Friday, 22 October

BRITISH AEGEAN CAMPAIGN (continued)

Escort destroyer HURWORTH was carrying out a diversion with Greek sister ship ADRIAS off the east coast of Kaymnos, while destroyers JERVIS and PATHFINDER landed supplies and personnel at Leros.

ADRIAS was mined, her forecastle blown off, and she was beached at Gumushuk on the Turkish coast in 37-02N, 27-06E. Twenty one of her crew killed and 21 wounded. On 1 December, she was able to proceed on her own power to Castelorizo, arriving on the 3rd, and from there, proceeded under her own power, accompanied by tug BRIGAND and escorted by destroyers JERVIS and PENN. Arriving at Alexandria on the 6th, was declared a constructive total loss and not repaired.

Still on the 22 October, destroyer HURWORTH (Cdr R H Wright DSC, D.22), going to the assistance of ADRIAS, was sunk on a mine east of Kaymnos, Dodecanese in 36-59N, 27-06E. Lt R A Morgan, Gunner V H Threadkell, Lt A R G Pearce RNVR, Ty/Lt L F Scholfield RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt E A Stocks RNVR, Ty/Surgeon Lt R McF Kirkpatrick RNVR and a number of ratings were lost. Eighty five survivors, including Cdr Wright, were rescued and taken to Budrun, Turkey.