Thanks Joe
On Dec 18/44 U1209 struck Wolf Rock while submerged killing 9 crew.
The crew managed to surface the boat,set scuttling charges and abandon the boat into yellow rafts,all 42 of them.This was all witnessed by the lightkeeper at Wolf rock Lighrhouse who reported the incident to the Admiralty.HMCS Montreal,a River class Frigate was dispatched to the scene but was 2 hours away.My father ,Stoker PO Bill Scott of Esquimalt BC was in the motor launch that rescued the survivors.While destroying the rafts he cut off a piece about 1 Ft Sq.and had 10 of the U1209 crew sign it with their home town. 57 years later I have been in contact with 14 of this crew who themselves only met again in 1999 at a reunion in Gottenburg.I Have given the artifact to the "new" HMCS Montreal at Halifax NS,it hangs proudly with a plaque dedicated to the "fine Canadian sailors who rescued us."This is a quote from Anton Kramer,the organizer of the 1999 reunion,who I correspond with now once or twice a year Through an interpreter.
Kramer said they were in the water 2 hours and very near death when Montreal arrived....no doubt! A local marine artist wants to paint the scene of the rescue with Montreal,Wolf Rock Light,the ship's motorlaunch and the men in the rafts,so now you see the question,for historical accuracy.Thanks again for the reply.....Iain