Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

Sheerness

2/1 NIGER is expected to be ready to leave Sheerness a.m.7/1

3/1 Sailing delayed owing to defects

4/1 Taken in hand for defects

7/1 Basin trial

9/1 From C in C Nore: Subject to trials proving satisfactory it is anticipated that NIGER will be ready to leave Sheerness on 13/1

10/1 Completed

13.1.40

On 13 January NIGER had carried out a depth charge attack on a suspected U‑boat while in the Knock Deep.

Ruegg

15.1.40

Newcastle on Tyne

?

25.1.40

Invergordon

10.2.40

30.1.40

Able Seaman Isaac Wylie D/SSX16421 died age 23 

NIGER was attacked again, by enemy aircraft on 30 Jan 1940 off Invergordon; 20 bombs were dropped causing negligible damage to the ship but wounding three men.

Ruegg

11.2.40

Aberdeen

17.2.40

NIGER taken in hand for maintenance

18.2.40

Invergordon

19.2.40

21.2.40

On 21/2 NIGER and Speedwell were sweeping 30 miles SE off Duncansby Head when they were asked to investigate an oil slick spotted by an aircraft. They dropped depth charges over the slick and after the fifth had been dropped there was an explosion and more oil came to the surface. This persisted for several days and the Admiralty regarded this as being a U-boat ‘probably damaged’.

21.2.40

Invergordon

29.2.40

1.3.40

Made another U boat attack while in 58.2ON, 02.33W.

3.3.40

Humber

19.3.40

20.3.40

Dover

5.4.40

Apr 40

In April 1940 Cdr. St.J.Cronyn, RN and Lt.Cdr. G.Mowatt, RNR appeared in the Navy List as appointees to the ship who by then was in the 4th Flotilla within the Nore Command. If both appointments were taken up it seems likely that Cdr.Cronyn was S.0. of the flotilla with Lt.Cdr. Mowatt as C.0. of NIGER. This arrangement was tried elsewhere during the war, but on the whole it was not favoured because of the small size of escort ships. It was probable also at about this time that minesweepers had their flags‑superior changed to 'J', NIGER's pendant becoming J.73.

Ruegg

5.4.40

Humber

?

12.5.40

Harwich

4.5.40

15.5.40

Harwich

?

The 4th Flotilla took part in Operation 'PG' which was a minesweeping operation off the Dutch coast in Mid May.

Ruegg

20.5.40

NIGER dive bombed and set on fire off Gravelines.

Ruegg

24.5.40

Humber

30.5.40

Source: Orde

HMS NIGER at Dunkirk
 

30.5.40

2145

On passage to N Goodwin Light Vessel in company with the minesweeper Dundalk, NIGER received signal to carry out ‘ferry service’ between Sheerness and La Panne

31.5.40

0700

Anchored 5 cables off La Panne. Sent in both whalers and the M/B. Considerable surf running. There was no one in charge ashore, and as soon as the boats arrived in they were seized by soldiers. One was swamped, the other overloaded and capsized. Embarked troops from yachts.

1045

Sailed with over 200 troops for Dover (being less distance than to Sheerness). Lieut R P Hichens RNVR was left behind. He moored 2 yachts as pontoons, secured grass lines to the pier of lorries and organised the boats 'pulley-hauly' on these lines, thereby increasing the rate of embarkation and avoiding the risk of capsizing boats.

1445

Arrived Dover. Disembarked 205 troops.

1715

Sailed for Dunkirk.

2240

Anchored off Brayes-Dunes

2315

A boat under oars came off with some 30 soldiers under the command of S/Lt R H Bygott RN: the boat had been towed by the tug Tanga. S/Lt Bygott reported that there were 150 troops abreast the ships. NIGER's boats were sent in but finding no troops returned empty. 

2350

A S/Lt RNVR (name unknown) from the tug Sun VIII swam off from the beach and reported that his motor boat and a ship's boat were aground with some 60 soldiers, that he had got 30 off in another boat, and that about 50 more were waiting. NIGER sent her boats in again, to tow the boats off and fill up; by the time they got in, the boats had got off and left, and the troops had gone. 

1.6.40

0100

A large shore boat i/c of Lt Cdr Craig came alongside with 40 soldiers, including Brigadiers Robb and Towel. At this time NIGER's boats returned with troops and continued to bring them off regularly but slowly.

