SS Clan Ferguson 1942

Stu,
You have a good memory ,
BEAGLE reported (0830) sailed from St. Nazaire for Plymouth (0600) with ULSTER PRINCE, CLAN FERGUSON, BAHARISTAN, each carrying approximately 3000 troops, DAVID LIVINGSTONE with 800, BEAGLE 600, all short of provisions.
Roy

 

For the next rescue:
The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing (or for the acceptance by the next-of-kin) of the Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecznych) which has been conferred by the President of the Polish Republic upon the under-mentioned Officers and Men of the Merchant Navy in recognition of their gallant conduct during the withdrawal of Polish troops from France in June, 1940: —

The Late Captain Edgar Wallace Moulton, Master, S.S. Arandora Star. The Late Joseph Brindley, Bosun's Mate, S.S. Arandora Star. Captain John William Cromarty, Master, S.S. Glendinning. Captain Duncan Darroch, Master, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Captain Lachlan Dewar, Master, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Captain Tom Valentine Frank, Master, S.S. Alderpool. Captain Alfred Hinchcliff, Master, S.S. Kelso. Captain John Murray Legg, Master, M.V. Ettrick. Captain Richard William Stanley Marshall, Master, S.S. Glenlea. Captain Duncan McCall, Master, S.S. Blair Nevis. Captain David Frederick Owens, Master, M.V. Ulster Monarch. Captain Henry Edward Geves Scott-Smith, Master, S.S. Clan Ferguson. Captain William Warriner Watson**, Master, S.S. Delius. Mr George Smith Anderton, Chief Officer, S.S. Kelso. Mr Arthur William Craib, Chief Officer, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Mr Alexander Miller, Chief Officer, S.S. Glenlea.* Mr William Ritchie Pitkeathly, Second Officer, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Mr Wroth Thomas Coull Lethbridge, Troop Officer, M.V. Ettrick. Mr Hall Wilson, Chief Steward, S.S. Blair Nevis. Mr Albert John Toy, Chief Steward, S.S. Delius. Mr John Whyte, Steward, S.S. Glendinning. Mr Joseph Lois, Able Seaman, S.S. Alderpool.

 

Hi Roy, these are some of War diaries that i spent a couple of months transcribing for my Aunts old-man. WO/167/1302 No 66 Coy A.M.P.C. B.E.F. 1st June 40 to 30th June 40. The handwriting on some of them was shocking. Mine is not perfect, but its a vast improvement on the majority. I've tried to keep them has original has possible. I was truly gobsmacked when i read his Service Records.

Albert landed in France with No1 Railway Coy on the 16-9-39, which became the 10 Coy A.M.P.C. He was then attached to No 66 Coy on the 17.05.40. In my opinion, Dunkirk seems to get all the attention... Not that i'm complaining, but its only fair that these chaps get a mention.. They where still at it for some days later. Click on images if needed. The strength of the Coy says a lot..

Regards,
Stu.

 

Hi Stu,
Very interesting, thanks.

As you probably know:
Official figures for those troops landed in the UK during Operation Aerial were: British 139,812, French 17,062, Poles 24,352, Czechs 4,938, Belgians 163, Total 186,377. All but a few thousand (just over 6,000) were carried in around 180 merchant ships. I have written quite a bit about this, largely ignored, operation.

On hand writing, I used to write Italian renaissance script, now it's just scrawl!

Regards,
Roy

 

Hi,
My great uncle was called Haydn beavan, his brother (Francis) is my grandfather. From cardiff. I might be able to help.

 

Cargo ship Clan Ferguson, 7,347grt, (Clan Line) loaded with a cargo of military stores including aviation spirit and high explosives and thirteen passengers on the Clyde bound for Malta joined up with the 14 ship Gibraltar bound Convoy WS-21S, which sailed from the Clyde on the 2nd August 1942, arriving at Gibraltar on the 10th August. Here the convoy formed up to make the 14 ship Convoy MW-12, more famously known as “Operation Pedestal” the relief of Malta. Over the next four days the convoy came under one of the most concentrated attacks of the war and by the time the last ship limped into Valletta harbour, nine of the Merchant ships had been sunk and one other would sink whilst alongside. Those ships that did get through helped turn the tide of the war in the Mediterranean and the forth coming campaign in North Africa, which eventually paved the way for the invasion of North Africa and Sicily. On the 12th August 20 miles North of Zembra Island, Tunisia the Clan Ferguson was hit by a German aerial torpedo near the engine room in number four hold setting fire to the cased petrol, which exploded killing eleven crewmembers, one DEMS gunner and six passengers. With the ship well ablaze Clan Ferguson was hastily abandoned on several rafts, while others were forced to jump overboard before the ship exploded and sank within seven minutes. Maneuvering through the burning sea, the rafts managed to reach open water and the following day a German Dornier flying boat landed on the sea taking the occupants of one of the rafts prisoner. Three days later an Italian Red Cross seaplane came across a number of other survivors taking them onboard. The last of the survivors landed their raft at Zembra Island on the 16th August where they were interned by the Vichy French and later transferred to a camp at Le Kef on the Tunisian main land. One crewmember died from “dysentery” in September 1942 while held captive and was eventually interned at the Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery. Many captured Merchant Seamen were held in Tunisia until the successful invasion of Tunisia took place and liberation came in May 1943 including those from the Clan Ferguson.