H.M.S Lothian

HMS LOTHIAN 1944-46

Going through some old family photos and documents my sister and I found these and thought there might be people out there who recognise some of these people and would like a photo. So here they are along with a copy of some sort HMS Lothian log, listing Captains and items of interest (even 1 birth) between 1944-1946. And a copy of the HMS Lothian's Daily News. Also there's some History found on the web.

If you know anyone in the pictures or anything about the ship get in touch and share it
Sorry you have to type it in, but if we do it any other way we get tons of spam.

Click on any of the photos and you can see high res version on that photo and your welcome to save, print or do anything with them short of selling them.

If you are an ex-crew member or know one send in details. We have heard from 2 surviving crew members and put those in touch with each other, unfortunately most emails are from people like myself who only found out after their father passed on, what he did in the war. Any photos or info welcome. Ex Crew or Families of, who have contacted us.
Joe Campbell, Herbert Watson, John S Jamieson (Jack), George C Paish, Charles Maurice Taylor (Joe), Patrick McNulty (scouse), William P Mulholland (Bill or Pete), Arthur Wood, Ken Shuker and Richard Greenwell.

!latest !latest goes here

This is the Lothian in it's original state or later as "City Of Edinburgh" before or after being called up.

This may be the Lothian down-under but we can't be sure?

Were guessing these shots were taken on board

Looking at features in these photos they all appear to be the same ship

A Kenneth Shuker photo which appears to be looking aft

The send off

Could the send off or it's arrival or neither

The
Crew

Eddie/Ted seen here 2nd from the left in the back row

We believe the chap on the right, to be Herbert Watson, from Peterborough, England. He still lives in Peterborough and was 90 last year (2013).

Eddie/Ted is second from right in the back row.

Eddie/Ted with mate.

Eddie/Ted at the front of this one.

Eddie/Ted 3rd from the left

UPDATES

You may wonder if people still get in touch about members of the crew? Well it's Sept 2024 and yes they do, we've had two so far this year. So if you have a relative, living or dead, who was on the Lothian get in touch.

Sadly I did not find any Naval photo's but I did find a Pass Card as attached. It puts my Father in Brisbane Port on New Year's Eve 1944.
As the sender Cliff, says this is a bit of a mystery as the Lothian was in Brisbane Oct 15th until Nov 11th in 1944 and in Solomon Islands from Dec 8th until Jan 1st?
He also said "I am following up a story where the Lothian was involved in picking up Sailors whose Ship had been Torpedoed. My Father's Brother was one of those rescued from the Sea."

Just musing over memories with my 97 year old ailing father, David Gowers. He was one of the Combined Services Ops ratings involved in the Panama mutiny. Are there any other survivors of this time that are known about ?

Francis Hall was a Flying Officer in RAF (Signals) and his record shows him serving on the Lothian.

Sent in by Son John, who says For years I have been puzzled about a medal that was awarded to my late father William Joseph Strachan.

Dad was promoted to Petty Officer with the RANR towards the end of WW2 but the medal was from the British navy.

My sister presented me with an envelope containing dads original navy records and I found his posting (LOAN) to the Lothian 19/10/44 to 7/4/45. The medal in question was for Petty Officers.

The mutiny may have something to do with Dads posting. I can remember him telling me, he was loaned to the British navy to drum discipline into some sailors.

There is no mention of the medal on Dads navy records.

Lionel H. Wright , known as Tony(passed away in 2008) was in the RAF as a radio operator and onboard the Lothian in the latter part of the war. He always said he'd been around the world and down both major canals. Sydney also featured in some war stories.

Sent in by daughter Jacquie

Richard Greenwell, Stoker 1st Class, who served on HMS Lothian from 16 May 1944 until 14 May 1946.

Sent in by Grand daughter Leah.

Richard Greenwell's Service History, if you want yours or your relative's Service History you can get it https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/military-service-records-form and there is no charge.

