Dates: 1932 - 1962

HMS Guardian was a World War II-era net laying and photographic ship built in 1932 and scrapped in 1962. Her sister ship, Protector, was built in 1936 and scrapped 1970.

Guardian served in the Indian Ocean between 1941 and 1942; she took part in the invasion of Madagascar and helped build a base in the Maldives at Addu Atoll in 1942 in case Ceylon fell into Japanese hands. She also built two more bases for protection of merchant ships assembling for convoy; one was near Mombasa and the other near Cape Town. Guardian then returned to Gibraltar took part in the invasion of Algeria at Oran (Mers-el-Kebir) in 1942. Afterwards, she returned to Belfast for refit and further anti-aircraft weaponry. Later, she took part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

In 1952, Guardian was taken out of the reserve fleet storage on the River Tamar between Devonport and Saltash and towed to Newport for a refit and modernsation which was completed in 1954 when she was mothballed and returned to rejoin the reserve fleet at Plymouth.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Guardian

" Hello Does anyone know anything about the minesweeper HMS Guardian during WW2? My Granddad Philip Robinson was a quatermaster on the ship. He passed away without telling me much and I would just like to know the history for future generations to come in my family. Jennymorton72 at google mail dot com "

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" hello jennifer and a very big welcome from me to forces reunited - a great bunch of lads and lasses who will help in any way they can - in the meantime if you put hms guardian in your seaarch box it will give you lots of information - hope this helps - take care - colum "

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" Just did a long reply to you Jennifer and about to send it when the cat walked over the keyboard and lost the message. Any, HMS Guardian had a fairly distiguished career in the 2WW and she worked in the Indian Ocean for a few years. Also she took part in the invasion of Scicily. I Googled her name ..."

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" Hi I’m also research my grandad’s history and he was called George Odell and was a Leading Stores Assistant on HMS Guardian from 17.07.44 to 14.11.45 according to his records. I would love to hear from anyone who know what the ship was doing at this time. I understand it was part of the British Pacific Fleet. Thanks Emma Simpson "

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"Hello, Im interested in knowing who remembers my Grandad Philip Robinson who was a quarter master on the HMS Guardian. The only place I know he visited was the Yanktzee River, he obviously went to other places, but this is what I remember him telling me. He sadly passed away some years ago."

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