Royal Navy and the Spanish Civil War

[colin6789]

I have a memory of my late father saying that when he was in the Sea Cadets in the late 1930s, he went on a large Royal Navy ship, I do not know its name, to Gibralter and back, escorting british ships past spain during the Spanish Civil War. I know that some british ships were attacked, but I have no information that they were Naval convoys to ptotect them. The Cadets onboard were there to give the operation a training excuse, the officers and most of the men were regular Navy, and maintain nutrality. I think as well that the ship was new or just been refitted.
Anybody know if I am correct and a name for the ship.

[MustafaTickl]

I recollect that HMS Sikh collected refugees from Spain during the Civil War and that HMS Zulu was knocking about in the area but regret that my memory does not go beyond that.

[johnlambert]

morning folks,
I googled HMS Sikh and the Spanish civil war and got this:
http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4434.htm l

and this

http://www.imaginationscyprus.com/wip/SOTRN_ww 2.htm

hope the links help

[Count_Emmup]

Very surprisingly little Minorca stayed loyal to the Republic right through the war (Mallorca and Ibiza fell to the Fascists at the start).

When the The Republic fell in 1939, all the British on the island needed to be rescued from the bloodthirsty, murderous clutches of the evil b�st�rd Franco. The destroyer HMS Devonshire was despatched and all were saved.

It probably isn't the vessel you're seeking, but it's an interesting, (and true) story.