I was going through my Dad's naval records recently, searching for information on the ships he served on when I came across your website. My Dad passed away in 1993 so, like most others, this is all after the event.
He rarely spoke about his war service so I have no stories, but he was a 'boy sailor' from 1938 (age 16) signing up for his 12 year service in 1940.
His name was Peter Hardcastle Jackson (service no. JX157465) and he served on HMS Lothian from 28th June 1944 until 15th February 1946 as a Leading Signalman.

The only naval photos I have are attached. What we think is the end of his HMS Caledonia training in 1938 (my dad is 3rd row back, 3rd boy in on left).

Thanks to his daughter Ashley

Close up of Peter Hardcastle Jackson

The other photo he is to the left of the three and I have no idea where, when or who.

Sent in by his Grandson Martin,

Here are a few photos of my grandfather(Ernest John Holmes) different ages from start to finish. My grandad was from the midlands Walsall originally bham. His service record states he was on the lothian twice. 1st time 20th sept 44- January 45 2nd time 30th Oct -13-6-46 He served on other ships like Glenearn and eskimo (minesweeping) . It would be amazing if somebody recognized him. The picture of him next to his mate nicknamed Geordie from newcastle, he also had a mate who he served with George Ellis from Devon.

Ernest Holmes aka John, Jack or even Brummie

Ernest Holmes next to his mate nicknamed Geordie from newcastle,

A slighly younger Ernest Holmes
If you look down below with the documents you will find a brillant Certificate Earnest was awarded

Sig. D MacGregor
sent in by Dylan,
found 11th March 2020.
Thanks

The back of the Photo.
with a NewZealand addres

William Peter Mulholland is the sailor on the right in the photo opposite. He was known as Bill or Pete and also served on either HMS Sheffield or HMS Suffolk.
If you Recognise anyone or know where these photo were taken get in touch.

This is Petty Officer (RNVR) Charles Maurice Taylor (nicknamed Joe) who served aboard HMS Lothian during the war and travelled to the Far East on her. He came from Petworth in West Sussex. As with most who served he never spoke much about his experiences on board. He was trained in Radar engineering at Marconi in Chelmsford and was responsible for looking after the equipment on deck. As far as known, he served on HMS Lothian from her conversion to a warship until 1945. If you know anyone who knew him get intouch.

Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker.
In this one Ken is Back Right
His son-in-law Peter wrote
I am the son in law of Ken who died in some time ago 1997, He said he served on a spy ship which was secret and towards the end of his life he told a few stories to his children and his grandchildren.
He never gave the name of his ship , yesterday when looking through some old papers and photos his service record came to light and a ship he served on was in that record . It was HMS Lothian and this morning I looked on the web and came across your site which is very good thank you and ties in with it being a spy ship.
It also tied in Golden Hind with his stories of Australia and being left in the Australia in hospital with severe tonsillitis when the ship sailed.

Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker.
In this one Ken is seated Right
We think Ted Handford might be the one peering over heads at the back anf Richard Greenwell is furthest left.

Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker.
In this one Ken is second left on the back row
We think Ted Handford might be at the back in this one as well.

To the left is a photo of George Paish taken from his I.D.
After seeing this site George contacted us and said.
"No Wrens served on board I think these girls were at a shore establishment in Sydney named Golden Hind."

"I joined the ship in August 1944 at Sheerness at the same time if I remember correctly, we were joined by comrades who had served in HMS Bulolo."

"When the ships role was changed at the end of February 1945 I and several others were sent back to the UK in the cruiser HMS Newcastle."

"Some years ago a R N Captain rang me to say he was reseaching Mutinies in the Royal Navy and he was refused access to the Lothian files at the Admiralty as they were covered by the Official Secrets Act for 70 years, so let us hope that in 2014 the official facts will be revealed. I have never agreed that the Leading Seaman should have been dismissed the Royal Navy and others were placed under open arrest and confined to certain places on deck, because of this I and my colleagues were made to do Seamans duties e.g. scrubbing decks which we were not our duties."

"I do not know if you are aware that there was an air section to control and direct aircraft during a beach assault."

"I was Mess Deck 14 a Leading Aircraftsman No 1874198 G C Paish."

