John H Marsh Maritime Research Centre

Can you help with any information on the following cases?

Click here to have information added to this page

Thanks Phyllis

With her parents she travelled from Pennsylvania to Durban aboard the SS Mexican in 1909. Has anyone got a picture of the boat please? (I am a journalist and am in the throes of writing about certain events in Durban, South Africa during 1932 to 1945)

Petrus Fourie

Thank you

Do you have any information on the ship and when this ocurrence took place at East London?

Thankyou

Myrtlebank was reported to have sailed from Aukland NZ to Nauru Island and in the vicinity of Nauru Island on July 2, 1937.

If this is this same ship, I am interested in an image and any information about this vessel.

Your listing shows # 587 for Myrtlebank.

Thank you.

I am trying to find out more about my maternal great grandfather Benson - who was apparently the first diver who worked in Durban Harbour. He died of the bends. Was married and had children - my grandmother Gladys Amelia Benson born 09.09.1891. (Sisters Effie and Flossie - some brothers too). They lived in Point Road in those days. His first name is not available to me. Are there any records I could research? The obvious is my Gran's birth cert, but I am not able to get that very easily from Ireland.

Many thanks.

PS What might be a clue, he went on to Captain a tug in the PE harbour called 'Garth'. He was well known as "Skipper Noble" of Port Elizabeth.

Oct 2008
My research is to do with my grandfather, Robert Edward Noble b.1860, who joined the Merchant Navy. We believe he was born in Scotland (possibly Aberdeenshire). We've only managed to trace him FROM Port Elizabeth, South Africa where, according to the Marriage Register, he married in 1883. From this, one is able to ascertain that he was in the Merchant Navy for a period of some 8 years, between 1875 and 1883. He was a "1st Mate". Would it have been possible for him to have risen to "1st Mate" during that period?

He had a brother, James Noble, who joined the Royal Navy. This is all we know.

Now that we have his full names and birth date, please advise if there's any way we can verify this?

Best wishes,

Greer Ballantine (nee Noble)

Thank you.

I live on a farm along the coast between cannon rocks and alexndria, eastern cape. it overlooks bird island. the farm was called grootvlei.

I have a grave yard on the farm one in particular i would like to find out more about.

William Pagan lost his wife elizabeth 27yrs and two children , william 4yrs and helen 1 yr , when the gladiator (iii) sunk off the coast in november (1860) this date can vary as it is very unclear.

the ship was homeward bound from bombay to england.

I have spent many hours searching for information. please help

I would like to restore the graveyard, and would very much like to have some accurate facts at hand.

regards
Lesley Pullen

I really don't know if he sailed aboard a wooden ship and from where he sailed. A Capt. Dolly crosses my path in a lot of read-ups but how do I identify a ship/boat/barge or whatever sailing vessel without a list of survivors?

Any help of whatsover nature, even in the negative will be better than none.

Thank you most sincerely

Liz

The year is 1883.

Lorraine Walker

I have started researching via the internet what I can on the various vessels he sailed on but require further information and also photographs of the vessels.

The vessels that I require information on are:

The information that I have obtained on the vessels and which I would like to know if correct is as follows:

ss Amicus
Amicus was a 3,600 tons British cargo steamship built by Northumerland Shipbuilding Co. for W.H. Seager & Co. in 1925. On a voyage from Tampa for Ipswich carrying a cargo of 5600 tons phosphates was torpedoed and sunk on 19 December 1940 by the enemy Italian submarine Alpino Bagnolini about 240 miles W of Blacksod Bay, Co. Mayo (54°10N, 15°50W). The entire crew of the steamer was lost.

ss Beatus
Beatus was a 4,885 ton British cargo steamship built by Tempus Shipping Co. for Ropner Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees in 1925. She served with W.H. Seager & Co. Ltd, Cardiff. On a voyage from Three Rivers, Sydney to Tyne, Middlesbrough carrying a cargo of 1,626 tons of steel, 5,874 tons of lumber and a deck cargo of crated aircraft was torpedoed and sunk on 18 October 1940 by enemy German U-boat (U46) about 100 miles west by south of Barra Head (57°31N, 13°10W). All 36 crew members survived to be picked up by the convoy escort HMS Bluebell, and were subsequently landed at Gourock.

ss Lornaston
Lornaston was a 4,934 ton British cargo steamship built by Robert Duncan & Co. Ltd, Port Glasgow in 1925 for Galbraith, Pembroke & Co Ltd, London. On a voyage from Blyth and Downs for Casablanca carrying a cargo of 6,002 tons of coal she was torpedoed and sunk on 8 March 1945 by German U-boat (U-275) northwest of Fécamp (50°35N, 00°30W). All 40 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by HMS Holmes and HMS Palencia and landed at Newhaven.

ss Alma Dawson
Alma Dawson was a 3,985 ton British cargo steamship built by the Jubilee Steam Navigation Co. in 1917 for Tyne I.S. Co. While on a voyage from Montreal to Ipswich she struck a defensive minefield and sank on 24 November 1940 west of Islay (55°32N, 06°44W). The entire crew was rescued.

ss Kirkpool
Kirkpool was a 4,842 ton British cargo steamer built in 1928 by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland in 1928 for Poole Shipping Co. Ltd Nielsen & Sons, West Hartlepool. On a voyage from Durban for Montevideo carrying a cargo of coal she was intercepted, torpedoed and sunk by the German Raider, Thor on 10 April 1942 some distance N.N.E of Tristan da Cuna (33º 00”S 07º 00”W ). Three officers and 16 men were killed. The survivors were transferred to the German supply ship Regenburg and then onto the German ship Dresden and taken as prisoners to Japan.

Thanks
Heather

So, to summarize, I am interested in port dates, routes and PHOTOS. Thanks. Alex

Two years after her launch, with the opening of Japanese ports, she was running as a packet between Shanghai, China and Nagasaki, Japan. According to her builder, when she returned home she brought with her a cargo of silks, teas, and freights worth roughly $12,000.

By the time of the Civil War, the Urania was running regularly between New York and the British colonial possession of Cape Town, South Africa. The Urania arrived at Cape Town in early August of 1863, one day ahead of the Confederate raider C.S.S. Alabama. The citizens of Cape Town, and the crew of the British warship H.M.S. Valorous, greeted the Alabama and the bark Sea Bride, which the Confederate ship had captured off the South African coast just days earlier on August 5th, with a great deal of enthusiasm. This did not sit well with crews of the seven Union merchant vessels at the port at that time. All of them, except for the Urania, lowered their flags in the hope that they would not be recognized as United States vessels, as it was feared that the Alabama would remain lurking off the port waiting for them to depart. Unlike the others, Captain Cooper of Urania decided to keep his up, apparently in a show of defiance, while his vessel was tied up not more than a ship’s length away fro

In the end, an encounter with a warship would lead to the Urania’s demise. On October 11, 1864 the Urania collided with the British Navy paddle frigate H.M.S. Valorous off the coast of South Africa. The Urania got the worst of this run in because of the British warship’s large size and extra heavy construction. The Urania was knocked on her beam ends by the force of the collision but still managed to take her crew safely into Cape Town, despite having lost several streaks of planking on her hull. Upon arriving she was immediately unloaded so that her damage could be surveyed. Urania had her fore channel bitts broken, main rail on the starboard side completely destroyed, covering board smashed, stanchions broken, and a boat destroyed. More seriously she had several streaks of planking started or missing altogether, and all of her copper sheathing forward the forecastle stripped from her hull. She would require extensive repairs before she could leave Cape Town.

While the Urania was still at Cape Town on November 25, 1864 in the process of completing the extensive repairs she required, a strong gale blew into town. In a freak accident the cradle on the marine railway holding the Urania fell over. The ship fell into the sea and was washed ashore a total wreck."

I would greatly appreciate any additional information you might be able to provide concerning the Urania's loss and what happened to her remains, etc.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Mirsky

I enclose some details from his emails to me, which could probably assist you:

"The true story is that my 40 year old (at that time in 1898) Grandfather Laurits Larsen, who was Captaining a large 1400 ton 300 foot long 3 masted Brig or Barque (VENUS) all the way from Copenhagen in Denmark; was blown ashore at Storms River Mouth.

Only he and his engineer survived the stormy waves that crashed on to the rocks at the Storms River Mouth.

His crew of a dozen men all drowned. My Grandfather and his engineer walked up the steep slopes through the Forest and came across the Sawmill further up the hills. He was lucky to find some form of civilisation right there at that time." I would appreciate any information anyone may have on this vessel.

Kathy Wayland

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Thank you
Glynne Clegg (nee fetting)

Can you please give me any information on the history of these cranes. Presumably they no longer exist?

Any information would be very welcome.

I have visited the Museum and met one of the staff in Australia - I think they were involved in taking an exhibition to Cape Town (my wife was at that time on the staff of the South Australian Maritime Museum).

Yours,

John Jessop

We are launching a website in Brazil which focuses on the war in the South Atlantic. I need some pictures of a few german blockade runners that I saw in the archives. They are:
#67 Adolf Leonhardt
#69 Adolf Woermann
#391 Anneliese Essberger
#198 Cassel
#353 Erlangen
#75 Karnak
#115 Ussukuma
#181 Watussi

In fact I need other ship's pictures however I did not find them. They were
Wakama, Rio Grande, Portland, Olinda, Norderney, Lech, Inn, Goslar, Ussukuma, Franken, Esso Hamburg, Ermland, Carl Fritzen, Burgenland and Babitonga.
Visit my website www.sixtant.net
With my kindest regards
Capt Ozires Moraes

I understand that it was the last ship carrying women and children that left the UK during the war, given the danger of the Atlantic at that time.

As I remember the story the ship was torpedoed shortly after leaving Port of Spain with all passengers and crew lost.

No matter how I have tried to research this ship I cannot find it. I know it sailed - I was on it! It did take three weeks to get to Port of Spain due to the circuitous route taken. The three of us returned on the troop ship Dominion Monarch at the end of the war - that one I have found.

I do hope you can help.

Mrs. Jean Rodmell

Would you be so kind to give me infos (and photo, if is possible!) about the liberty ship Henry Dearborn?

Thanks for your help!
Marco Errigo

U Samewerking word waardeer.

Andre van Wyk.

My grandfather Harry O'Donovan, as a member of the Australian 4th Light Horse Regiment, was transported from Melbourne on board the Katuna on 3rd February 1915. I believe that the regiment was landed in Egypt, prior to embarking to Gallipoli.

I really hope that somebody has more information or perhaps a photo.

Thank you. Anne Swart

Bamfora is now a district in Burkina Faso. originally a part of French West Africa. I was informed by the member concerned that he thought that she was French, built for mediterranean service although the wartime crew were British.

Regards --------- Geoff.

I would like to know whether these anecdotes are 'accurate' and more especially where I could lay my hands on the ships' logs for that period + list of crew and 'boys' on board during that period to check whether or not he was on board.

The only trace I have found for this ship is on your website.

Do you have any history of the ship, especially how/where it was lost?

Tony Chilvers.

We went out with a tug from the old robben island terminal.My grandfather-Sidney John Arendse (deceased)worked in the engine room.Some one onboard had a dog.We climbed into a basket and they would hoist us up and if my Mom got cheeky they would stop it and it would turn...she could swear...

Steve Arendse-Ex SA Navy (gunner-7years)/ex Debeers Marine-plant supervisor (12years)

July 2008
Caroline Mitrovich

My father, Anton Borgart, from Holland was working on the Willem Barendz for Radio Nederland,

Have lots of fotos!

Caroline Mitrovich

His daughter

October 2008
Lesley de Clercq

Hi Heather,
My maiden surname is also Karsen. My father, Glenmor Lionel Karsen is the last living son of Percival Charles Karsen who died in 1945 when my father was 14 years old (he is now 77 years old). My Grandfather, Percival Charles had nine brothers and sisters.

I was wondering if your grandfather and my grandfather were related in anyway.

Regards,

Lesley de Clercq

On the cliffs just north of the village of Nafun on Oman's Arbian Sea coastline there are the remains of a small steamship. They comprise a single boiler (Scottish) and what looks like two triple expansions steam engines that powered a twin screw ship, probably made of wood (schooner or barge?). Normally these engines would have been salvaged, but the remoteness of the site probably made that impossible. The machinery is very rusty, except for the copper parts. One piece still shows the cast of what must have been "Glenfield", but the last "d" is not readable anymore. This probably refers to Glenfield & Co. of Kilmarnock. A company still in existence, making valves, but which used to also produce steam engines.The local fishermen must have been stripping the more mobile parts of the ship (wood) as very little else but the heavy machinery remains. We found the remains of the anchor and other parts in little caves.

Who can help to identify the wreck?

2) Wrecks near Ras Madraka (also spelled as Madrakah) in Oman. The beach also features the remains of a modern orange lifeboat with Piraeus several times on its bow. Where could I find information on wrecks along the Omani coast along the Arabian Sea?

Shipwrecks along Mossel Bay coast.

Melbourne, Haliartus, La Fortune, Huis te Marquette, Kron Princess of Denmark, Rosebud, Susan Pardew, Floating Dock, King Cenric, Santos, Firefly, Zara, Cape Hangklip, Cape Point, Peter S, Maranata, Elephant, Eclair, Asiatic, Sabor, Lyndhurst, Seal, Soares Wreck, George T hay, Lady Pryse, Louisa Dorothea, Ruby, Mary, Galera, Galatea, Seagull, Martha, Nancy, Kate, Mary, Argyle, Dennia, Annie Benn, Erin, Wilhelmine, Philia, Poiseidon, Star of the East, Voortrekker. Total of 46. Some are fishing trawlers.

Greetings
Erna Marx
Dias Museum Complex
Mossel Bay
South Africa

Nov 2007
Harcourt Gardiner

I am writing the history of the J F Whitney Co of New York. The following is what I have accumulated on this ship . If you can add to it I would appreciate it .

George T Hay Ship 1647 Tons 1887 –

The “George T Hay” was named after the senior partner of J F Whitney and Company George T. Hay became the president of J F Whitney and Company in 1884

John Hay Whitney was a member of the family so the Hay’s and Whitney’s might have intermarried at some point. ·

Built 1887 by the Spencer’s Island, Ship Building Company, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia ·

Cost $$55, 985.69 ·

Registry Number 90,514 Parrsboro NS ·

International Flag Signal S.L.K.M. ·

Length 235 feet 6 inches. Breadth, 42 feet. Depth of Hold, 23 feet 6 inches ·

Agents J, F, Whitney and Company ·

Three masted full rigged ship ·

Original Shareholders: _ George D., Johnson, Eurias, and Ada Spicer, Amasa and Mrs. Loomer Nathan and Minnie Eaton, W.H. Bigelow, Antoinette Sayre, all of Spencer’s Island. Sir Charles Tupper, Amherst. Robert W. Spicer, Wharton. Robert Dewis and Clement McLellan , both of Advocate , Mark Shaw New York

A very fast ship. On one 3 day period in the South Atlantic she traveled 960 nautical Miles.

