HMS Gallant, Destroyer of the Greyhound class built by A Steven & Sons Ltd of Glasgow and completed in February 1936.
Whilst on 'non-intervention' patrol duties in the Mediterranean during the Spanish Civil
War she was bombed by mistake by a Nationalist Aircraft, for which an apology was
subsequently tendered, but did not suffer any damage.Based at Alexandria at the outbreak of war in 1939 she was subsequently transferred to various commands within
the British Isles, where she was involved in several rescue operations, anti-submarine warfare and patrol and escort duties.
Whilst participating in operation 'Dynamo' the evacuation of The British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk, she was attacked by enemy dive bombers sustaining minor structural and electrical damage.
On arrival at Gibraltar in July 1940 she transferred to the North Atlantic Command operating with Units of Force H in escort duties for convoys in the Mediterranean.
Following a spell shadowing the French Vichy forces she transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1940. Later that month formed part of the escort of a Malta convoy which made contact with the Italian Forces, including the battleship Vittorio Venetto and the action developed into the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento.
Whilst on escort duties for Malta Convoy Operation 'Excess' she struck a mine off Pantellaria on 10 January 1941, which blew her bows off. Taken on tow to Malta for repairs, she suffered further damage whilst undergoing extensive repairs, during an air-raid in Valetta Harbour in April 1942. Stripped of equipment she was sunk as a blockship at St Paul's Island, Malta in September 1943.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG639