Splendid (Lieutenant I. L. McGeoch) had a short but glorious career in the later
stages of the Mediterranean war.
In her first patrol she had mixed fortune, sinking a destroyer, but missing two difficult
shots at U-boats.
After using up all her torpedoes, she came across a straggler from a convoy, damaged in an
air attack, and sank her by gunfire.
Her second patrol added another destroyer to her bag, and her third two supply ships and two anti-submarine vessels.
She followed this with three more supply ships, to bring her total up to 22,000 tons in four patrols, not counting the naval vessels.
Her fifth patrol brought her a large tanker of 10,000 tons, which was heavily escorted. The Splendid, in spite
of a flat calm sea and brilliant sunshine, was brought to within 600 yards of her target without being sighted by the escort.
Three torpedoes sent her to the bottom and the Splendid managed to evade the worst of the counter-attack and to live
for another day.
That day was not far distant, for only 48 hours later she sighted another tanker, this time of 3,000 tons. Another model
attack by McGeoch sank her.
During her next patrol, Splendid was spread on a line with the Sahib and the Unruffled,
21-Apr-43. It was on
the expected route of a convoy bound for Tunisia. The Splendid was the northernmost boat of the line. This, as it
happened, was the Splendid's last patrol and she was lost in the course of it.
South of Capri, Tyrrhenian Sea (c 40-30'N, 14-15'E) - Depth charged by the
German (ex-Greek) destroyer Hermes and forced to the surface. The crew
scuttled the boat and five Officers and 25 Ratings were picked up by the
destroyer. 18 men lost. Some casualties were caused by gunfire from the Hermes.
Men lost on Splendid:
BOULTON, Bernard, Telegraphist, D/SSX 34130
BRYANT, Leslie C, Petty Officer, P/J 114025
CROKER, Reginald J, Stoker 1c, D/KX 76748
FREEMAN, Fred, Able Seaman, D/JX 285923
GALLOWAY, Alexander F, Leading Telegraphist, D/JX 150818
GILLESPIE, Leslie, Act/Able Seaman, P/JX 275191
GOODWIN, Eric, Able Seaman, D/SSX 12992
HERBERT, Leslie W, Stoker, D/KX 138684
HODSON, William, Stoker 1c, C/KX 111345
KEMPTHORNE, Leslie R, Able Seaman, C/SSX 26446
LAWRENCE, Douglas, Leading Seaman, D/JX 142867
LEGASSICK, William, Signalman, C/JX 207619
MACKEN, Thomas, Stoker 1c, C/KX 95081
MOODY, James, Able Seaman, C/JX 155550
ORROM, Warren S, Petty Officer, C/J 113100
PILTON, Francis J, Able Seaman, D/SSX 22220
SAVILL, Kenneth A P, Able Seaman, C/JX 333132
SMITH, Leslie S, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, D/MX 66053
Tamar, as POW - JEFFS, Sidney H, Chief Engine Room Artificer, C/MX 46760
The Oerlikon gun on HMS/M Splendid. Not the most fearsome anti-aircraft weapon, but it could be off-putting
to inexperienced pilots. |
