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Thread: SS North Britain

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    Question SS North Britain

    My grandfather was on SS North Britain went it sank on 5 May 1943. I’m looking for a photo of the ship, any information about the ship and anything about my grandfather William Cullen.

    Thanks in advance
    Andrea

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Andrea
    This is a link with some information regarding your query.
    Rgds
    J.A.
    https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30845

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Thank you so much - really helpful information. Do you know how I can find a photo of my grandfather who was on the ship? Andrea

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30845 [SORRY IT IS THE SAME SITE AS jOHN ARTON ABOVE]..

    go on this on google. Andrea,.
    All the details of the ship and the sinking is on there. including a Map of the Atlantic and the Position of the wreck.


    CHEERS
    BRIAN
    At 02.22 hours on 5 May, 1943, the North Britain (Master John Lamsdale Bright), a straggler from convoy ONS-5 (about five miles behind), was hit by one of three torpedoes fired by U-707 and sank by the bow within two minutes south of Cape Farewell. The master, 27 crew members and seven gunners were lost. Ten crew members and one gunner were picked up by the HMS Northern Spray (FY 129) (Lt F.A.J. Downer) and landed at St.Johns. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30845


    position South of Greenland, Latitude , 58* 18`N Longitude, 43* 03` W


    Pictures Jan Lettens 09/02/2016 This is a thumbnail version of the chart Norwegian Sea and adjacent seas. You do not have sufficient rights to see this chart in full resolution [7890x5916 pixels]. Have access to this chart (and more charts) via one of the following services British Isles Hydrographic Service (583 charts, 30€) more info Norway (179 charts, 20€) more info Islandic Hydrographic Service (13 charts, 5€) more info insert new picture History Claes Johnny 05/05/2008 At 02.22 hours on 5 May, 1943, the North Britain (Master John Lamsdale Bright), a straggler from convoy ONS-5 (about five miles behind), was hit by one of three torpedoes fired by U-707 and sank by the bow within two minutes south of Cape Farewell. The master, 27 crew members and seven gunners were lost. Ten crew members and one gunner were picked up by the HMS Northern Spray (FY 129) (Lt F.A.J. Downer) and landed at St.Johns. ref. used: The U-boat Wars 1939-1945 (Kriegsmarine) and 1914-1918 (Kaiserliche Marine) and Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net insert new history People on board People on board SS NORTH BRITAIN123 1. ANSTEE, ROY EDWARD (18), Second Radio Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 2. BARKER, JOHN ERIC (23), Fourth Engineer Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of William Sydney Barker, and of Emma Barker, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 3. BARNARD, ERNEST MANLEY (24), Second Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Ernest James Barnard and Helen Barnard; husband of Mary Chalmers Barnard, of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 4. BAXTER, MAJOR ALFRED (22), Able Seaman (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain 5. BRIGHT, JOHN LAMSDALE (38), Master, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Stephan and Caroline Bright; husband of Hannah Bright, of Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 6. CAMERON, ALEXANDER (47), Donkeyman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of John and Sarah McDougall Cameron; husband of Agnes Dean Cameron, of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 7. CAMPBELL, JOSEPH (24), Able Seaman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 8. CULLEN, WILLIAM (20), Able Seaman (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain 9. CURRELL, HERBERT (36), Able Seaman (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain 10. CURTIS, JOHN REDPATH (23), Cook, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Margaret Curtis, and stepson of Martin Carabine, of Sunderland, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 11. DOUGHERTY, BRIAN (20), Gunner (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain, British Army 12. DOWNIE, ERNEST (43), Chief Steward, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of James Downie, and of Grace Downic, of South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 13. DUFFY, JAMES (29), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Hugh Duffy and of Sarah Duffy (nee Bonner); husband of Elizabeth Duffy, of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 14. FOSTER, THOMAS WILLIAM (20), Able Seaman (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain 15. GILLON, PATRICK (20), Ordinary Seaman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Patrick and Annie Gillon, of Stoneyburn, West Lothian, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 16. HARRISON, LEWIS WILLIAM (22), First Radio Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Lewis and Violet Harrison, of Worcester Park, Surrey, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 17. LEIVARS, CYRIL (21), Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Leivars, of Old Sawley, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 18. LESLIE, ALEXANDER (28), Carpenter, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Pte. James M. Leslie, Seaforth Highlanders (killed in action in France, 14th November, 1916) and Williamina L. Leslie; stepson of Alistair Macintyre, of Avoch, Ross and Cromarty, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 19. MCGHEE, HUGH (29), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Hugh and Elizabeth McGhee; husband of Helen McGhee, of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 20. MCGUIGAN, ROBERT ALEXANDER (43), Donkeyman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 21. MCGUINNESS, CHARLES (38), Assistant Cook, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 22. MEAD, WILLIAM JOHN , Sailor, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of William and Ethel Mead, of Westbury, Wiltshire; husband of Bessie Mead, of Westbury, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 23. MILLER, DONALD (17), Cabin Boy, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of William and Mabel Miller, of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 24. MURRAY, THOMAS (59), Second Engineer Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Murray, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 25. MY GRANDAD, POPPY , North Britain SS, †05/05/1943, My Grandad died here, Memorial: Dunbarney Cemetery 26. NEWCOMBE, JAMES THOMAS (28), Leading Seaman (DEMS gunner), SS North Britain 27. PALMER, WILLIAM JOSEPH (36), Boatswain, B E M, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of James and Bridget Palmer, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 28. PEARCE, EDWARD JOHN (21), Sailor, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 29. QUINN, FRANCIS (54), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Franci and Agnes Quinn; husband of Anne Quinn of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 30. REID, HENRY JAMES (48), Chief Officer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Husband of Mary Reid, of Strathbungo, Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 31. SHEERAN, KEVIN (26), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Patrick and Bridget Sheeran, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 32. SMITH, RICHARD (28), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Gladys Smith; husband of Margaret Smith, of Brighton, Sussex, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 33. STEPHEN, WILLIAM GRANT (25), Donkeyman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Daniel and Dolina Stephen, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 34. TURLEY, GEORGE (18), Ordinary Seaman, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of George and Janet Turley, of Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 35. WEDGEWORTH, JAMES MORROW (21), Fireman and Trimmer, SS North Britain, Merchant Navy, †05/05/1943, Son of Thomas and Caroline Lennox Wedgeworth; nephew of Rosina Wedgeworth, of Ruchill, Glasgow, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial ref. used: Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30845
    Last edited by Captain Kong; 22nd December 2018 at 02:07 PM.

