• About the HMS Duchess
• HMS Barham colides with HMS Duchess

June 19, 1932 - Palmer launches its last ship - The Palmer Shipyard launches its last ship at Jarrow - the HMS Duchess.

She was a Destroyers D Class 9 Commissioned Displacement 1,360 tons (standard displacement) Complement 138 Armament 4 x 4.7in guns (4x1) 8 torpedo tubes Depth charge throwers Max speed 35 knots These vessels, built in 1932, participated in normal fleet duties and convoy protection.

MEDAL CITATIONS FOR RN COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL include, Leading Telegraphist Albert H. Mann Leading Telegraphist Albert Henry Mann was killed on 12th December, 1939, when the destroyer HMS Duchess was sunk in collision with the battleship HMS Barham in the North Channel, west coast of Scotland.

Six Officers, including Commander R.C.H. White, and 123 ratings were lost. One Officer and 22 ratings were picked up. L/Telegraphist Mann was a member of the Gun Carriage Crew for the funeral of King George V on 28th January, 1936, and for his services on that occasion he received the Royal Victorian Medal.

Of the 9 ships only HMS Duncan and HMCS Kootenay survived the war. These belonged to the Royal Navy (RN) HMS Duncan, HMS Dainty, HMS Daring, HMS Defender, HMS Delight, HMS Diamond and HMS Duchess.