Almeda Star

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by guy, Jul 2, 2004.

  1. guy

    guy Junior Member

    Hi - this is my first post on this site - am hoping someone out there may be able to help in some way?
    I have just found out that a member of my family was killed onboard the Almeda Star 17/1/1941, until now i only knew that he had died in the war.
    Leading Airman FAA/FX 80545 Royal Navy Guy Gordon John Warburton Aged 21.
    Apparently he was training to be an observer.
    I know that the Almeda was sunk by the U-69 and that there were no survivors.
    But was wondering if anybody out there could add any further information.
    For example passenger or crew lists ?
    Thankyou in advance
    guy

    Also could someone tell me what type of duties a Leading Airman might have ?
    Does it mean he was already a pilot or member of an aircrew ? What types of plane could he expect to fly ?
     
  2. BeppoSapone

    BeppoSapone Senior Member

    Originally posted by guy@Jul 2 2004, 04:12 PM
    Hi - this is my first post on this site - am hoping someone out there may be able to help in some way?
    I have just found out that a member of my family was killed onboard the Almeda Star 17/1/1941, until now i only knew that he had died in the war.
    Leading Airman FAA/FX 80545 Royal Navy Guy Gordon John Warburton Aged 21.
    Apparently he was training to be an observer.
    I know that the Almeda was sunk by the U-69 and that there were no survivors.
    But was wondering if anybody out there could add any further information.
    For example passenger or crew lists ?
    Thankyou in advance
    guy
    Sorry, I can't help you with crew or passenger lists. However, here are some photo's & some other information: http://www.bluestarline.org/almeda1.html

    The 'Almeda Star' was sister ship to the 'Arandora Star' that I have mentioned in earlier posts. The 'Arandora Star' was sunk by Gunther Prien in July 1940. She had been going to Canada from Liverpool, loaded with hundreds of interned civilians, British resident Italians and German/Austrian refugees, mostly Jews.
     
  3. WestKent78

    WestKent78 Junior Member

    Guy,
    Here's some information on Almeda Star if you don't already have it.
    Built: Cammell Laird & Company Ltd., Birkenhead
    O.N.: 149751
    As Built Gross : 12848 Net : 7826 Dimensions: 512.2 x 68.3 x 34.0 feet
    As refitted 1928/29: Gross : 14935 Net : 9239 Dimensions: 578.9 x 68.3 x 42.7 feet
    Propulsion: Four steam turbines by shipbuilder, single reduction geared to two shafts
    Passengers: 180 1st Class
    Launched : 29/6/1926 ( Yard No.919) as Almeda for Blue Star Line (1920) Ltd.
    Completed: 12/1926
    Renamed: 7/5/1929 Almeda Star
    Refitted and lengthened: 1935 by Cammell Laird & Company Ltd., Birkenhead together with the fitting of a Maierform bow
    Bombed: and damaged during an air raid at Liverpool on 12/12//1940
    Lost: 17/01/1941 when torpedoed by German Submarine U-96 commanded by Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock about 350 miles west of the island of Lewis in the Hebrides at position 58.16N, 13.40W [10]. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to the River Plate with general cargo and passengers. Her crew of 137, 29 gunners and 194 passengers were all lost.

    [/
     
  4. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Also could someone tell me what type of duties a Leading Airman might have ?

    he would normally be a a TAG = Telegraphist/Air gunner
     
  5. Terry Denham

    Terry Denham Junior Member

    I can supply a list of crew and passengers killed if you wish.

    Email me off-Forum
     
  6. gallagher

    gallagher Junior Member

    my uncle was on the almeda star {patrick gallagher}he was aged sixteen or seventeen.the story {as told by my father}goes that the almeda star sailed from liverpool but only got as far as the mersey bar, she had to return to liverpool with steering problems,she was repaired and was again due to sail when she was bombed in the mersey, again she was repaired and ready to sail .all the old sea dogs said she was now a jinxed ship and my uncle should not sail on her .my grandmother would not let him go but my grandfather{also in the navy}said let Paddy make his own decision,so he sailed an was lost with the rest of his ship mates.
     
  7. Baz

    Baz Junior Member

    Hi
    My uncle John Charles Walker Hargeaves was on the Almeda Star aged 19. I would be grateful for a passenger list or any other information you may have. Thank you.
     
  8. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1941-01JAN.htm

    Also see

    http://www.mercantilemarine.org/showthread.php?t=1424&highlight=almeda+star

    This will provide a list of the pasangers who were lost.

    You probably know this already Guy but if not it adds a little.
    From "Axis Submarine Success of WW2" By Jurgen Rohwer.

    It was U96 ( Lehmann-Willenbrock) , he hit her at 06.49 hrs on the morning of 17th January 1941.
    She evaded 3 attacks before she was hit and sank at 13.15 hrs after three additional hits.

    The position of the attack is given as 56'16N/13'40W.
    ( Within the U-Boat "Squares" AM1832.)

    Lehmann-Willenbrock had sank the Steam Freighter Oropesa (14,1180 the day before.
    He was awared the Knight Cross on 26/2/41.
    ( It is probable that his sinking of the two large merchant ships played a part in this).

    The film Das Boot was loosely based on a patrol she made in late 1941.
    He can be seen on the bridge of U-96 in this thread.

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/15788-some-kriegsmarine-naval-binoculars.html

    On U-Boatnet.
    http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/739.html
     
  9. roxanne_ellouise

    roxanne_ellouise New Member

    Guy,

    I hope you see this as it has been so long since you posted but I am currently working with a group of students from St Anselm Hall in Manchester to produce a memorial book to those students who lived in the hall and died in WW2. Your relative, Guy, was such a student and I have original documents from his time here that you may find interesting. Though they are not concerning his military activities they speak a lot of his character.

    I would like to have the opportunity to talk with you further about Guy as we have written a short biography of his life for the book.

    Be in touch if you can,

    Roxanne
     
  10. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Roxanne

    Guy last seen 15 years ago.

    I have sent a private message on your behalf to see if he can reply to you

    regards
    Clive
     
  11. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  13. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Just to add, in the hope that Guy or other enquirers, that Guy Warburton is shown on the CWGC database as (HMS Daedalus) which was a Fleet Air Arm shore base at Lee on Solent (hence the FAA/ Service Number and where he is commemorated.
    There appears to have been a large contingent of FAA servicemen aboard.
    Wiki says "On 15 January she sailed from Liverpool bound for the River Plate, carrying 194 passengers including 142 members of the Fleet Air Arm en route to RNAS Piarco on Trinidad. There were 21 officers and 121 ratings from 749, 750 and 752 Squadrons."
    As regards Piarco, "In World War II Piarco Airport was used to house the Royal Navy Observer School HMS Goshawk."
    750 Squadron FAA was at Lee on Solent before moving to Trinidad to continue training, equipped with Fairey Albacores (Swordfish replacement with enclosed cockpit, but less successful).
     
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  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  15. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  16. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

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