Denis Arthur Wilkins

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 42 Column 3

HMS Grenville

HMS Grenville was the flotilla leader for the G-class destroyers, built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. The ship's complement was 175 officers and men. She spent most of the pre-war period as part of the Mediterranean Fleet. Grenville was transferred to the British Isles to escort shipping in local waters shortly after the beginning of World War II. On 22 October 1939, Grenville and her sisters Griffin, Grenade and Gipsy were transferred to the Western Approaches Command and arrived at Plymouth on 2 November. Grenville and Grenade collided during the night of 7/8 November and Grenville's No. 3 boiler room was flooded. She was under repair at HM Dockyard, Devonport until 1 December.

While the ship was under repair, her flotilla had been transferred to the Nore Command at Harwich for local patrol and escort work. Grenville rejoined them the on 3 December and participated in several attempts to intercept enemy shipping traffic off the Dutch and German North Sea coast. Whilst returning from one of these missions on 19 January 1940, Grenville struck a mine 23 miles (37 km) east of Kentish Knock Light Vessel. Seventy-seven of the ship's company, including Stoker 1st Class Denis Wilkins from Nottingham, were killed as the ship sank. (Wikipedia)

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