The George T Hay ready for launching at Spencer’s Island Nova Scotia 1887 That she was a lofty ship can be seen by the man standing on the main topsail yards ( middle of picture) The tides in the locality of the Bay of Fundy rise and fall about 40 feet and this picture was taken at low tide. Photo courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia, USA.

Three thousand people attended her launching. “The Tea” was a gresat success , raising over $640.00 for the local church.

Mar 6, 1897 Colonial Office (United Kingdom) - Sentenced passed on Noah Amos, second mate of the GEORGE T. HAY of Nova Scotia, for assault on a seaman. In 1897 George Leonard Fraser was a mate and John Walter Lemon an able seaman aboard this ship..

In 1898 was chartered to bring coal from Philadelphia to Manila for Admiral Dewey’s fleet during the Spanish American War. .

Captain Robert Dewis’s last command was the George T Hay. He took her to Liverpool, England from Spencer’s Island with a cargo of deal and reloaded with salt for New York. Two days out she sprang a bad leak and returned to Liverpool listing badly. The salt was unloaded the leak repaired and the salt reloaded and delivered to New York. He left the ship there and returned to the family farm in West Advocate that had been left to him by his father Joshua. His wife , Emily Jane Spicer died after a long illness on April 7, 1917 and a year later in April 1918 Robert Dewis after all the high risk years at sea was killed, gored by his bull on the family farm.

March 1906 Ship casualty list, South Africa. George T Hay, lost at Cape St. Blaize

A second source, George T Hay caught fire with a cargo of hay off South Africa and abandoned Captain Edmund Spicer and crew rescued by a Norwegian Barque and landed at Port Elizabeth, South Africa

A third source, on her way to the River Plate, South America, to pick up a load of baled straw from Rosario they hit a submerged object. She began leaking slightly so carried on. Loaded the straw and on the trip to Luderitz Bay, German South Africa, she began taking on so much water she had to be abandoned., after being set on fire. All hands were saved.

Sep 2007
Bob Kirby

My wife has a ships trunk with a painting of the Lyndhurst, a 4 masted barque, inside the lid. This has been in her family for many years and is believed to have belonged to either Raphael or Salvatori Cilento, both of whom were seamen bacl in the later 1800's and early 1900's before settling in South Australia.

I am aware that the vessel caught fire near Port Elizabeth on August 24 1911 and was abandoned and later sunk.

Just wondering if you have any further info re the sinking and/or any crew lists of that time.

Best regards

Henry Tornow

One, Robert Muller (my great grandfather's son) died whilst fishing. I was told that my great grandfather may have died in the early 1930's. I was also told by my cousin that a monument was built on his land after he had died and that historical information about this is found at the Belvidere Church in Knysna. We (the family) feel very strongly about this as we are trying to ascertain as much information as possible in order to share the family history with our children.

Many thanks

Much appreciated and thank you again.

My mother who was only year old was also on that ship. We four children were taken away from our mother when we were very young, were living in British Columbia, I am despertly looking for any of my relatives

Thankyou

My family is supposed to have come to South Africa on that ship. The family was Richard Humphreys and his wife Ann Watson, three children Stephen, Joseph & John, with the the only girl, Sarah "Hope" Humphreys being born on board ship while they were in the Bay of Biscay 10 Aug 1826.

Pat Lowe

Regards

Jim Binnie

With kind regards,

Jan Koopmans

many thanks.

Patricia

Regards
Vicky Allamand

July 2008
Kåre Nordahl Lundby Garsow

I have managed to find some answers to your request. They are attached in pdf format.
Kåre Nordahl Lundby Garsow

In die museum op Kleinzee is n foto van die gesinkinkte "Luna" wat omtrent 1km suid van die Piratini le. Is daar eneige informasie wat jy vir my kan gee oor die spesefike wrak?

Ek kan min of meer bepaal van die foto waar hy le maar ek sal graag meer agtergrond oor die skip he.
Baie dankie
Dudley Wessels

Feb 2008
Paul Jacobs

Dudley die Luna was n klein stoom kus vaarder op pad van Port Nolloth na Kaapstad en was gelaai met n vrag spoor sleepers. Die sleepers was van die Port Nolloth OOkiep spoorlyn wat opgebreek was. My broer Douglas Goslett sou op die boot gewees het maar my Pa het n argument met n Mr Meadows want my Pa was nie tevrede met die vrag lading (dit kom nou voor dat my Pa n wyse besluit geneem het om my broer van die boot af te haal). Ek het n paar boeke wat verdere inligting het oor bote op ons kus.
Se groete aan Dirk, Paul Jacobs ex Koingnaas

Mar 2008
Phillip Schoeman

Dudley
Ek het per toeval op jou boodskap afgekom terwyl ek inligting oor 'n onbekende wrak aan die suid-Namiebise kus gesoek het. Het jy al reg gekom met die inligting wat jy gesoek het? Indien nie, kan ek probeer help. Ek het omtrent 18 jaar gelede navorsing gedoen oor die wrakke aan die Suid-Afrikaanse kus.
Groete
Phillip

My grandfather John Trudgeon worked on this ship and unfortunately he died before I was born so never really knew much about him. I also have a whales tooth with the Abraham Larsen drawn onto it, I believe this is called a scrimshaw? Do you have any whales teeth with similar artwork?

Thank you

Dave Trudgeon

Nov 2007
Paula Lamon

My great grandfather is Abraham Larsen - I will be able to get pictures of the ship for you if you still haven't had any luck finding any.

Feb 2008
roy steiger

extracted from " african keyport " author---- captain tony pearson.
the union whaling company, was formed in 1903, by the then norwegian consul in durban, and a person named abraham larsen.
the whale factory ship, was originally named the empire victory being a german ww2 prize. on her 2nd voyage to the antartic -1947- she was re-named "abraham larsen".
the whale factory ship with 14 whale catches in attendance,used too sail for the antartic each southern-summer.
the --skippers--harpoon-gunners--were all norwegians. a number of skippers were killed in a plane-crash when returning to norway on leave one year.
many of the whale-catchers were ex-royal navy mine-sweepers.
all were powered by oil-burning steam triple expansion engines by choice, diesel power was to noisy underwater.
regards
roy steiger

May 2008
Dave Karlsen

Please find attached a link to some information on the Abraham Larsen www.fad.co.za/Resources/whaling/whaling.htm and www.fad.co.za/Resources/whaling/tribe.htm.
My father was on the Abraham Larsen on the 1953 expedition to the Antarctic, the same year that I was born. I have forwarded your query to him for any comment as well.
As far as whales teeth go and the practice of scrimshaw, we have many examples in our family.
My grandfather started with Union Whaling back in 1908 and eventually became a gunner as did my uncle. My father was shore based here in Durban firstly at Union Whaling's Congella workshops and later at the Whaling Station on the sea side of the bluff until it closed down in 1973.
Regards,
Dave Karlsen

May 2008
Herman Karlsen

My Son David sent me your inquiry about the “ f/f Abraham Larsen “ on which your Grandfather John Trudgeon had worked. I can’t say that I remember the name but if you have a photo of him taken around that time that you can send me I might recognize him, one never knows we might even have served on the“ f/f Abraham Larsen “ at the same time.
I am however familiar with the “ f/f Abraham Larsen “ as I had 2 Seasons down the Antarctic on her as a Fitter in the workshop (1952-1953)and(1953-1954) seasons I also had 1 trip on the whale catcher “J.K.Hansen (10)” (1951-1952) season.
Having been associated with Union Whaling Co for approximately 23 years firstly as an apprentice then as a fitter in their workshops at Congella and later as a Shift Engineer at the Whaling Station on the Bluff Durban until the whaling station closed down in 1976 all of which I have fond memories.
My father Capt. Bjarne (Oslo) Karlsen and my brother Capt. Norman Karlsen both deceased were gunners on the whale catchers. I have attached some photos which you might find interesting
Best Regards
Herman Karlsen
Some Facts about :-

“ F/F Abraham Larsen “

Whaling Factory Ship

Built in. Germany in 1937 and was named “ Unitas “

She was later Seized by Allies at Flensburg as a War prize

1945 She was renamed “ EMPIRE VICTORY “

1950 She was sold to Union Whaling Co. South Africa who renamed her “ABRAHAM LARSEN “.

1957 She was sold to Taiyo Gyogyo KK, Japan. Who then renamed her “ NISSHIN MARU No.2,”

1987 She was scrapped in Taiwan

Sept 2008
Ricky Joyce

Hi I have had two uncle work aboard the Abraham Larsen,one of my uncles went missing at see on expedition to the antarctic his name Wallace Joyce his body was never recovered does anyone know what happened or are there any pictures of him out there.

His Brother Kenneth Joyce is still alive and loves to reminisc about the whaling days there is a mention of him in the article called remember the whalers

Many thanks

Fiona

Oct 2008
Cath Wickins

I am interested in any historical or anecdotal information regarding Ramsgate on the Kwazulu Natal South Coast, whether it be maritime or other. Thanks

The shipping list indicates that he was not to be paid off at the end of that voyage which I understand was from Durban via Cape Town to New York.

I will be very grateful for any information that will lead me to ascertain where the "Hyacinthus" went from New York and if he stayed on board the Hyacinthus.

I understand that the "Hyacinthus" was built in 1902 and scrapped in 1930 but this infirmation is taken from the internet and I have not confirmed it and I THINK it was part of the Houston shipping line but I am happy to be corrected if that is incorrect!

Regards Frank.

Mar 2008
David Davies

Hi Frank
I am the nephew of the king Luds 4th Engineer Officer Brinley Charles Davies who I never met he died 2 years before I was born. From what my father could tell me she was outward bound from Ceylon loaded with munitions and was lost reason unknown to my father when he died age 84 in 2002.
Have since found out that she was torpedoed by IJN submarine I 10 off madagascar 8th June 1942 all hands lost?
No ships photos found todate or which shipping line she belonged.

HI
my uncle was the 3rd engineer aboard the Lyle Park (registered Greenock) when she was attacked off west Africa on the 11th June 1942.
His name is Edward Richard Davies aged 26 and unmarried.
The attack on this vessel is mentioned in the book by Ulrich Mohr fortunes of war "Phantom raider".
My father made contact through a South Wales news paper with a crew member who when he was in one of the ships life boats he and the others could hear Eddy who was off watch in his cabin shouting through his porthole that the cabin door had become wedged shut and he was trapped inside he went down with the ship.

David Davies

Some information I have come across suggests she was seized by the Dutch in 1940 and renamed `TERKOLEI`. She being torpedoed and sunk 18 Mar. 1943.

I would dearly love more information about the vessel and hopefully a picture (or information where I could begin looking for one).

Neville J.Tonkinson.

Dec 2007
Kåre Nordahl Lunby Garsow

A torpedo launched by U 631 sank the Wessel Terkoelei. The C.O. was Oberleutnant Jürgen Krüger. If you type the below mentioned address in your browser, you will get more info.

http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/ships.cgi?boat=631;nr=2

Sharyn

ss SHERWOOD
Official Number 351024
GRT 1765.75
NRT 967.53
IHP 1750
Intl Callsign ZSNN

The vessel was purchased I believe from Scandinavian Owners by Durban Lines sometime during 1960

In late 1963 the Vessel was sold to another South African Company "African Coasters Pty" managed and owned by Grindrod and Gersigney. The name was then changed to ss BOUNDARY.

The Master at the time Durban Lines owned the vessel was Captain WA Nichols (Known everywhere as Nick - remarkable man himself , his father was Master of a Clipper Ship running between the UK and Australia and Nick was born on one voyage from the UK to Australia) Captain Nichols was either the Durban Port Captain or Deputy before he retired and commenced working for Durban Lines sometime around the 1960/s

What became of the ss BOUNDARY after 1963?

Who were the Original Owners of the Vessel when she was built? I seem to recollect seeing at one time bed linen which was embroidered with the name of a Swedish/Danish Company beginning with L . I have tried to back trace to Scandinavia from the information , todate have met with no success.

I was the Radio Officer on board from 1963 to 1965.and am researching the history of the various Ships that I served on during my time at sea and somehow I believe that the past history of the ss SHERWOOD must be very chequered especially during the 1939-1945 World War..

Any information you may be able to provide (No matter how small) will be most appreciated

Thanking you in anticipation .

Dronz Arigho R/O ss SHERWOOD

Peter du Toit of the JMMC wrote in Jan 2007:

Dear Dronz

Perhaps the following summary history from "Unicorn - Navigating New Frontiers" by Brian Ingpen will assist you;

(As you may know there were up to 6 Unicorn ships named Boundary )

BOUNDARY 2

---------------------

General Cargo Ship.

Tonnage; 2 825 dwt, Length 93.3 metres, beam 12.7metres.

1936 Built by Helsingors Jernskib-og Maskinbyggeri A/S Denmark, as "Laila" for J. Lauritzen, Denmark ( re L on bed linen ! )

1940 Sailed to Chile when Germany invaded Denmark.

1941 Taken over by Chilean Government; renamed Maude.

1946 Returned to owners

1957 Bought by Concord Line, Denmark; renamed Lilian Cord.

1961 Bought by Durban Lines, Durban; renamed Sherwood.

1962 Bought by African Coasters, Durban; renamed Boundary 2.

1966 Sold to Seven Sea Transport, Panama; renamed Golden Adorer.

1969 27 February, wrecked, Hsiangshan, Taiwan; scrapped in situ by Hsing Nan Engineering.

It was interesting to know that you were Radio Officer on board Boundary 2. Thank you for the details you have added to the above. We always value the personal experience side for our records.

Best Wishes

Peter du Toit

JOHN H. MARSH MARITIME RESEARCH CENTRE

Shaun Wissenden

Feb 2008
Valerie Coomber

hi - wonder if you can help, i see that you are searching for photos of various pilot tenders that your father served on, we too are looking for information regarding one of the boats, the penlee 1948, as my father was drowned off of the penlee and i am searching for any information – his name was thomas arthur hughes, if you have any info on the boat or any photos we would love to hear from you.
kindest regards
valerie coomber

Feb 2007
Roy Anderson

I have a house on the Breede River and I am looking for information relating to the SS Kadie.

Roy Anderson

March 2007
Fides Barry

Im ashamed to say that Im a Barry, born and brought up at Witsand and cant even give you much info. My dad was Alf Barry who owned a lot of real estate there. I am a direct descendent of the Barrys and the S.S. Kadie was one of our family ships.

