John Travis Beaufoy Birch DSO, DSC, RN
| Born | 14 Jul 1910 |
| Ranks
Retired: 2 Aug 1954 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for John Travis Beaufoy Birch, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Hurworth (L 28) | Lt. | Escort destroyer | 18 Aug 1941 | 24 Mar 1943 |
| HMS Kelvin (F 37) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 24 Mar 1943 | mid 1943 |
| HMS Urchin (ii) (R 99) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 9 Aug 1943 | 28 Jun 1944 |
| HMS St. Kitts (R 18) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 31 Jul 1945 |
Career information
John Travis Beaufoy Birch was born on 14 July 1910 to John Kenneth Beaufoy Birch and Janet Elizabeth Clay
Events related to this officer
Escort destroyer HMS Hurworth (L 28)
30 Oct 1942 (position 32.30, 33.00)
German U-boat U-559 was sunk in the Mediterranean north-east of Port Said, in position 32°30'N, 33°00'E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Lt. W. Scott, DSC, RN) and the British escort destroyers HMS Dulverton (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Petch, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), after being located by a British Vickers Wellesley aircraft (47 Sqn RAF/F).
Destroyer HMS Kelvin (F 37)
24 Mar 1943
Convoy XT 8.
This convoy departed Alexandria on 24 March 1943 and arrived at Tripoli on 28 March 1943.
This convoy was made up of the following ships; Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915) and Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912).
The convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Isis (Lt.Cdr. D.R. Mitchell, RN).
28 Mar 1943
Convoy TX 5.
This convoy departed Tripoli on 28 March 1943 and arrived at Malta on 29 March 1943.
This convoy was made up of the following ships; Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915) and Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912).
The convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Isis (Lt.Cdr. D.R. Mitchell, RN).
[These ships had arrived at Tripoli earlier this day as convoy XT 8, they must have discharged their cargo, or part of their cargo, rather quickly ?!.]
30 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy ME 21.
This convoy departed Malta on 30 March 1943 and arrived at Alexandria on 3 April 1943.
This convoy was made up of the following ships; Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915) and Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912).
The convoy was escorted on depature from Malta by the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Isis (Lt.Cdr. D.R. Mitchell, RN).
During the passage the destroyers HMS Nubian and HMS Kelvin were detached to Benghazi where they arrived on April, 1st.
1 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Benghazi. They embarked troops and departed for Tripoli later the same day.
2 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Tripoli. After disembarking the troops they departed for Malta.
3 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta.
4 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The fast minelayer HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, RN) departed Malta to lay a minefield in the Sicilian Channel during the night of 4/5 April 1943.
During this minelaying operation cover was provided by the destroyers HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN).
5 Apr 1943
Having completed laying the minefield HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, RN) returned to Malta at 0830/5.
The two destroyers that provided cover during her minelay; HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) remained at sea.
In the afternoon the light cruiser HMS Cleopatra (Capt. J.F. Stevens, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.J. Power, CB, CVO, RN) proceeded to sea with the destroyer HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN). At sea they were joined by the destroyers HMS Pakenham (Cdr. B. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN), HMS Paladin and Kelvin. They then carried out exercises during the night. All ships returned to harbour shortly after mindnight on the 5th. (1)
6 Apr 1943
The fast minelayer HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, RN) departed Malta to lay a minefield in the Sicilian Channel during the night of 6/7 April 1943.
During this minelaying operation cover was provided by the destroyers HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN).
7 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The fast minelayer HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, RN), HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) returned to Malta.
Sources
- ADM 53/117238
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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