H.M.S HOLLYHOCK

Commissioned on 19-08-1940, finished 19-11-1940. HMS Hollyhock was a Flower Class Corvette, built by John Crown & Sons in Sunderland England ( job No: J4027 ) and finished by N.E Marine. The picture available from this site, was kindly sent to me by a Mr. H.Oxman from Sunderland. He sent me an original photo of HMS Hollyhock, as she was in the final stages of "fitting out", along with a copy of her scale general arrangement plans

Mr. Oxman was an apprentice draughtsman at John Crowns shipyard, and actually drew up the  "scale general arrangement plans" for the Hollyhock ( and still retains them to this day ). I cannot thank Mr. Oxman enough,  his photo was the only one that I knew of in existence, neither the Imperial war Museum, the Portsmouth Naval Museum or the PRO office have any photos of the Hollyhock.

It has since come to my attention that the town of Abergele in North Wales, who in March 1942 adopted the Hollyhock (as part of the national "Warships Week" savings scheme), was presented with a picture of the Hollyhock, along with the following Commemorative plaque, The picture of Hollyhock on display is an exact copy of the one I have from Mr Oxman.

The Brass Plaque Reads:

PRESENTED BY

THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY

TO ABERGELE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

TO COMMEMORATE THE ADOPTION OF

H.M.S. HOLLYHOCK and H.M.S. DERG

DURING WARSHIP WEEK .. MARCH 1942

The Latin "SIG OFF MAG ADM MAG BRIT" translates roughly to "Official Seal of His Brittanic Majesty's
Admiralty"

The Hollyhock originally served as escort protection in the Atlantic as part of EG3 (3rd Escort Group)Western Approaches Command Fleet. See "Convoy Duty" for more indepth infomation.