USS Edwards (DD-265)

USS "Edwards" (DD-265) was a "Clemson"-class destroyer in the United States Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy where she served as HMS "Buxton" (H96) and later in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.

As USS "Edwards"

Named for Midshipman William W. Edwards, she was launched 10 October 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts; sponsored by Miss Julia Edwards Noyes, whose great-grandfather was the uncle of Midshipman Edwards; and commissioned 24 April 1919 at Boston Navy Yard, Commander P. L. Wilson in command.

In May 1919 "Edwards" carried spare parts for airplanes and seaplanes to St. John's, Newfoundland, as reserves for the historic first transatlantic seaplane flight made by Navy planes. She sailed from Boston, Massachusetts 28 May to report to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, for duty with the Food Administration. Arriving at Gibraltar in June, she took part in escorting "George Washington" carrying President Woodrow Wilson into Brest, then visited England and Germany before returning to the States 25 August.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, "Edwards" sailed from New York 17 September 1919 and arrived at the destroyer base at San Diego, California 13 October where she was placed in reduced commission with a partial complement 1 November 1919. In February 1920 she moved to Puget Sound Navy Yard, but returned to San Diego a year later where she remained in reserve, occasionally putting to sea for target practice. She was placed out of commission 8 June 1922.

Recommissioned 18 December 1939, "Edwards" was assigned to the Neutrality Patrol, and after overhaul, left the west coast 22 March for Galveston, Texas. She patrolled the Gulf and east coast until fall, then sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she was decommissioned 8 October 1940, and delivered to the British Government as one of the destroyers exchanged for bases.

As HMS "Buxton" and HMCS "Buxton"

Commissioned in the Royal Navy 8 October 1940 as HMS "Buxton" (H96) for service in the third "Town" Flotilla, the destroyer served in Canadian waters briefly as the U-boat war intensified. She was then allocated to 6th Escort Group, Western Approaches Command, for dangerous and vital duty keeping the supply line open to Britain. "Buxton" was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and one of the triple torpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog. [Lenton&Colledge (1968) pp.92-94] In October 1943, when newer escorts were available, she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, and stationed at Digby, Nova Scotia, until the end of 1944. She was finally paid off early in 1945.

Notes

References

*
*DANFS|http://history.navy.mil/danfs/e2/edwards-i.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/265.htm navsource.org: USS "Edwards"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd265txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Edwards"]