ROYAL NAVY SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND - ROYAL NAVY H
4)HOLLY (ARMED TRAWLER)
Image by A. I.
HMS HOLLY, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell,Beverley, as KINGSTON CORAL, completed 17/5/1930. Taken over by the Admiralty in November 1935, renamed HMS HOLLY.
During World War II, the minesweeping trawler HMS Holly (T-19) operated in the Atlantic and West Africa, performing tasks such as towing disabled vessels and local escort or patrol duties.
Towing Operations: HMS Holly towed the disabled Portuguese sailing ship Ildut into Freetown, Sierra Leone, so it could discharge a cargo of salt.
Regional Transit: The ship traveled between regional naval bases like Lagos and Gibraltar to support operations and undergo docking or repairs.
Patrol and Defense: As a former fishing trawler converted into a naval minesweeper, she contributed to local patrols and anti-submarine defense networks within the West Africa Command.
Subsequent History: Battle Honours. 1939 - 40 based at Sheerness.
1940 - deployed to the Mediterranean.
July 1942 - transferred to Freetown, Sierra Leone where she remained, acting as a minesweeper until late 1944 when she was paid off and laid up, Freetown.
Disposal Data: May 1946 sold to J Kjobro of Klaksvig, Faeroe Islands; renamed DRAGABERG.
1961 sold Gunderson & Olsen, Norway; Wrecked off Faeringehavn, Greenland on 28 July 1961.
