Nigel Hubert George Austen DSO, RN
| Born | 19 Sep 1910 | Thirsk | |
| Died | 13 Dec 2001 | (91) |
| Ranks
Retired: 7 Jan 1960 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Nigel Hubert George Austen, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Hasty (H 24) | Lt. | Destroyer | Dec 1941 | 15 Jun 1942 |
| HMS Orwell (G 98) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 18 Aug 1942 | Jan 1943 |
Career information
Captain N.H.G. Austin, DSO was captain for HMS Duchess (a Daring class Destroyer [ D154 ]) from 21st February 1956 to 27th August 1957.Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Hasty (H 24)
6 Dec 1941
The destroyers HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria at 0630B/6 to patrol off Derna during the night of 6/7 December 1941 and then proceed to Malta where they arrived around 0915B/8.
Around 1315B/6, the light cruisers HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN), HMS Galatea (Capt. E.W.B. Sim, RN), AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria to make rendezvous with the transport HMS Breconshire (9776 GRT, built 1939) which was coming from Malta having departed there around 1700B/5 escorted by the destroyers HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN) and HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN). To cover these ships the light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O’Coner, RN) and destroyer HMS Lively (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) had departed Malta around 2000B/5 and joined with HMS Breconshire, HMS Kimberley and HMS Kingston around 0800B/6.
Around 0700B/7, HMS Hobart, HMS Galatea, HMS Carlisle, HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur joined HMS Kingston and HMS Kimberley to escort HMS Breconshire to Alexandria where they arrived around 0445B/8. HMS Ajax, HMS Neptune and HMS Lively then set course to return to Malta where they arrived around 0400B/8.
Later on the 7th both forces were attacked by enemy aircraft several times but no damage was caused. (1)
23 Dec 1941 (position 32.15, 25.19)
German U-boat U-79 was sunk in the Mediterranean north of Sollum, in position 32°15'N, 25°19'E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Hasty (Lt. N.H.G. Austen, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN).
Sources
- ADM 53/115217 + ADM 199/415
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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