The Philomel (Fleet Auxilary)went on war service in January 1939 and was based in the Mediterrean and Gibralter. She carried Fleet armament supplies. When the Graf Spee battle took place there were no armaments in the South Atlantic. She was based in the Falkland Islands for 14 months whilst the bomb bays were built. Thereafter based at Simonstown. She was posted to the Far East at the termination of the war in Europe and was eventually based at Singapore where she was at the fall of Japan. Do not confuse her with the old N.Zealand Philomel.

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