Photos & Info on WW2 Merchant Navy vessels

[dbf]

Hello,

Having just received from Kew a copy of the Seaman's Pouch for a cousin of my father, I was wondering if there is such a thing as a database on the ships.

I found basic info on his first ship "Pacific Star", apparently torpedoed in Oct '42 a month after he joined MN. A further search brought up a mention of why it did not sink:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/06/a4468106.shtml

What I really would like is a photo of his ship and any others like - I hope I am reading this correctly - EMPIRE FAITH, EMPIRE YUKON SAN AMBROSIO, WAIPAWA.

Any hints on sites where this may be possible greatly appreciated as this poor man died aged 39 of diabetes. Very little of any import known.

Thanks,
Diane

[Hugh MacLean]

Hello Diane,

For details of the ships put the name into this database: Miramar Ship Index

For photos of the ships check this out: OLD SHIP PICTURES PAINTINGS IMAGES JPG SHIPPING DISASTERS WW1 WW2

Details and a photo of PACIFIC STAR here: uboat.net - Allied Ships hit by U-boats - Pacific Star (Steam merchant)

Regards
Hugh

[Mathsmal]

Hi

Here are a couple of useful sites:

Convoy Index Page - warsailors.com & ConvoyWeb - Atlantic convoys
merchant navy ships - has photos of SAN AMBROSIO and WAIPAWA

[dbf]

Thanks Hugh for the sites, in part. the details of the Pacific Star. Do you think that this was the same ship described in the BBC WW2 peoples war page?

Cheers Mathsmal for the links for the San Ambrosio and Waipawa.

And both of you answered so quickly too.

Will be getting this all together for my father who also served with MN postwar. I know he will be very interested.

Diane

[Hugh MacLean]

Hello Diane,

All accounts of the PACIFIC STAR that I have seen have her not making it back to port which is in direct contradiction to the Peoples War site.

See this report which has the survivors abandoning ship: Pacific Star 1

However, as with any research, cross checking of sources is important. I will try and find out more from mine.

Regards
Hugh

[dbf]

Hello Hugh,
Thanks for looking into this for me, typical that more questions are raised once some info is found.

My father wants to pass on his thanks to both of you. Much appreciated.
Diane

[Hugh MacLean]

Hello Diane,

Further to my last, I have checked more sources and cannot confirm the Peoples War site account at all. I think this source is incorrect.

You could get hold of a survivors report held at the National Archives in ADM199/2142, also the Crew Agreement held in BT381/1799.

You may like to see the discussion I instigated on Mercantile Marine

If you need anymore information on these files or how to get them or any other questions please feel free to ask.

Regards
Hugh

[dbf]

Originally Posted by Hugh MacLean

Hello Diane,

Further to my last, I have checked more sources and cannot confirm the Peoples War site account at all. I think this source is incorrect.

You could get hold of a survivors report held at the National Archives in ADM199/2142, also the Crew Agreement held in BT381/1799.

You may like to see the discussion I instigated on Mercantile Marine

If you need anymore information on these files or how to get them or any other questions please feel free to ask.

Regards
Hugh

Hello Hugh,

Thanks again for your excellent input. I read the thread you instigated on Mercantile Marine site.

I also must admit to being rather dubious about the account, but mention of the manifest intrigued me. [I realise that this would not be uncommon.] It, the peoples war story, sounds as if there may be some factual basis to it, just too strange not to, but as to it being the correct ship, it certainly seems the facts are stacked against it. And I also noticed that although it is a 'start to finish' account, it is not in the first person. It is a little frustrating to see no background offered in reference to the originator of the story and how they came to 'know' of this ...

Having also spoken to my father yesterday, I can report that he can recall no conversation at all with his cousin on this matter, and his memory is still pretty good. He also was in Merchant Navy so would have had an understanding of and interest in such matters.

If the ship made it to port, surely it would have been repaired ..? As you yourself have stated you think the account is incorrect, and I would bow to your superior knowledge of these matters. I think it would be good however, to follow this through, if only for my own personal satisfaction. I hate to have any loose ends.

If you could provide me with instructions on how to get this info. from Kew, esp. the Survivor's report, I would very much appreciate it.

Regards,
Diane

[Peter Clare]

Hello Diane,

Don't know much about the MN (Hugh has helped me out in the past) but I do have the book 'Britains Sea War, by John M. Young with has the following entry for 27 October 1942 ....

"Near the Canary Islands, U-509 attacked a homeward bound convoy, sinking the passenger-cargo liner Stentor 6,148 tons (A. Holt & Co) from West Africa with the loss of 45 people and 202 survivors, and torpedoing the cargo liner Pacific Star 7,951 tons (Blue Star Line) from Rosario, which sank on 28 October"


Not much I know, but it might help in confirming the loss.

Regards
Peter

[dbf]

Originally Posted by Peter Clare

Hello Diane,

Don't know much about the MN (Hugh has helped me out in the past) but I do have the book 'Britains Sea War, by John M. Young with has the following entry for 27 October 1942 ....

"Near the Canary Islands, U-509 attacked a homeward bound convoy, sinking the passenger-cargo liner Stentor 6,148 tons (A. Holt & Co) from West Africa with the loss of 45 people and 202 survivors, and torpedoing the cargo liner Pacific Star 7,951 tons (Blue Star Line) from Rosario, which sank on 28 October"

Not much I know, but it might help in confirming the loss.

Regards
Peter

Hello Peter,
Thanks for looking that up for me. All records do indeed point to this conclusion.

It will do no harm to get records from Kew however, since at the very least it adds to the knowledge of my Dad's cousin's service.

Diane