The Winston Specials: Troopships Via the Cape 1940-1943

Discussion in 'General' started by stubbsyswade, Jan 14, 2022.

  1. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    Hi

    Does anyone have a copy of this book? Does the book list the units that were onboard? I think my Grandfather sailed on WS 4
    Regards

    Darren
     
  2. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    There were actually two, WS4A and WS4B. No comprehensive list of units onboard.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Have you tried the War Diary for your Grandad's Regt?. In my Dad's case the ships are shown:
    upload_2022-1-14_12-8-20.jpeg

    Tim
     
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  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Not my subject, but older threads have shown some soldiers have written / spoken of their stop in Durban, notably commenting on the hospitality shown by families. Might be worth a search with the unit in focus plus Durban?
     
  5. snapper35

    snapper35 Active Member

    I've got it. My grandfather was on ws19p. Doesn't list the units.
     
  6. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Which unit was he in?

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  7. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    We have a. copy - happy to help. What was his regiment?


    My father-in-law was on Convoy 4a - is unit was the advance party of the 4th Durham Regiment RA TA. The only reference in Archie Munro's book is that there were 'advance parties of RA unite on RMS Scythia'. There is no mention of this in the regimental WD's nor in the printed history. We only know that FIL was there because he named the ship in his own diary and kept some small paper items from the Scythia including a letter home from Freetown.

    Do you have your grandfather's service record? This will include the dates for overseas service and this will help identify which convoy he was on.


    Regards Robin
     
  8. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    I am still waiting for the diaries hopefully they will email me soon, live in Australia so thats the only way to fet them


    27 London Electrical Engineers (LEE) Search light (S/L) regiment that changed to RA

    From my research
    5 Oct 1940 2 AA Bde was warned out that, it was earmarked for overseas service.


    Winston Special (WS) convoy WS4 left Liverpool on the 1st November 1940 it reached Freetown on the 14 November, Cape of Good Hope 22 November and finally Egypt in December. (These fit the arrival date in Suez)
     
  9. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    Arrive in Suez 16 Dec 1940 from service record
     
  10. snapper35

    snapper35 Active Member

    Book says WS4a arrived reached the gulf of Aden 18th Dec, Suez 22nd Dec. WS4b left Durban on 16th towards Suez, arrived 28th.

    Not sure when they would log arrival in Suez from?

    Apologies if sounding abrupt, using my phone!
     
  11. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    Thanks for the information, like you unsure of when the first day in contry would be
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    That looks like a summary on discharge.

    Do you have his actual service record?


    The service record for my father-in-law shows Middle East from 29 October 1940 (when he boarded the Scythia in Liverpool) but Disembarked in Egypt on 31 December - when the MT transport ship he was on from South Africa arrived .
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2022
  13. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    He would have been on Stirling Castle
     
  14. snapper35

    snapper35 Active Member

    Stirling castle was fitted out for 1100 troops in Liverpool but embarked an extra 429 and was provided these extra berths. Her first troop movement. 5500 troops embarked on her, Highland monarch, Scythia and almanzora.

    Lead elements of 2 armoured div.

    SC carried the commodore, sir h r Crooke kbe CB rnr. Embarked troops and sailed from Liverpool 1100hrs 1st Nov.

    SC carried hq 3 armd bde, 3&4 bn royal tank Regt, SIGs, field park and recovery sections

    SC required 1950 tons fuel at Freetown, Sierra Leone, arrived 14th. 700 tons water. Passed boom and anchored in berth s8 by 1704. No one allowed ashore.

    More notes later.
     
  15. snapper35

    snapper35 Active Member

    1642 passed boom

    Passed boom at 1635 on 17th

    Could do 18 knots. Arrived Durban 0630 28 Nov, SC berthed b shed berth at the point within an hour.

    Allowed ashore. Sailed 1030 5 Dec. Entered red sea 18 Dec at 1800. Reached Suez 1500 on 22nd. 51 days after leaving UK, six days ahead of main body of 2 armd div on ws4b
     
  16. snapper35

    snapper35 Active Member

    Convoy reached port tewfik on 23 Dec. SC disembarking was handled at Suez anchorage. Left 1400 on 1st Jan as convoy sw4a.

    My thumb hurts
     
  17. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Meanwhile after the luxury of the Scythia my FIL was transhipped at Durban onto the Dunera which had much of the regiments MT on board.


    He records the following in his personal diary

    December 6. “Left Durban on board troopship Dunera”


    December 22. “Had Xmas dinner today. Carved Turkey for troops”

    December 23. “Stopped at Port Suez. Proceeding through canal”

    December 24 1940. Disembarked at Port Said & came by train to Cairo. Xmas Eve on train arrived Cairo at 0300hrs & slept in main barracks”
     
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  18. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    Hi Everyone
    I now believe my Grandad was on the WS5 convoy and they sailed on the 16 Dec 1940 out of Liverpool. Anyone have any information on this convoy i know it was attacked by a German cruiser! Thanks
     
  19. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    See the limited entry on Admiral Hipper's attack: WS (Winston Special) Convoys in WW2 - 1940 Sailings Note that site states:
    Also: Operation Nordseetour - Wikipedia and BBC - WW2 People's War - My Christmas Day 1940

    I have not looked for thread here!
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2022
    timuk likes this.
  20. stubbsyswade

    stubbsyswade Member

    I read that one today , apparently the Empire Trooper was attacked and 16 were killed , trying to find out what unit they are from. Any ideas
     

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