Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Volunteer

British Steam merchant



Empire Volunteer under her former name Canadian Traveller. Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameEmpire Volunteer
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,319 tons
Completed1921 - Harbour Marine Co Ltd, Victoria BC 
OwnerJohn Cory & Sons Ltd, Cardiff 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack15 Sep 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-48 (Heinrich Bleichrodt)
Position56° 43'N, 15° 17'W - Grid AM 1998
Complement39 (6 dead and 33 survivors).
ConvoySC-3
RouteWabana - Glasgow 
Cargo7700 tons of iron ore 
History Completed in March 1921 as Canadian Traveller for Canadian Government (Merchant Marine Ltd), Montreal. 1932 sold to Italy and renamed Procida for Achille Lauro, Naples. On 10 Jun 1940, the Procida was seized by Britain at Cardiff and renamed Empire Volunteer by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 03.00 hours on 15 Sep 1940 the Empire Volunteer (Master Benjamin Pearson) in convoy SC-3 was torpedoed and sunk by U-48 65 miles west of Rockall. Six crew members were lost. The master and six crew members were picked up by the Norwegian steam merchant Fido and landed at Belfast. 26 crew members were picked up by the Norwegian steam merchant Granli and landed at Glasgow.

 
On boardWe have details of 8 people who were on board


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