Dates: 1939 - 1945

SHAKESPEARE-Class Flotilla Leader ordered from Thornycroft at Woolston in April 1917 and laid down on in August 1918. She was launched on 26th October 1918 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name and remained at Woolston for completion in February 1919. Her sister ships HMS KEPPEL and HMS BROKE were completed in Royal Dockyards. After acceptance she served in the Baltic during operations in support of countries under threat of invasion by the Soviet army, and later with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla Atlantic Fleet before being put in Reserve as part of the post-war economic measures. In 1938 she was selected for conversion into an Anti-Aircraft Escort and taken in hand by HM Dockyard Devonport. On completion of trials and modifications she was deployed in Home waters and took up her war station at Rosyth after the outbreak of war in September 1939. (See General Information). Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in May 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of the county of West Lothian, Scotland. Her build cost was ?275,000

Badge: On a field Red, a Lion rampant Silver

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