There were 3 Royal Navy members on board the ship. All commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial, where as the Merchant Navy Crew above are commemorated at Tower Hill in London, Panel 87 Able Seaman LENCH, HENRY FREDERICK Able Seaman FLINTON, JOHN MAURICE Able Seaman ROBINSON, CYRIL The first escort carrier built for the Royal Navy, HMS Audacity, made it's first official voyage escorting this convoy. There is a picture of convoy OG74 in this short film on YouTube. On board Audacity that day was pilot Eric "Winkle" Melrose Brown, who went on to be the most decorated pilot of WW2. Link to YouTube film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT6Ss3klQh8 Link to Imperial War Museum interview with Eric Brown http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012014
My great uncle, John Sutherland Ross was aboard when the ship was sunk. His wife was awoken one night during the war by one of her young sons screaming awake from his sleep that his daddy wasn't coming home. So panicked was the lad and so alarmed was his mother, John Ross's wife, that she made enquiries with the war dept. It turned out that the ship was sunk around the same time that the young lad woke up in a panic!
Welcome to the site Tormod25. I'm so happy at least one family member has come forward. That was always my hope that somebody else can use the information I've found so far. Please feel free to download anything I've posted and add anything you wish. Do you have a photo or any documents relating to your Great Uncle? What a traumatic experience for John's wife and children. I've no family members left that can give me an insight into how the news was received of my uncles death. Left it too late in life to think about it, much to my regret. Should have asked my Dad more about his brother. Hope to see you post more in the future. All the best. Maria
Hi, Robert Carmichael Taylor on the SS Rhineland is a second cousin. Could you please advise how I can access Jerry's translation to the above uboatarchive link as when I click on the link it comes up as an error and page not found. I am doing some research for cousin of Robert's and would be grateful for your assistance please. Kate
Here is the first link Rhineland (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net explaining about the sinking I have contacted amberdog45 re the translation of the U-Boat log for you regards Clive
Hi Clive, many thanks for your assistance - I look forward to reading the translation of the U-Boat log. Thank you! Kind regards, Kate
Hi Clive, I was wondering if you have had any success in obtaining the link to the translation of the U-Boat log regarding the sinking of the SS Rhineland in 1941 please? Thanking you in anticipation. Kind regards, Kate
Hello Kate I have not received a reply yet as soon as I do I will inform you or hope he will renew the link in this thread regards Clive
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Robert Parmichael Taylor Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1916 Birth Place: Aberdeen, Scotland Death Date: 21 Sep 1941 Death Place: At Sea Spouse: Margaret Seems Ancestry have mispelt his middle name Extra detail: UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Name: Robert Carmichael Taylor Birth Date: 29 Jun 1916 Relation to Soldier: Children Title: WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers Description: Other Ranks Died Taylor HA-Taylor J Next of Kin: Name Relation to Soldier John Taylor Mary Ann Taylor Widow Lily Taylor Child Peter Taylor Children John Taylor Children Robert Carmichael Taylor Children Apparently he was a twin Robert Carmichael (twin) Taylor 1916–1941 BIRTH 29 JUN 1916 • Aberdeen City, Scotland DEATH 21 SEP 1941 • Died at sea Adam Allan (twin) Taylor 1916–2010 BIRTH 29 JUN 1916 DEATH 2010 TD
I notice that the KTB for U-201 has been removed from the site - you may wish to contact the administrator U-boat Archive for further details. R.C. Taylor has a seaman's pouch held at Kew in piece BT 372/263/84 and a medal file held at Kew in piece BT 395/1/95559 If he joined any other ship after Jan, 1941 it should be listed in his CRS 10 otherwise the only other way to find his service is via crew agreements. Happy to point to relevant files on request. Regards Hugh
Patrol of German U-boat U-201 from 14 Sep 1941 to 30 Sep 1941 - Kriegsmarine U-boat patrols - uboat.net War Patrols by German U-boat U-201 - Boats - uboat.net The Type VIIC U-boat U-201 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net TD