SS Cambridge No. 144589

[valfredchristie@aol.com]

Hello,

Does anyone know anything of SS Cambridge (144589) [I] am looking for a photo and information on what happened to her.

Regards Fred Christie

[Bob McGahey]

Dear FRED,
According to Mirimar . SS Cambridge was originally launched as Vogtland for Hamburg Sud.

in 1919. She became the Cambridge in 1922. Official number was 1144589.

She struck a mine 6 nm from Wilsons Promontory 7.11.40. Sank next day. no other info on survivors.

Wilsons Prom is on the Sth coast of Victoria Australia . Maybe something in Aussie records.


Hope this helps.
Bob McGahey

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Fred!
Similar info hope it helps!

The SS Cambridge was built in Wesermunde, Germany in 1916 by JC Tecklenborg, and was originally the SS Vogtland. The ship was a twin-screw steel steamer, 524.5 feet in length, 56.7 feet in breadth, 37.3 feet in depth and of 10846 tons.[1]

Launched in 1919, the ship was surrendered to the British in 1922 as part of the war reparations following World War I, sold to the Federal Steam Navigation Company, Ltd, and renamed.

Sinking
On 7 November 1940, the Cambridge was outbound from Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane under the command of Captain Paddy Angell. At 11:00PM, two and a half miles south-east of Wilsons Promontory, she struck one of several German mines laid in Bass Strait. The mine exploded towards the aft of the ship, flooding the engine room. A distress signal was broadcast, without reply, before Captain Angell ordered the ship to be abandoned.

The ship sank stern first, in just 45 minutes. Of the 56 crew aboard, all but one escaped in one of the three lifeboats; ship's carpenter J. Kinnear returned to his cabin to retrieve money, but failed to escape despite the efforts of the rest of the crew to rescue him. The three lifeboats were rescued by the auxiliary minesweeper, HMAS Orara and taken to Port Welshpool.

Just some info

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...26%2F932%2F117

The Cambridge was not salvaged and was forgotten about until she was relocated by an RAN survey in 1972 and again by the National Safety Council in 1989. She lies in 33 fathoms (66 metres) of water. Some sports diving was conducted (including some pillaging) in the late 80s until the ship was declared an Historic Ship Wreck in August 1989.

Like many Victorian Wreck divers I had heard the story of the Cambridge several times, a huge intact wreck lying deep off Wilson's Prom. This area of Bass Strait is one of the wildest pieces of water in the world, renowned for the currents and storms. But if that wasn't enough, the wreck lies in the middle of the shipping lane with 50,000 ton container ships bearing down on you at 20 knots. Some of the worst cases of decompression illness seen in Victoria have come from would be Prom wreck divers. Such dives are not to be entered into lightly.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Fred, Hi Bob, My wifes' uncle George Reed donkey man /stores'was on the Cambridge when it struck a mine, in Aussie she sunk in lest than 45 mins stern first, the carpenter, was the only person killed , due to the ship haveing steel doors in his cabin ,{ buckled} George and two others' could not get the door open in time with fire axes' so he drown, R.I.P. they were lucky to get off in time. Now a Australia war grave, many lives' have been lost because of that ship, skin divers' looking for stuff ? The Cargo was engine parts? it was an old german ship S.S.Vogtland before renamedthere were 4 others' called Cambridge. George would never talk about what happen, the shipmate who was lost was a friend of his.they were pick up by Hmas. Orara and taken to port welshpool 56 crew 3 lifeboats The Captain was Paddy Angell he gave the abandon ship order. hope this helps.

[valfredchristie@aol.com]

Hi Castleman and Louis,

Thank you both for the information regards the ships my father, Wilfred Christie (Fred) from Stonehaven Scotland, sailed on. Thank you both for the details information regards SS Cambridge (144589).

It would appear that my father served on four ships:

SS Zouave (161344) from 30/1236 to 28 Jul 38 and she was sunk 11 Mar 43

SS Hurunui (148100) from 12 Nov 38 to 22 Jan 40 and she was sunk 15 Oct 40

SS Cambridge (144589) from 2 Feb 40 to Mid Aug 40 and she was sunk 7 Nov 40

SS Dagmar (167545) from 10 Sep 40 he was onboard when that ship was bombed and sunk. It would seem the enemy finally cought up with him. He survived. His mother (she used to read tea cups leaves) dont ask me why. But she read and told him he would not die at sea. There was probably still people onboard the Cambridge that he knew when she sank.

Apparently after being rescued my father and others were taken to a hotel to awaiting clothing, travel, etc and while there some so called ladies came down the stairs in the hotel and were heard to say " who are these scruffy people and what are they doing in this hotel" Well my father said if that was their attitude he would not risk his life for that sort of people. By then I was born so left the MN and was eventually called up for the Army.

I will ask the group if there is any knowledge of living survivours from SS Dagmar.


Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.


Regards FRED Christie