Possibly try
BARRY AND NEPHEWS AND THE S. S. KADIE / Thomas, Beverly (comp) --
Swellendam: Drostdy Museum, 1990.
968.734 THO
Copies:1 Book

Best of luck
I will be making a point of getting up to speed with my family history.
Cheers
Fides Barry

July 2007
Lizette Payne

My name is Lizette Payne & I've seen your message on the net re the SS Kadie

I do not know whether you speak Afrikaans, but you can find a book on the history of Malagas at the General Dealer ( the one near the Pontoon)

The book's name is BAKEN VAN LIG. There you'll find info on the SS Kadie and other ships.

You can also ask the owners of the General Dealer - Mr. & Mrs van As, they would be able to give your more info on the history.

Regards

Lizette Payne

Nov 2007
Jan Langenhoven

I am researching(since 2005)the history of Witsand and Port Beaufort and have a significant collection of historical material on the towns.

The following is and exerpt from Barry & Nephews and the SS Kadie, a small booklet by Beverley Tomas, 1998, Drostdy Museum, Swellendam:

“The Kadie was perhaps the Barrys' greatest gamble and their boldest act. The Kadie, a 158-ton screw steamer with sails, was built for Barry & Nephews in the shipyard of Archibald Denny on the Clyde in Scotland. She was equipped with berths for fifteen passengers and had all the modern conveniences. She left Scotland on 18 July 1859, with Captain Fowler at the helm, and arrived in Port Beaufort on 26 September. It is said that Captain Fowler was 'intimately acquainted with Cape coast navigation' and his regular route was to be between Cape Town and Port Beaufort and then up river to Malgas.

In the past other ships had struggled up the Breede River to Malgas, but the Kadie was the first steamer in these parts and therefore not dependent on winds and tides to carry her across the bar of the river. The little vessel's promptitude and efficiency in conveying cargo was soon evident. A new route was introduced to Mossel Bay and Knysna, where the firm also had a store, and occasional trips to Algoa Bay were also undertaken.

The Kadie traded on the south coast for six years and in that time made no fewer than 120 voyages, rounding Agulhas 240 times. The total value of the produce that she transported from Port Beaufort to Cape Town in the form of wool, sheep, aloes, and grain was estimated to be between £100 000 and £150 000. Apart from this regular freight carriage and passenger service, the Kadie once made a trip to Mauritius with a cargo of ostriches destined for Australia.

Her reputation as 'the gallant little steamer of the south coast' came as a result of her involvement in several rescue operations. When the troopship Miles Barton was wrecked near Agulhas, the Kadie and Barry & Nephews' schooner, Everton, went to her assistance. On another occasion she towed the Claremont back to Cape Town to have a broken rudder replaced when she had run aground at Green Point. In 1865 the Kadie rescued the schooner Walter Glendenning from a perilous position near Hout Bay, and she often helped ships across the bar of the Breede River. Her most gallant dash was to carry a freight of coal to Simon's Town for the southern privateer, the Alabama, which was preparing to pursue a Yankee ship, the Vanderbilt.

The Kadie also put Malgas on the map. This was all part of Joseph Barry's plan to bring his port nearer to the godown in Swellendam. On the east bank at Malgas the firm built a huge storehouse and behind it a shop, hotel and canteen. In 1859 the firm erected a Dutch Reformed Church and during the years that the Kadie called there, Malgas was a prospering village. With the loss of the Kadie, Malgas and Port Beaufort sunk into oblivion as swiftly as they had arisen.

On Saturday 18 November 1865, the Kadie failed to arrive in Table Bay as expected. She had struck rock on the bar of the Breede River early Friday morning, and although she held together, there was no hope of saving her. The Cape Argus reported that 'the brave little Kadie ... has at last laid her bones on the South African shores.... We have been so accustomed to see the plucky little craft with her red cutwater come in and out of the bay, that it is difficult to believe that she will not appear again'. But the Kadie had come home to die and her remains are still on the rocks at the mouth of the Breede River, comforted only by the gentle lapping of the waves.”

Exerpt from: Malcolm Turner. 1988. Shipwrecks and Salvage in South Africa ~1505 to the present. Struik: Cape Town:

“Iron Screw steamer of 199 tons, built in 1859 by Denny, Dumbarton, owned by Barry Brothers, and commanded by Capt Fowler. Wrecked on the west bank while entering the Breede River on 17 November 1865. No lives were lost. She traded between Port Beaufort and Cape Town and other ports.”

Lloyds Register of Shipping, 1856-66.

Shipping Register, Cape Archives, C.C. 3/7/2/1.

I would really appreciate more info on the Kadie, the Barrys and the history of the townships and personalities at the mouth of the Breede river.

Regards.

Jan Langenhoven

June 2008
Wendy Parris

I have seen the entries about the SS Kadie and particularly the one from Fides Barry who said that he wanted to get up tp date on his family history.

I have his family tree (113) pages. If he would like to have a copy he can get hold of me

Wendy

They where hit by a torpedo from the German sub u631, the c.o. was Oberleutnant Jurgen Kruger.

The search have been quite demanding, but i have managed to get as good as everything concerning the ship, sub, crew and photos from when it was put into active duty in Kiel.

If anyone in Norway or Holland (Terkolei) needs information, then please let me know.

April 2007
Kåre Garsow

I have managed in my research to find as good as everything concerning the ship S.S. Ingerfem from Jacob Kjøde in Bergen Norway.

It was sunk by a torpedo from the German sub U 631 and the C.O. was Oberleutnant JÜRGEN KRÜGER born in Berlin 16-07-1918 and dead 17-10-1943.

Now the only thing missing are a photo of the crew, single or group.

Can anyone help me with this.

Nelia

August 2007
Fedde van den Bosch

Beste Nelia,

As jy iets van die Duitse duikbote wil weet gaan na uboat.net. Dit is uitstekend.

Op ons kus het net 2 Duitse duikbote gesink nl. die U 179 in Oktober 1942 wes van Saldanhabaai en die UIT 22 in Maart 1944 Suid Wes van Agulhas. (Dit was 'n Italiaanse duikboot wat deur die Duitsers oorgeneem was).

Die derde duikboot was die U197 net Suid van Madagaskar in Aug 1943, maar dit was nie in ons gebiedswater nie.

Hartelike groete,
Fedde van den Bosch.

Debra A. Davis

I understand that the vessel was of significant importance in Australian Maritime history, helping to plot out Ashmore reef and is now the cause of some interest. I would appreciate it if anyone can help, especially with crew lists, muster rolls, ships logs etc from this period.

Anyone knowing anything that you could forward or any tips at all on how to further explore this would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Nov 2006
Kåre Nordahl Lundby Garsow

Dear Marion.

I have seen the advert on the German submarine U66.
The only information that I can find for that on the date 09-07-1942 is here.
U-66 departed under Friedrich Markworth from Lorient on 23rd Jun 1942 and returned to Lorient on 29th Sep 1942 after fourteen weeks on patrol.
* On 9th Jul 1942 he sank the Yugoslavian 6,363 ton Triglav.
* Please let me know, if that is the correct name on the ship where your relative where lost.
*

Kåre Nordahl Lundby Garsow

The latest info I have are the following names."Portia" Houtbay Fishing Industries."Caroline" Caroline LTD Capetown."Southern Striker"Oceanpac Ltd Capetown.

As member of the Museum in Vlaardingen we are looking forward hearing from you.

Leen van Bree

Kind regards,

Mr K.J.A.Bouma

Any information ofn these vessels would be greatly appreciated.

Jan 2008
Jaco Brand

Are you still looking for information on the 3 Ferries of Robben Island, namely the Dias, Susan Kruger and Issie? There was also a cargo ferry since 1947 called "Blouberg".

I virtually grew up with them!

Yours Sincerely Jaco Brand

Do you know of an available book or newspaper which migh hold such information?

Harry Dutton

The photographs include:
· Terje 6 harpooning whales
· 4/5 whales tied up to Terje 6
· Dead whale with a penguin sitting on it
· Photograph of unknown (to me) a whaling factory ship with a white band around the funnel hauling blue whales on.
· Many pictures of Blue Whales being cut up and the blubber laid out with pictures of the crew on deck.
· Pictures of the deck and the ropes and irons laid out
· Sea ice
· A burial at sea with a Swedish flag covering the coffin (I think because obviously the colours cannot be seen)
· A sea biplane landing by the ship
· The sea biplane being lifted onto the ship
· A photograph of the pilots and some crew members
· Sea biplane taking off from the ship
· Other random photos of ships and ice
On the back of the photographs the printing company was stamped Velox with number (some have the same number and 17 photos bearing the number 338 and the other 13 have the number now listed) 339, 338, 341, 342, 344, 345, 347, 845.

If anyone has any information such as when, where and a year that these photographs were taken I would be very interested to know. From the biplane photographs and the dress of the pilots and crew they must have been taken in the 20/30s.

Doreen

Until later Charlie.

We ar searching for photographs from a whaling tour in the South Sea with the factory ship 'Willem Barends' of Amsterdam.

There were 63 men from The Faroes onboard this ship. Right now we are studying this, collecting pictures and stories from the period. We have been told that there are several photographs from this trip in a museum in Cape Town and we hope it is in your museum. If this is it, we would like to ask you to contact us.

We hope that you will be able to help us.

Youres Sincerely
Miðvágs Fornminnafelag
v/ Johannes Dam Hansen
Leitisvegur
FO-0370 Miðvág
Faroe Island
Via Denmark

May 2008
Odette McCartney
My father was on the Willem Barends from about 1950 to 1964 If this period is of any interest I could scan some photos for you if you let me know what sort of thing you are interested in
Odette McCartney

Oct 2008
Arne Bechmann

Attaching a photograph of the "Willem Barendz" leaving Cape Town. My father was a whaling gunner with the WB for many years. Kind regards

Arne Bechmann

• Mossamedes
• Montrose
• Edyard Bohlen
• Otavi
• Sir Charles Elliott
• Dunedin Star
• Huntsbrook
• Cawdon Castle
• Karimona
• The Islander
• Shawnee
• Catania
• Suiderkus
• Limpopo
• Outeniqua
• Benguela Eagle

Helge Bergendahl
April 2007

I am also interested in shipwrecks of the Namibian coast, and would appreciate any information.
Helge Bergendahl

Jill Mathiesen
Jan 2007

My husband Colin Mathiesen is the grandson of Ole Mathiesen, a Norwegian, and Captain of the Outeniqua when she went down off Walvis Bay in the early 1900's.

Jill Mathiesen
Knysna

David Pike
Jul 2007

Mossamedes: 1895 to 1914 See Photo

Montrose. A relatively well-preserved wreck is that of the Montrose, which stranded in June 1973 and today lies embedded on a sandy beach near Terrace Bay.

Eduard Bohlen. Refer to Arnold Kludas "Der Schiffen der Deutschen Afrika Linen". A freighter ran aground south of Conception Bay in 1909.

Otavi ran aground in Spencer Bay in 1945.

Sir Charles Elliott A rescue tug, the Sir Charles Elliott, ran onto the rocks before reaching the stranded ship Dunedin Star, losing two of its crew members who attempted to swim ashore. The subject of JH Marsh's book "The Skeleton Coast"

Dunedin Star: The subject of JH Marsh's book "The Skeleton Coast" . A British cargo vessel ran aground 80 km south of the Kunene River mouth on November 29, 1942.

Karimona North of Mowe Bay are the burnt remains of the fishing boat, Karimona, wrecked in September 1971.

MV Shaunee ran aground in Conception Bay in 1976.

Suiderkus Just north of Möwe Bay, washed up on a pebbly beach, is the hull of the Suiderkus, beached on her maiden voyage in 1976,

Benguela Eagle ran aground 25 km north of the Ugab River mouth in 1975.

Jaco Louw
Nov 2007

Here is details of the Montrose II which stranded near Terrace Bay in 1973.
The Montrose II CDF 205 were build in 1963 by Louw & Halvorsen in Cape Town. She was 67.5 feet long and were powered by a Caterpillar.
She was originally owned by Mr. R.Middlekop from Hout Bay and was used as a purse seiner. She fished for Van Riebeeck Canning in Hout Bay as well as the Ovenstone's factory, Columbine Canning in St.Helena Bay.
In 1970 she was sold to Mr.W.H Hearn from Hermanus are were converted into a inshore trawler for catching Hake, Sole and Kingklip. Her area code also changed from the Hout Bay area code (CDF 205) to the Hermanus area code (C 145).
During the late 60's and early 70's many south african fishing boats were fishing off the South West African coast line just behind the territorial 12 nautical mile boundary at that time. Thus the reason she stranded so far from her home port.

Regards
Jaco Louw

regards Vaughan

I was surprised to find a freighter of that name in the list of the collection.

Do you have any more information on this ship?

Thank you in advance for your held and greetings from Cologne

Marianne Bechhaus-Gerst

Isabel Herrera
Oct 2007

My name is Isabel Herrera and I´m a journalist of La Tercera newspaper, from Chile. I´m writing an article about Mahjub bin Adam Mohamed an I wanted to know if you could answer to me a few questions about him, because I know that you wrote a book about him.

1. Did you know what happened to the family of Mahjub bin Adam Mohamed?
2. What did you discover about the days that he passed in the concentration camp?
3. Why did you chose that title for your book?
4. Wich details you give about the persecution of black people under the Third Reich?

Thank you very much for your answers.

May 2008
Steve
Hello Marianne:
I am writing from Ohio, USA.
In reference to Mahjub bin Adam Mohamed did he play the Duke of Wuertemburg's bodyguard in the propaganda movie (which is banned in Germany), Der Ewige Jude?
Yours truly,
Steve

Jock

July 2008
Graham Lawrence

I do have information on the Boundary, this being the first vessel in the African Coasters fleet of that name. I have vast records on all coasters that traded on the South African coast between the years 1850 to 1966. Having recently retired and relocated down the Natal south coast all my records are securely packed away. This now gives me the incentive to start unpacking and finding a home for my collection.
My collection contains photographs, press cuttings, quotes from books and publications and good old "digging" research.

Kindest regards
Graham Lawrence

I would appreciate if anyone could send me anything you might have on this tragedy, so that I could have peace of mind and closure.

Arnold Brott

k.j.a.bouma
June 2007

Loss of ss soemba date : januari 5 th 1941 08:50 lt

in response to your inquiry as follows :

ss soemba
the full company name is : stoomvaart maatschappij nederland .
vessel was build in 1924
speed 12 knots
tonnage 6708 brt
port of registry : amsterdam
flag : dutch
the archief of this company is kept at the "nationaal scheepvaart museum"at amsterdam ,the netherlands .
photo's of the vessel can ordered from the museum . website : http://www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl .
i found two refences to the loss of the vessel , how ever both are in the dutch language .

