Dates: 1941 - 1956

Type II HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie at Newcastle under the 1939 War Emergency Programme on 12th December 1939 with 16 others of this Type. The ship was laid down as Job Number J4210 on 29th May 1940 and launched on 5th September 1941 as the second RN ship to bear the name, that of a fox-hunt in Oxfordshire. It was first used for a minesweeper in WW1. Build was completed on 18th June 1942 and she was not adopted by a civil community after a National Savings WARSHIP WEEK campaign during 1941-42.

Memories of HMS Bicester

HMS Bicester in 1949
Written by John Bishop

"In the Nore Flotilla. Senior ship in company with the Bleasdale And Cowdry.This was my first ship where I was introduced to Naval termanolgy. I was an Ordinary Telegraphist with one tel named Smith and a Ldg Tel. Whilst on board I passed for Tel. I also experienced having to climb the mast go to the end of the yardarms and rig new W/T aerials. Our main task was going to Shotley to take bays to sea for sea training. A happy ship I recall."

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