My Uncle was a gunner on board the Shuntien, when she was sunk, I have tried to find out as much as possible for my mother, as she and her family were never told how and where he died. After a few months of research, including trips to the National Archive, I now have many details about that horrid evening.
I have never seen a breakdown of the numbers of who was on board before, So Im sure you could understand that I was amazed when I read your message.
Where did you find this information ??
Its reported in many places about the total number of pows, but not a breakdown of the number of Germans and Italian pows etc etc which you have.
I would love to add this information to my mothers book which I presented to her about her brother Gunner Norman Pallett on her 81st birthday.
This book also had additional information which was supplied by a very helpful lady in Australia who works for the Chineese shipping company that owned SS Shuntien before the war. She was kind enough to supply me with many details about the ship including a nice photo.
She also added that during the war she actually lived next door to the captains wife, (
Captain, William Shinn) who sadly had to bring up their newly born triplets on her own, following his death on that dark evening in December.
Yes I know its war, but to think how awful it must have been on that dark December night, 800+ men in the water, a sea covered in flaming oil, all trying to stay alive until HMS Salvia could get back to them, some were saved, only to be killed hours later on board the Salvia. It must have been hell.
A piece titled " A loss of a Gallant Ship" appeared in the Swire news Autumn 2007.
http://www.swire.com/eng/news/swire_news/vol34_3.pdf Brian
I thought I was writing a remark to ADM199, but it appears to have landed up in the thread, I am trying to remove it now. Sorry...