"geschiedenis van de nederlandse koopvaardij in de tweede wereld oorlog " , author : k.w.l.bezemer , elsevier / amsterdam 1987 page 444 . "varen in oorlogs tijd" , author : s.j. graaf van limburg stirum , c.de boer jr / amsterdam 1947 page 73

a short translation is as follows :
the vessel was loaded at philadelphia with steel ingots and pig iron for the uk.manning the vessel proved difficult . she sail with a mixed bag of nationalities .the voyage went first to halifax . from there she sailed for the uk in convoy on the first of january 1942 . in the morning of the 5 th , in heavy weather , the vessel developed a list over port at about 08.30 lt .

the order to abandon ship was given . the vessel was seen to sink at about 08.50 . the master "j.p.leguit"and 35 crewmembers went down with the ship .

24 survivors where rescued by the swedisch vessel "rydboholm" and landed at halifax .

will make a full translasion if and when required .

kind regards , koos
mr . k.j.a.bouma

Feb 2008
Frits_Kummer

Have you ever had any replies to your query about ms Boissevain? If not, I have a black/white photograph in the book "Vergane bootglorie herleefd". You are probably aware the the Boissevain was one of three "sisters", the other two being the Ruys and the Tegelberg. The book referred to has one photograph of the Boissevain and one of the Ruys in "war colours". I notice the Boissevain had her topmasts shortened, Tegelberg not. If you are still interested I can scan copies and mail them to you. Regards, F.Kummer

It is believed that John Leff was a lighthouse keeper at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, between 1863 and 1883, or certainly in the lighthouse service. In 1882 he signed a visitors book giving only Struis Baai as an address. . Although he is not listed in Williams's comprehensive lists of keepers, I believe that around the1870s and 1880s it appears to have been quite unsettled regarding the staff at the Agulhas Light. After 1910 and changing administrations, a lot of records and documents were lost and mislaid.

I understand that there is mention of John Leff in one of Lawrence Green’s books, which I think may refer to John Leff as having been in the service. Unfortunately I do not know which book, despite having read through as many of my Lawrence Green collection as possible.

I would like to know if John Leff was a Lighthousekeeper at Cape Agulhas or any Lighthouse, or in the Lighthouse service and any information on this or anything about John Leff will be greatly appreciated.

Suzanne-Jo Leff Patterson.

Heather MacAlister Jul 2006 wrote:

Their are a number of records pertaining to the LEFF family as well as a John LEFF around 1867on Ancestry24.co.za - it seems that the family were around the Hermanus and Caledon area in the same period that you are looking.

Heather MacAlister

August 2007
Wendy Louw My maiden name is Henn and I know my grand father came from Hermanus - Cecil Anthonie Christian D'Heil Henn

Unfortunately he passed away, but his younger brother is still in Caledon

Regards

Wendy Louw

William Sykes Haviside married a Sophia Rebecca Gore on the 4 April 1860 at St Lawrence, inThanet.
I think they came out in 1865 on the " Monsoon" to South Africa - our South African forefathers did not keep any records.

I would be most grateful for any information.

Marie Snaith
Sept 2006

I found the above information that you had posted in July 2006. I have found that William and Sophia had at least one daughter who was named Sophia HAVISIDE. From the will of Elizabeth SNAITH proven in 1890, I also found that her married name was HODGKINS. At the time, Sophia was living in India.

From our earlier correspondence of a few years ago, I believe you know that William's parents were Capt. Thomas HAVISIDE and Mary SNAITH. Mary SNAITH was the daughter of Westgarth SNAITH and Jane SIKES. William had a brother named Thomas Snaith HAVISIDE. One of Thomas' sons was named Percy Hugh HAVISIDE. Since we last spoke I have found that Percy died on 8 Dec 1906 from a gun shot to the head. His wife's name was Elizabeth. Percy is buried at Walcha Cemetery in New South Wales, Australia.

Hope this added information is useful to you.

Marie Snaith

Richard Irvine & Sons
Aberdeen & Northshield 940
Shipstore Merchants Lamp
"Trawling"
It has red and blue lights.

Can you tell me age, value, history etc.
Frances Pickering

Glenn McIntosh
Oct 2006

I have a gallery of images taken during the maiden voyage of the Southern Queen as a whaling factory ship in 1922-23 to the South Shetland Islands.
The gallery of images is on my website concerning the auxiliary barquentine 'Sound of Jura' - which is still very much under construction.
View the gallery here http://glennmci.brinkster.net/swsc/1923gallery.html
Cheers
Glenn McIntosh

Paul Whitla

I was born in Port Elizabeth in 1931. My grandfather, died in 1935 in Port Elizabeth.

My deceased mother's maiden name was Jessie Larsen. My grandfather had five daughters, namely Jessie, Lizzy, Gracie, Susie, and Milrose (my aunt's) He had four sons, the youngest being Harold and the eldest was Jack and also Magnus and Laurits. (my uncles)

All of my Aunts and Uncles are since deceased.

My father and mother and my sister and brothers used to go to the Storms River Mouth to camp occasionally. We lived in Port Elizabeth and since my Aunt Susie lived right on the Main Road running thru the small Village of Storms River we used to visit quite often and enjoyed the beach at the Storms River Mouth.

My Mom used to explain to me at that beach, saying that her Father, my grandfather Peder? Larsen's ship was sunk in a tremendous storm which drove his ship onto those rocky shore line's which you can see in the distance across the river mouth...looking East towards Mossel Bay.

My mother also said that her father and his engineer were the only survivors and his crew did not make it thru the churning surf crashing onto the rocks in gale force winds. Apparently, after my grandfather and his engineer (I don't know the name) swam to shore and walked up the Storms River valley until they came across a small settlement of Lumber (woodcutters) families who put them up.

Eventually, my grandfather married one of the local ladies and all of their children (my Aunts and Uncles) were born in Storms River, which nowadays is situated a few miles West, past the Storms River Bridge and on the South side of the Garden Highway.

My grandfather worked as a supervisor at the Saw Lumber Mill and later as the only school teacher there. I can still remember the Stinkwood and Yellow wood furniture which was assembled there at the Saw Mill. and the sounds of the saws cutting the logs.

I have been toying for a long time now to search for more information about my Grandfathers voyage which departed from Copenhagen...or Goole near Hull in England. I believe that it stopped at the Canary Islands for provisions etc. and must have also stopped along the West African Ports, Dakar and others.

I would like to know more about the actual cargo carried and the ultimate destination..possibly up to Mombassa or Zanzibar.

My Granfather was born in Bornholm, an Island in the Baltic Sea, and belonging to Denmark. I do have a copy of my grandfathers birth certificates. I remember seeing a picture of his boat taken in Copenhagen before he departed on his long African voyage. But that actual picture has been lost unfortunately. The boat had two or three masts and the name SEIER was painted on the stern and the front of the boat.

My deseased sister used to visit the Larsen family in Bornholm and Copenhagen.

I wonder whether for certain the Seier was actually sunk at Mossel Bay, Storms River or Buffalo Bay?..... since my family has always maintained that the actual shipwreck site was at the Storms River mouth on the East side. My Mother, Jessie Larsen, always waived across the river mouth to the rocks and said many times that the ship was wrecked there in amongst the rocks and she could see parts of the wooden hull still in amongst the rocks at low tide when she was younger. She must know since she lived at Storms River when she was young and the family went down to the mouth many times to swim at the beach and my grandfather to fish off of the rocks.

Kindly forward me any information whatsoever readers might have gleaned over the years regarding the shipwreck of the Seier.

Yours respectfully.

Arnold Watson.

a.. Seagull: Norwegian three-masted wooden schooner (373 tons), Capt. C. Christensen -- 11 March 1894, De Bakke, Mosselbaai (34° 10.30S, 22° 07.50E).
a.. Seier: Norwegian wooden barque (491 tons), Peder Larsen -- 23 May 1910, Buffalo Bay.
a.. Sir William Heathcote: British brig (149 tons), Capt. J. Morrison -- 15 April 1841, the Breede River.

David Larsen - Salbu
Nov 2006

LARSEN FAMILY Jack, Magnus and Laurits
Did you make contact with the LARSEN family?
If not I can help.
Kind regards,
David Larsen - Salbu

PS: Rev Larsen's son is Luaritz John Larsen and the Rev's grandson is David James Larsen - Rev's Grandfather arrived in South Africa in 1879 and was born on Bornholn Island Denmark

Arnold Watson
Dec 2006

I found an article on the Internet in "Shipwrecks on the South African Coastline" where it mention's particulars about the sinking of the SEIER at Walkers Point.  I remember seeing old pictures which my Mom had of the actual boat which my Grandfather sailed on from GOOLE in England to South Africa. I do remember seeing the name on the stern of the boat  20 years ago in the old picture which has somehow gotten lost.

The article on the Internet mentioned that the boat carried 1500 barrell's of Creosote and 45 tons of coal. It is possible that the Norwegian Barque Seier was powered by a auxialliary steam engine as well...although it had sails as well.

The article states that Pedar Larsen was the owner or captain. My Mom told me that my Grandfather was the captain and at times she said that his name was Peter...something like Pedar...I quess.!  It is possible that he had a nickname of Pedar?

Funnily enough, when I saw my 84 year old Uncle Albert Watson in Port Elizabeth 3 years ago, I asked him about the boat's sinking location, as my Mom always mentioned to me that the boat sank at the Storms River Mouth and that she had seen some of the wooden hull still remaining at the rocky shoreline at the lowest tide. She might have been mistaken though. It is possible that my Grandfather visited the actual sinking site at Buffelsbaai years later and took all his young children with him to view the site once more.

Arnold Watson.

He began his shipbuilding career at age 14 at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me., working summers. His father, Arthur W. King, was the general foreman there. Omar joked that he polished one of the bolts that went into the Ranger, the America’s Cup competition sloop, built in the spring of 1937.

In 1941, at age 26, after graduating from the naval architecture school at the University of Michigan, where he got a masters’ degree, he became Hull Superintendent of the South Portland, Maine Shipyard. Two years later, he was promoted to shipyard manager. After the war, he returned to BIW as Assistant General Manager. He was shortly thereafter promoted to Shipyard Manager and in 1955 became Vice President and Works Manager.

I am interested in any information that you may have about him or about the Ocean Courier, one of the ships he helped build.
On Sept. 7, 1942, my mother, Virginia C. King, christened the Ocean Courier, Hull # 24 at the East Yard, Berth # 2 in South Portland, Me. The ship’s captain corresponded with her during the war. His name was R.S. ?? Preston?

I would like to find the Captain, or his heirs as I have letters that he wrote to my mother during the war that I would like to share.

Usambara: arrival in Cape Town Dec 1925
Nyassa: arrival in Cape Town Feb 1926.

Aug 2007
Brenda Arrington Poss

I am researching the life of Ms. Alice Fischer, an Austrian refugee who was among those fleeing Europe during WWII. Ms. Fischer's last point of residence, I believe, was Montauban although I am unsure where she boarded ship. I do know that she was among those taken to a concentration camp in North Africa, held for an extended period on the Nyassa, then eventually taken to the United States where she finally gained her citizenship and lived until her death in 2004.

My intention is to publish a book about the life and works of Ms. Fischer.

Sincerely,
Brenda Arrington Poss

Sep 2007
steve richards

I am looking for pictures of the interior of the Nyassa circa 1940.

thank you

steve Richards

During a recent trip to Israel, I went to Haifa to meet a Fisheries Advisor with whom I have been corresponding by email for the past 10 or so years. During the course of our conversation he mentioned that he was on the D'rom Afrika (I cannot remember in what capacity) during the years around the Declaration of the State of Israel (1948). He asked me to try to get more local information on the vessel and also who was responsible for getting it to Israel.

I actually do have a connection to other whalers: In the late 1950's or early 60's my late father, Jacob Shenker, bought two ex-whalers tied up at Donkergat. I have forgotten their names, but I think they ended in "berg" (I could be wrong). The idea was to sail them to Cape Town and then re-engine and convert them into coasters or special purpose vessels. What I do remember is parking on a road near Donkergat and watching one of them steam out of the bay. We then continued the drive to Cape Town to await the vessel's arrival. We waited and waited.... but she never arrived - she broke down shortly after leaving and had to be towed back. That ended the project and they were cut up for scrap many years later.

Maurice Shenker

My interest is to learn more about my grandfather that was part of the Norwegian Whaling activity that took place in the 1900's. Their ships anchored of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa where the blubber of the whales was processed in big cast-iron pots on the beach. Temple Maclean (grandfather) and his brothers Eric and Peter was youngster, by what I could gather, was about 14 to 18 years of age. According to my father, my grandfather is born around 1894, probably in Scotland. I am desperately trying to find more information about my earlier family.

My grandfather, Temple Maclean worked on a Norwegian Whaling ship in around 1910-1920. The ship landed at Plettenberg Bay in South Africa. On the beach there was these big cooking pots made of cast iron, in which the whale meat and fat was processed and carried back to the main ship anchored out at sea. My grandfather never went back and decided to marry in Plettenberg Bay, where he stayed for a number of years in a village with two or three of his brothers. The brothers were called Peter and Eric. There might have been a sister as well and maybe another brother. I would imagine that they were all born in Scotland. From information I could gather, I calculated my grandfather's birth year to be about 1894.

Any form of help will be highly appreciated.

Andrew McConville

For about 15 years it was used as a coal hulk at port Natal and around 1935 beached outside Beira. (Mozambique) The wreck is still visible and is in the front of the Macuti lighthouse. Hope to hear from you, greetings .

Piet Jonker The Netherlands

April 2008

Beverley Nelson

Hello Pete
I wonder if you ever had any response to your query about the ship Willem Eggerts? I'm afraid I can't give you the information you are seeking, but I am interested in the Macuti wrecks.
The reason is that I used to go to Beira almost every year between 1962 and 1970 and watched the wreck become smaller as bits washed off.
The photo from 1967 shows how the wreck looked then. The second photo shows the wreck after the front part washed away. Apparently there is almost nothing left of the original wreck - photo 3 was taken in 2005 (not by me).
In your query you state that the old wreck is still visible - but I think that is not true any more.
Yours sincerely
Beverley Nelson in New Zealand.

Of the more than 800 individual visits by more than 750 ships and barks I have ony come across one that is quoted as being registered at Cape Town.

I am hoping that you can help with the identification of this vessel.

The information I have is from two sources :- FREDERICK HUTH, Captain Toby, arrived in Flinders Bay, (around the corner from Cape Leeuwin) on the 23rd of April 1842 and remained in the bay whaling until the 12th of June 1842.

The other reference comes from the log book of the American whaling bark, WILLIAM BAKER. This vessel arrived in Flinders Bay on the 20th of May 1842 and bay whaled until the 5th of June. The log book states :-
In the bay are the MENTOR,Capt. Chester; JULIUS CAESAR,Capt. Gibson; MONTEZUMA, Capt. Baker and the IRIS, Capt. Douglass.

If you can find any details of this vessel I would be most appreciative.

