HMS Whippingham and the Ist 9th Batallion

[horace]

Can anyone tell me what happened to The HMS Whippingham after it carried members of the First 9th Batallion from Dunkirk to England on 1 June 1940.

We would also like to hear from (or about) any others from that Batallion please.   
I am new in this forum - but doing it for Horace Jones - now 91 years old.
Thanks for any infroation you can provide.

[Wendi]

Hi "Friend of Horace" and Welcome, both to our forum 

I'll move your post over to the WW2 section where I'm sure one or two of the chaps can assist you with HMS Whippingham and the 9th!

Wendi 

[mack]

there was a paddle steamer by that name at dunkirk
the solent paddle steamer whippingham and her sister ship portsdown,evacuated nearly 4000 men from dunkirk,portsdown was mined off spitbank fort on 20th sept 1941,whippingham was later hired by the RN as a anti aircraft ship,serving from 1942 till march 1945.
she was returned to her roll as a paddle steamer after the war,and even in the early 1960s,was still being coaled by men using wheelbarrows

mack

[tonyrod]

HMS Paddle Minesweeper     HMS Whippingham
Requisitioned vessels from 1939 for coastal waters. From 235 tons to 825 tons.
Gun 1 X BR 3in 45cal 12pdr 20cwt QF HA Mark I Single BR 3in 45cal 12pdr 20cwt QF HA Mark I Single
1940 May 27 British Evacuation Operation Dynamo Dunkerque1940

Builders: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd 1930
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owner: Southern Railway Company, British Railways
Service dates: 1930 - 1963
Tonnage: Gross 825
link, http://www.history.inportsmouth.co.uk/events/ferries-ww2.htm

[horace]

Thanks very much for those responses - Horace is really chuffed.
Any information from or about others who were in the 1/9th Battalion and on the Whippinghan or reemer Horace Jones - would be much appreciated. 

[stephencorcoran]

Horace,

My Grandad served with the 1/9th Manchesters, though he was evacuated on the Gracie Fields, see my recent post for more information. Maybe they knew each other?
Cheers, Stephen

[mack]

the gracie fields was also converted to a minesweeper,after one successful trip to dunkirk,she was badly damaged by bombs,her crew were taken off by HMS pangbourne,who tried towing her back to england,but her rudder was jammed and she was taking on water,she sank on 30th may 1940.

she had the unique record of being the only ship,to collide with an airoplane at sea,she hit an RAF seaplane,in southampton water
launched by gracie fields,on 8-4-1936
her sister ship queen elizabeth,is now a floating restaurant at DUNKIRK

mack

[tonyrod]

 the gracie fields
 LARKIN N. {NORMAN]  - T/Lt.01.11.1939
 officer holding a temporary commission under T.124 agreements
 01.11.1939 - (04).1940
 Commanding Officer, HMS Gracie Fields (paddle minesweeper)

Gracie Fields, ship loss bombed 29 may 1940 sank 30 may

BRANSCOMBE, William H V, Leading Seaman, P/J 31071, killed

DAPONTE, Henry C, 3rd Engineer, T.124, MPK

GLOVER, Alexander J, Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK

GOLDING, James L, Assistant Cook, T.124 R/152075, killed

GORDON, Eric T, Wireman, P/MX 62480, killed

GRAINGE, Herbert, Able Seaman, P/SSX 21721, killed

HARRIS, Ernest B, Petty Officer, P/J 29154, killed

WHEELER, Leonard, Fireman, T.124, killed