George is seen here with his mate Cpl Steve Sadler who is on the right. This was taken in Sidney while the ship was in dock, and they were stationed ashore.
They were issued with khaki battledress when they were posted to Combined Ops but still retained their R.A.F. uniform.

George (now 89) wrote, "I realise that this is not important but it gives you a little idea of what a mixed crew we were, serving alongside Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Signal Corp. until the end of February 1945."

On leave enjoying a bit of Ice skating with locals

This we think is Eddy/Ted with his Aunt who lived in Australia. But this is the first we every knew of it. We think he had a number of relative there in the 40s-50s. See below, If you know them let us know

sorry you have to type this in but we'd get tons of spam if we put in a link

Ted / Eddy / Edward
1925-1988
Born in the family Pub - Ship and Pilot Inn, Bristol

After leaving the service he worked as a Butcher for many year and ended his working life as a Clerk at Imperial Tobacco (Wills) in Bedminster, Bristol.
He married in 1952 and had 2 children, a girl in 1955 and a boy 1958
He was a Scout Leader for many years at the 52nd St. Leonards, St. George, Bristol.
He flew a Radio Controlled Aircraft for a while and for many years ran dances with his Brother-in-law Cliff and Sister-in-law Marie.

The
Wrens

These may have been on the Lothian or Wrens they meet around the world

Lothian

Documents

What a great document to have
They grant Ernest J. Holmes and Stephen James Taylor, freedom of the sea and asks if they fall overboard that all Sharks, Dolphins, Whales, Mermaids and Dwellers of the Deep refrain from maltreating them.
Don't forget you can Click on the photo to enlarge it's worth it.

SHIPS LOG
1944-46 (67,000 miles)

H.M.S. Lothian
Daily News March 20th 1945

Travel
Papers

Name and No hidden

Certificates of the
Service of, Papers

Name and No hidden

Name and No hidden

Name and No hidden

Name and No hidden

Other Documents found on the web relating to H.M.S Lothian

HMS MONTCLARE - Depot Ship

1 9 4 5
January to April

On completion took passage to Manus in Admiralty Islands to support of destroyers of British Pacific Fleet in Task Force 57
(Note: British Pacific Fleet Train was identified as Task Force 112 and some of the ships allocated were already deployed in the Pacific.
                                             The Flagship HMS LOTHIAN arrived at Manus on 2nd March and had proved to be totally unsuited for this task. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton. and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

May                         Arrived at Manus for support of destroyers in BPF.

29th
                  Rear Admiral DB Fisher, Flag Officer Fleet Train and staff joined ship from HMS LOTHIAN.
                                Repair staff officers and ratings together with equipment also transferred.

31st          Took passage from Manus to Brisbane.
                                 (Note: Ships of BPF were returning to Australian ports for maintenance and leave after taking part in Operation ICEBERG II in Sakishma Gunto islands.
                                            above reference.)

CITY OF EDINBURGH - 8,036 g.t., built 1938 by Cammel, Laird & Co, Birkenhead for Ellerman City Line. Employed on the USA - Australia - New Zealand route until 1939.

1941 caught fire at Takoradi and towed to sea to avoid blocking the port if capsized, but fire extinguished and repaired.

Nov.1942 took part in convoy KMF4 carrying troops for Operation Torch (Invasion of North Africa).

Sep.1943 taken over by Admiralty and converted to Landing Ship Headquarters for Pacific operations.

July 1944 renamed HMS LOTHIAN and sent to join the U.S 6th fleet as part of Force X.

3rd Aug.1944 she left the Clyde for the Pacific via New York & Panama. Instead of 450, there were 750 aboard under the command of Rear Admiral A. G. Talbot, all in very cramped conditions with insufficient ventilation or water.

1st Sep. while docked at Balboa, an armed mutiny occurred and Royal Marines were used to quell the mutiny. This was the only armed mutiny in the Royal Navy since the 19th century. As there were no relief seamen available and nowhere to jail the mutineers, their sentences were suspended and the ship proceeded.

