them to Gibraltar. The remainder of the convoy continued southwards. On 5 May the destroyers HMS Duncan (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) and HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN) joined followed on 6 May by two more destroyers; HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton, DSC, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN). The convoy arrived at Freetown on 9 May. The convoy departed Freetown on 14 May having been joined by the Imperial Star (British, 12427 GRT, built 1934). The Highland Chieftain was unable to depart on the 14th. She sailed one day later to overtake the convoy. She was being escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cicilia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN). On leaving Freetown A/S protection was given by the destroyers Highlander, HMS Duncan, HMS Boreas and HMS Wishart until 16 May. HMS Mauritius was relieved by HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) on 24 May. The convoy arrived at Durban on 27 May minus the Empress of Asia, Imperial Star and Strathaird that had been detached to Capetown on the 24th. The Strathaird departed Capetown on the 25th to rejoin the convoy off Durban. The remainder of the convoy arrived at Durban on 27 May escorted by HMS Hawkins. On 31 May the Abbekerk, Aronda, Empress of Russia, Sobieski and Strathaird departed Durban escorted by HMS Hawkins. They arrived at Aden on 10 June after which the troopships / transports proceeded to Suez independently. 18 May 1941 At 0918N/18, while in position 21°31'S, 05°56'W, HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) sighted a merchant vessel ahead which turned out to be the Vichy-French Lieutenant St.Loubert Bie (5878 GRT, built 1911) en route from France to Indo-China. The French ship is ordered to stop and a round had to be fired across her bow to make her do so. She was then boarded and placed under armed guard. Capt. Aylmer decided to escort the ship to Freetown. Later the same day HMS Newcastle was ordered to take the Vichy ship to Simonstown. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) was ordered to make rendezvous with HMS Newcastle and take over the escort of the Vichy ship. Around 0640N/19, the Vichy ship was turned over to HMS Pretoria Castle in position 22°18'S, 04°15'W. HMS Newcastle then set course to proceed to a rendezvous with HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Commodore F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) to take over from her in the South America Division. (5) 17 Jun 1941 The Vichy French merchant Desirade (9645 GRT) was seized by HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt A.V. Hemming, RN) east of the Antilles.
Patrol	Pretoria Castle			29 May 4 June 2 June 29 June 3 July 10 July 11 July 27 July 4 September 21 September 4 October 27 October 13 December 22 December	Durban Simonstown Walvis Bay Walvis Bay Cape Town Simonstown Cape Town Freetown Freetown Capetown Freetown Freetown Belfast Greenock	Simonstown Patrol Patrol Patrol Simonstown Cape Town Freetown Patrol Cape Town Freetown Patrol Belfast Greenock Freetown

1941

Convoy No.

Naval Escorts

Merchant Vessels

Date

Left

For

Patrol

Pretoria Castle

7 January

20 January

17 March

28 March

20 April

7 May

24 May

9 June

Freetown

Bathurst

Freetown

Patrol with Canton

Patrol then Bathurst

Patrol then Freetown

Patrol

Escort Oronsay to UK

1942

Aircraft Carrier 1943 - 1946

Captains	From	To
R Bell-Davies RN Captain	3/1943	6/1944
C John RN Captain	7/1944	5/1945
G C Dickens RN Captain	5/1945	12/1945

HMS Pretoria Castle on patrol in the North Atlantic in August 1941

Career Summary

Rebuilt at Swan Hunter

Career Summary

In 1942 she was replaced by one of the new light cruisers and sold to the Admiralty for conversion into an aircraft carrier.

With fifteen aircraft and equipped with one catapult she was commissioned on 18th March 1943 but was used purely for training purposes. The conversion took place at Swan Hunters on the Tyne.

She was re-purchased by Union-Castle in January 1946 and rebuilt to her original specification but, because a new mail ship was under construction with Pretoria Castle as her designated name, she was renamed Warwick Castle.

HMS Pretoria Castle

Pennant F61

Vessel

Built

Tonnage

Official No

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

Screws

HMS Pretoria Castle

1939