HMS LEDBURY and ‘Operation Pedestal’

Now living in Ledbury, I recently learnt about HMS LEDBURY, a Hunt-class destroyer adopted by the town in 1941, and it’s exploits in the Mediterranean in WW2.

HMS Ledbury had an important role in ‘Operation Pedestal’ where it helped the oil tanker SS Ohio (seen under attack above) reach Malta. The files included here are PDF downloads as you are may want to print out the documents but they will also appear onscreen in most browsers.

‘Operation Pedestal’ was the codename for the Malta Convoy despatched from Gibraltar on 9 August 1942 to carry vital supplies of food and fuel to the island during the Second World War. Five out of fourteen cargo ships made it but four Royal Navy ships including an aircraft carrier, two cruisers and a destroyer were lost.

 The story of the Malta convoy 
 Complete list of convoy ships 
 HMS Ledbury - Letter of Proceedings  The Captain’s Account
 The Merchant Ships in the convoy 
 Personal account from MV “Waimarama” crew member 
 Personal accounts from SS “Ohio” crew 
 Operation Pedestal Casualties  List of 442 names (assembled August 2024).
The Casualty list is searchable.