History of  Royal Navy cruisers (heavy cruisers, light cruisers). Royal Navy cruiser website dedicated to the Caledon Class. HMS Caledon, HMS Calypso, HMS Caradoc including crew and families of ex-crew members notice board for the Caledon Class cruisers.

HMS Caledon  built by Cammell laird and laid down 17th march 1916 and launched 25th November 1916 completed March 1917. joined the 6th |light cruiser squadron of the grand Fleet in March 1917 and then Flagship, 1st Light Cruiser squadron under the command  of Commodore Cowan. on 17th November 1917 took part in the action Heligoland Bight against German outposts. she was hit by a 12-inch shell. Sent to the Baltic in February 1919 as flagship of the 2nd Light Cruiser squadron. and then joined the Atlantic fleet form April 1919 to August 1921, when she was relieved by HMS Curacoa.  In August 1921 at Chatham she was reccomissioned for the 2nd Light Cruiser squadron, in 1922 served in the Irish Patrols. but detached to the Mediterranean in September 1922, then to Memel in January 1923, during the rebellion in Lithuania. In February 1923 in Cuxhaven she collided with a German pilot boat. During World war two, served in the home fleet in 1939 moving to the Mediterranean fleet in 1940 (as did HMS Calypso who was sunk by the Italian submarine Bagnolini south of Crete in June 1940. ) HMS Caledon then served in the Red Sea from 1940-41 and the East Indies and Eastern fleet in 1942. Caledon was converted to an anti-aircraft vessel by 1943 and went on to serve in the Mediterranean fleet from 1944-45 eventually being scrapped in Dover in February 1948.

HMS Cassandra

Built by Vickers and laid down March 1916, she was launched on the 25th November 1916 and completed  June 1917., she joined the 6th Light cruiser squadron of the Grand fleet in June 1917, and on the 15th  August 1917 ran aground along with her sister ship HMS Caradoc, on The |Fasir Isles and had to be towed to Lerwick for repairs. In November she was sent to the Baltic but on the 5th December 1918 she was sunk when she hit a mine in the Gulf of Finland. with 11 dead.

Displacement: 4,180 tons    Speed: 29kt    Complement: 400 increasing to 437 as a Flagship.

Some of the crew of HMS Caledon during the operations at Memel, Lithuania, 1922.

From left to right : Eastman, Harris, Walker, Rawlings and Saunders.

HMS Caledon, July 1935.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1152

HMS Caledon, April 1945.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1153

HMS Caledon, 1918.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1151

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1151

Damage to HMS Caledon after collision with Italian SS Antares, January 1920  (last digit of date illegible.  Could be any year of 1920's)

HMS Caledon.  The photograph states this is HMS Caledon, but the photograph shows bow damage.  HMS Caledon was hit by a 12in shell in action at Heligoland Bight, 17th November 1917, which may have caused this damage, but HMS Caradoc and HMS Cassandra ran aground on Fair Isle, 15th August 1917, and it could be one of these ships in this photograph. 

In fact, we have now received another photo of the ship showing this damage, see above, which shows the damage was sustained in a collision with the Italian vessel SS Antares.

HMS Caledon c.1920.

Inspection of the crew of HMS Caledon 

HMS Caledon.

HMS Caledon at Grand Harbour in Malta.  

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

MESSAGES

HMS CALYPSO

JESSE STANLEY WOOD.. Looking for crew lists which include my grandfather who served on HMS Calypso. He also served on HMS Easton in 1943 as a Petty Officer. Contact me at alisonmccarthy_uk@yahoo.co.uk 

HMS CARADOC.. 

FRANCESCO GRECH.. My grandfather served on HMS Caradoc as a Stoker Petty Officer from November 1920 to February 1926. Any information would be appreciated.

HMS CALEDON

STANLEY ROBERT JAMES PITMAN.. My late grandfather was a Warrant Electrician (later Commander) in Caledon from 1939 to late 1941/ early 1942. He, with 6 other crew, was mentioned in despatches "For good services in the salvage of a supply ship" (London Gazette 14th June 1941) Does anyone have details of Caledon's war service druing 1939-1942? Contact me at stephen@plowman.co.uk 

DON BABB.. My uncle Don served two years on HMS Caledon while she was in the Med from 1943-45 I think. He would love to hear from any of his old shipmates. Please e-mail me at tonybabb@alejandra.net 

ROY PEPPER.. I served on HMS Caledon as an able seaman for the whole of 1942, serving in Mombassa and Colombo. I would be interested to hear from any of my old ship mates. To get in touch please e-mail : anne.pepper@whsmithnet.co.uk 

JOSEPH FOSTER.. Hello, my name is Matthew Foster and my grandfather served on the HMS Caledon during world war 2. I am trying to find information on the ships history and also the service record of my grandfather. If you know of any places that I could find this information I would be extremely grateful if you could give me a reply. Contact Matthew Foster at lafoster@lineone.net 

HERBERT THORNTON:  My late Father served on HMS Caledon during WW2. I believe he was in the Mediterranean I am looking for Info and photos of the ship and the crew at this time, and any old shipmates that may have known him. Contact Bill Thornton at billthornton910@hotmail.com