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Andrea if you Google SS North Britain then go to images, the first two pictures are of the ship itself. One is a painting the other is a photograph of it in dock. Wiser souls than me may be able to advise you with reference to a photograph of your Grandfather. Hope this helps.
    When one door closes another one shuts, it must be the wind

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Cargo ship North Britain, 4,635grt, (North Shipping Co. Ltd) loaded with a part cargo of fire bricks and bagged fire clay at Glasgow bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia for orders joined the 42 ship Convoy ONS-5, which departed the Clyde on the 21st April 1943. On the 28th April the convoy was sighted by U-650 and one Merchant ship was sunk the following day. The message was then relayed to other U-boats and four wolf packs consisting of fifty-seven U-boats began to descend on the convoy. One ship is sunk on the 4th May, but the main attack begins the following day. On the 5th May about 400 nautical miles East of Newfoundland having penetrated the convoy escort screen U-boats managed to sink eleven Merchant ships. During the attack on the 5th May, the North Britain had been straggling about five miles behind the main convoy with boiler trouble when intercepted and struck by one of three torpedoes from U-707. The ship immediately began to sink and within a few minutes disappeared in position 55’ 08N 42’ 43W taking thirty-one men with her. Struggling in heavy seas in one lifeboat and a raft, a further four men died from exposure before the eleven survivors were picked up by the naval trawler HMT Northern Spray and landed at St. John’s, Newfoundland.

    CULLEN, Able Seaman, WILLIAM, D/JX 392862. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in S.S. North Britain. 5th May 1943. Age 20. Son of Herbert and Sarah Cullen; husband of Agnes Bridget Cullen, of Royton, Lancashire. Commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 79, Column 1.

    The battle for Convoy ONS-5 was believed to be the turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic, as the Germans lost six U-boats and a further seven damaged. In fact, in the weeks following this disaster, the Germans were unable to mount an attack on any other convoy but continued to suffer severe losses. Although Merchant shipping continued to be sunk up until the last day of the war in Europe, never again were the U-boats to have the same previous successes, which they referred to as the “happy time” and “second happy time” respectively.
    Last edited by DeepSea; 22nd December 2018 at 02:37 PM.
    "Across the seas where the great waves grow, there are no fields for the poppies to grow, but its a place where Seamen sleep, died for their country, for you and for peace" (Billy McGee 2011)

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Thank you so much. Andrea

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thank you - I’ve got it! Andrea

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Thanks for the detail - more than I had before. Any thoughts on how to get a photo of my grandfather? Andrea

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    ###just as a matter of interest a mate of mine sailed in the next MV NORTH BRITAIN in the early 50s .....she was hove to a day after the lizard while nuclear waste was dumped over the wall .....no health and security then .....cappy

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    Default Re: SS North Britain

    Quote Originally Posted by Andrea Goodridge View Post
    My grandfather was on SS North Britain went it sank on 5 May 1943. I’m looking for a photo of the ship, any information about the ship and anything about my grandfather William Cullen.

    Thanks in advance
    Andrea
    Do you have his approx. DOB and Place !??

    Added OK I now read in a post that he must then have been 20 so Born 1923 ? Cheers Now Place!??
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 22nd December 2018 at 08:49 PM.
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