Convoy Commodore

A Convoy Commodore was the title of a civilian put in charge of the good order of the merchant ships in the British convoys used during World War II. Usually the convoy commodore was a retired naval officer or a senior merchant captain drawn from the RNR. He was aboard one of the merchant ships.

The convoy commodore is to be distinguished from the commander of the escort, always a naval officer.

Noted commodores include

• Admiral Sir Reginald Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax
• Admiral Sir Frederic Dreyer
• Admiral Lachlan Donald Ian Mackinnon Survived his ship sinking and was rescued after a prolonged period in the cold waters of the North Atlantic--health permanently damaged
• Vice Admiral Norman Atherton Wodehouse who went down with his ship when it was torpedoed en route to South Africa.
• Admiral Sir Studholme Brownrigg who went down with his ship, the SS Ville de Tamatave on Jan. 24, 1943 in a violent storm.