29th Sep, HMS LOTHIAN joined the U.S. 6th fleet at New Guinea but the Americans took no interest in the British force and after aimlessly sailing around the islands, she was sent to Sydney.

Feb.1945 she became flagship to Rear Admiral D. B. Fisher and her duties were to control the transports arriving to supply the British Pacific Fleet.

Sept, after the Pacific War ceased, she was used to evacuate civilians and prisoners of the Japanese from Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

1946 returned to Ellerman Line and reverted to CITY OF EDINBURGH.

1947 transferred to Ellerman & Bucknall ownership.

Apr.1961 sold to Hong Kong Salvage and Towage Co and renamed CASTLE MOUNT for her last voyage to Hong Kong where she was scrapped the same year.

Scope and content - Mutiny aboard HMS LOTHIAN, Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, 1 September 1944: Courts Martial of three seamen

Covering dates - 1944 Oct 27 - 1945 Dec 19

Availability - Open Document, Open Description, Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years

Former reference (Department) - CASE 6907

Note - See also ADM 156/258B, ADM 156/259, ADM 178/237

Held by - The National Archives, Kew

Royal Signals Afloat - Visual signalling

For many years detachments of army signallers have been employed on board HM ships for communications in amphibious warfare, and logistics supply vessels. Their use began before the second world war but the formation of Combined Operations HQ under Lord Louis Mountbatten, himself a former naval signals officer, in 1942 led to the rapid expansion of the service. In 1942/43 four HQ Ship Signal Sections, as they were termed, were formed to join HMS BULOLO, LARGS, HILARY and LOTHIAN, vessels converted for combined operations and known as LSH(L). The Royal Signals sections worked alongside the Naval communications ratings controlling the radio nets between HQ staffs and the troops ashore. The first three named took part in Operation NEPTUNE, on the Eastern Task Force for the Normandy landings in June 1944, as HQ ships each controlled a division. HMS LOTHIAN with No. 4 Ship Signal Section was deployed to the Pacific where it remained in support of Australian and US forces until the Japanese surrender.

My father, Leading Stoker Albert Peach KX164198 service records give the bare bones of his history, could some kind person/people add more information so that I have more details about his early service history.
6th Jan - 9th Feb 1943 HMS Duke, Stoker 2nd Class. (New entry stokers ?)
10th Feb 1943 Passage. (Travel to HMS Drake?)
11th Feb 1943 HMS Drake (ex HMS Marshal Ney, shore base?)
12st Feb - 22nd Feb 1943 HMS Newcastle (Refit completion in HMS Dockyard, Davenport?)
23rd Feb - 1st Mar 1943 HMS Drake.
2nd March 1943 Travelling (?)
3rd March - 31st March 1943 HMS Drake
1st April - 23rd Sept 1943 HMS Spartiate (St Enoch's Hotel, Glasgow?)
24th Sept 1943 Passage (What is the difference between 'passage' and 'travelling'?)
25th Sept - 26th Oct 1943 HMS Duke
27th Sept Passage
28th Oct - 25th Nov 1943 HMS Drake
26th Nov 1943 - 5th Jan 1944 HMS Paris (former French ship, base for minesweepers, Plymouth)
6th Jan - 9th May 1944 HMS Paris (promoted to Acting Stoker 1st Class)
10th May - 15th May 1944 HMS Darke
16th May 1944 - 3rd May 1945 HMS Lothian (I have the history of HMS Lothian and the mutiny)
4th May 1945 - 12th June 1946 (promoted to Temporary Acting Leading Stoker)
13th June - 1st July 1946 HMS Drake
2nd July - 27th December 1946 HMS Imperiuse
27th December 1946 'Albert Peach was released to shore in Class A.

He seems to have been moved around a lot. Would he be allowed leave during his training period and before sailing on HMS Lothian?
For his time on HMS Lothian I have read 'Mutiny in Force X' by Bill Glenton.

