Thanks Rainer, There must be an error in one of the reports as the Survivors Report I have from Kew ADM199/2135 page 46 clearly states "4th Engineer" a Mr. H.Q. Forster, but on reading the report, there are certain remarks which would not indicate an Engineer as the man in question refers to taking compass bearings while in the lifeboat, which would indicate a Deck Officer.
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Thank you both for your replies. According to the Survivors Report statement given by the ships 4th Engineer after the Rotorua sank the U-boat came to the surface and appeared to pick something up out of the sea as well as taking photographs of the lifeboats. He also states the U-boat was fired upon by the tanker Cardita from the same convoy. I have copies of Lloyd's and Tennent's
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I have read several sources stating two crewmembers from the Rotorua were taken prisoner by U-96. Problem is I can find no hard evidence to back this up. There is no mention of this in the official Survivors Report from the ship, nor are there any records held at The National Archives at Kew in BT372, which lists Merchant Navy prisoners of war by ship. Does anyone know if there is a German BDU re
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Finally after three years of compiling documents and submitting to the CWGC, Captain McLennan has finally been accepted,as a casualty of war and has been granted War Grave status. His name will be added to the addenda section on the Tower Hill Memorial. This is made more poignant than ever as during my research I was contacted by a number of his family members and I have now had the pleasure
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The site in question belongs to Mike Holdoway, who I have worked with over the years with certain details on his site, has limited the use of the search engine due to the number of people taking so much information from the site.
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Check for any survivors reports at Kew in ADM 199/2136 covering reports for March & April 1941. Depending when the survivors were interviewed and if and when a report was made it could be in ADM 199/2137 covering reports May to July 1941. Click on the links below and click the "request this" link. Follow instructions on how to order using the Digital Express service. Cost £8.50
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Thank you for this extra information. Much appreceiated. Billy
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Thanks for your quick reply Simon. Could I ask you source of reference please. Thanks Rgds Billy
Forum: WWI forum

At 09.30 Sunday February 28th 1915 the 500grt collier, SS Thordis, which had just been transferred over from the Norwegian flag three days earlier and placed under the British Merchant Navy Red Ensign commanded by Captain, John William Bell, was steaming down the Channel when the periscope of a U-boat was sighted off the Starboard side of the ship. Captain Bell proceeded to stop his ship and obse
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Curacao to Gibraltar, 11,700t fuel oil.
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Departed Freetown in Convoy SL-68 and dispersed. Cargo and destination unknown.
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Ardrossan to St. John's, New Brunswick in ballast
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Thanks Rainer, Much appreciated
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M.V. Ben Hann 298grt, (National Benzole Co. Ltd), had sailed in ballast from Fort William, Scotland 10th November 1941 for Bowling and was never seen again. The ship was officially recorded as missing/untraced 17th December. A raft and two lifebelts washed ashore 5 miles East of Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. A Joint Arbitration Committee considered her lost on 11th November 1941 and her loss to be &
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Depending on whether he was RN or RA gunner will depend on where his service file is. If he was an RN gunner, most of the time all that shows up on their service file is the accountancy base they were attached to eg HMS President III, HMS Glendower etc. and not the ships they were assigned to. There are no specific records of DEMS held at Kew, that I have ever known. All DEMS gunners signed cr
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Thank you Schalke, Can I ask what is your source of reference. Rgds Billy
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Any help appreciated. Empire Ruskin, 7,037grt (MOWT, Thompson SS Co. mngrs) had been part of Convoy KMS-7G, which left the Clyde on 7th January 1943, arrived Algiers on 21st January. Returned in Convoy MKS-8, departed Bone on 17th February 1943, arrived Liverpool on 1st March. So what happened on the 18th January causing the death of these men below. The CWGC denotes "Special Memorial&quo
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Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial ADDISON, Chief Steward, ALBERT, M.V. Inverlee (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 19th October 1941. Age 31. Son of George and Catherine Addison. ALEXANDER, Master, THOMAS EDMUND, M.V. Inverlee (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 19th October 1941. Age 46. Husband of Margaret Alexander, of Glasgow. Awarded Stanhope Gold Medal, and Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for
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Thanks Kpp, much appreciated. Have downloaded file to my computer and will use for reference when compiling information to send to the CWGC. I can't speak German, but I can make out in the report the ship and destination. Thanks again. Rgds Billy
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Thanks for your help Gentlemen, Unfortunately I am not familiar with U-boat terminology. Can you explain what is the "reconstructed KTB of U-182" and "a FT of U-182" and is there anyway I can obtain a copy. Thanks again Rgds Billy
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Thanks again Rainer, The Second officer taken from the Manaar is recorded amongst the war dead and is commemorated on Tower Hill Panel 67. GRAY, Second Officer, ROBERT, S.S. Manaar (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. Age 27. Son of Campbell Wood Gray and of Jane Mitchell Gray (nee Whitelaw); husband of Elsie Susan Gray (nee Urquhart), of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. Master Mariner, Merchant Navy.
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As a follow on from my earlier post in regard to British Merchant Seamen lost while held captive onboard U-boats when subsequently lost. Having checked the CWGC, there is no mention of Captain MacLennan on Tower Hill or recorded as a war casualty from their register. I ran a google search using his name and found reference to his loss on this site and I have also found relevant PoW documents
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Thanks very much Rainer, much appreceiated. I had read about it some years back, but could not find the reference. Now I can confirm this through Tennent's book and you ship losses database. Rgds Billy
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When and if possible it was known for a U-boat Commander to take the Captain of the sunken ship PoW or the most senior officer found. A number of these U-boats were then lost with all hands before returning home. Can anyone give me a list of the ships involved where this circumstance occured. Thankyou
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All DEMS gunners signed on a Merchant ships articles, the same as their Merchant Navy counterparts. Gunners were usually listed on the last page of the crew list as "Deck Hands"
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By a series of elimination, I believe these were the RA gunners lost from the Empire Crossbill. One thing the reference books written including Lloyds War losses don't show is that the SS Stonepool also lost from this convoy with all hands was actually carrying several RN & RA gunners, but because I have a copy of her last crew list, I can eliminate those names. RA Gunners Empire Cros
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The Trevilley had dispersed from Convoy OS-38 when she was torpedoed. A number of survivors were picked up by the Vichy French cruiser Gloria and interned. The Captain, Richard Harvey & Chief Engineer R.W. Smedley were picked up by U-68 and later transferred to U-459. They were landed at Lorient 4th November 1942 and interned for the duration of the war at the Merchant Navy PoW camp Milag Nor
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There is a photo and information on the loss on this site at the link below If you require a list of casualties,let me know.
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