Rod Dickson

Could you please forward me any information that you may have regarding when and where the vessel was built, as well as what became of her after she was renamed the SA oranje, and where she currently is ( i.e is she still in operation??, if not when and where was she disposed of etc) .

In addition if you could please forward "any other information of interest" (i.e any major / particular instances or events that may have occured during any of her trips i would be most appreciative.

Richard Wood

It was a British wooden teak bargue of 378 tons built in 1863 by Hardie, Sutherland.The ship was wrecked at Mossel Bay on 28 April 1872.Shipping Register,Cape Archives C.C. 3/7/2/2

Things we would love to know about the boat are ;
What colour it was?
Any pictures of the ship.?
What decorations where on the bow and aft of the ship?
Was the hull a Clipper?
Did it have cannons on board to protect the cargo?
Anything that will help us build a replica model of the ship?
The Sale of the shipwreck was advertised in the Mossel Bay Advertiser June 12th, 1872 Agents were Flemming and Mudie. Auctioneer- John Cairncross

Ryan Hamilton
April 2007

I Am looking for some info & pictures of the Susan Pardew that sank in mosselbay

Kind Regards

Ryan Hamilton

Amongst her possessions we found a notebook with the name Usaramo written on the cover. I know that a vessel with this name sailed from Germany to Africa during the period from about 1920 to the late 1930's.

I wonder whether you could tell me whether the Usaramo came to Cape Town during 1928 and if so what the date of the visit was.

I am busy compiling a Family Genealogy and this information would be most useful.

Sydney Miller.

My elderly uncle served on Terje 4 in 1940 and he has been talking about his experiences and we wondered what happened to this ship.

S Booth

Terje has had several owners.We have her now twelve years and changed her name to:NARWAL

greeting
alex de vreught

The National Maritime Museum have just sent me this:- 3rd April 1918. Baykerran, British flag, 3755 tons. On voyage to New York (left 19th January 1918) carrying grain. Reported herself 'disabled' on January 23rd 1918 in latitude 41 14N, longitude 54 10W. Subsequently reported missing.

My mothers Uncle drowned during this incident, and the family would like to know how and why.

Thanks for any help

Capt Tim Butten
Oct 2007

Yesterday I visited a small church in West Wales, just outside Aberaeron.
There was a gravestone for Captain Thomas Thomas who died en-route to New York Jan 23 1918

Regards Capt Tim Butten

'This is a rosette from the bridle of one of the horses decorated for the parade for the Lifeboat Victoria'.

This belonged to my grandfather Robert Bennett born 1880 in Cape Town. His father John Bennett was in charge of the horses on the Breakwater dock. Prince Albert was there aged 16, to turn the first sod for the dock on the 17th September 1860. Incidentally both my great grandfathers were involved in the building of the dock.

I am writing this as I wish to find out about the 'lifeboat Victoria' I assume it was launched for Victoria's jubilee in 1887?

Can you help me by any chance??

Dafanie

Jeff Robinson
June 2007

There is a lifeboat called the "Victoria" in a maritime museum in Newcastle, Australia. It was used in Newcastle harbour around 1900. It waa built, I believe, in UK -- 23 feet long, unsinkable, 4(?) a side plus cox.

Jeff Robinson

I'm very interesting in knowing all about the wreck of the Spanish Cía. Trasatlántica de Barcelona liner SS "Carlos de Eizaguirre". On 26.05.1917 she suffered the effects of an explosion, near hold number two at the starboar side, an she was sunk in less than 5 minutes 15 miles away Capetown near Robben Island. From the crew of 106 members and 39 passengers only survival 23 crewmembers and 2 passengers. It was one of the worst tragedies of the Spanish merchant marine.

I would appreciate all the information, bibliography, photos, etc. about this matter that you can facilitate me, or that you can indicate me where I will find it.

Awaiting for your news and thanfull for your attention

Jorge Gilabert

Oct 2008
José Luis Gracia

Dear Mr. Gilabert,

I've seen on internet that you're looking for some infomation about the shipwreck of Carlos de Eizaguirre. Well, I'm the great grandson of a member of the crew. I've been investigating and I'll write you donw all I know:

The ship covered the route between Barcelona and Manila. On saturday 26th may 1917 at 3:30h a marine mine exploted against the ship. Was a great mess and everyone knew that the ship was sunking definetly... I had the oppotunity to read a letter from a survivor and he explains that all the scenes on board were incredibly horrible ( he had no courage to explain some scenes...) There was not enough crew to put the life boats down, was a very bad weather night with high and violent waves that pushed the life boats against the ship. They built a mausoleum in the catholic cemetery of Cape Town in honour of the victims. The ship had a twin brother called Legazpi of Trasatlántica too.

There is a book that I already bough about this shipwreck written by Julio Molina Font called Cadiz y el Vapor Carlos de Eizaguirre. It has more than 200 pages explaining the history and the shipwrek. It's written n spanish but I've seen that you have an spanish name, so...

If you live there I will thank you so much if you tell me where can I get a picture of the mausoleum.

Looking forward any mail,

Regards from Spain

José Luis Gracia

Cachano IX

I have been told that the ship was once called the anglo indian or inchcastle.

I have been searching through the internet and have discovered the name of the ship changed several times.

Sharon O'Farrell

Paul Dean
Mar 2007

Hi I've just come across your info on the Tacoma City. If you need information let me know and Ill see if Ican get more Info. I'm an ex Merchant Seaman and know some one who was in that Co.
Regards Paul Dean

An ancestor of mine, John Black, sailed a captured Spanish ship into Cape Town in 1798, and then left for Sydney on the Indispensable.

The details are: Arrived on captured Spanish ship "La Union" on 14 April 1798
Departed Simon's Bay on the South-Seaman, "Indispensable" approximately 8 June 1798.

Any information that you have or could direct me to in Cape Town regarding these ships would be very helpful.

Also, please advise where I can get information on original areas in Cape Town where ships such as these would have anchored or docked would be of interest too.

Many thanks
John Black

Jan 2007
George Dixon Hall

I am searching for any information in regard to the SS. Robert L Holt.
Sunk on the 4 July 1941 in the Atlantic, by a German U 69. My uncle George Dixon Hall, age 22 at the time he lost his life, was a naval gunner. R.A .

I would particularly like to find out if there are any images of the SS Robert Holt. Which shipyard it was built in, and any information on the actual incident, The only data I have has been passed down to me by my father. The name of the ship and date of his young brothers death. The only other reference I have been able to find is his name on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Any other information would be appreciated

Mar 2007
Colin Fraser

My father (Also Colin) was Bos'n on that ship. During the war it was classed as a mystery ship and it wasn't until about 10 years ago at my new home in W. Australia that I found out about the actual sinking.

I hadn't bothered too much in England as my widowed mother was still alive. It was in a book I obtained from the local library which told of the sinking - quite a shock to the system after all those years.

I have photo-copied the pages and also have a copy of the memorial that was placed on the replacement Robert L Holt.

I must admit that these at the moment may take some finding.

Regards
Colin Fraser

many thanks
carol ellison

Michael Coker wrote:-
August 2006

I have come upon your appeal below on the JMMC website for information.

I was a deck apprentice (cadet deck officer) with Silver Line from 1952 to 1956 and have over the past few years collected some information about what happened to the company's ships, and their crews, during WW2. Thus it was whilst googling for Silverpalm that I came across your entry and I hope that the following may be of some small help.

I have in my possession a booklet produced by Silver Line in 1950 to mark their 25th anniversary and in it they reproduce the Company Roll of Honour. I am attaching this and you will see your uncle's name clearly listed as one of those (all on board) who was lost in the sinking of Silverpalm in June 1941.

I also looked him on the CWGC website, and eventually found him with his Christian names reversed, as you can see:

But this does confirm his date of death as 9th June 1941, the date eventually discovered from German naval records of the torpedoing of Silverpalm. You may already have a copy of his death certificate which may or may not show the name of the ship. I checked and his death is listed although under Army, whilst he appears on the RN War Memorial in Plymouth! Which reflects the particular role that these gunners had on the merchant ships they were appointed to.

Of course I do not know the requirement you have for proof that your uncle was indeed on Silverpalm but I hope that this may help. If it is insufficient I can only suggest that you try the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen to see if you can obtain a copy of the last Articles of Silverpalm, failing that, the Records Branch at the MoD.

Finally, if you do not have but would like any further information about the loss of the ship, please let me know and I will tell you what I have.

I wish you luck. Kind regards.

Michael Coker

Janice Cowan
April 2007

Hi I am trying to find out what happened to the boat my grandfather served on during ww2. I believe his boat was returning home when it was ordered to turn about. To my knowledge the ship was torpedoed. Some of the men were found dead several weeks later in a life raft. I wonder if you can help me or point me in the right direction

Kind regards

Janice Cowan

Justin Fox in May 2006 wrote

Dear Clive
I wrote that piece on the Nova Scotia back in 1999 and I'm not sure if I still have any notes on the subject, but will go through my files and see. The Military History Museum in Joburg and the Naval Museum and Simon's Town may also have some leads?

Audrey Portman in July 2006 wrote:

I am trying to find some information on the sinking of the Nova Scotia off St Lucia. Did you ever manage to get more information on this?
I would appreciate any help you can give.
Regards Audrey

August 2008
Bruce Hunter

Hi, for what it is worth, I am the son of one of the survivors of the Nova Scotia, that was sank by a German Sub. off the coast of Mozambique. I have a photo album with some pictures of the men when they were rescued. Should you need them, I will willingly send copies to you, and all the info about my Dad (Ted Hunter) who was 19 at the time.

Any help regarding Lloyds Register entries or the like will be appreciated. Obviously I already have a fair amount of info on the Nirpura.

Mike Bisland
June 2007

Hi Adrian,
I came across your request for information on convoy DN 21 which was destroyed on March 3rd 1943. My Father (Francis Bisland), was a stoker on the Marietta E when it was torpedoed almost simultaneously along with the Sheaf Crown around 3am by U 160.

I have written a short booklet (around 35 pages) on the events which led up to that fatefeul night centering around the Marietta E. I have spent a long period contacting various museums, historical societies and individuals regarding the Marietta E and the destruction of Convoy DN 21, and while I have acquired a good deal of information the main thing that still eludes me is a photograph of the Marietta E, (she was launched in 1941 in Glasgow, and was effectively still on her maiden voyage when she was sunk in 1943).

I also interviewed my Father on video several years ago before his death in 2001, and he mentions there being a slight swell, although he never mentioned whether there was any moonlight on that night....(although I would presume it should be easy to trace back through an Internet search for Phases of the moon for specific dates).

The Captain of U-160, Jorg Lassen, had stalked the Mariette E and Sheaf Crown, after his earlier attack on the convoy, he eventually saw his oppurtunity and torpedoed both almost simultaneously, an exceptionally difficult task, that would have been made impossible if there was a significant swell.

Can you help with any info on my quest for a photo of the Marietta E.

Regards
Mike Bisland

August 2007
Adrian M Rowe

I have been researching the story of Convoy DN 21 for some time and would be interested in more info about the SS Harvey W Scott which was part of the convoy in which the SS Nirpura was sailing when they were attacked by U160. My grandfather was lost at sea as a result.

kind regards

Adrian M Rowe

Jan 2008
Dorothy Beglin

Dear Adrian,
Can you give any information of the ship S.S. Marietta E , my cousin was killed on this ship which says he died on Thurs the 4th March 1943, any info would be apprieciated. He was an apprentice Samuel David Jenkins aged 18yrs.

Where can I get a copy of Mike Bisland's booklet, I have been trying for some time to find information about the S.S. Marietta E. The other day I found my cousin,s name on the Naval Memorial at Tower Hill.
Sincerely Dorothy. Yours Sincerely Dorothy Beglin

Jan 2008
Matt Sinclair

Hello Mike,
I just recently saw your posting on the internet, looking for information or a picture of the vessel Marietta E,in connection with your research.
My late mother's eldest brother Jack Brown was killed on the vessel when it was torpedoed, and I have only recently become aware of the name of the ship, having just been given some family history details from her side of the family. (She had another brother killed the next year too while flying for the RAF over Belgium. Tough times!)
I was wondering if you had been successful in finding a photograph??? I haven't been able to find much about the ship at all!
Hope you don't mind me making contact and asking, but I would be interested in any other internet links to relevant info that I could have a look at. I see that the offending U-boat was eventually sunk off Spain (did I read that it was sunk by the Aussies?)
Kind regards,
Matt Sinclair
Nelson
New Zealand

Peter Honiball

Glenn McIntosh
Oct 2006

There were a series of whalers with the COJ name - initials for Carl Ossian Johnson. Are you certain on the S in COS?
Cheers
Glenn McIntosh

Sigurd Sivertsen
Nov 2006

I came across your question about "COS 23" as I was looking for some pictures from John H. Marsh. Maybe you have received answers to your question from other sources, but anyway you are looking for the wrong name.

The correct name is "Kos XXIII" and she was a Norwegian whale-catcher belonging to Aktieselskapet Kosmos and registered in Sandefjord, Norway. She was scuttled by her British crew in Suda Bay on May 27th 1941.

The Germans refloated her and she was put into service as German sub-chaser UJ-2104 "DARVIK" of 21. U-Bootsjagdflottille.

After heavily damaged by allied warships she was again scuttled by her German crew in Bay of Stampalia on September 18th 1943.

I found picture of your grandfather together with names of his parents and wife under http:// www.unithistories.com/officers/RNR_officersK.html.

Hope this is some help to you as I have been in the company all my life.

Best regards Sigurd Sivertsen.

Jackie Green wrote
August 2006

I too am looking for information on the Johann Cesar later renamed the Ingegard.

The attached is a collage of what I have managed to find on the Internet.

Unfortunately I still have not been able to find a picture of this ship. Has anyone responded to you with a picture?

My great, great grandfather, Michael Friedrich Peincke came out on this ship from Hamburg at the end of October 1858 and arrived in East London on 1 February 1859. I am putting together the family genealogy and am trying to find as much information as possible.

Hope the attached is of some help.

Kind regards Jackie Green

If you have a photo of Natal I'd appreciate a copy for my private family records if that is possible.

I am trying to trace any confirmation of a U boat being seen or sunk off Witsand. I was walking on the beach of the Breede River about 1943 when we came across a beached and abandoned boat. My father said it had been supplying a U Boat and refused to allow me to look at it as it had belonged to a "traitor'. I was only 8 at the time and have dismissed that story as a legend, but I now gather there may be some truth in it after reading the book Breede River Revelations by Chris Mellish (1996, Mallard, CT). That conforms to what I saw at the time, even though he does not claim the story to be factual. It looks as if it might be true (my oupa lived at Witsand). Do you knowe of any official record of a U boat being sunk or sighted off the Breede river about 1943?

