Simeon H.H. Warder: War Record
Simeon Henry Harris Warder – 1910-1983
Royal Navy Service Record from 1925 to 1945
Entered under training, aged 14yrs 6mths, on 25/04/1925
Posted to shore training establishment at Devonport - HMS Impregnable - 24/11/1925 as Boy Sailor Class II
Promoted to Boy Sailor Class I - 30/07/1926
Posted to town class light cruiser - HMS Lowestoft - 23/11/1926 (6" guns)
http://www.naval-history.net/Oxon01-ShipList2.htm - look down list for HMS Lowestoft
Promoted to Ordinary Seaman - 09/09/1928 (18th birthday) - 12yr engagement
Posted to shore training establishment at Devonport - HMS Vivid (i.2) - 11/09/1929
Promoted to Able Seaman - 09/03/1930
Posted to shore training establishment at Devonport - HMS Vivid (i.3) - 15/03/1930
Posted to Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship - HMS Malaya - 26/04/1930 (15" guns)
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-01BB-Malaya.htm - this is the WW2 diary
Posted to shore training establishment at Devonport - HMS Vivid (i) - 07/01/1933
Posted to York Class Heavy Cruiser - HMS Exeter - 31/10/1933 (8" guns)
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CA-Exeter.htm
War declared against Germany - 03/09/1939 - HMS Exeter takes position in South Atlantic Ocean
Present at Battle of the River Plate on HMS Exeter - 13/12/1939
Post battle HMS Exeter later returns to UK, via Falkland Isles, for major repairs and refit
Post battle Sim injures his knee during the clearup and on return to UK is sent to Scotland for treatment
Posted to shore training establishment at Devonport - HMS Drake (i) - 07/03/1940
Posted to newly commissioned Crown Colony Class Light Cruiser - HMS Kenya - 28/08/1940 (6" guns)
Note: 300 men from HMS Exeter's company were detached to serve on HMS Kenya
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Kenya.htm
HMS Kenya returning from mine laying operations in Denmark Strait was struck by destroyer HMS Brighton in thick fog - 25/06/1941
Family Anecdote - as a result of the HMS Kenya & HMS Brighton collision Sim ended up in the sea and was eventually picked up
Promoted to Acting Leading Seaman - 18/08/1941
Posted to training establishment at Devonport - HMS Drake (i) - 12/01/1943
Posted to shore establishment at Port Edgar (Minesweeper Base) in Midlothian - HMS Lochinvar -16/05/1943
Posted to shore establishment at Port Edgar (Combined Ops Base) in Midlothian – HMS Hopetoun – 01/10/1943
Posted to Black Swan Class Sloop – HMS Erne – 15/12/1943
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-18SL-Erne.htm
Posted to shore establishment at Londonderry (Convoy Escort Base) – HMS Ferret (Base 4) – 16/01/1944
Posted to training establishment at Devonport – HMS Drake (i) – 24/01/1944
Posted to F Class Destroyer – HMS Fame – 26/04/1944
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-23F-Fame.htm
Sinking of U767 type VIIC Submarine – 18/06/1944 – SW of Guernsey
http://www.uboat.net/boats/u767.htm
Posted to training establishment at Devonport – HMS Drake (i) – 11/01/1945
Posted to Danae Class Light Cruiser – HMS Diomede – 05/07/1945
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Diomede.htm
Released from service – HMS Diomede – 02/11/1945
Naval Service Medals
1939 - 1945 Star
Atlantic Star
Africa Star
France & Germany Ribbon
War Medal
General Notes
It is clear from the war diaries of the vessels Sim served on that he saw service in all of the main theatres of war in the western hemisphere...
South Atlantic
Iceland
Norway
Russia
Arctic
Mediterranean
Normandy
Naval War Diaries
There are some notable events he was in action...
The Battle of the River Plate, South Atlantic
The Sinking of the Bismarck, North Atlantic
Malta relief convoy Operation Halberd, Mediterranean
Sinking of German supply ship Kota Pinang, North Atlantic
Russian Convoy PQ3, Arctic
Bombardment of Vardo and Hornoy islands, Norway
Commando raid on Lofoten islands, Norway
Operation Archery landings at Vaagso and Malloy, Norway
Russian Convoy QP15 and return Convoy QP11, Arctic
Gibraltar Convoy WS19Z, Mediterranean
Malta Convoy GM4 Force W, Mediterranean
Malta Convoy Operation Pedestal, Mediterranean
Malta Convoy WS21S and sinking of HMS Eagle, Mediterranean
Support of Normandy landings, France
Sinking of Submarine U767, Guernsey
RETURN TO SIMEON’S BIO PAGE