The Ship Model Forum

My plan is to make a diorama of escort vessels berthed at Londonderry in 1942.

I believe the RN escort vessels at this time were berthed against jetties close by the city of Londonderry, rather than the base built at Lisahally, but I only have this one decent photo of the area. Most pictures concentrate on the escort vessels themselves, with little background detail visible.

Can anyone suggest sources of pictures which would show the jetties in more detail and the quayside behind them?

Thanks in advance

Don

That's kind of a hard one. I would contact the Imperial War Museum Dept. of Photographs. In their card catalog of photos there is a section on Naval Bases. Londonderry may be in there, I think they might be able to tell you if you contact them.
I know some Canadian escort groups used Londonderry as their overseas base for turn around between convoys. I'de have a look at Canadian sources as well.

Bob B.

Bob is correct about Canadian vessels using Londonderry as a 'turnaround' base.
See the book 50 North An Atlantic Battleground (1963) London by Lt. Cmdr. Alan Easton RCN (ret) who was just such a person to command a Canadian escort group which used Londonderry.

Other than the IWM as Bob mentions, I would also suggest you contact the following:

Derry Harbour Museum
Harbour Square, Derry, Co Londonderry BT48 6AF, Northern Ireland
Tel: +44 (0)1504 377331, 365151
Fax: +44 (0)1504 377633
Opening days: Mon - Fri
E-mail: museums@derrycity.gov.uk

"Ship models, half-hulls, maps and pictures related to maritime heritage of Derry. The "Iona Curragh" 1963 repro of ancient boat. Prow of emigrant sailing ship "Minnehaha". Museum is in 1882 HQ building of Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners."

http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/museums/harbour.asp

They may quite well have some ww2 photos of the harbour and naval base.
There may also be a Londonderry public library and/or archives which may have a local history section which apart from the the above harbour museum would be the other sources I would expect to have harbour photos for you in ww2.

Also these below I noticed taken apparantly at Londonderry on the net from a very quick search:

http://www.secondworldwarni.org/Images/62a_lg.jpg
U-boats alongside at Londonderry
http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/all_images/photo_archive_images/Large/MC-2600.jpg
HMS Mayflower alongside Collingwood & Bittersweet at Londonderry, Ireland form the Ken Macpherson Naval Museum of Alberta

There is probably more about on the net as a good starting point.

Cheers
LB

Way Off topic, but of interest. The Canadian and Royal Navy ship's crews were very fond of Londonderry as a base. This was due to the availability of lots of farm fresh food sold by the Irish from both sides of the border. Upon arrival the escorts were met by boats hawking fresh eggs, live chickens, fresh baked breads etc. etc. The long haul across the Atlantic meant most decent food ran out in a few days. The arrival in Derry was often celebrated by a feast by the ordinary sailors.

Bob B.

Thanks for the help.

I tried the IWM on-line search, but all the Londonderry references came up with pictures of the newer American built base just up the lough at Lisahally. I guess I will have to make another trip to the Annex and go through the archive with a fine toothcomb.

The Canadian photo looks helpful, and the Museum link sounds very promising.

I have just come across a lovely description of arriviing at Londonderry in a corvette from D A Rayner's book "Escort." Also reading "HMS Wellington" by G Williams which goes into raptures about the fresh produce that Bob describes. Both books confirm the affection crews seem to have had for the base. It is mostly personal reminiscences such as these which inspired the project.

Here is a nice little book you might find interesting from the Canadian perspective. "War at Sea, A Canadian Seaman On The North Atlantic", by Frank Curry / Lugus Publications Toronto Canada ISBN 0-921633-52-1

Written based on Kurry's personal diary kept for the length of his serive in Corvettes and Minesweepers. His was the first Canadian escort group to use Derry. He has a nice chapter on that experience. He served on Corvettes through the early part of the war. He even left his ship to enter the Republic to look up his relatives. A very well written little book. One of the best from a personal side. He tells the good and the bad of it.

Bob B.