Seaman pows by the french in africa

[Lou Barron]

Some very interesting stories about the Vichy French and the ships they sank

[Louis the fly]

S.S. Sithonia ( Dad's ship ) torpedoed by U boat U201, Capitan Adelbert Schnee July 12 1942
The Sithonia was bound for Montevideo with a cargo of coal. Two lifeboats launched, the U boat surfaced and gave the men food and water. The lifeboat with an engine with Captain Brown in command began towing the other but later in heavy seas the line parted and the boats drifted apart. The boat with the Mate in command was picked up by Spanish fishermen a week later off the Canary Islands. The other boat drifted for 20 days before landing at Dakar, the men were interned by the French in Sebikotane and another camp near Timbuctoo. From there they were taken to Timeris by fishing boat landing at Port Etienne, French Mauretania. One gunner was left in hospital in Dakar, another gunner died in Sebikotane. The second cook also died and was buried in the desert at Timeris. A fireman had jumped over the side of the lifeboat.

The men were released by the French December 15 1942, arriving in Bathurst, Gambia December 20, finally Freetown, Sierra Leone December 29.
They arrived at Gurrock, Scotland January 15 1943. ( Some of the place names may be misspelled, trying to copy off old papers. )

If anyone is interested I have the lifeboats crew list.

[cappy]

respects to you and your cappy

[leratty]

This Timbuktu POW story has been written about here, I read it this year. There was as I recall even a photo of one of the graves & that one of the men who got home went to the mother of a deck boy who died & told her the story. I believe I was directed to a web site or there was one (address) in the post where the details were written up?
I have tried to locate it but can't. Capt.. Kong alias Brian added quite a bit too me when I asked questions on the site.
Happy Christmas to you Brian in Bolstonia & a terrific NY. Do enjoy your trip with no getting sick, OK? Richard
My fathers ship sank a Vichy French submarine at that time he was her No 1, then when he got his command it was that ship, surely unusual?

[Louis the fly]

A few more details to add.
When the men were held by the French they were ordered to serve and wait on the French officers. When they refused they were lined up and made to stand in the burning sun until some collapsed. Somewhere along the line they came across German troops who treated them far better, gave them good food, allowed to shave and shower and for the first time bunks to sleep.
Up until last year I was in contact with the last man still alive, he was 19 at the time. His health was getting bad so didn't want him to bother him with more phone calls.

[Hugh]

A piece written by Peter De Neumann's son, Bernard, see attached.

Source: http://www.twgpp.org/downloads/news/...inter_2011.pdf

Regards
Hugh

[cappy]

#16 captain dobeson as I have stated was mate on the riseleyb I remember him well his uniform jacjet wasone with the coolar which fastened round the neck ......he and the old man did not get bon at all ....the main reason being a narrow escape from piling onto an atoll on the run down to japan were old doby as we called him was relieved of his watch and orders were passed not to comunicate with him ....he was very easy going ......I have stated in an earlier post on this ship we got acces to the company rum and some will not believe this butevery night people were getting free rumand no one did not turn to we were in sailors heaven......the ship was the most slack of any I have ever been on.......to much drink taken and I do not say this lightly by officers and crew.......the goings on were to say the least the limit .....some officers were definitely alky not mentioning any names both on deck and below.......but the ship was very fre and easy and not a workhouse for anyone ......if all shios were like that it was a holiday camp I had accses to the stores and all could have tinned fruit cheese or anything we didn't give a sh.tin port evey body just pissed of we sold our blankets and mattreses in japan the cabin boy got put iside he was from shields we went to see the old man to pay his fine because the boy had said a bloke in the cell was vtrying to kiss him.......I personly knocked on the door the old man said what do you want I told him the story no money he sai go and ask the chief steward for his Vaseline........now some bloke might say romancing but I believe in the early 60s we were the last of the true tramps we had people in nick in every port......to be honest nobody gave a toss.......the second engineer used to drink in the crew quarters cos nobody in the enginecrowd could stand him........he was rally pissed drinking with us one night and telling us how important he was.....when one of the lads said rubbish you have to do what your told if not go down below andopen up another notch or two off he went a few minutes later the ship was vibrating like jack hammer the man at the wheel came down later and told us theold man and the chief and the 2nd engineer were nearly at blows on thev bridge .......each time we left port a dummy was thrown over the wall and man overboard shouted which gave the bridge a nightmare the old man bellowed to the 2nd mate can you see any dummies ......somebody shoted there all on the effin bridge....but the trip was good fun and good drinking in oz and kiwi .....I think this allended in the 60s.....this is not romancing this was the mv riseley 1960 to 61

[leratty]

Cappy, it is true on the tramps more often than not someone wound up in the calaboose it seemed almost mandatory. I did in a couple of places Panama & Baltimore stand out, the latter was hilarious as then their drinking age was 21 & it was almost a dry city too. Well of course we were quite some off that & looked even younger with long hair, ear ring most definitely not of the locals preferred image of their youth. Anyway we were picked up staggering along back to the ship around 1am by the cops who were not to kindly towards us. The stuck us in the back of their car after dusting us up & off the the nick we did go! Anyway after some time in the main cell with a very worrying mixed bunch black & white fellow felons we were taken out to the duty Sgt's office. He said, "are you from Australian & New Zealand?" to which we said "yes." He said "I was there during WW2, like your people. Now if you drink then let us drink." & we did even though already heavily under the weather. Then at 9am he sent us back to the ship in a police car. How nice was that?
Panama was different, but that is another story & funny as all get up too.

[cappy]

#16 captain dobeson as I have stated was mate on the riseleyb I remember him well his uniform jacjet wasone with the coolar which fastened round the neck .....I think this allended in the 60s.....this is not romancing this was the mv riseley 1960 to 61

##GT dobeson was mate on the above trip...cappy

[Lewis McColl]

Thanks for these post and threads, it has certainly opened my eyes to what the VICHY French did. I did know they were a bunch of traitors but I was not aware that this went on.
Not far from were I am living there is round about just outside the town of Marmonde in the centre of the round about there is a memorial dedicated to the Jewish victims sent to the death camps. I have photos somewhere on my facebook albums. I will see if I can post them on here.
But I will still say this most French people hated the Germans and the under ground and free French gave there all to get the Germans out and did pay a heavy price.