Mentions:
1: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) It is a real honour and a fitting tribute to have secured a debate on HMS Dasher, 80 years to the day - Speech Link
2: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Many families of those who sadly passed away on HMS Dasher still have no clarity to this day. - Speech Link
3: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) :“What eventually spelled the end for HMS Dasher ship was its leaking petrol tanks. - Speech Link
4: James Heappey (CON - Wells) I therefore join her in remembering the crew of HMS Dasher. - Speech Link
Found: Lead Member: Robin Millar Answering Member: James Heappey (MoD) 27 March 2023 730 cc802 -8 HMS
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the last aircraft carrier was lost by the Royal Navy; and whether she had her airwing embarked.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Chronologically the last aircraft carrier lost by the Royal Navy was the Escort Carrier HMS DASHER which sank as a result of an internal explosion in the Clyde on 27 March 1943.
The aircraft embarked were Sea Hurricanes from 891 Naval Air Squadron and Swordfish from 816 Naval Air Squadron.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Hunt Class, (b) Sandown Class, (c) Scimtar Class, (d) Archer Class and (e) River Class ships the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has in service.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Royal Navy currently has 34 ships in service within the Classes requested. However, these are all based within the Royal Navy fleet rather than the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as requested in the right hon. Member's question.
Hunt Class - 6
HMS BROCKLESBY | HMS CATTISTOCK | HMS CHIDDINGFOLD |
HMS HURWORTH | HMS LEDBURY | HMS MIDDLETON |
Sandown Class - 5
HMS BANGOR | HMS GRIMSBY | HMS PEMBROKE |
HMS PENZANCE | HMS SHOREHAM |
|
Scimitar Class - 2
HMS SABRE | HMS SCIMITAR |
Archer Class - 13
HMS ARCHER | HMS BITER | HMS BLAZER |
HMS CHARGER | HMS DASHER | HMS EXAMPLE |
HMS EXPLORER | HMS EXPRESS | HMS PUNCHER |
HMS RAIDER | HMS RANGER | HMS TRACKER |
HMS TRUMPETER |
| |
River Class - 8
HMS TYNE | HMS MERSEY | HMS SEVERN |
HMS FORTH | HMS MEDWAY | HMS SPEY |
HMS TAMAR | HMS TRENT |
|
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 12 November (HL9797), whether CAB93/7 contains any records relating to the loss of HMS Dasher; whether (1) the Cabinet Office, or (2) the Prime Minister’s Office, hold any other records concerning HMS Dasher; and if so, whether any of these records are publicly available.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Cabinet Office (which includes the Prime Minister’s Office) does not hold any records on HMS Dasher or Operation Mincemeat. In line with standard practice, historic records are transferred to The National Archives. A number of files relating to both HMS Dasher and Operation Mincemeat are held by The National Archives, including under references CAB 154/66; CAB 154/112; CAB 79/60/18; CAB 79/60/20; CAB 79/60/24; CAB 79/60/26; CAB 79/60/27; and CAB 146/442.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 12 November (HL9797), whether (1) the Cabinet Office, or (2) the Prime Minister’s Office, hold any records concerning Operation Mincemeat; and if so, whether these records are publicly available.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Cabinet Office (which includes the Prime Minister’s Office) does not hold any records on HMS Dasher or Operation Mincemeat. In line with standard practice, historic records are transferred to The National Archives. A number of files relating to both HMS Dasher and Operation Mincemeat are held by The National Archives, including under references CAB 154/66; CAB 154/112; CAB 79/60/18; CAB 79/60/20; CAB 79/60/24; CAB 79/60/26; CAB 79/60/27; and CAB 146/442.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Goldie on 18 May (HL4067) and 20 May (HL4194), what plans they have to release the response to the request made on 3 May 1943 by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen to Flag Officer in Command Greenock to supply a further list of recovered bodies, following the sinking of the HMS Dasher.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
This information is potentially available in records relating to Western Approaches Command War Diary for 1943, Information and Instructions (General Regulations) for shipping at Greenock, the Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen within the records of the Board of Trade, Casualty Branch files, or a file containing information about the sinking given to next of kin. All of those files, under references ADM 116/4539, ADM 199/631, ADM 358/3214, ADM 358/1512 and ADM 1/15419, are open to the general public at The National Archives, Kew. The Naval Historical Branch holds no records of this nature in their collections.
No papers and reports relating to the loss of HMS DASHER are embargoed. They are freely available at The National Archives.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 5 May (HL3163), whether only 23 servicemen out of the 379 servicemen lost on board HMS Dasher when it sank on 27 March 1943 were recovered from the sea.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Records show that, of the servicemen tragically lost on board HMS DASHER when she sank on 27 March 1943, 22 were recovered from the sea and a further serviceman who was recovered alive subsequently succumbed to his injuries.