I hope someone can help with my Grandfathers (Private Joseph Fisher 7405691) service in North Africa in the RAMC. He trained in England from enlistment (23.04.42) up to transfer overseas and left England on 07.01.43 for North Africa. I was wondering if anybody can advise on whether there is information available on the convoy / ship he travelled in and the route / time taken for the journey. Any assistance here is much appreciated. Thank you, Gary Additional information. From North Africa his unit transferred to Italy and whilst there he sadly passed away from a heart attack aged 43. He is buried in the CWGC cemetery at Casserta. I have just returned from a visit there and paid my respects to a man I would have loved to have met.
Gary Usually the embarkation took place at Liverpool - then Greenock for convoy assembly then on to mid Atlantic - then through past Gibralter to Algiers - the voyage taking a normal 12 days - tother can give you verse and chapter on ships and convoy numbers..and see my article in the BBC series below " Algeria with 145th Regt " Cheers
Gary, Hi and welcome to the forum. You seem to have some detail of your Grandfather's service - do you have his full service record? An excellent source for convoy data is the Arnold Hague database: http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hague/index.html It might take some searching for convoy dates etc but I am sure you will find the convoy you are looking for in there. This would probably identify the convoy number but only list ships in the convoy and probably not identify the individual vessel you are looking for. That might take a little longer. If you have any luck (or if having problems) get back to us here and someone will most likely be able to help further. Good luck, Mike
Mike / Tom, Thank you for this information. Really appreciated. I will look up the links you have suggested later today. I do have his Territorial Army enlistment papers which show him enlisting into E Co, 1st Depot RAMC at Boyce Barracks. He then transfers to Bath General Hospital for more training before posting to 100 General Hospital on 06.10.42. Overseas posting 07.01.43. I have got some information on the Hospitals movements in North Africa and Italy which I can post on to here if people think it would aid their research. It would be nice if some photographs of the unit could be turned up somewhere. Best regards, Gary
A quick look at convoyweb and scarletfinders.co.uk gives this info: convoy KMF7 sailed from the Clyde To Algiers. 100 British General Hospital Woolwich 10/42 to 1/43 then overseas; Algiers 1/43 to 2/43 and then to Philippeville; Philippeville 2/43 to 1/44 then to Cancello; Cancello 1/44 to 11/44 then to Afragola; Afragola 11/44 to 5/45 then to Perugia; Perugia 5/45 to 5/45 then to Arezzo; Arezzo 5/45 to 9/45 then to Florence; Florence 9/45 to 3/46 then to Rome; Rome 3/46 to 30/6/46 then disbanded.
I followed RDR's suggested link and it seems the two likely ships are the 'Monarch of Bermuda' and the 'Otranto'. There are pictures of the Monarch on line but not one of the Otranto. There is an Otranto that sank in WW1 with loss of troops but no later ships Thank you all for your assistance here. Regards, Gary
Hi I have looked a the convoy web site but cant find what I am looking for. My late Dad (I have his service records) embarked for overseas on 12/11/43 Service records says SOS RNMNP 11/11/43 Disembarked N. Africa 27/11/43 Can you help me find what ship he may have been on Regards Injection
Injection Probably Franconia - Monarch of Bermuda and two more which were the regulars on that run Cheers
Injection I would suggest that you use convoy KMF26 as your start point; he may have embarked Liverpool or Avonmouth a few days before the convoy sailed from the Clyde Estuary, which would tie in with his dates. If you would like me to do a bit more research on this, please let me know. Regards Pete
