Commodore was Captain W. H. Lawrence C.B.E. (in Briarwood?). For info, this ship is listed in Convoy JW 51A from Loch Ewe to Russia, Dec. 15-1942 - ref. this external link.

Ships in the Convoy:

The British Briarwood, Empire Sky, Empire Galliard, Empire Gilbert, Empire Scott, Empire Clarion, Chulmleigh, Daldorch, Dover Hill.

For info, Dover Hill and Daldorch are listed in Convoy JW 51B to Russia - again, ref. external link provided above, and see also the earlier "Operation FB" on that site (go to "Independent"), in which Briarwood, Daldorch, Chulmleigh, Empire Sky, Empire Gilbert, Empire Galliard, Empire Scott and Richard H. Alvey took part.

The American Richard H. Alvey, John Emerson.

Also, 2 more un-named ships (the report below mentions a York, Oct. 21).

Don was scheduled, but failed to join. (There was a Norwegian Don, but this must have been the British ship by the same name).

Rescue Vessels Rathlin and Toward.

Toward was on her 22nd voyage as Rescue Vessel, having started this voyage from Clyde on Oct. 17, to Reykjavik Oct. 22. Used as accommodation vessel at Iceland. Returned to Loch Ewe with Convoy RU 50, Nov. 26-Dec. 1-1942.

Rathlin was on her 9th voyage as Rescue Vessel, having started this voyage from Oban on Oct. 17, to Reykjavik Oct. 22. Used as accommodation vessel at Iceland for spare crews, then returned to Clyde with Convoy RU 49, Nov. 18-Nov. 23-1942. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).

Report on Passage:

Oct. 18-1942:
05:00 - Anchor weighed.
05:46 - Passed gate.
06:10 - ? Buoy.
07:13 - Altered course 358°.
07:15 - Flags HZ 6 also by flashing.
07:45 - Flashing K 6.
08:20 - From S.O. 13 is missing.
08:22 - To S.O. Thank you, am doing 6 until they are in station.
09:16 - K 8.
09:18 - From S.O. What portion is missing.
09:19 - To S.O. Think all here except 13.
09:45 - From S.O. Please tell Empire Gilbert to keep guard on D/F 335 instead of 342.
09:40 - To Dover Hill Please hurry up.
10:20 - S 010°.
10:35 - From S.O. What was last course.
10:37 - To S.O. Course 010°.
11:33 - From S.O. NE gale SW of Iceland. Depression 500 mls SW. Pressure m.b.(?) moving NE.
12:30 - General signal Pass out and back course will be altered 20° at a time to 300° commencing about
13:02 - S 2 a/c 350
13:09 - S 2 a/c 330
13:18 - S 2 a/c 310
13:28 - S 300 a/c 300°
13:26 - K 8 Speed of convoy 8 knots.
13:43 - From 52 What is our course please
13:44 - To 52 300°
16:50 - From 31 Are you going to stream fog buoys tonight
17:10 - To 31 & 51 Please pass back ? clocks to GMT(?) at midnight.
17:40 - illegible (WUT?), T2400 illegible clocks one hour at midnight.
17:50 - JG1 Load all P.A.C.(?) projectors with snowflakes.

Monday, Oct. 19:
Time not visible - Dense fog.
Time not visible - Fog clearing. From S.O. Good morning. Do you intend altering at noon and is there anything you want
10:40 - To S.O. Propose altering to 312° at noon. Will you signal with your siren when I have (done so?).
10:45 - To 31 Alteration will be made at noon.
10:41 - From S.O. Would rather not use siren. I am in touch with you all the time. Am instructing escorts to inform convoy of your alteration.
10:58 - To S.O. Thank you.
11:00 - Fog cleared. No. 12 1 mile ahead of station.
11:10 - S 312°.
11:20 - From 11 What is your signal.
11:22 - S 312.
11:30 - To Escort Please tell S.O. alteration has been made? (word missing in margin).
11:40 - From 62 Will there be any more alterations.
11:48 - To 62 No more alterations until tomorrow.
12:04 - From S.O. Have just told No. 12 to resume position.
!2:15 - From S.O. Formation of American aircraft bound for ?(missing in margin, looks like U.K.).
12:20 - From S.O. Formation of aircraft from Iceland to U.K.
13:25 - General signal 1st sub VIHG
13:28 - To S.O. My position by observation at ? 60 30N 12 26W.
17:13 - From S.O. No submarines reported in the vicinity. Gale off SW Iceland now E to SE. Do you still intend altering at 07:30 please.
17:20 - To S.O. Will not cancel the signal tonight but will do it tomorrow morning if necessary if it is thick will alter course as arranged it will make little difference.
17:35 - From S.O. We will probably make the difference in leeway anyhow.
17:28 - To S.O. Agree. That is what I was thinking of (times seem a little mixed up here).
17:30 - General signal. TG 1 Load P.A.C. with snowflake rockets.

