SS Cape Corso lost PQ15 May 1942

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by nickb, Jan 25, 2014.

  1. Sandra Hunter

    Sandra Hunter New Member

    Sorry should read registered.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953
    Name: William Wastle
    Age: 21
    Birth Date: abt 1921
    Birth Place: Leith, Scotland
    Death Date: 2 May 1942
    Death Place: At Sea
    Spouse: Elizabeth
    45947_0023-01897.jpg

    UK, Shipping and Seamen WWI and WWII Rolls of Honour, 1914-1945
    Name: William Wastle
    Death Date: 2 May 1942
    Death Country: United Kingdom
    (as below)

    TD
     

    Attached Files:

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  4. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

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  5. Sandra Hunter

    Sandra Hunter New Member

    Hi,
    It was Waistle, b 24 April 1981, so I think it must be another person, his wife was Ada, his parents George and Sarah. The info that I have was that he died at sea on the 2nd May 1942 and was a Leading Stoker, sorry. Hope I can find his records somewhere.
    Sandra
     
  6. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Sandra. This post is at odds with what you posted previously when you said he was a carpenter on the SS Cape Corso. Can you confirm what you know as fact and what is conjecture.
    There is no William Waistle listed as having died during WW2 on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site.
    If he wasn't on the Cape Corso I would suggest you start a new thread.
    There's a typo in his date of birth should it be 1891 or 1881 ?

    Tim
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2018
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  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    William Waistle
    1891–1963
    BIRTH 24TH APRIL 1891 • Darlington, Durham, England
    DEATH SEPT 1963 • Darlington, Durham, England

    Something is screwy here - he died in Darlington 1963 aged 72, and yet he is also stated in that family tree as


    Death Sept 1963 • Darlington, Durham, England
    William was serving in the Navy and it is recorded that he, amongst many others, were lost at sea. William was a Leading Stoker in the Royal Navy.

    I doubt he was still serving in the RN when 72

    TD
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2018
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  8. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Sandra,
    This may help you. You can download them online for £3.50.each Not sure why there are three records with different Service Nos.
    Name Waistle, William Place of Birth: Darlington, Durham Number: U 2543 ... | The National Archives
    Name Waistle, William Place of Birth: Darlington, Durham Number: V 1553 ... | The National Archives
    Name Waistle, William Place of Birth: Darlington, Durham Number: S 1719 ... | The National Archives

    Found him. William Waistle, Leading Stoker RNR, S1719 WW1
    .

    Tim
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2018
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  9. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Tim,
    Firstly, that is the correct guy and as I think you have all proved is not the same man lost on CAPE CORSO.
    He has three service records with different numbers because each person who joined the RNR joined for a period of 5 years. If he wished to serve for another 5 year period he would be given another number for that 5 years. So he served for at least 15 years in the RNR. Not all records survive that is why without seeing the records I am saying at least 15 years.

    This is the seaman lost on CAPE CORSO and just because you asked the question I can tell you that he was awarded the BEM for services when his ship CAPE RODNEY was torpedoed and by U-75 in the North Atlantic on 5 August 1941 and sunk on the 9 August.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  11. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    To go back to Sandra #20 original enquiry re William Waistle RNR.
    He enrolled in the RNR on 1st July 1910 you will need to obtain the three service records for him that Tim has pointed to in his post #28.

    I have him in the Merchant Navy from 1930.
    His Discharge Number (service number was R84802) and he was aboard the ships noted below. However, please note this is not a complete record and he may have completed more voyages on other ships. You would need to obtain his CRS 10 service record from Jan, 1941 until leaving the service to be able to see his full war record.This file should be held at Kew in piece BT 382/1858
    The CRS 10 is best viewed by visit to Kew or via a researcher.

    WALMER CASTLE – 114839 – 5.9.1930

    SAINT ENOCH – 141891 – 16.12.1941

    SAINT BARCHAN – 141931 – 12.1.1942 * date may be wrong*

    SAINT ENOCH – 141891 – 14.1.1942

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  12. Ross Montgomery

    Ross Montgomery New Member

    Hello Hugh.

    I am hoping this forum is still live.

    I have spent all of last evening re searching my great grandfather, Walter Clark Montgomery. I have found so much last night I was unaware of, amazing he was master captain at only 36. My grandfather was only 4 when he died, my own dad didn't even realise there were survivors on the ship. I have read everything you have posted over the last few years and have found them very thought provoking, thank you for all of this. Incredible to think had the ship sailed with convoy PQ14 it may have made it. I know War stories are loaded with 'what ifs' something that makes them more remarkable.

