Harry Webster

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 78, Column 2

HMS Panther

HMS Panther was a P-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. After commissioning on 12 December 1941, she made a short trip to Iceland with the battleship King George V then escorted a British convoy to India.

In early April 1942, Panther rescued survivors from two cruisers sunk in the Indian Ocean, after which she took part in Operation Ironclad, the Allied invasion of Vichy French-held Madagascar, and sank a French submarine with another destroyer.

Panther then returned to the Mediterranean, and participated in the Allied landings in North Africa, but was severely damaged in an air attack and had to undergo repairs in Gibraltar. After taking on survivors from the torpedoed SS Strathallan, Panther escorted two Allied convoys in the Atlantic. She next supported the Allied attack on Sicily then sailed to the Aegean Sea in the Dodecanese Campaign.

On 9 October 1943, Panther was sailing south of the Scarpento Channel with other Allied vessels; the naval force came under air attack by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka aircraft of I. Group Stuka Wing 3 from Megara airbase at noon. Panther received two direct hits, broke in two, and sank less than ten minutes later in position 35°48′N 27°36′E. Thirty-three men aboard Panther were killed including Petty Officer Harold Smith from Sherwood, Nottingham. (Wikipedia)

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