Not much to say really:

DUKE – was a training establishment at Great Malvern, for new entry Stokers
DRAKE – is the naval barracks at Devonport.
MARSHAL NEY – an old World War One Monitor, used at Devonport as an accommodation ship for those at Drake barracks
NEWCASTLE – a light cruiser. In February 1943 she was indeed completing a refit at Devonport Dockyard
SPARTIATE – name for shore base/depot at Glasgow
LOTHIAN – landing ship, ex-merchant vessel taken over & converted
IMPERIEUSE – complex of old ships at Devonport, used as accommodation & training for Stokers

I do not think there is any difference between passage and travelling
Yes, he would have been granted leave at various times

Once again if you have info to share let us know. Contact us at
sorry you have to type this in but we'd get tons of spam if we put in a link

This is the Lothian in it's original state or later as "City Of Edinburgh" before or after being called up.
	This may be the Lothian down-under but we can't be sure?
Were guessing these shots were taken on board
	Looking at features in these photos they all appear to be the same ship
A Kenneth Shuker photo which appears to be looking aft
The	send off
	Could the send off or it's arrival or neither
The	Crew
Eddie/Ted seen here 2nd from the left in the back row
	We believe the chap on the right, to be Herbert Watson, from Peterborough, England. He still lives in Peterborough and was 90 last year (2013).

	Eddie/Ted is second from right in the back row.
Eddie/Ted with mate.
	Eddie/Ted at the front of this one.

	Eddie/Ted 3rd from the left
	UPDATES You may wonder if people still get in touch about members of the crew? Well it's Sept 2024 and yes they do, we've had two so far this year. So if you have a relative, living or dead, who was on the Lothian get in touch.
	Sadly I did not find any Naval photo's but I did find a Pass Card as attached. It puts my Father in Brisbane Port on New Year's Eve 1944. As the sender Cliff, says this is a bit of a mystery as the Lothian was in Brisbane Oct 15th until Nov 11th in 1944 and in Solomon Islands from Dec 8th until Jan 1st? He also said "I am following up a story where the Lothian was involved in picking up Sailors whose Ship had been Torpedoed. My Father's Brother was one of those rescued from the Sea."
Just musing over memories with my 97 year old ailing father, David Gowers. He was one of the Combined Services Ops ratings involved in the Panama mutiny. Are there any other survivors of this time that are known about ?
	Francis Hall was a Flying Officer in RAF (Signals) and his record shows him serving on the Lothian. Sent in by Son John, who says For years I have been puzzled about a medal that was awarded to my late father William Joseph Strachan. Dad was promoted to Petty Officer with the RANR towards the end of WW2 but the medal was from the British navy. My sister presented me with an envelope containing dads original navy records and I found his posting (LOAN) to the Lothian 19/10/44 to 7/4/45. The medal in question was for Petty Officers. The mutiny may have something to do with Dads posting. I can remember him telling me, he was loaned to the British navy to drum discipline into some sailors. There is no mention of the medal on Dads navy records.
Lionel H. Wright , known as Tony(passed away in 2008) was in the RAF as a radio operator and onboard the Lothian in the latter part of the war. He always said he'd been around the world and down both major canals. Sydney also featured in some war stories. Sent in by daughter Jacquie