Kind Regards, Roy Lourens (in Perth Australia)

Roy Lourens
Dec 2006

I to cant find any information about a U Boat being sunk off the Breede river, but there is increasing local evidence at Witsands that fresh supplies were indeed ferried to a U Boat offshore the Breede river at that time, and as I may have told you, I saw the castaway and abandoned boat at Witsand which my father told me at the time had been used by a traitor to supply a U Boat. I am told some oldtime locals still recall the occasion and even the identity of the alleged German sympathiser concerned.

The Mellish story about its sinking off the Breede River appears to be fiction, (though other parts of the Mellish story are factual). The U Boat concerned might be the last you mention, U-197 ( Kapt Robert Bartels) or one of its group operating off the coast of South Africa. This as you say was eventually sunk by 2 British Catalinas from Sqdn 259/C and 265/N on 20 August 1943 south of Madagascar.

Fascinating. My Uncle was Radio Petty Officer Randall on the Frigate Natal, if I recall correctly.

Much obliged, Roy Lourens

martin combrinck
Dec 2006

Wrt your letter, I'm sorry but unfortunately I can not help you there with your story from St Sebastian Bay. Re: "I am trying to trace any confirmation of a U boat being seen or sunk off Witsand. I was walking on the beach of the Breede River about 1943 when we came across a beached and abandoned boat. My father said it had been supplying a U Boat and refused to allow me to look at it as it had belonged to a "traitor'. I was only 8 at the time and have dismissed that story as a legend, but I now gather there may be some truth in it after reading the book Breede River Revelations by Chris Mellish (1996, Mallard, CT). That conforms to what I saw at the time, even though he does not claim the story to be factual. It looks as if it might be true (my oupa lived at Witsand). Do you knowe of any official record of a U boat being sunk or sighted off the Breede river about 1943?"

Something of a different story, my mother in law grew up and stayed in a small town in the Southern Cape called Napier not far from Bredasdorp, if you might know the area very well you'll know that Arniston, Struisbaai and Cape Ugulhas are about 25minutes drive from Bredasdorp.

She told me that during the second world war, certain farmers in the area helped repair a damaged German U-boat which had technical difficulties with it's diesel electric motors.

Do you perhaps know anything about this.

Best Regards

Martin

Dec 2007
Martin van der Merwe

Ek sien op die website (onder research) dat Roy Lourens in Des 2006 inligting gesoek het insake die duikboot by Infanta. Attach is 'n afskrif van bladsy 32 "The Outspan" September 17, 1943. Ek hoop dit is leesbaar. Groete Martin van der Merwe

John King wrote
July 2006

My father owned a wooden boat in Durban South Africa. Called the Southern Maid. When I was about 8 or 9 years old. Am 50 now. Therefore circa 1960.
I believe it was aquired after the 2nd world war, during which it was used as a mine sweeper. My sisters could possibly remember more about it. They probably have photo's etc...
I'm not sure that the boat the "Southern Maid" my father owned could have been used as a whaler seems too small etc... probably not the same boat.
My father used the "Southern Maid" as a charted fishing vessel as well as for commercial fishing. We had a small cold storage and fish shop in Umbilo road Durban.

Mike Doyle wrote
May 2006

I am interested in obtaining a photgraph of HMAS SOUTHERN MAID. In May 1941, she was, with HMS Grimsby, escorting the tanker SS Helka that was carrying petrol and water to the Allied forces besieged in Tobruk. The convoy came under sustained air attack off Tobruk. Both Grimsby and Helka were so badly damaged that they had to be abandoned. Southern Maid rescued the survivors and returned them to Alexandria. Among them was my late father, Patrick Doyle, a stoker on HMS Grimsby. I am currently putting together a history of his wartime experiences for my family and would dearly love to include a picture of the ship that rescued him.

David Pike wrote
Nov 2006

I have available the following information which you may find helpful

• a) Photo of Lt Com DA Hall
• b) Photo of HMSAS Southern Maid Leaving Alexandria
• c) Photo of the attack on the Ondina off Beirut
• d) Photo of HMSAS Protea escort/consort to HMSAS Southern Maid.
• e) A fair amount of textual information

If you want them I can scan them and send them to you

Regards

Marianne Markovic wrote
May 2007

I have just come across your ref on the web - the HMSAS Protea you mention - was it used to transport displaced people after the war to Australia??? I would like to know and am interested in finding a photograph if it is this particularly ship.

Many thanks

Marianne Markovic

Thomas Hudson wrote
July 2007

I have been researching my family tree and know that my Great Uncle, a Moses Maughan Hudson was a crew member of the HMS Grimsby. He went down with the ship in May 1941 when it was attacked by enemy forces.

I just read your post on the rapittp.co.za website and noticed that your late Father was a stoker on that ship. I believe my Great Uncle was also a stoker and by any chance didn't know if he might have known your Father. Obviously I cant check from my side of the family but did your Father keep a diary or mention my Great Uncle?

I know it's a long shot but any news or info would be brilliant.

Thomas Hudson

July 2007
Mike Doyle wrote

Thomas,

My late father rarely, if ever, spoke about his wartime experiences. We know he survived at least one sinking (HMS Grimsby). His siblings believed that he was also torpedoed some time later in the Med. Unfortunately, the RN has mislaid his service record from the time of Grimsby’s loss until his discharge in July 1947, so it has not been possible to establish the truth, or otherwise, of this. I know he lost a lot of personal effects when the Grimsby went down, but from the few letters he left, I know the names of some of the ships her served in after 1941. All survived the war unscathed.

As far as I know, my father did not keep a diary. I do have some of his photo albums covering his service in the RN although, unfortunately, none of the photos have captions. If you have a photo of your Great Uncle that you could send me, I could look through the albums to see if there are any similar looking men. Some years ago I made contact with another survivor, Donald Ing. He was also a Stoker. He said that Grimsby carried about 20 to 30 stokers whilst in the Med. He recalled that one of the stokers lost was a ‘Soapy’ Hudson, who had previously served on HMS Hood. Unfortunately, I have lost touch with Donald and assume that he has now passed away.

I looked at the crew list on the HMS Hood Association web-site (HYPERLINK "http://www.hmshood.org.uk/"www.hmshood.org.uk/), but did not find your Great Uncle listed there. They claim to have the names of around 8,000 of the 9,000 officers and men who served on her during her naval career so his absence does not mean that he did not serve on her. Have you applied to the RN Historical Branch for his service record ?

I have spent quite some time putting together the story of Grimsby’s wartime exploits. At the time of her loss, your Great Uncle, like my father, was a Leading Stoker. Other than being listed amongst those killed during the attack, I haven’t found any other references to Moses Hudson. Grimsby lost eleven men, all ratings. Seven of them were stokers; another four stokers were badly injured, but survived. The stokers who were lost were stationed either in the engine room. When off duty, their action station positions were either in one of the fire and repair parties or in one of the ship’s two magazines. The two stokers stationed in the ship’s after magazine at the time of the attack, John Hickey and Benjamin Smallwood, were amongst those killed.

I am currently revising the write-up of Grimsby’s loss I have prepared for the family. If you let me know your e-mail address, I will send a copy when I have finished the revision.

Best Regards

Mike Doyle

Aug 2007
Haldane Cunningham

During World War 2 my father Leading Seaman Gunner Leslie Cunningham served on the HMSAS Southern Maid.

I read the piece written in "Military History Journal - Vol 1 No3, by H K Kelly" and would like to find out more as this piece states that most of the war the ship was searching for submarines off SA coast but all of the photos that we have are taken in the Med.

I have quite a few photos of the crew not to mention other interesting photo's.

I would also like to know what happened to the craft after the end of the war as I heard that the ship was taken back into service down to the southern oceans.

I would also like to get in contact with H K Kelly by e mail if this is possible.

I am a Lt Cdr in the diving section in the SANDF and my two brothers are also navy divers and round the world sailors and this has made me interested in some history regarding this ship.

Many thanks
Haldane Cunningham

Aug 2008
TOM HUDSON

Hi Mike - it could well be that Soapy Hudson is my Great Uncle - it seems funny that a stoker who perished was nicknamed Soapy Hudson and my Great Uncle was a stoker called Moses Hudson, could be coincidence but I'm unsure. I'll try and get a photo of him. I know there are some photo's because I've seen one of him in his service uniform that you probably could match up with some photo's you have. Hopefully there will be a match. I'll continue my research but want to wish you all the thanks for the info you have already given me.

best regards,

Tom

Dec 2007
Alan Downing

I was interested to see on the JMMC website that you have documentation relating to HMSAS Southern Maid. I should be most grateful if you could send me scans of any information or pictures you have about this ship, especially the action that led to the sinking of the Italian submarine Ondina.

My godfather, Bernard Pickles, served on board the Southern Maid. I believe he was her gunnery officer when the Ondina was sunk and that he was mentioned in despatches.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Downing

Jan 2008
Martin L. Wear

My grandfather was working on Southern Breeze in the late thirties when the boat was hired by the Royal Navy in UK in 1940.
http://www.whaleworld.org/About_Whale_World/Cheynes_Beach_Whaling_Company/ Cheynes_Beach_Whaling_Company_Whale_Chasers/default.asp
Southern Breeze departed Gibraltar on May 7th in a convoy of 45 ships (Convoy HG 29) and reached Falmouth UK on May 15th 1940.
http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hg29.html
I still have the naval identity card showing that my granddad was on Southern Breeze at this time, and also have his passport which show the stamps from Falmouth at May 15th 1940.
I would be very happy to get hold of some old photos of Southern Breeze if you have some scans. I really would appreciate to see some, as my granddad was very close to me and I know that he spent many years on the whaler in the 1930's.
Thank you in advance for your help !
Yours sincerely,
Martin L. Wear
Norway

July 2008
Shane McNamee

I have a photo of the Southern Maid leaving Durban harbour post WW2, skippered by Jimmy McNamee. She was converted to a commercial fishing boat after the war. Later got sold (about 1956) to an organisation that used her as a ferry, they sank her after ramming the Quayside in Durban Harbour (about 1958). She was scrapped after that. I believe this is the same Southern Maid, she was also known as an airmen rescue vessel for the Royal Air force. She was 72 feet in length, twin 120Hp Gardner diesel’s and capable of a fair speed for her time.

That information has neatly tied together two little stories in the error-riddled Shell history that I was working on.

The first was a claim to have bunkered the Vila Star, the first oil-burner to visit the port of Tauranga, in 1953. It was made to look like a major piece of business, but of course whe was only a tiny and very old coaster and was a motor ship, not an oil burner.

The second story relates to Shell's little Tanea, on the New Zealand coast from 1950 to 1964. In my rewritten version of the Shell history I have been able to include the fact that Tanea was in Oamaru on 24 November 1959, the day that Holmglen sailed for Timaru. As a storm was coming up, Tanea's sailing was postponed to next day. Late that evening the Holmglen May Day was sent and she foundered. Tanea was one of the searching vessels next day.

Her radio officer, who wrote about the experience, managed to use emery paper on a crystal to achieve the right wave length to communicate with search planes overhead.

Three years later Tanea was brought to a shuddering halt just of the Kaikoura Coast (north of Lyttelton). She was just about at the epicentre of a 4.5 earthquake. The same radio officer was thrown out of his bunk.

Mike Foster

Alistair Kerr wrote:
July 2005

I was 'surfing the net on shipping sites looking actually for info on SAR&H steam tugs. ( I lived in P.E. 1950-1954, working on the harbour as a Cargo Supervisor for the U-CMS Co.) when I saw your reference to the tanker Tanea. My uncle Capt. H.V..B. (Pat) Williams was her master for some years, mostly when I was in South Africa.When we came back to NZ in 1954, he offered me an uncertificated 3rd Mate's ob in her, but I didn't take it.
Cheers
Alistair Kerr

The reason for my search is that I just bought a bell from this ship on a garage sale.

Now my question is, that I want to have more technical and historical information about the "Sorbyoen". Do you have some knowlege about the ship?

My Grandfather was aboard this vessel at the time it came into port for repairs.

Any info would be appreciated

Jack has also sent me copies of the pictures of Forget Me Not he purchased from you - would you happen to have any background on those pictures which I could include when I post them - even locations of the fishing boat harbour and dry dock and/or approximate dates would be most useful.

Dick

Many thanks, Robin Stobbs

Alistair Kerr wrote in July 2005

Get hold of a book called "A Century of South African Steam Tugs" by David Reynolds. I used to see her working when I lived in P.E., 1950-1954.
As a matter of interest I was an A.B. in her near-sister the "J.D.White" on her delivery voyage to Durban in 1950.
Cheers,
Alistair Kerr

I'm trying to get more information about this voyage to fill in the gaps in his memories. Especially picture's of the Abbekerk are rare as the ship was launched in 1939 and sunk in 1942. I was very surprised en excited to see on your site that there is a picture of the Abbekerk in Durban in 1942.

I write you sir because I wish to make an Internet site on the wreck of the lancastria, you go to say to me that there is many of it already and I answer you yes it's true, but my purpose is to diversify testimonies that is to put those of brave English soldiers and those of the nazairiens which carriedassistance to the castaways of Lancastria with the risks which they took because the plane German always machine-gunned them, so I come to seek you for possible documents concerning Lancastria and vessels which were there this day there such as: HMS CAMBRIDGESHIRE, HMS HAVELOCK, HMS HIGHLANDER, HMS PUNJABI, HMS VANOC, Oracle, Oriel window, Oronsay, John Holt, SS Wellington Star, Robert L Holt, City of Lancaster, Baharistan, Clan Ferguson, Floristan, Ulster Prince, Mobile City of, Cymbula, Fabian, Glenaffric,Ettric, Otranto, Glenlea, Alderpool, lady Of Man, Arandora Star, Holmside, HMS Berkeley, HMS Arethusa,HMS Galatea, HMS Calcutta, HMS Oracle,Dundrum Castle,David Livingstone, Starthaird,

Watch to receive all my distinguished greetings

M beaujuge Y.

www.lelancastria.com

Do you have more information on this tragic incident (eye witness acounts, photographs, etc)? I have seen a photo somewhere where you can clearly see Gladman holding onto the foremast, spearated from his crew members in the stern by raging seas.

ANDREW ING

Thanks.

Marie McCulloch
Nov 2005

I was a volunteer of many tasks with the Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame at Latrobe, Tasmania, for the last 7 years. During which time I did correspond with Emlyn Brown.

Unfortunately the A.A.H.F. Project has changed hands and in my opinion has changed direction regarding a lot of the history.

I am still intrigued with the story of SS Waratah and the two professional axemen who lost their lives. They were on their way to England to do a demonstration chop for the King and Queen. Their relatives would still be in Tasmania. I do know of a man who still has an axe that belonged to one of the choppers.

Do you know if there has been any more progress in your side of the world?

