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- HMS Aurora during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

HMS Aurora



   HMS Aurora was an Arethusa-class light cruiser, built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched on the 20 August 1936. She served with the Home Fleet in 1939 as part of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, escorting convoys to Scandinavia and joining the hunt for Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. In July and August 1941 she was involved in operations to Spitsbergen and Bear Island (operation Gauntlet) as part of Force "K" with the Home Fleet. In autumn 1941 she was transferred to the Mediterranean and arrived in Malta on the 21st of October 1941 to join a new Force "K". She saw action in the Battle of the Duisburg Convoy. Aurora was badly damaged by on the 19th of December 1941, when teh ships of Force K sailed into a newly laid Italina Minefield. Neptune and Kandahar were sunk and Penelope was also damaged. HMS Aurora was patched up at Malta then sailed home on 29 March 1942 for repairs at Liverpool.

Returning to the Mediterranean she joined Force "H", and in November joined the Centre Task Force for the Landings in North Africa, Operation Torch. In December she was part of Force "Q" at Bône against the Axis convoys between Trapani and Tunis. Aurora took part in the invasion of Sicily and the Salerno landings. She moved to the Aegean in October 1943 where she was damaged by bombs on the 30th of October, and withdrew to Taranto for repairs which were completed in April 1944. In August 1944 she supported the landings in the south of France, then assisted in the liberation of Athens.

HMS Aurora was sold on the 19th of May 1948 to the Chinese Navy and was renamed Chung King. She later defected to the Communists and was renamed Tchoung King. In March 1949 she was sunk in Taku harbour by Nationalist aircraft but was later salvaged.

 

15th Apr 1940 On the Move

16th Apr 1940 Air Raid

21st Apr 1940 Information

25th Apr 1940 Defences

27th Apr 1940 Recce

27th Apr 1940 Recce and gun practice

28th Apr 1940 Submarines & Smoke

4th May 1940 Ships bombed at Narvik

7th May 1940 Recce

10th May 1940 Operation

24th Apr 1941 Search

5th July 1943 Convoy Duty

10th July 1943 Protection

18th Aug 1944 Operations


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have sailed in

HMS Aurora

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Aitkin Mathew. Leading Coder
  • Armstrong John. Art.
  • Baxter Albert Thomas. PO.
  • Beck Robert. Marine. (d.7th May 1940)
  • Blowe DSM Arthur John. CPO
  • Bray Philip. PO
  • Burchell Francis Claude. Able Sea.
  • Coles Peter Henry.
  • Cruickshank Alexander. PO.
  • Derrick John Victor. Marine (d.30th Oct 1943)
  • Drury DSM Arthur Burton. Able Sea.
  • Garland Maurice Edgar. Able Sea.
  • Garrett Harry Spencer. CPO.
  • Grove Alfred John. LSto.
  • Hodcroft Kenneth.
  • Hogg Henry. Able Sea.
  • Instone MID. Valentine Leonard Charles. CPO
  • Jenkins John.
  • Jones Edison Thomas. Gnr.
  • Leigh William Henry. PO.
  • Lewis William Henry. Able Sea.
  • Marriott George.
  • McMahon John Stephen . Seaman
  • Morrison Jimmy. Sea.
  • Nield Joseph Harold. Sub.Lt.Writer.
  • Picton George. Able Sea.
  • Porter John Robert. Marine
  • Price Norman Luther.
  • Simpson George. Sto
  • Strike Ronnie.
  • Taylor George Frederick. Gnr.
  • Williams John Henry. AB.
  • Wright MID. Lionel Victor. Mrn.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of HMS Aurora from other sources.



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Want to know more about HMS Aurora?


There are:15 items tagged HMS Aurora available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Ronnie Strike Aurora Penelope Spartan

I believe my father, Ronnie Strike, who was a Radio Office "sparkie" sailed and was sunk on Aurora. Unfortunately he now has Alzheimer's. I can't be sure, but I believe he once told me that he sailed on: Aurora, Penelope, Spartan and (I think) one of the "Tonipandy Class." Does anyone know of anyway I can confirm this? Sometimes he can talk quite lucidly of his Royal Navy days.

Ron Strike



CPO Valentine Leonard Charles Instone MID. HMS Aurora

CPO Valentine Instone was a Telegraphist in HMS Aurora. He was twice mentioned in despatches.

Nicholas Instone



Sea. Jimmy "Lofty" Morrison HMS Aurora

Jimmy Morrison served in HMS Aurora. I have photo of King George on board.




Able Sea. Francis Claude Burchell Radar HMS Aurora

Frank Burchell, left and friend on HMS Spartan

Ordinary Seaman Frank Burchell survived the sinking of HMS Spartan at Anzio on 29th of January 1944. He joined HMS Aurora at Taranto, serving as Able Seaman from 20th of March 1944 to 9th of July 1945.

Alan King



Marine. Robert Beck HMS Aurora (d.7th May 1940)

My uncle Robert Beck died at age 19. A Royal Marine serving on HMS Aurora. He died on the 7th of May 1940 off the Norweigian coast on HMS Aurora.

Garry Swan



PO Philip "Donkey" Bray HMS Aurora

Philip Bray served in HMS Aurora during the Northern Campaign and in the Mediterranean 'K' force. He was onboard for the Druisberg incident and also when Aurora hit the minefield. He left the ship on return to UK and became a commissioned Gunner (T) later serving in HMS Highlander. (I no longer have his records, they have been passed on to his grandson)

Brian Twyman



Seaman John Stephen McMahon HMS Aurora

My Father, John Mc Mahon, never liked talking about the war. He served on the HMS Aurora from 1941 until 1948. He did mention being on the ship and it being badly damaged and that he was in the cold water where he suffered later with a damaged heart and died at an early age in 1962.

Chris McMahon



LSto. Alfred John Grove HMS Aurora

One new years eve, I was on duty in the officer's mess when Lt. Moore brought me a massive glass of rum which he pressed on me as I was not allowed to drink on duty. He wished me happy new year. He later went on to become the famous actor Kenneth Moore. I would like it known that HMS Aurora was a happy ship.

Alfred Grove



Able Sea. Henry Hogg HMS Aurora

My father in law, Harry Hogg is 97 years old and served on the Aurora. He saw action in the war, and has great memories of when the Aurora was in dry dock in the United States.

Caroline Hogg



Kenneth Hodcroft HMS Aurora

My Granddad, Kenneth Hodcroft, fought on HMS Aurora during WW2 in the Med. We don't know much but he always said he could remember the screams of his friends trapped in the boiler room when the ship got torpedoed. He had to be dragged away by other crew as he was trying to wedge open the door but it was bent inwards so he couldn't. He then was rescued. He sadly died a while ago but I thought his bravery should be recorded here and wondered if anyone remembers being with him on HMS Aurora.

Heather Hodcroft







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