Oct. 20:
08:10 - From 22 What is your true course.
08:12 - To 22 True course 290°.
08:21 - From S.O. Air escort will be circling convoy today, Catalinas.
08:34 - From S.O. What is your present course please.
08:36 - To S.O. Am now steering 285 to make 290°.
08:53 - From S.O. Air escort is sighted astern of convoy.
08:54 - General signal A.I. Aircraft is friendly.
09:15 - From S.O. What was last hoist.
09:17 - To S.O. A.I.
09:45 - General signal A.I. Catalina sighted.
17:00 - General signal T.G.I.(?) and I.M. hoisted.
17:10 - To S.O. Will continue on this course until tomorrow. When the weather may be a little better(?).
17:17 - From S.O. Agree. Consider depression is now over Iceland. Will let you know the weather report if I get it before dark.
?:35 - British cruiser approaching.
?:40 - From S.O. Gale from the SE later on.
?:41 - F.W. Approaching vessel is friendly.
?:00 - From S.O. Regret have orders for Saladin and myself to leave. Lady Madeleine will take over Senior Officer. Goodbye and good luck.
Time not visible - To S.O. Thank you for your assistance. Good luck.

Oct. 21:
?:05 - S 310°
?:10 - To S.O. Is aircraft friendly.
?:12 - From S.O. Aircraft is friendly.
?:13 - A 1 Aircraft is friendly.
?:20 - A/C 310°.
?:30 - To S.O. Do you know whether Reykjanes light is burning.
?:44 - From S.O. I think so.
?:15 - To No. 12 At noon take station astern of 32.
?:20 - To No. 11 At 12:30 take station ahead of 23.
?:25 - To No. 23 No. 11 is taking station ahead of you at 12:30.
?:30 - From No. 11 Does that apply to whole column.
?:35 - To No. 11 No, have ordered 12 to take station astern.
? - To No. 62 At noon take station 53.
? - To No. 53 Please make room for 62 to come ahead of you at noon.
? - To No. 52 Please close up to allow York to come in astern of you at noon.
? - To No. 62 You may take station now while the going is good.
? - To No. 61 At noon drop back and take station astern of my column.
? - From S.O. At 11:00Z aircraft gives out position 62 45N 19 49W. By D.F. I make (? looks like Portland or similar) abeam 016° and Reykjanes 305°.
11:40 - To S.O. Have ordered convoy into four columns at noon.
11:42 - From S.O. What do you make out estimated position.
11:43 - To S.O. We agree with you but hoping to get a position off the island of ? (looks like Gerfuglasket or similar)
11:46 - From S.O. I have a radio D.F. Will try to get a bearing.
13:28 - From S.O. Rock bearing 359°.
13:34 - To S.O. Do you mean ? (Gerfuglasket or similar).
13:39 - From S.O. Yes.
13:50 - To S.O. Please repeat message I cannot see the island yet.
13:55 - From S.O. Was bearing 359 but I cannot see it now.
14:44 - To S.O. Gerfuglasket(?) bearing 000° now.
15:10 - I.E. T1900 Both wing coulmns are to form astern of their next inner coulmns at 19:00 hours.
15:45 - S 300.
15:45 - To Dover Hill Are you having trouble with your steering gear.
15:48 - Reply Just a bad ?
15:53 - To S.O. S 300.
16:00 - To S.O. Suggest reducing to 7 knots at 18:00 hours to make E.T.A. 06:30.
16:30 - From S.O. Yes, I agree. Shall I make E.T.A. Suggest two columns when passing Reykjanes.
16:35 - To S.O. Yes please make E.T.A. Convoy ordered into four columns at 19:00 hours.
17:05 - From S.O. Have made E.T.A. Suggest burning navigation lights on approaching Reykjanes and onwards.
17:30 - To S.O. Suggest leading ships only burn navigation lights.
17:48 - From S.O. I agree.
17:50 - K 7 Speed of convoy 7 knots.
(This is all that's available of the report).

Escorts:
HMS Scimitar, Saladin and 3 armed trawlers (the trawler HMS Lady Madeleine is mentioned in above report).

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