Regards Marie McCullochOAM

Feb 2008
Annie Patullo
Need information of the above Ship, The Waratah. My Great Grandfather sailed on her arriving in Melbourne may be via Hobart Tasmania around 1852. On searching I can find no record of this vessel
It would also be great if I could get a photo of same.
Have heard different stories that James & George Patullo were members of this ships crew, also came out unassisted,also were brought out here.

He understands that this vessel was the Austoliese or Austoliere. However, I have been unable to ascertain any such vessel's I would be most grateful if arrival in Australia soon after August 1916.

As the information was in a war diary, I was also wondering if the name had been altered in case of the diary's coming into the hands of the enemy. Thus the vessel could have been the Oster... or whatever.

I thought perhaps you might have such shipping details at your Museum and would be most grateful if you might be able to assist.

Yours sincerely

Geoff Williams

I am searching the internet to look at the history of this boat, but your site is the only site which contain this name.

I am wondering if the boat mentioned on your site is the freigther where my lifeboat is from.

Can you help me?

Ragards, Michael

B M Beach
July 2005
I wonder if you can tell me how to find out the names of the pilots aboard the Junkers -86 of 15 Squadron of the SAAF who alerted HMS Sussex to the presence of the WATUSSI in 1939.

Many thanks

B M Beach

Louise Hollander
dec 2006

I have been trying to find out about the survivors from the Watussi that was scuttled on 2 December 1939.

Apparently they were on their way back to Germany when The Royal Navy ship HMS Renown intercepted them.

The Lady My Mother In law knew was one of the survivors Mrs Hohbach. (She Was pregnant at the time) so after she gave birth she named her daughter Tussi after part of the ships name. The Lady died 15 years ago but we were just interested to find out more about the story.

So if you know of anything.

Louise

Ingrid Simpson
May 2007

My father Gustav Albert Meyer was one of the crew on the Watussi. He was one of the men who where taken to the Wynberg Military camp, and then on to Baviaanspoort Internment camp near Pretoria, where he was kept for the duration of the war. During that time the German speaking girls in CT were asked to write to the men in the camp. My mother was of German origin and her family were still German speaking. She started a correspondence with my father which lasted the duration of the war. He was eventually released in January 1947, made his way to CT, stayed and married my mother, Hildegard, in July 1947. He was sent back to Germany for a year, after which time he came back to CT and my mother. He never went to Germany again. Myself and my 2 sisters were born in CT. My father died in December 1995.

Interesting how the war changed the course of so many lives.

Ingrid Simpson (nee Meyer)

Sept 2007 Graham Haytread

Could any one direct me to a site or publication. My wife's father Karl Heinz Gunther was head chef on the SS Watusssi, I would like to find out more about the history and sinking of this vwssel.

Many thanks

Graham Haytread

Dec 2007 Joanne Rozen

The ship was insured by Lloyds of London.

The ship left from Hamburg around January 1939 and arrived in Cape Town around January 1939.

The ship apparantly then went back to Germany, then came back to Cape Town and was skuttled by it's crew because they did not want to return to Germany again. So it's wreck should be somewhere off Cape Town.

If you can find passenger lists the names you are looking for are Jacob Ivan Jacobsen, Jeanettte (Netty) Jacobsen, Rolf Jacobsen (age 7 or 8 years) and Dorit Jacobsen (age less than one year).

Mar 2008 Roelof de Haan

I have just heard that my wife's grandfather was an officer on the Watussi. He was one of the sailors that were interned at Baviaanskloof. He was Friedrich Hermann Voigt. I have just heard that my wife's grandfather was an officer on the Watussi. He was one of the sailors that were interned at Baviaanskloof. He was Friedrich Hermann Voigt.

Rosemary Dixon-Smith July 2006 to Michelle Lang

I can't help with the ship you mention, but wonder if you are aware that there is a deceased estate file for Stephen John MOSCOS held in Pietermaritzburg Archives?

The documents in this file would undoubtedly take you several steps forward in your quest
Regards,
Rosemary

Michelle Hatton Oct 2006 to Michelle Lang

hi there michelle

i was looking on the internet and came across your email, i am michelle moscos, i have been told there is only a handfull of us in south africa, and iwould really like to connect all the dots, my dad is errol moscos son of johnathan moscos
i know he had a brother by the name of george moscos,
are you related to the moscos family
regards
michelle hatton
nee moscos

May 2007
Olga Senekal

Hi Rosemary
I saw the mail to Michelle Lang, I am a daughter of Stephen John Moscos. He was my father and my mother was Catharina Johanna Venter. Can you tell me more about the file, where can I go and look at the file

Olga Senekal (Moscos)

I am trying to find out all that I can about my 1st cousin, 6 times removed Captain John Findlay.
I know that he sailed to South Africa on a brig named the Alacrity which he purchased from the proceeds from the sale of captured French vessels in the Napoleonic wars.
1836 the Knysna, a brig captained by John Findlay, was chartered to carry supplies for the troops stationed at Fort Peddie. I believe the family had strong connections in Cape Town and his daughter Ann Bertram Findlay had Bertram House named after her.
Any help in the way of photographs or additional information would be a real bonus for my research.
Many thanks in anticipation.

Charlotte Barlow Dec 2005 to Lynda

Capt John Findlay arrived at the Cape of Good Hope with his family in 1821 . He was married to Margaret Ross from Cullen and they had three children viz Margaret, Ann Bertram and George.
I am very interested in the family as I am the 6th generation.
I would appreciate information on a Charlotte Findlay whom I assume was born in London in 1819 .
She could have been the daughter of either Capt. John Findlay or that of a cousin Capt George Findlay who was married to Jane Dixon. They lived in London , somewhere near Ealing , as that is where all the Merchant ships sailed from and came to the Cape in 1835. Their children were Thomas Anthony, George James, Isabella, John Sinclair, Jane Elizabeth and Emily .

Charlotte Barlow

From: "Lynda McHardy to Charlotte Jan 2006

I am the 1st cousin 6 times removed from Captain John Findlay. My grandmother was Jessie Ann Mair Findlay, born in Cullen in 1903. I live in Aberdeen but visit Cullen and Portknockie as often as I can, we still have relations there.
Aug 2004 I took my Dad to visit the grave of Captain John and I attach a photo for you of his gravestone and the inscription. As you can see the inscription is not very clear and was difficult to photograph as the stone is horizontal. A lot of the information I have received from George Findlay in Dumfries and the photo I attach of Captain John comes courtesy of him, as do the photos of George and Harriet . One thing that has puzzled me is how someone of Captain John's standing came to die such a poor man and there was no mention of his son or daughters in his will, did they fall out? Can you confirm that Margaret Ross died in India and do you know where she is buried? I have tried all the resources available to me to try to find out this info without any success. She just seems to have disappeared from the records.
I know from my research on the web that the Findlay's had some considerable standing in South Africa and would be thrilled to share information with you
I believe that Wits University has a huge collection of Findlay letters/photos and correspondence, have you managed to access any of it? I did write to them asking for more information but unfortunately did not receive a reply. I would be thrilled to hear of the Findlay family in South Africa.
I have not come across a Charlotte yet unfortunately, although I have a son, Horatio to George and Jane Dixon whom you don't mention. I will do some research at this end and see if I can find her for you. I knew that George resided in the London area but with the more specific information you have given me I maybe able to track them down for you.
Sorry not to have too much information to give you just now, as you know we Scots like New Year and there is quite a bit of socialising going on just now but I will get on the case as soon as I can.
George in Dumfries has remarked that my "tree" is incorrect in places so I am reluctant to pass it on to you until I can "re-check" the information but rest assured I will share it when I can. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have heard from you and thank you for taking the time to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you again.

From Craig Galbraith on 31 Mar 2006

Hi Lynda
I came across your research requested. Just wondered if you know where to get hold of any journals or ships logs from the Alacrity - which sailed 18 Oct 1816 and arrived in Cape Town 18 Jan 1817 Capt. Findlay. I am doing research on Robert Moffat who sailed on her at the time. Thanks for your direction.
Craig Galbraith
Cape Town
South Africa

From Claire Campbell on 13 June 2006

Hi Lynda

My father is called George Findlay MacRobert and my brother is John Findlay MacRobert after Anne Barker Findlay( b. 1837) married John MacRobert in 1863 in South Africa

The Kynsna Museum in Knysna, South Africa has a lot of information and displays about Captain John Findlay - may be worth contacting them.

There is a book called the Findlay Letters published in the about the 1970s, but now out of print, which contains letters and pictures and history of the family that went to South Africa. My parents, who live in Zimbabwe, have a copy and maybe able to help if you are still interested.

Claire Campbell

From George Findlay on 19 July 2006

Dear Lynda

I am George Hudson Findlay a direct descendant of Capt John Findlay. I inherited the original oil painting of the Alacrtiy done by Huggins as well as the ship's table and model ship that were all on the Alacrity. It was my grandfather (also George Findlay) and grandmother who compiled the Findlay letters. I still have a few copies of it. It was also my grandfather who mysteriously bequeathed all the documents to Wits university. I however grew up seeing all the original letters in my grandparent's house in Pretoria. I also have the only pencil sketch of captain John as well as lovely portrait of his father and aunt on the hills of Cullen.

Maybe you knew all of this, or Charlotte may have told you, but if you need more information I have quite a lot and will gladly share it with you.

Kind regards
GEORGE FINDLAY

Ram Tantaloor wrote Aug 2006

Ok, I have no explanation of how I found this. Was just sitting at home after a day full of meetings in New York and was checking out a photoblog of Chennai, India which is where I am from and came across a picture of the tomb of Margaret the wife of John Findlay of the Ship Alacrity, who apprentely as per the photo blog is buried in Chennai, India.

So, I naturally googled 'Captian John Findlay of Ship Alacrity and found your post on my second click mentioning that you are looking for some information about possibly the same Caption John Findlay and was pleasantly surprised.

So, I had to share this with you :-). I should say..I love the Internet!

Hope this helps. Let me if this is of any significance to you at all.

The image of the tomb of Margaret Findlay: http://www.ilovechennai.com/pixelpost/index.php?showimage=15

Ram

Aug 2007
Tony Whitehorn

We have a family member who is descended from George Prince (b. Fordham, England 1815, d. Escalante, Utah 1905). George and his young family allegedly came to South Africa aboard "The Alacrity". Their son, Francis Prince, was born in England in 1840 and their daughter, Mary Ann Prince, was born at Cape Colony, South Africa in 1843, so they must have arrived in South Africa between 1840 and 1843.

This family joined the Mormons in South Africa and eventually settled in Utah, USA.

Can anyone tell me whether The Alacrity was still sailing at this date or whether this is a different vessel of the same name from the one captained by John Findlay? -

Tony Whitehorn

Feb 2008
Rinnah Mans

From Rinnah Mans (born McDonald)
I am trying to find the passenger list of the Alacrity captained by John Findlay which left Gravesend on 18 Oct 1816 to sail for South Africa and reached Cape Town on Jan 13, 1817. On board was Rev John Brownlee and I suspect, my Great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Peter McDonald. Both above-mentioned men married ladies from the same farm, Jonkersfontein, Swellendam SA. Family history has it that Thomas Peter McD traveled to SA with a brother or brother's son of his mother, Mary Brownlee.
I am desperate to find the link between the Brownlees and McDonalds. Two of my daughters and their families are now Scots and living in Elgin and Stirling- (I have visited stunning Cullen)
The passenger list will be another positive piece of the puzzle - perhaps you have found this from George Hudson Findlay, or perhaps you could put me in contact with him.
Many thanks in anticipation.

Hello. I am hoping that you could help me. I live in a village in Wiltshire, called Castle Combe. There was a merchant ship once called the Castle Combe.

I am one of the curator's of Castle Combe village museum. It is extrememly small and funded by charity donations by collection at the time of entrance and is staffed by volunteers. We have found out some information about the ship and is several changes of names, and we would really love to feature it in the museum. We so far, only have 1 postcard of the Castle Combe in dock in Jersey.

I have found a small amount as follows:
Built albion Shipyard Bristol 1936, operated by Ald Shipping.
Sold 1952 to Plym Shipping of Plymouth renamed Alfred Plym.
Sold 1958 to S Lucchi of Venice renamed Constanza.
Sold 1960 to Mario Attanasio of Naples renamed Gianni Attanasio.
Sold 1970 to Thalassia S.P.A. of Genoa retaining name.
Broken up at Brindisi in 1970.
Do you have any other information on these ships, or let me know somewhere I can go to find out more?
Many thanks, and hope to hear from you soon

Jane Halliday

Graham Moore June 2005

Dear Ms.Halliday,
I've just acquired a photo of the coaster Alfred Plym, and on Googling around looking for details of her, I found your request for information on the Castle Combe, giving her basic history.
I can add that the shipyard is normally referred to as Charles Hill & Sons and she was built as yard number 251 of 600 gross tons. However, I have a Lloyds register of shipping for 1959-60, and can find neither the name Constanza or Gianni Attanasio, so it's possible that she may have carried another name at this time. Not a great help I'm afraid , and my next register is from 1972.

Graham Moore, Purmerend, Netherlands

April 2008
Stephen Carter

Are you still interested in information on this? The "ALD" of ALD Shipping was my grandfather, Alfred Duggan. Please let me know if you would like more information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Stephen

I am collecting information on shipwrecks of southern africa, as I am writing a book on lighthouses and the wrecks that surround them.
This book is intended for shipwreck enthusiasts and divers, and the general public.
If you could help me in this regard or point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it very much.
As you know, the information has to be accurate, and the reason I am saying this is because there is infomation on the net which is very inaccurate.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Andrew Lynott.

P.S: I already have 2500 records of ships on our coastline, but some are sketchy to say the least.

Sue-J Leff Patterson in July 2006 wrote:

It is with great interest I note that you are writing a book on SA Lighthouses and Shipwrecks. Unfortunately I don't have any information for you at present that may interest you, as I am currently researching information on my Great Grand Father John Leff.

It is believed that he was a lighthouse keeper at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, between 1863 and 1883, or certainly in the service. Although he is not listed in Williams's comprehensive lists of keepers, I believe that around the1870s and 80s it appears to have been quite unsettled regarding the staff at the Agulhas Light.

I also believe that SAR & H did take ownership around 1909 and a lot of the records and files around these years were lost or misplaced. I understand that there is mention of John Leff in one of Lawrence Green’s books, which I think may refer to Leff as having been in the service. Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea which one, despite having read through as many of my Lawrence Green collection as possible.

The following sentence comes from a letter received by my late Mother in 1971, after enquiries she made with the Genealogical Society of South Africa in 1971."There is no foundation for the assertion by Green that John Leff was a Sir John Leff"

I don't know if you would be interested in any information I may uncover as I realise it will be pretty scrappy.