	Richard Greenwell, Stoker 1st Class, who served on HMS Lothian from 16 May 1944 until 14 May 1946. Sent in by Grand daughter Leah.
Richard Greenwell's Service History, if you want yours or your relative's Service History you can get it https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/military-service-records-form and there is no charge.
	I was going through my Dad's naval records recently, searching for information on the ships he served on when I came across your website. My Dad passed away in 1993 so, like most others, this is all after the event. He rarely spoke about his war service so I have no stories, but he was a 'boy sailor' from 1938 (age 16) signing up for his 12 year service in 1940. His name was Peter Hardcastle Jackson (service no. JX157465) and he served on HMS Lothian from 28th June 1944 until 15th February 1946 as a Leading Signalman. The only naval photos I have are attached. What we think is the end of his HMS Caledonia training in 1938 (my dad is 3rd row back, 3rd boy in on left). Thanks to his daughter Ashley
Close up of Peter Hardcastle Jackson
	The other photo he is to the left of the three and I have no idea where, when or who.
Sent in by his Grandson Martin, Here are a few photos of my grandfather(Ernest John Holmes) different ages from start to finish. My grandad was from the midlands Walsall originally bham. His service record states he was on the lothian twice. 1st time 20th sept 44- January 45 2nd time 30th Oct -13-6-46 He served on other ships like Glenearn and eskimo (minesweeping) . It would be amazing if somebody recognized him. The picture of him next to his mate nicknamed Geordie from newcastle, he also had a mate who he served with George Ellis from Devon.
	Ernest Holmes aka John, Jack or even Brummie
Ernest Holmes next to his mate nicknamed Geordie from newcastle,
	A slighly younger Ernest Holmes If you look down below with the documents you will find a brillant Certificate Earnest was awarded
Sig. D MacGregor sent in by Dylan, found 11th March 2020. Thanks
	The back of the Photo. with a NewZealand addres
William Peter Mulholland is the sailor on the right in the photo opposite. He was known as Bill or Pete and also served on either HMS Sheffield or HMS Suffolk. If you Recognise anyone or know where these photo were taken get in touch.

This is Petty Officer (RNVR) Charles Maurice Taylor (nicknamed Joe) who served aboard HMS Lothian during the war and travelled to the Far East on her. He came from Petworth in West Sussex. As with most who served he never spoke much about his experiences on board. He was trained in Radar engineering at Marconi in Chelmsford and was responsible for looking after the equipment on deck. As far as known, he served on HMS Lothian from her conversion to a warship until 1945. If you know anyone who knew him get intouch.
	Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker. In this one Ken is Back Right His son-in-law Peter wrote I am the son in law of Ken who died in some time ago 1997, He said he served on a spy ship which was secret and towards the end of his life he told a few stories to his children and his grandchildren. He never gave the name of his ship , yesterday when looking through some old papers and photos his service record came to light and a ship he served on was in that record . It was HMS Lothian and this morning I looked on the web and came across your site which is very good thank you and ties in with it being a spy ship. It also tied in Golden Hind with his stories of Australia and being left in the Australia in hospital with severe tonsillitis when the ship sailed.
Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker. In this one Ken is seated Right We think Ted Handford might be the one peering over heads at the back anf Richard Greenwell is furthest left.
	Here are some Photos with Kenneth (Ken) Shuker - Able Seaman Stoker. In this one Ken is second left on the back row We think Ted Handford might be at the back in this one as well.
	To the left is a photo of George Paish taken from his I.D. After seeing this site George contacted us and said. "No Wrens served on board I think these girls were at a shore establishment in Sydney named Golden Hind." "I joined the ship in August 1944 at Sheerness at the same time if I remember correctly, we were joined by comrades who had served in HMS Bulolo." "When the ships role was changed at the end of February 1945 I and several others were sent back to the UK in the cruiser HMS Newcastle." "Some years ago a R N Captain rang me to say he was reseaching Mutinies in the Royal Navy and he was refused access to the Lothian files at the Admiralty as they were covered by the Official Secrets Act for 70 years, so let us hope that in 2014 the official facts will be revealed. I have never agreed that the Leading Seaman should have been dismissed the Royal Navy and others were placed under open arrest and confined to certain places on deck, because of this I and my colleagues were made to do Seamans duties e.g. scrubbing decks which we were not our duties." "I do not know if you are aware that there was an air section to control and direct aircraft during a beach assault." "I was Mess Deck 14 a Leading Aircraftsman No 1874198 G C Paish."
George is seen here with his mate Cpl Steve Sadler who is on the right. This was taken in Sidney while the ship was in dock, and they were stationed ashore. They were issued with khaki battledress when they were posted to Combined Ops but still retained their R.A.F. uniform. George (now 89) wrote, "I realise that this is not important but it gives you a little idea of what a mixed crew we were, serving alongside Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Signal Corp. until the end of February 1945."
	On leave enjoying a bit of Ice skating with locals
This we think is Eddy/Ted with his Aunt who lived in Australia. But this is the first we every knew of it. We think he had a number of relative there in the 40s-50s. See below, If you know them let us know sorry you have to type this in but we'd get tons of spam if we put in a link

