Hi All. about the sank of HMS Rosaura I found this note: “Armed boarding vessel ROSAURA (1552grt) was sunk on a mine 146° from Mersa Tobruk. Fourteen crew, including P/T/Surgeon Lt J. F. Roberts RNVR, five military guards and 59 prisoners of war were lost”. With Geoff's engine I was been able to know the name of 14 crew of Rosaura but there is no reference about five military guards died. Thanks in advance for any possible help to know the names of these 5 guards. Regards Enzus
Source Rosaura, ship loss BLIZARD, Henry R, Electrician, NAP, killed CAMPBELL, Murdo, Seaman, RNR, D/6787 C, MPK CORDINA, Carmelo, Greaser, T.124 X, killed DE GIORGIO, Anthony, Greaser, NAP, MPK DEBONO, Anthony, Carpenter, NAP 64882, MPK DOUGHERTY, John R, Seaman, RNR, D/19858 A, MPK GILLIES, Norman, Seaman, RNR, D/X 9736 B, MPK LAMONT, Robert W, Act/Leading Signalman, C/JX 152186, MPK MEIKLE, William, Able Seaman, RFR, D/J 97333, MPK ROBERTS, John F, Py/Ty/Surgeon Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK SCHEMBRI, George, Canteen Manager, NAAFI, MPK THOMPSON, John T, Chief Engine Room Artificer (Pens), C/M 5585, MPK WALL, Charles, Assistant Cook, NAP, MPK http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1941-03MAR.htm Rosaura SS was a British Passenger Vessel of 1,210 tons built in 1905 by Fairfield, Govan for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway Co, London as the DIEPPE SS. She was powered by a Triple screw ss 3 direct drive Parsons Turbines. In 1933 she was refitted with 2 x M8cy Atlas Diesels and the centre propeller was removed. A single funnel replaced the two funnels. Now 1538g In 1923 she was acquired by the Southern Railway Co, London. In 1933 she was acquired by Lord Moyne and renamed the ROSAURA SS. During WW1 she served as a Military Transport/Hospital Ship/Troopship. When she was sold to Lord Moyne she was converted to ocean going yacht to replace ROUSSALKA ex BRIGHTON (qv). In WW2 she was requisitioned by Royal Navy as armed boarding vessel. On the 18th March 1941 she was sunk by a mine off Tobruk. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?99020
Thanks so much for your big help!!! Did you find something about 5 military guards died and something about IT POWs? Regards Enzus
Link to board of enquiry report on loss of HMS Rosaura http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/AssetMain?iaid=C7423217 Unfortunately report is not digitalized so will have to be ordered if interested. Interesting post in this thread here: http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-8094.html
I think I can help with the names of your guards. I did a search on the CWGC war site under date of death 18/3/41 and found that five members of 2/5 Battalion A.I.F had died on that date. They are: Sgt. James Taylor http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2125361/TAYLOR,%20JAMES Private Walter George Bretherton http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2119844/BRETHERTON,%20WALTER%20GEORGE Private George Michael Doyle http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2218048/DOYLE,%20GEORGE%20MICHAEL Private William Joseph Mcleod http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2205730/McLEOD,%20WILLIAM%20JOSEPH Private Robert Dickie Holland http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2225490/HOLLAND,%20ROBERT%20DICKIE The war diaries of 2/5 Battalion are posted online: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm52/8/3/5/awm52-8-3-5-5.pdf and this was listed under March 19th 1941:
Hi, thanks so much for your big help and for your courtesy. Last week I recived a copy of the Board of inquitity from NA Kew and it is an interesting paper. Do you know anything about 400 italian POWs and their 59 deads? Regards Enzus
Dear Enzus:: I am researching the sinking of the Rosaura for a lifetime friend of mine whose father was the Chief Engineer on the ship when she went down in Tobruk Harbour. He is not internet savvy so I an helping him gather some information so he can pass it on to his own children and grandchildren The chief, John (Jack) Herbertson, had previously served on the ship when it travelled the world when it was Lord Moyne's private yacht. You mentioned that you had a copy of the Admiralty Inquiry and I would be gratefully if you could share it with me. My friend is not in the best of health and I would like to get some information to him before he passes on. Thanking you in advance for your co-operation with my request. Yours sincerely, EngineRoomChiefRosaura
Hello, I am trying to discover details of Anthony De Giorgio NAP MPK who died on the Rosaura 18/03/1941, he was a 'greaser'. My grandfather went from Malta to Tunis, Tunisia in 1936. He was titled as 'Engineer' and had worked at 'Luna Park' in Malta for three years or so. His name was Anthony De Giorgio. It may be the wrong Anthony De Giorgio. My grandfather was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1895. Thank you for your assistance and time. Michael
Malta connection (the card gives no further information): Medal card of Degiorgio, A Corps: 1st Maltese Labour Corps Regiment No: 1217... | The National Archives What other details for your grandfather do you have?
UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Name: Anthony DE Giorgio Event: Death Birth Date: 31 May 1919 Birth Place: Port Said, Egypt Death Date: 18 Mar 1941 Death Age: 21 States his job as 'Greaser' aboard HMS Rosaura killed 18 March 1941 TD