This collection of photographs from HMS Ardent in 1939-1940 has recently come into my possession. The Ardent was sunk on 8th June 1940 with only two survivors. I have transcribed the captions from the back of the photographs as accurately as I can (without editing). Some captions are in the first person, so I would assume the photographer was serving onboard the Ardent.
Caption (my comments in italics). Some photos have captions in two hands. | |
Harstad (the Ardent visited Harstad in mid-April 1940) | |
Norway 1940 | |
Norway 1940 | |
Harstad Fjord | |
Renown & Escort HMS Wolverine D78 |
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Renown & Exeter | |
Ajax / Returning from River Plate | |
Graf down Graf Spee Scuttled @ Montivideo (17th December 1939) |
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Graf down | |
Graf down | |
Graf down | |
Graf down | |
Graf down | |
Exeter and Destroyer escort | |
Exeter coming home some time after River Plate action | |
Routine Loading torpedoes @ Devonport 2nd right A/B Percy Martin (casualty) |
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Possibly L23 | |
Possibly H43 | |
Torpedo tubes with an active member of staff alongside. note my oilcan and brush - my badge of office | |
HMS Ardent Petty officer F.L.G. Millman / Back 2nd from right Chief Petty officeer Walter Salt / Back 3rd from right |
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Lieutenant Commander John Frederick BarkerHMS ARDENT | |
Leading Seaman John Joseph Lucey | |
Note the joint on the fork also the slim man on the other end. Dart board on the horizon. The joint by the way is not a large chicken. I think it was trodden on or something, I cannot recognise it. | |
Renown coming home with Exeter | |
Left to right. A/B Robert E. Coe, A.B. John S. Candlish, A/B Frank Furse | |
Gold braid / Never mind where Devonport |
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More / I dont know which / They follow the ship in hundreds | |
These are Dolphins or Porpoises / I dont know which, anyway it is a very good photograph I think | |
Dover / Snowridden | |
Dover | |
This is taken from our Quarter deck / it is the "Courageous" about three or four days before she was sunk. (The Courageous was sunk on 17th September 1939 by U-29) |
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Gypsy after being mined Nov 39 |
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H.M.S. Manchester | |
Other members of the torpedo staff. Note the thumbs. Back 2nd from right A/B John Candlish Back 3rd from left Chief Petty officer Sidney Driscoll 2nd from left A.B Robert E Coe |
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Evacuees | |
Part of Convoy (Ronin a.k.a. Waikawa) | |
Batory / Polish American Line (Possibly the MS Batory that transferred the Polish crown jewels from Cracow and Britain's gold reserves to Montreal) | |
HMS Ardent Starboard side | |
Taken from the bridge showing the whole of the starboard side from the bridge aft. | |
Just a slight roll which goes to make up so many happy moments CENSORED H.M.S.Ardent |
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Monarch of Bermuda 22,400 tons. Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. (Troop ship) Norway 1940 |
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H.M.S. Valient Norway 1940 |
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H.M.S. Valient Norway 1940 |
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Troopship Reina-del-Pacifico at Sea |
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Troopship Reina-del-Pacifico 17,700 tons Pacific Steam Navigation Co. |
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Troopship Embress of Australia 22000 tons (The Empress Of Australia was docked in Yokohama during the Great Kanto Earthquake and helped with the relief effort) |
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Convoy | |
Convoy | |
Chrobry / Gydnia Polish American Line | |
H.M.S. Amazon Norway 1940 |
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Harstad Pier and town during bombing raid April 16/40 | |
Harstad Norway Bombing Raid 16/4/40 | |
Harstad Norway Bombing Raid April 16th 1940 / HMS Ardent Right in picture | |
Yet another bang Gun HMS Ardent (Night Shoot) |
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Night attack A & B Guns HMS Ardent |
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Same night different gun A Gun HMS Ardent |
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Routine | |
Still more water | |
Seas / over the forecastle head | |
Yet again. Dusk | |
Yet again. CENSORED H.M.S.Ardent |
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Same again | |
Mast head after snow | |
A & B Gun HMS Ardent | |
Carley float HMS Ardent | |
Routine | |
Routine | |
Just a slight swell taken from the QD. which makes everyone so happy and contented | |
More water | |
Slight sea | |
Depth charge ready for duty | |
I cant place this | |
George Robey and partner sat in the mess, contemplating a dart match. | |
D27 - HMS Walker following collision with HMS Vanquisher Vanquisher later taken under tow by Ardent |
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HMS Vanquisher under tow from HMS Ardent following collision with HMS Walker | |
HMS Vanquisher following collision with HMS Walker. Awaiting tow line from HMS Ardent | |
HMS Vanquisher awaiting towing by HMS Ardent following collision with HMS Walker | |
Disembarking troops from Reina-del-Pacifico at Harstad Pier | |
French alpine troops being transferred by HMS Ardent - Norway 1940 | |
HMS ARDENT WINTER 39/40 | |
HMS ARDENT | |
HMS ACASTA (SISTER SHIP OF ARDENT) BOTH SUNK 8/6/40 Destroyer after decorations |
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Breakfast for one, but this one was always hungry | |
Sadly in need of a shave, but am trying to economise on water when at sea, so am drinking hardly any | |
A/B R.E. Coe & A/B Percy Martin (right) HMS ARDENT | |
Routine Loading Torpedos @ Devonport |
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Routine | |
Routine Devonport |
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Same fish different story Ships cat HMS Ardent |
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A cat SHIPS CAT HMS ARDENT |
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B. Gun crew (all casualties) HMS Ardent Back Row Right to left Francis Horn, Leonard Reid, John Yeoman, Alf Dale & Bertram Bailey Front Row Right to left Stanley Elen, Sidney Arbrey |
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Enforced rowing lesson | |
Rowing lesson! respite ahead | |
More fish for how many? Cod brought to surface following depth charge |
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Norway 1940 | |
Harstad Fjord | |
Harstad Fjord / Anchorage | |
Boom defence Scapa Flow April 9/40 | |
Norway 1940 |