Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

Have now found these that Joanne talks of Rodney. May still be more though at the NA ??? as these were from FMP
Cheers

Attachment 31272Attachment 31273Attachment 31274Attachment 31275

148531 Cargo Yorkmoor Built 19235 Redhead S Shields

137495 Cargo (Ref) Built 1916 Abadesa/Dominion Miller/Elstree Grange Builder Sir Raylton Dixon Co Middlesbrough Owners Furness Houlder Argentine Lines Ltd/ Houlder Brothers

Thanks doc.

I can copy and paste the the smaller original copies but not enlarge them to send to Sylvia. And I cannot copy and paste the enlarge ones. Any suggestions how I can get copies of the enlarge versions to send?

If so please keep the instructions in kindergarten (nursery School) level, cos that's my level with computers.

Cheers, Rodney:cool:

Doc.

Elevate me to first grade, I pushed the right buttons I guess, I got the enlarge ones.

Thanks mate, they're on there way to Aunt Sylvia.

I found the information of convoy PQ13. on Wikipedia to have an error. It stated that the ship SS Bateau sank in the Bering Sea. I knew as this was wrong as I've fished for halibut in the Bering sea. It is the sea that separates Alaska from Russia.

SS Bateau sank roughly two days sailing from Murmansk in the Artic Ocean. Thus Sylvia's Father Frederick Henry Rowlands qualifies for the medal Arctic Star. I have downloaded the forms, filled one out for Sylvia to copy and it's off to her by mail.

That's my news, her news is the medals have been found, her sister had a bunch of boxes left by her mother up in the attic. As the whole family has got excited about the discoveries you guys and girls have found and your ideas, the sister opened the boxes and found them.

I've explained to Sylvia that reproductions of the medals are very reasonable and everyone that wants medals can get them, plus have display boxes as have been suggested.

So, thank you all so very much, none of these wonderful event like the sisters having a common goal, all having an opportunity to end up with medals each for their individual families, etc. etc.

A really appreciative Rodney:D

Great News Rodney and so glad that all is now solved and complete, well as far as we can go.

Hope that the Lady in question will now be able to rest.
Cheers

Hi Rodney
Apologies, only just found this thread so I’m coming to the party very late! Back in the early 90’s I sought out veterans of PQ 13 and through the Maritime Royal Artillery Old Comrades Association was put in touch with Robert Taylor, a RA gunner who survived the sinking of SS Bateau. So I thought you might be interested in reading the words of someone who was there….

‘I was a maritime gunner on the SS Bateau, owners United States Lines, Panamanian flag of convenience. A cosmopolitan crew, mostly Latvians, Chinese cooks, a Canadian first mate and ex-Europeans. I and my pal was put aboard in Loch Ewe, a convoy base in Scotland, and we sailed to Reykjavík to join the ill-fated PQ13. We had a terrific storm and the Bateau could not keep up with the convoy and we fell astern. We had a German plane spotting us all that day, too high to fire at. That was 27 March 1942. On the 28th of March the weather abated, but no convoy, we were by ourselves. At 11.45pm I was just about to go on watch 12 to 4. My pal called me, and as he was going back to his gun we were hit by 2 torpedoes amidships. He was killed (L/B Hector Waddy) and then the ship listed to starboard. I grabbed my Kapok coat and tried to help some of the crew but they seemed to want to go down with the ship. I then jumped overboard and swam about for half an hour or so. I know it reads idiotic in the Arctic water, but as I found out later I must have got an airlock in my heavy coat that kept me afloat. After swimming about this German destroyer came up and threw me a wire hawser and I grabbed it with hands and teeth and I was pulled inboard (They say a drowning man will cling to a straw). The Bateau sank within 10 minutes. We were then taken to Kirkenes after being shelled by our cruiser [HMS Trinidad], and this German destroyer which I was on got away. A German sailor was stood over me with a machine gun in case the destroyer got hit, fortunately it got away.’

I had seen different dates given for the sinking, but Bob was adamant they were hit on 28th. However, being that close to midnight, and with ship, convoy and Germans possibly recording different time zones, 28th/29th seems to be the answer. The German doctor on the destroyer was amazed that Bob lasted as long as he did in the Arctic sea, and put it down to an air pocket in his Kapok jacket keeping the cold from reaching his heart. Robert spent the rest of the war in Milag, the POW camp for merchant navy prisoners, hiding his true ID as an army gunner.

Hope that adds a little eye witness detail to your family’s remembrances. Hope you got that Arctic Star too! We did for my Uncle.

Thanks for that story, don’t know how old you are but I spent the war years in Kingston on Thames May have asked you before but if old enough were you a member of St. Luke’s C of E choir and think also it was the 12 th cub scouts . I stayed at 12 Richmond Park Road. Your mention of the Royal Artillery brought back memory’s of the ack ack guns stationed down the Richmond Park Road together with the search Lights . Think the regiment was stationed either in Richmond Park or maybe Bushy Park. Cheers JS

Hi JS
I’m only of 1962 vintage with a terrible singing voice I’m afraid. My uncle Alex, now passed, specialised in Radar and was posted to Richmond Park during WWII so presumably directing the Ack Ack you might have heard.

Alan, thanks very much for your story. I've printed it up and will send it off today to "Aunt Sylvia". Thanks again to y'all, you are all truly marvelous, and ALL true shipmates.

Cheers, Rodney:cool:

#58 your lucky then Alan , that ack ack one battery was directly under the bedroom outside on the street. If it started too soon we were confined to the house as had to cross to the back garden to the Anderson Shelter , and what goes up must come down and the prospect of a piece of shrapnel on your head confined us all to the cellar where all the gas mains were.so it was Hobsons choice. I returned to 12 Richmond Park Rd. in 1991 and couldn’t get over how small it was harbouring a dozen people most of the time, things must look bigger when young. Thanks your reply. JS.