Radio Officer, SS. Gairsoppa, 1941

[Jimmy Shaw]

G'day Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm new here.

I have been researching information about the SS. Gairsoppa, which was sunk in Feb 1941, off the coast of Ireland.
I have an interest in Wireless Telegraphy, and would like to find out more about the SS. Gairsoppa's Radio Officer, Robert Frederick Hampshire, aged 18. I cannot find much about him, nor a photo of him. If anyone could help with this, I'd really appreciate it. A photo especially!

Thanks in advance.

Cheerio,
Jimmy

[Keith at Tregenna]

The Wreck of the Gairsoppa

stoppa7big.jpg

https://www.submerged.co.uk/the-wrec...-gairsoppa.php

[Keith at Tregenna]

G'day Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm new here.


Thanks in advance.

Cheerio,
Jimmy

429A HAMPSHIRE, R.O. ROBERT FREDERICK (18) SS GAIRSOPPA
Sunk by U101 about 300 miles SW of Galway Bay on 17th February 1941. He survived the sinking and got in a lifeboat under the command of 2nd Mate Richard Ayres. They were in the lifeboat for 13 days and tried to get ashore in a cove near the Lizard. The boat capsized and the RO, a DEMS gunner and three Asian crew members were drowned.

In Memoriam – The Radio Officers' Association

[Keith at Tregenna]

Attached to convoy SL-64 under master Gerald Hyland, she was returning from India to Britain in 1941 with a cargo of Silver Ingots destined for the Royal Mint, Pig Iron and tea. She joined the 8 knot convoy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, but while in a heavy storm and running low on coal off the coast of neutral Ireland,Gairsoppa split off from the convoy and set course for Galway Harbor at a reduced speed of 5 knots.

A German Focke-Wolf FW 200 aircraft circled her at 08:00 on 16 February, and at 22.30, U-101 under the command of Ernst Mengerson, spotted her. Torpedoed on the starboard side in No. 2 hold, she sank within 20 minutes (Note: German logbooks kept in German time state she sank at 00.08 hours on February 17, 1941), claiming the lives of 85 people. Her last reported position was 50 Degrees North 14 degrees west 300 miles (480 km) southwest of Galway Bay. The wreck lies 4,700 metres (15,400 ft) below the surface.

It was thought that three lifeboats launched, but only one in the charge of the second officer, R. H. Ayres, with four Europeans and two Lascars on board, made it away; the rest of the crew was lost. By the 13th day only the second officer, the radio officer, and one seaman gunner remained alive. Ayres and his boat reached the Cornish coast two weeks later at Caerthillian Cove in the parish of Landewednak. The boat capsized before the Lizard Lifeboat could reach them, and only the second officer was pulled from the sea alive. Two of the men aboard, Robert Frederick Hampshire (Radio Officer), and an unnamed Indian seaman, died trying to get ashore. They are buried at ST Wynwallows, Church Cove, Landewednack. Ayres was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his attempts to rescue his fellow sailors; he lived until 1992.

Keith.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Covered the basics Jimmy, hopefully more to come.

Keith.

[Jimmy Shaw]

Hello Keith,

Thank you for your help. I'm sorry, I should've been more specific. I already know most of what has been said, I was mainly looking for more personal info on Robert Hampshire. A photograph of him would be great if possible. Do any of you have photo of him, or know where I could find one?
Thanks.

Cheers,
Jimmy

[Keith at Tregenna]

I guessed that you would have but, need a start ourselves.

Hopefully, best advice will come.

Regards Keith.

[Doc Vernon]

Most probably have this as well Jimmy ??

HAMPSHIRE Radio Officer

ROBERT FREDERICK

Sunday, February 16, 1941 Age 18 LANDEWEDNACK (ST. WINWALLOW) CHURCHYARD

View record Merchant Navy United Kingdom

file:///C:/Users/Vernon/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/HAMPSHIRE_ROBERT_FREDERICK.pdf

Merchant Navy. British

Born	1923
Died	1 Mar 1941	(18)

Roster information listed for Robert Frederick Hampshire

	Ship	Type	Rank / role	Attacked on	Boat
	Gairsoppa	Steam merchant	Radio Officer	17 Feb 1941 (+)	U-101

Personal information

Robert Frederick Hampshire survived the sinking of

Gairsoppa

, but drowned when his lifeboat capsized in the surf off The Lizard, Cornwall. His body was recovered and buried in the Landewednack Churchyard.

R F Hampshire.jpg

I think the only Pic you may get unless someone per chance has one ,is from his CRS10 Record,which would be when he joined up.
His CRS10 if still available should be found within this Series! At the National Archives
Cheers
Hammonds D J to Hancock D E | The National Archives

Unfortunately Headstone not quite clear the best I can do.

R F Hampshire.JPG

[Jimmy Shaw]

Thank you, Sir.
Unfortunately I live in Australia, therefore have no way of viewing the records. I guess I'll have to wait till they digitalise the records
Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate the assistance.

Cheerio,
Jimmy

[Doc Vernon]

Possibly get someone to do the research at the Archives for you Jimmy,or there may be a kind Heart on site who may be able to get to the Archives and do it for you!
I know in the past this has been done by one or two here?? Anyone that can assist Jimmy!?
I would happily do it but as you see I too am in Aussie!
Cheers and best of luck!

PS No Sir on here Jimmy LOL Just plain old Doc (without the old LOL)