    Do you know if there are any photos available of the crew and my great grandfather? He would have been a similar age to myself. Would love to look for similarities. Trying to find as much as I can. My dad was moved by all the information I found just last night.

    Thanks in advance

    Ross Montgomery
     
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  13. HMS_Venomous

    HMS_Venomous Member

    I struck lucky when researching the part played by my father's destroyer in escorting Arctic Convoy PQ15. I was sent a superb photograph of CAPE CORSO sinking by a Scandinaviian researcher and photos of the planes which sunk her. Also a first hand account by a survivor. See chapter 11 of A HARD FOUGHT SHIP: THE STORY OF HMS VENOMOUS (2017): The Contents page for 3rd Edn of "A Hard Fought Ship: the story of HMS Venomous" (2017)

    Bill Forster
     
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  14. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hello Ross,
    The file where any photo would exist has not survived unfortunately. I have some service records for him though so I will transcribe and put on here.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  15. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Ross,

    Captain Walter Clark Montgomery Dis.A 1116097 b. 1905, Langholm. Died 2.5.1942 at sea [CAPE CORSO]. He first went to sea in the Merchant Navy in 1924. The transcription below will not be a complete record of service as the cards do have mistakes and omissions. For service after Jan 1941 best to consult his CRS 10 which is held at TNA Kew in piece BT 382/1245 Please note it will be a short file as we know it will only report from Jan, 1941 until May 1942 when CAPE CORSO was sunk. It would only tell you if he had another ship prior to joining CAPE CORSO for the final voyage.
    If you can send me your email by private message I will send you the cards.

    124130 – CASSANDRA – 18.10.1924 – 11.11.1924

    141923 – KASTALIA – 26.12.1924

    129744 - SCOTTISH PRINCE – 5.5.1925

    139172 – LACUNA - ?.11.1926

    142851 – SYRIAN PRINCE - 16.3.1926

    145910 – DAKOTIAN – 9.9.1926

    145910 – DAKOTIAN – 19.1.1927

    145910 – DAKOTIAN - 16.3.1927

    148894 – BRITANNIA - 27.12.1927

    115744 – CIRCASSIA – 27.6.1928

    148894 – BRITANNIA – 9.3.1929

    148939 – VENETIA – 24.7.1929

    129539 - CAPE ORTEGAL – 6.1.1931

    141875 - CAPE CORNWALL – 9.10.1933

    SS CYCLE? – 22.3.1934.

    148862 - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE – 7.3.1935

    145658 - CAPE RACE – 16.12.1937

    145656 - CAPE NELSON – 30.1.1939

    147259 – LYCIA – 30.7.1940

    145654 - CAPE CORSO – 16.7.1941 [dis]

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  16. Ross Montgomery

    Ross Montgomery New Member

    Bill - thanks so much, im going to get a copy of A Hard Fought Ship.

    Hugh - This is excellent. Ill private message you my email just now. I really appreciate you getting back to me.

    Found my great grand fathers name at the top of a Tower Hill Memorial in London. I will be sure to visit it next time I'm there!
     
  17. Margaret Frood

    Margaret Frood New Member

    Thank you, Kenneth Dickson, for sharing this survivor's account.

    How interesting to come across it, just as I am finishing my research on "the carpenter" (William Wastle, BEM, Shipwright) and his three uncles. I am not related to him; I am a qualified genealogist, family and local historian as weel as a war memorial researcher, with numerous blogs focusing on the stories behind the people listed on war memorials of particular interest to me.

    During the CWGC's War Graves Week last year, I came across the grave of Bertie Wastle in Edinburgh's Rosebank Cemetery. It was one of several graves that caught my eye, and led to yet another blog, to encompass 'random' war casualties that I happen to come across. Bertie was one of three brothers who died while on active service in WW2. One son survived, James Mackie Wastle, and he was the father of WIlliam Wastle, B.E.M., carpenter on the SS Cape Corso.

    I hope you will permit me to include a link to the passage, on page 5 of the letter, in which G Waddingham describes the last time he saw the carpenter. It will be acknowledged in the Source List.

    Best wishes, and many thanks
    Margaret

     
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