The Loss of HMT Awatea, 11 November 1942

davidbfpo · Nov 23, 2021

This ship was a fast civilian passenger ship from New Zealand, crossing the Tasman Sea and became a WW2 troopship.

Thanks to a pointer to a BCHM presentation soon by Dr Daniel Lear entitled 'The Non-sailing of RMS Awatea in July 1940 and the New Zealand War Histories. A Disremembered Event' I looked to see what happened. His 2020 PhD is on a wider theme: New Zealand’s Politico-Military Leadership and the War in the Mediterranean Theatre, 1938 to May 1943; available for free via: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/156211502/2021_Lear_Daniel_1470682_ethesis.pdf

The ship does appear briefly in a few threads and one is quoted later.

HMT Awatea took part in transporting two UK Commandos, Nos. 1 & 6, for Operation Torch, disembarking troops at Bougie (east of Algiers, now Bejaia) when she was heavily attacked from the air as she returned to sea. Having fought them off, a second wave of bombers sank her. A short account of the Commando landing: No. 6 Commando - Wikipedia

More details on a New Zealand website in 2010, with contemporary account plus the medals etc awarded and some more sources: https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/14144/loss-hmt-awatea-november-1942 There is a short Wiki: HMT Awatea - Wikipedia

From a 2009 post has details of the DSO awarded to the ship's Captain (Post 134 lightly edited):

George Brotherton Morgan,

Ll.W.M. Citation: The ship was in port discharging her cargo when a low-level air attack developed but she was not damaged. Later the same day the ship was proceeding on her voyage when she was subjected to further heavy attacks. She was hit by bombs and torpedoes which caused considerable damage and set her on fire. Captain Morgan’s courage, leadership and determination were outstanding throughout the fierce and prolonged attacks. His organisation in getting the boats away saved many lives, and his efficient direction of the ship’s guns was responsible for destroying two aircraft and damaging others.

From John H Ackrill, Principal Examiner, Marine Engineers, Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand, www.msa.govt.nz:

Captain George Brotherton Morgan was Master of the TSS Awatea, a Union Steamship Co of New Zealand trans-Tasman passenger liner which was taken up as a troopship by the Ministry of War Transport in September 1941, and converted into a Landing Ship Infantry in October 1942. She took part in Operation Torch, the North African landings, in November 1942 and came under sustained air attack off Bougie on 11 November, being bombed, torpedoed and set on fire; she was abandoned after a gallant fight and sank in the early morning hours of 12 November. Remarkably, there was no loss of life .

As a result of this action Capt Morgan was awarded the DSO (and, subsequently, Lloyd's Bravery Medal) and there were a number of other awards.
Click to expand...

Link: Merchant Navy awards

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The Loss of HMT Awatea, 11 November 1942

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