Ted / Eddy / Edward 1925-1988 Born in the family Pub - Ship and Pilot Inn, Bristol After leaving the service he worked as a Butcher for many year and ended his working life as a Clerk at Imperial Tobacco (Wills) in Bedminster, Bristol. He married in 1952 and had 2 children, a girl in 1955 and a boy 1958 He was a Scout Leader for many years at the 52nd St. Leonards, St. George, Bristol. He flew a Radio Controlled Aircraft for a while and for many years ran dances with his Brother-in-law Cliff and Sister-in-law Marie.
The	Wrens
	These may have been on the Lothian or Wrens they meet around the world


Lothian	Documents
What a great document to have They grant Ernest J. Holmes and Stephen James Taylor, freedom of the sea and asks if they fall overboard that all Sharks, Dolphins, Whales, Mermaids and Dwellers of the Deep refrain from maltreating them. Don't forget you can Click on the photo to enlarge it's worth it.
SHIPS LOG	1944-46 (67,000 miles)


H.M.S. Lothian	Daily News March 20th 1945



Travel	Papers
	Name and No hidden

Certificates of the	Service of, Papers
	Name and No hidden
Name and No hidden
	Name and No hidden
Name and No hidden

Other Documents found on the web relating to H.M.S Lothian
HMS MONTCLARE - Depot Ship 1 9 4 5 January to April On completion took passage to Manus in Admiralty Islands to support of destroyers of British Pacific Fleet in Task Force 57 (Note: British Pacific Fleet Train was identified as Task Force 112 and some of the ships allocated were already deployed in the Pacific. The Flagship HMS LOTHIAN arrived at Manus on 2nd March and had proved to be totally unsuited for this task. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton. and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO). May Arrived at Manus for support of destroyers in BPF. 29th Rear Admiral DB Fisher, Flag Officer Fleet Train and staff joined ship from HMS LOTHIAN. Repair staff officers and ratings together with equipment also transferred. 31st Took passage from Manus to Brisbane. (Note: Ships of BPF were returning to Australian ports for maintenance and leave after taking part in Operation ICEBERG II in Sakishma Gunto islands. above reference.) CITY OF EDINBURGH - 8,036 g.t., built 1938 by Cammel, Laird & Co, Birkenhead for Ellerman City Line. Employed on the USA - Australia - New Zealand route until 1939. 1941 caught fire at Takoradi and towed to sea to avoid blocking the port if capsized, but fire extinguished and repaired. Nov.1942 took part in convoy KMF4 carrying troops for Operation Torch (Invasion of North Africa). Sep.1943 taken over by Admiralty and converted to Landing Ship Headquarters for Pacific operations. July 1944 renamed HMS LOTHIAN and sent to join the U.S 6th fleet as part of Force X. 3rd Aug.1944 she left the Clyde for the Pacific via New York & Panama. Instead of 450, there were 750 aboard under the command of Rear Admiral A. G. Talbot, all in very cramped conditions with insufficient ventilation or water. 1st Sep. while docked at Balboa, an armed mutiny occurred and Royal Marines were used to quell the mutiny. This was the only armed mutiny in the Royal Navy since the 19th century. As there were no relief seamen available and nowhere to jail the mutineers, their sentences were suspended and the ship proceeded. 29th Sep, HMS LOTHIAN joined the U.S. 6th fleet at New Guinea but the Americans took no interest in the British force and after aimlessly sailing around the islands, she was sent to Sydney. Feb.1945 she became flagship to Rear Admiral D. B. Fisher and her duties were to control the transports arriving to supply the British Pacific Fleet. Sept, after the Pacific War ceased, she was used to evacuate civilians and prisoners of the Japanese from Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. 1946 returned to Ellerman Line and reverted to CITY OF EDINBURGH. 