Kind regards

Sue-J Leff Patterson

I have an old pilot chart with no date that shows a course plotted from South Africa across the Atlantic to the Carribean. Where S.Africa is now is the name Hottentots. My great grandfather was a sea captain and the chart was his. I'm trying to determine which of his ships made that trip and when he did it. He was primarily a captain of schooners alone the American coast. I have a list of the ships that he was captain of before he died in 1913.
Do you have any suggestions as to how I should proceed?
Thank you very much.

Archie Green

I would be most grateful if you could in any way add to the following entry in the diary of my great grandfather, a sailmaker by the name of John Bryan from Caernarfon, Wales, which is dated November 6th 1892, when his ship Falkland called at Capetown en route from Barry, south Wales to Newcastle NSW, Australia:
"Went to see the grave of my old friend Captain William Jones of my dear old ship Carnarvonshire. He is buried in Maitland Cemetry - planted some few trees on his grave"
If you can supply any additional information by way of photographs or whatever, which could be included in an article about my great grandfather's voyages around the world, which is about to be published in the prestigious journal "Maritime Wales" in 2006, I would be more than grateful.

Yours very sincerely,
Bryan Hope

My grandpa built a model of the John Dock tug. He used small squares of oil cans souldered together. He died in 1999 and now I want to finish off what he started but I have no reference material for what the tug looked like. All I need to do is paint it, I think. Please can you help me.

Chris

Alistair Kerr wrote in July 2005

Get hold of the book "A Century of South African Steam Tugs" by David Reynolds. I remember her working in P.E. when I lived there, 1950=54.
Cheers
Alistair Kerr

I wonder if you have any details of a Whaler Globe VI it was refitted as a minesweeper in 1941 it was renamed Hms Maaloy.

John R Smith Nov 2006

I understand you were searching for information regarding the HMS Maaloy. I assume from an article posted on the a BBC website that you might be related to James Henry Naulls who was one of the crew when it was sunk.

My uncle John Robert Smith was also one of that crew, he came from the Shetland Islands, where I still live.

All I have really been able to establish is that she was sunk by U-510 commanded by an Alfred Eick.

Any other information would be very interesting.

Regards, John R Smith
Shetland Islands.

Peter greaves Nov 2006

The photo is of the Maalory at sea, Also have photos of Globe VI and Globe VII being built in 1935 at Moss.

Let me no if i can help you

Peter.

April 2007

Ibrahim Faizal

I have also been looking for info on Maloy as my great Uncle( Maldivian Prime Minister, Hassan Fareed) was also on board Maloy when she was lost. She was traveling from Maldives to Ceylon.

Can you confirm that she was sunk by a German U-Boat. According to my grandfather ( who took over the leadership) he received a telegram from CIC Admiral Layton that Maloy was lost and they think she was lost to a Jap sub. There is no confirmation that she was sunk by the Japs, but an assumption.

In fact my grandfather had used Maloy extensively for traveling in The Maldives and he was supposed to go to Ceylon on that trip but my great uncle over ruled him.

As I understand there was also onboard a special envoy of CIC a Flight Lt Walker who was also lost.

Thank you

Ibrahim Faizal

I have compiled a Who's Who of all those lost in WW2 from the Outer Hebdrides of Scotland. A total of eleven islanders (practically the entire deck crew) were from this vessel and lost on the Raider Pinguin in May 1941.

I am researching into my Great grandfathers ship the SS Yarrowdale, built Sunderland, England. 1892
In 1902 she was sold to C.N. Castriotti in Piraeus, Greece and renamed "Nicolaos Castriotis" in 1905 she became the "Hohenfelde" owned by D Fuhrmann, Nissle & Gunther Nachf, Hamburg, later Bremen.
She was interned in the USA and became the USS Longbeach in 1917. I have a photo copy of a picture of the Hohenfelde and written on the side is 1921 Cape Recife.

Would it be possible to ask you for any help you may be able to give as I am looking for any information, plans, photo's, etc on the ship or company. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Mark Cormack
Scotland

JMMC wrote

Hi Mark
Thank you for your enquiry.
Our notes regarding this ship state;
Construction completed May 1898
Tonnage; 5469 tons gross
Dimensions; 418.0 Length, 54.0 Width, 20.1 Depth (in feet)
Builders; Completed by Wigham Richardson & Co, Newcastle (Yard 338)
Built as "Hohenfels"
1919 Surrendered to Great Britain and managed for the Shipping Controller by T. Law & Co, Glasgow.
1921 Sold to The British Africa Shipping & Coaling Co Ltd (Mitchell Cotts & Co, managers)(British) and renamed Cape Recife.
1924 Transferred to The Sun Shipping Co Ltd, under same management.
20.2.1929 Wrecked at Seal Point, Cape St. Francis, whilst on passage from Cape Town to Durban in ballast.
We do not have Yarrowdale in our collection.
Regards
Peter du Toit

John Parks wrote

Mark, I have a brass bell ? ship's bell ? with the inscription YARROWDALE....1892.....GLASCOW..... I obtained the bell from the Charleston Navy base where it resided in the hospital courtyard. It was mounted and overgrown with plantings. The hospital was being torn down, so I rescued the bell. Could it have been with the ship????
John Parks

Since it is particularly a maritime site, I wonder if you can answer a simple (at least I thought it was simple!) question. This is: how big were the ships which sailed to the Cape with the Huguenot settlers - how many passengers would have been carried - of the relatively small number of about 150 given as settlers, would that number include women and children as well?

I would like to know these details to flesh out a children's story I am writing.

Perhaps you may be interested to know that I remember John Marsh well from my childhood days in Cape Town. He was very well known, and I am glad to see that his doubtless extensive collection is safely looked after by you. I am not sure when I shall be visiting again, but will make a special point of calling at the Maritime Museum when I do. I used to ride the Penny Ferry often. And the sight of Union Castle liners in dock was one of those permanent sights, like Table Mountain - I couldn't believe it when the service was withdrawn, and the harbour still looks wrong without them. And of course I remember the wartime convoys, and the sight of the whole bay covered with ships.

Yours in hope of having my question answered, and in nostalgia for memories stirred

Mary Strick.

P.S. Even if you can't help me, I hope somebody will have time to reply to me!

Identifying a Stanchion
Reg Fitzpatrick
I was recently left an interesting item on the death of an elderly relative and I am trying to obtain some information on it. It is what I believe to be a roughly cast bronze Stanchion.

All I know about it is that my relative told me he salvaged it from a very old shipwreck. I have no idea where that shipwreck was as he dived on wrecks all over the world and had many souvenirs from his diving exploits. I would really like to identify the item for certain and obtain any other information on it that I could.

It is 37 inches (94 cm) long and its diameter varies from 1 inch (2.6 cm) to 1¼ inches (3.2 cm). It was either badly cast or the metal has been eaten away during its submergence under water. It weighs 3.420 Kg. I am attaching three photos of it to this e-mail and have placed a Metre Rule beside it.

When found, the stanchion, if that is what it is, was in five pieces and these have been glued back together precisely.

Reg Fitzpatrick

The theme of the exhibition is Commonwealth Navies. We have sections dealing with the RAN, RNZN, RIN and RCN as well as the SANF, and we are also looking at some of the stories of Commonwealth men and women who served at sea with the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. As I'm sure you know, 'Southern Floe' was the most significant loss of a South African warship (although I believe South African casualties were higher on board the RN cruiser Neptune) and although the IWM has some 5 million photographs we do not have her! We do have some other interesting images of South African trawlers in the Med, but none are 'Southerns'. However we have a fabulous photo of the men of the 22nd parading before leaving for the Med, which we will definitely be using.

I was, however, lucky enough to find the frigate 'Natal' which shot to fame by sinking a U-boat on her maiden voyage in 1945.

I will send you some photographs of the section when we have installed - we are due to open on 27 July.

Nick Hewitt MA,Interpretation Officer,HMS BELFAST

Lylepark
November 19, 2004

Christopher Robert

My Uncle, Charles Smith died on the Lylepark when she was attacked by the German raider Michel on 11th June 1942 bound from New York to Cape Town.

What started as a family curiosity has become an absorbing research project for another Uncle and I. As an ex- Merchant Navy (UK) Officer (2nd Mate) I have a clear understanding of the history involved and as a result, our research has really blossomed.

In your email, you ask whether we are writing a history of the ship. I suppose the answer in a round about way is yes although our interest is more focused on our relative. We have interviewed a remaining survivor, we have copies of the German Captains War Log Report detailing the sinking, we have obtained other photos of the Lylepark and we have copies of the articles and Ships Log kept at the PRO in Kew.

Our thoughts were, that on completion of our project, we should write it up with the purpose of making it available for any interested party Certainly, if you have any advice or would be interested in the material, we would gladly share it on completion of the work.

Wolf Richthofen wrote Mar 2006

Today I found your entry on the Lylepark sinking.

I am researching material for a book on the war in the Indian Ocean./S.Atlantic and commerce raiders such as the Michel.

Was the sinking of the Lylepark unusual? By that I mean was there anything onboard the Lylepark of significant value to the Germans? (Unusual materals, official coded documents & code books, etc) and do you know if the Lylepark had misfortune to meet with the Michel or were her sailing plans/route relayed to the Michel by someone ashore?

Christopher Robert
April 2006

Thanks for your note regarding the sinking of the Lylepark and the questions you raised.

I cannot be definitive in relation to the sinking of the Lylepark as there is very little documentry evidence concerning the sinking, but on the basis of interviews with both German and English crew members involved, I think my views are pretty accurate.

1. Special Cargo of the the Lylepark.
Most refrences to the ship's cargo refer to military stores picked up in New York,It is alleged that flour was stored in the forehold and the German sinking refers to a variety of "war stores" including aircraft fuel stored in drums. There is no mention of any special cargo but a curious story is that the ships holds were sealed before leaving New York. This would be highly unusual, especially if the cargo shifted. I believe the chances of a valuable cargo being transferred in a sole merchantman with a very slow speed (9 Knots) to be extremely rare.

2. Tip off or unlucky?
Von Ruckteschell was famed for his ability to evade Allied warships although he nearly became a victim to the Alcantara a few days before the Lylepark. His route on the days before the Lylepark suggest a plan to cut the Great Circle route between North America and the Caribbean to the Cape.
Although there are definitive accounts of Germans being arrested for espionage activities in South Africa I think the chances of a tip off are extremely rare as his departure was from New York and the Captain wrote in his sinking report that he had been under the direct control of the Admiralty and had course changes imposed. VR went further East after the George Clymer as he probably thought the Allies would never search for him closer to the African Coast.

I hope this is helpful.

Christopher Robert Smith

May 2007
Kirk Goodman

My grandfather, James Henry Goodman, was on this ship at the time of the sinking and I'd like to know more about the incident.

Kirk

Good day

My name is Donald Orbin and I am trying to track down some information regarding my grandfather (Benjamin Orbin) who I believe died in the 1920's [possibly in the USA]

I see you have reference to a PEMBA freighter 533/1910 on your website and was wondering how I could go about finding out some details regarding the crew. I would like to know if there are any records regarding my grandfather; identity numbers, date of births etc.

We know very little about Ben Orbin other than the following:
1. In about 1918/1919 he was Chief Officer of the SS Pemba - which plied between Cape Town and Daressalaam
2. He was of ill health due to exposure when his USA battleship was torpedoed during the war (be fore he went to the Pemba) He was qualified to serve as a Captain but failed due to slightly deficient eyesight.
3. He returned to the USA in an attempt to obtain compensation from the US government (for his ill health). This must have been around 1924 (the year my father was born - in South Africa) as Ben never saw my father. Soon after that, he died of dropsy in a Seaman's institute in the USA (possibly somewhere in Baltimore)

Any assistance or leads would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards
Donald Orbin

Recently we undertook a trip along the coast from Koinaas to Kleinzee to see some wrecks.

I saw this submarine engine at O'Kiep, where it has served as the town's generator for many years. Apparently the submarine ran aground near Kleinzee during the war and the engine was transported by oxwagon to O'Kiep.

Could you please tell me more about this incident and where the wreck may still be located?

Many thanks

Danie Pienaar

Fedde van den Bosch wrote

Jan 2006
Hallo Danie Pienaar,
Na die beste van my wete is daar net twee Duitse duikbote wat op ons kus gesink het nl. U-179 op 8 Okt 1942, wes van Saldanhabaai en die U-197 wat op 20 Aug 1943 oos van Durban gesink het.
Daar is geen ander vermelding van enige duikboot wat op ons kus gestrand het nie.
Is jy seker dat dit van 'n duikboot afkomstig is ? Dit lyk vir my maar 'n bietjie groot om op 'n ossewa te pas of het hulle hom eers ge- "strip" en toe vervoer ?
As jy nog enige info kry laat my ook asseblief weet, want ek is besig om 'n CD te maak met al die wrakke om ons kus. Tot op datum het ek al oor die 2500.
Vriendelike groete,
Fedde van den Bosch

Guy Ellis wrote in Aug 2005

Re your submarine engine - I saw your mail and made some enquiries and received this response from someone I know who has done extensive research on the U boats here off SA

I had heard of the ship's engine at O'Kiep quite some time ago and as far as I remember this engine does not come from a U-Boat but from one of the freighters that came to grief at this stretch of the coast. In the photo it looks larger than a U-Boat engine. It could have been a victim of a natural calamity or from a U-Boat torpedo. The "Piratiny"was torpedoed in 1943 (no other date given) somewhere between Hondeklip Bay and Kleinzee close to the coast. Two other ships, the "Luna" and the "Aristea"were wrecked in 1945 after WW II (no other date given) not far from Kleinzee but quite a few miles off the coast. Perhaps the engine came from one of these. I have no reports of an U-Boat having been sunk anywhere along this coast. It must have been quite a feat to rermove the engine and then transport it to O'Kiep.

Of the U-Boats in service during WW II, twenty were lost in unknown locations and never found. As far as official sources in Germany are concerned the only U-Boat lost in SA waters is one close to Dassen Island, one south of Madagascar and one some 600 miles south of Cape Point.

Best regards Guy Ellis

Fedde van den Bosch wrote on 28 Jan 2006

Hallo Danie Pienaar,
Na die beste van my wete is daar net twee Duitse duikbote wat op ons kus gesink het nl. U-179 op 8 Okt 1942, wes van Saldanhabaai en die U-197 wat op 20 Aug 1943 oos van Durban gesink het.
Daar is geen ander vermelding van enige duikboot wat op ons kus gestrand het nie.
Is jy seker dat dit van 'n duikboot afkomstig is ? Dit lyk vir my maar 'n bietjie groot om op 'n ossewa te pas of het hulle hom eers ge- "strip" en toe vervoer ?
As jy nog enige info kry laat my ook asseblief weet, want ek is besig om 'n CD te maak met al die wrakke om ons kus. Tot op datum het ek al oor die 2500.
Vriendelike groete,
Fedde van den Bosch

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