That I Didn't Know

Myths, Legends, Folklore, Historical Oddities, Space, Supernatural and Other Tales

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Originally from the North of England. Growing up my mother had a huge leather bound book full of stories of ghosts, alien sightings, spontaneous combustion, fairies, ghouls and more. You name it, it was in there. And I was fascinated. I've often thought about that book. I'd love to ask my mother about it but alas, she is no longer with us. So I resolved to create this site. It's the closest thing to it I could get. I hope that some of the joy I had reading that book is passed on to you here today.

HMS Trident - The Oddest Crew Member header
Animal Kingdom History War World War 2

HMS Trident – The Oddest Crew Member

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HMS Trident had a short but fruitful life. This T class submarine was commissioned in 1939 and broken up in 1946.

HMS Trident spent most of her life in and around the North Sea. Between 1941 and 1943 Trident managed to sink 6 German supply ships, a German tanker and submarine chaser UJ 1213.

HMS Trident entering dock

She was also involved in many other skirmishes with enemy ships and submarines. While returning to their base, Trident was fired upon by German submarine U-566, but the torpedo missed it’s target.

Pollyanna – HMS Trident

Whilst fighting and in some cases sinking enemy vessels, a doe (a young female reindeer) was onboard the submarine. Named Pollyanna after their home base, she was apparently very happy onboard the submarine. How did she get there, you ask? Pollyanna was gifted by the Russians in 1941 to honour the relationship between Russia and Britain.

Because that’s a great gift for a cramped, dark, submarine operating in a theatre of war, right? I can only assume that being British, the crew were too polite to turn the gift down!

By the time HMS Trident had to return to its base in the UK, Pollyanna had grown too big for the sub. The help of a local slaughterhouse was sought to help remove her from the submarine.

Don’t worry though, there is a happy ending. Pollyanna wasn’t killed, she was given to a local zoo. The first and only reindeer crewmember of a submarine, retired to live out her days in peace.

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