Your expertise is requested !

[Mark Keever]

I am attempting to locate bills of lading / cargo manifests for a Canadian vessel sailing from the Caribbean island of Barbados in November of 1944. Sadly, she was sunk en-route to St. John. N.B. A researcher down there advises this was a British colony during that time frame and records MAY BE located at the KEW. Looking at the online catalog, this appears to be a difficult search. Could this be a Colony Office, Board of Trade or Insurance related item ? Any thoughts or direction ARE greatly appreciated, THANK-YOU !

[Doc Vernon]

Need the name of the Ship to get a start
Thanks

[Mark Keever]

She was the S.S. Cornwallis. Departed Barbados on about November 20, 1944 and was sunk off the coast of Maine on December 3, 1944. Her cargo was barrels of molasses and bagged sugar. Would like to gain additional insight on the cargo... THANK-YOU !

[Doc Vernon]

3 Dec 1944

Cornwallis(34)

Canadian National Steamships

5,458

Torpedoed by U-1230.

43-59N 68-20W

Gulf of Maine

Seven DEMS gunners and 36 crew were lost. Fishing vessel Notre Dame rescued 5 survivors.

Cornwallis (Canadian Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net

Crewlist from Cornwallis (Canadian steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net

[Doc Vernon]

Of interest possibly??

HMCS Cornwallis sunk off Mt. Desert Maine in Dec 1944 by U1230/Hilbig; 43 perished - Eric Wiberg

https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.win...cornwallis.pdf

[Mark Keever]

Thank-you !

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
Here's a mystery, I looked up the Cornwallis in my British vessels lost in 1939--45 and there are two listed one sunk on 11th Sept 42 at 13'05n 59'36'w and one sunk on 3rd Dec 44, at 43.59n 68.20'w A bit puzzling as it is probably the same ship but there again it could have been a replacement, I don't think it is a misprint as they are both listed together in the index.
Just been on U-boat net. my book is correct, there were two ships with that name the one you gave sunk by Hans Aufferman of U 514, that one was 5,458 tons, the other was sunk by Hans Hillbig U 1230 was of 10,000 tons.
Cheers Des

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vern.
If he is looking for a Canadian ship this might be the one.
Cheers Des


cornwallis-ex-canadian_transporter.jpgcornwallis-ex-canadian_transporter.jpg

[Ivan Cloherty]

Her cargo was barrels of molasses and bagged sugar. Would like to gain additional insight on the cargo... THANK-YOU !

What exactly is it what you need to know

[Mark Keever]

Actually, I would like to obtain copies of the original bill of lading / cargo manifest. It would be amazing to find a document that hasn't seen daylight in over 70 years. Interested in knowing the shipper, number of " units " / tonnage & etc. and who the consignee was. My biggest problem is learning where that old data is archived. With hundreds of thousands of vessel movements during world war two, I would think those records are stored somewhere. The U.S.A. used form 7802 ( Vessel Performance and Cargo Report ) of the War Shipping Administration for SOME of that detail. Being a commonwealth vessel, something like that must be in existence, but where ? Any direction is most welcomed, Thank-you !