HMS Serapis (G94)

I've decided to write a web page dedicated to the world war 2 destroyer HMS Serapis. If you are reading this and know something about this ship or someone who served on her then please email me at: mark@fragrantsword.com

For more images taken from HMS Serapis have a look at my gallery

I have searched the Internet for some information on this ship and I haven't found too much. What I have found so far follows.

HMS Serapis was an S class destroyer G94. It was built in Scotland by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co in Greenock. It was laid down (whatever that means) 14th August 1941, Launched 25 March 1943 and commisioned 23 December 1943. In 1945 she was transferred to the Netherlands and renamed Piet Hein. She was scrapped in June 1962.

Convoyweb.org says that Serapis Sailed in JW-57 + JW-58 + JW-61A + JW-63 + JW-64 + RA-57 + RA-58 + RA-61A + RA-63 + RA-64 convoys.

Convoy	Departed	Arrived
JW.57	Liverpool 20 February 1944	Kola Inlet 28 February 1944
RA.57	Kola Inlet 2 March 1944	Loch Ewe 10 March 1944
JW.58	Liverpool 27 March 1944	Kola Inlet 4 April 1944
RA.58	Kola Inlet 7 April 1944	Loch Ewe 14 April 1944
JW.61A	Liverpool 31 October 1944	Murmansk 6 November 1944
RA.61A	Kola Inlet 11 November 1944	Loch Ewe 17 November 1944
JW.63	Loch Ewe 30 December 1944	Kola Inlet 8 January 1945
RA.63	Kola Inlet 11 January 1945	Loch Ewe 21 January 1945
JW.64	Clyde 3 February 1945	Kola Inlet 15 February 1945
RA.64	Kola Inlet 17 February 1945	Loch Ewe 28 February 1945

In the mean time she was at the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. May 8th 1945 VE day August 14 1945 VJ day

There is an acknowledgment to Fred Hampson ex HMS SERAPIS on eurosurf.com

David Cottrell mentions HMS Serapis in his D-Day memoirs on David Cottrell

bbc reported that in hour 19 there was a German attack at Longueval, on the eastern flank of Sword beach, which was kept at bay by gun fire from the destroyer HMS Serapis.

In the roll of honour on Roll of honour there is the following entry: John Roger HOBART. Able Seaman C/JX 408807. H.M.S. Serapis, Royal Navy. Died on 17th December 1944. Aged 19. Son of Harry and Ada Ella Hobart, of Holt. Buried: Holt Burial Ground. Ref. Grave A. 239.

At the national archives in Kew there is a document which lists: Awards to 40 officers and men of HM Ships Chaser, Milne, Obedient, Onslaught and Serapis for service in defence of Convoys RA 57 and JW 57 to North Russia Feb-Mar 1944 (Operation FX) 1944 Piece details: ADM 1/29537 found at National Archives

Here is a list of names that I found on the back of a photograph. I assume they were part of the crew:
Ellis, Parker, Stockdale, Humphries, Hewitt, Seymour joe, Brooks, Daley, B-Hovell, Swift, McLoed?, Sunderland, Maclean 2, Messenger, Flanders?, Dennison, Wright, Pigott, Emslie, Boggiss, Clark, Gale, Banter, Murray, Colquhson?, King, Turner, Latto, Patchett 4, Hampson, Sargent.

A picture of some of the crew

Ready for action?