General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Werner Henke, shooting survivors
Posted by:
John Griffiths
()
Date: March 09, 2001 11:20PM
<HTML>Fin,
The Ceramic - a Shaw, Savill and Albion Company ship - was torpedoed by U-515 on the night of 6th December 1942.
She was not required for trooping and was left to maintain a passenger and cargo service to Australia. On the night in question she was carrying a cargo of bombs and ammunition in two of her holds. She disappeared. Later, when reasons for her loss became apparent, what also became apparent was that there was only one survivor from a crew of 273 plus 378 passengers.
This survivor - a Royal Engineers Regiment sapper - was picked up by U-515 and became a POW, which he stayed as until the end of the war.
There was no mention of any machine gunning nor of the sub deliberately abandoning any survivors in the water. By all accounts, the torpedo that was fired must have struck the vessel in one of the holds carrying the ammunition.
These facts from \'The Fourth Service - Merchantmen at war 1939 - 45\' by John Slader. Published by New Guild ISBN 1-899694-45-5 - and a truly authorative and excellent account of the Merchant Seaman\'s war.
Hope this helps.
Aye,
John</HTML>
The Ceramic - a Shaw, Savill and Albion Company ship - was torpedoed by U-515 on the night of 6th December 1942.
She was not required for trooping and was left to maintain a passenger and cargo service to Australia. On the night in question she was carrying a cargo of bombs and ammunition in two of her holds. She disappeared. Later, when reasons for her loss became apparent, what also became apparent was that there was only one survivor from a crew of 273 plus 378 passengers.
This survivor - a Royal Engineers Regiment sapper - was picked up by U-515 and became a POW, which he stayed as until the end of the war.
There was no mention of any machine gunning nor of the sub deliberately abandoning any survivors in the water. By all accounts, the torpedo that was fired must have struck the vessel in one of the holds carrying the ammunition.
These facts from \'The Fourth Service - Merchantmen at war 1939 - 45\' by John Slader. Published by New Guild ISBN 1-899694-45-5 - and a truly authorative and excellent account of the Merchant Seaman\'s war.
Hope this helps.
Aye,
John</HTML>