1947 transferred to Ellerman & Bucknall ownership. Apr.1961 sold to Hong Kong Salvage and Towage Co and renamed CASTLE MOUNT for her last voyage to Hong Kong where she was scrapped the same year. Scope and content - Mutiny aboard HMS LOTHIAN, Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, 1 September 1944: Courts Martial of three seamen Covering dates - 1944 Oct 27 - 1945 Dec 19 Availability - Open Document, Open Description, Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years Former reference (Department) - CASE 6907 Note - See also ADM 156/258B, ADM 156/259, ADM 178/237 Held by - The National Archives, Kew Royal Signals Afloat - Visual signalling For many years detachments of army signallers have been employed on board HM ships for communications in amphibious warfare, and logistics supply vessels. Their use began before the second world war but the formation of Combined Operations HQ under Lord Louis Mountbatten, himself a former naval signals officer, in 1942 led to the rapid expansion of the service. In 1942/43 four HQ Ship Signal Sections, as they were termed, were formed to join HMS BULOLO, LARGS, HILARY and LOTHIAN, vessels converted for combined operations and known as LSH(L). The Royal Signals sections worked alongside the Naval communications ratings controlling the radio nets between HQ staffs and the troops ashore. The first three named took part in Operation NEPTUNE, on the Eastern Task Force for the Normandy landings in June 1944, as HQ ships each controlled a division. HMS LOTHIAN with No. 4 Ship Signal Section was deployed to the Pacific where it remained in support of Australian and US forces until the Japanese surrender. My father, Leading Stoker Albert Peach KX164198 service records give the bare bones of his history, could some kind person/people add more information so that I have more details about his early service history. 6th Jan - 9th Feb 1943 HMS Duke, Stoker 2nd Class. (New entry stokers ?) 10th Feb 1943 Passage. (Travel to HMS Drake?) 11th Feb 1943 HMS Drake (ex HMS Marshal Ney, shore base?) 12st Feb - 22nd Feb 1943 HMS Newcastle (Refit completion in HMS Dockyard, Davenport?) 23rd Feb - 1st Mar 1943 HMS Drake. 2nd March 1943 Travelling (?) 3rd March - 31st March 1943 HMS Drake 1st April - 23rd Sept 1943 HMS Spartiate (St Enoch's Hotel, Glasgow?) 24th Sept 1943 Passage (What is the difference between 'passage' and 'travelling'?) 25th Sept - 26th Oct 1943 HMS Duke 27th Sept Passage 28th Oct - 25th Nov 1943 HMS Drake 26th Nov 1943 - 5th Jan 1944 HMS Paris (former French ship, base for minesweepers, Plymouth) 6th Jan - 9th May 1944 HMS Paris (promoted to Acting Stoker 1st Class) 10th May - 15th May 1944 HMS Darke 16th May 1944 - 3rd May 1945 HMS Lothian (I have the history of HMS Lothian and the mutiny) 4th May 1945 - 12th June 1946 (promoted to Temporary Acting Leading Stoker) 13th June - 1st July 1946 HMS Drake 2nd July - 27th December 1946 HMS Imperiuse 27th December 1946 'Albert Peach was released to shore in Class A. He seems to have been moved around a lot. Would he be allowed leave during his training period and before sailing on HMS Lothian? For his time on HMS Lothian I have read 'Mutiny in Force X' by Bill Glenton. Not much to say really: DUKE – was a training establishment at Great Malvern, for new entry Stokers DRAKE – is the naval barracks at Devonport. MARSHAL NEY – an old World War One Monitor, used at Devonport as an accommodation ship for those at Drake barracks NEWCASTLE – a light cruiser. In February 1943 she was indeed completing a refit at Devonport Dockyard SPARTIATE – name for shore base/depot at Glasgow LOTHIAN – landing ship, ex-merchant vessel taken over & converted IMPERIEUSE – complex of old ships at Devonport, used as accommodation & training for Stokers I do not think there is any difference between passage and travelling Yes, he would have been granted leave at various times
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