0350

As dawn came, large numbers of troops were seen on the beach and NIGER's carley floats were pressed into service. Lifebelts were also sent in and some soldiers put these on and swam off. It was now nearly low water. Bray had been shelled from Nieuport continuously throughout the night.

0610

With about 330 troops, NIGER proceeded, the M/S Sutton in company. A message was received from Major-General Montgomery, through the M/S Salamander, that troops had been ordered to proceed to Dunkirk. 
Arrived Dunkirk. Disembarked 310 troops.

1800

Sailed for Dunkirk, Sutton in company.

2215

NIGER anchored off St Malo. The Sutton proceeded to Dunkirk.

2225

No boats being worked from the beach. NIGER lowered her motor boat, one whaler and a boat which had been borrowed from the skoot Vrede in Dover.

2230

The boats were sent in, in charge of Lieut Hichens. 5 cables to the westward he found some French troops and embarked 50 of them.

2.6.40

0000

British troops were then embarked some 6 cables further eastward.

0255

Proceeded with about 300 troops.

Arrived Ramsgate. Disembarked 300 troops.

2055

Sailed for Dunkirk.

3.6.40

0030

Secured alongside Dunkirk east pier. Embarked about 700 French troops.

0120

Slipped, whilst turning, an unknown French craft crossed NIGER's bows and was rammed. The skipper came on board. A few minutes later the French craft came back and rammed NIGER. 

Arrived Folkestone. Disembarked 700 French troops. The skipper of the French craft was turned over to the military authorities.

2100

Sailed for Dunkirk.

2233

Dense fog; speed 8 knots.

4.6.40

0030

Visibility unimproved. Passage abandoned.

0135

Anchored 3 miles from N Goodwin Light  

Total evacuated 1,515       

The following awards were made:

DSC    Lieut R P Hichens
DSM    L/Sea C F M Cooper
Mention in Despatches    Cdr St J Cronyn RN
 

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

?

Dover

5.6.40

6.6.40

Humber

12.8.40

NIGER taken in hand for refit at Grimsby by J S Doig Ltd. Provisional date ready for sea 9/7

31/7 From F O Humber: Collision has occurred between NIGER and the trawler Laurel. NIGER holed above waterline on the port quarter and degaussing gear damaged

30/7 Taken in hand for collision repairs, completes 10/8

12.8.40

Harwich

15.8.40

15.8.40

With the patrol sloop PINTAIL she provided AA protection for several minesweeping trawlers who were danlaying in 52.04N, 14.09E on 15 August.

Ruegg

16.8.40

Harwich

17.8.40

17.8.40

Harwich

20.8.40

20.8.40

Harwich

25.8.40

26.8.40

Harwich

27.8.40

28.8.40

Harwich

1.9.40

In Sept/October she was engaged on several minesweeping operations, including 'Lucid' (the plan to send fire ships into gathering German invasion fleets in French ports) and among her companions were the old 'Hunts' ELGIN and SELKIRK.

Ruegg

2.9.40

Harwich

4.9.40

Wellington Bomber: Airborne 2050 1st September 1940 from Feltwell. Flew into the sea during the return flight. P/O Burberry, the sole survivor, was rescued two days later by HMS Niger. In his report of the incident he indicated that he may have fallen asleep, but his Station Commander thought an incorrect altimeter setting was the more likely cause of the tragedy.

Source: http://lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=1857

4.9.40

Harwich

10.9.40

10.9.40

Harwich

15.9.40

16.9.40

Harwich

20.9.40

21.9.40

Harwich

24.9.40

Cdr. D. H. Harries, RAN, was appointed to the ship on 24 September. Lt. Cdr. Mowatt was still listed as in the ship.

24.9.40

Sheerness

25.9.40

?

Sheerness

26.9.40

29.9.40

Harwich

30.9.40

1.10.40

Humber

7.10.40

8.10.40

Harwich

8.10.40

8.10.40

Sheerness

12.10.40

13.10.40

Harwich

13.10.40

0708 Drifting mine exploded as convoy approached 52° 19’N, 1° 59’E.

?

Harwich

21.10.40

22.10.40

Harwich

22.10.40

24.10.40

Harwich

27.10.40

27.10.40

Harwich

28.10.40

29.10.40

Harwich

31.10.40

31.10.40

Sheerness

3.11.40

3.11.40

Harwich

5.11.40

5.11.40

Harwich

6.11.40