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Thread: On this day - 17th September 1940

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    Default On this day - 17th September 1940

    Her Name Was SS.


    On This Day


    17 September 1940


    On this day we remember the loss of our relatives Thomas David Newberry and James Greenway fellow crew members and Captain William Thomas Care of the SS.Tregenna.


    We further remember: Ships of The British Merchant Navy Captains, Crew and loved ones. Including the lesser well known, yet not forgotten.

    Her name was SS: She was a lady of the waves, named Daybreak, Tregenna, Dudley Rose, City of Beneras, Crown Arun etc, whatever her title she was not designed intentionally to face enemy action. She was generally a Steamship born or rather built to serve her masters, carry safely her crew, passengers and cargo and supply a Nation. Those who sailed upon her,
    leaving families and loved ones ashore, at home, behind them and often during conflict alone and forever. Many that promised to remember them, are here no more, re-united possibly as time has gone by. The ships, travelers and crews, sail on in a different world now and loved ones hopefully passage eternally with those brave men and voyagers once more.

    It was a hard way to earn a crust, especially during Wartime, with so many vessels seeking safe haven. With often her journeys end, not reached and a final resting place, the Ocean bed and no known grave but the sea, for the men, women and boys or children that sailed these graceful steel ladies. “We must remember them all”. The many that survived attacks by those that would do them harm, haunted forever by the sights and sounds of ships and fellow men of the sea becoming extinct in such a horrible way and those that escaped the hunters time and time again, with no thought of giving in will always remember “These men that died to save us all”.

    We, as an island race, are steeped in Maritime history and owe so much to so many, the Merchant Navy have until recently seemed to be the forgotten service, the backbone of our country’s Navy, yet a distant relative when the honours are bestowed. These good men worked for a living, for bread and butter and maybe a love of the sea, others just to work, as times were hard. Whatever reason seamen sail, they expect at some time to go home. Faced with the hardships of life at sea, many would be deterred from such a life. To sail knowing that any voyage could be the last, facing war time dangers and a watery grave, did not deter these brave men and our Maritime life line was kept open by these sailors from many homes and ports.

    Many sail what can be a “Cruel Sea”, not always in times of conflict, we ask that our God will “Bless this Ship and all who Sail In Her” at a launch and many pray for a safe voyage and early return for vessels leaving harbour. All ships and crew from liners to fishing vessels, rowing boat to super tanker, require safe passage, a flag to fly under and protection from danger. Safe harbour to rest in and when tragedy occurs a lifeboat to help them. We pray for the safety, support those that may rescue and ask our god to guide and protect. But we must also remember, LEST WE FORGET.

    In Memory of :

    Those Good Men and the women and children, still not Home From The Sea and those of all lost from this world with “No Known Grave but the Sea”. We shall Remember Them.
    KG.




    “WE REMEMBER THEM”



    On This Day : 17 September 1940


    Her Name Was “City of Benares”, “Tregenna”, “Crown Arun”.

    ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-boat U-48 torpedoes and sinks the SS City of Benares, killing 77 British children and 248 crew en-route to Canada. The ship, part of convoy OB-213, had departed Liverpool, England, for Montreal and Quebec City, Canada, on 13 September carrying 199 passengers, 90 of which were children. The children are being transported to Canada as part of a government program. A few hours after the RN escort had withdrawn, the ship is torpedoed at 56.48N, 21.15W. The torpedo hits the ship on the port side and she sinks after a short time. Only 57 passengers, including 13 children, are rescued. Immediately after the sinking, the British government ceases the transportation of children to Canada and South Africa.

    U-65 sank SS Tregenna in Convoy HX-71.



    U-99 sank SS Crown Arun.



    “They Have No Grave Above The Waves”.


    17th September 1940 (World War II) saw the sinking a British passenger liner, Her Name Was “S.S. City of Benares”, by a German submarine. 90 children on board were being carried to safety in Canada. The S.S. City of Benares, with 406 crew and passengers aboard, was 630 miles out in the North Atlantic on September 17, 1940, when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat. As the Benares sank, passengers and crew abandoned ship in the stormy waters. Those who made it into lifeboats faced gale-force winds and icy waters—a "recipe for hypothermia." With the nearest help 300 miles away, the survivors faced long odds. Despite frequent heroism, many drowned or died of overexposure before the HMS Hurricane arrived and rescued 108 survivors. In its search, the Hurricane missed Lifeboat 12, and its passengers endured eight more harrowing days on the open sea before being rescued. In all, only 13 of the 90 children survived.
    We further remember CHARNOCK, Ernest, Ordinary Signalman, C/JX 171107, (Eaglet, O/P), MPK and

    MARSHALL, George, Petty Officer Telegraphist, D/JX 132113, (Eaglet, O/P), MPK Previously recorded as perishing on board “Tregenna” have now been correctly remembered with “Benares”


    'SS Crown Arun'(2,372t) cargo ship, from Gaspe, Quebec, Canada to Hull with a cargo of pit props, was sunk by U 99 in the North-western Approaches. No Casualties. * TREGENNA WAS SUNK BY U 65 ON SEPT. 17-1940 WITH THE LOSS OF 33 LIVES.


    “We Shall Remember Them”




    There are conflicting reports on the date of the sinking of the SS.
    City of Benares. some state 17/09/1940 others 18/09 and a few state at midnight on the 17th. One list we include here with dates that Benares and other ships were sunk, we add these out of interest:

    • 3 September 1939 (SS Athenia)
    • 18 October 1939 (SS Yorkshire)
    • 2 March 1940 (MV Domala)
    • 17 September 1940 (SS City of Benares) • 15 November 1940 (MV Apapa) • 27 November 1940 (MV Rangitane) • 17 January 1941 (SS Almeda Star) • 27 February 1941 (SS Anchises) • 28 February 1941 (SS Anchises) • 25 March 1941 (SS Britannia) • 30 March 1941 (SS Umona) • 30 April 1941 (SS Nerissa) • 13 June 1941 (SS St Patrick) • 19 August 1941 (SS Aguila) • 19 January 1942 (SS Lady Hawkins) • 14 February 1942 (SS Kuala) • 14 February 1942 (MV Tandjong Pinang) • 15 February 1942 (SS Vyner Brooke) • 19 February 1942 (MV Manunda) • 5 June 1942 (SS Elysia) • 5 July 1942 (SS Avila Star) • 16 July 1942 (SS Gloucester Castle), • 6 October 1942 (SS Andalucia Star) • 7 October 1942 (MV Boringia) • 10 October 1942 (SS Orcades) • 27 October 1942 (MV Stentor) • 6 November 1942 (SS City of Cairo) • 21 December 1942 (SS Strathallan) • 30 December 1942 (HMS Fidelity) • 22 April 1943 (MV Amerika) • 14 May 1943 (MV Centaur) • 10 July 1943 (SS Talamba) • 13 September 1943 (SS Newfoundland) • 24 January 1944 (SS St David) • 12 February 1944 (SS Khedive Ismail).


    It is believed that the report below is correct and that "The City of Benares" actually sunk just after midnight and the date was then the18th September.

    REPORT:

    Late in the evening of 17 September, the City of Benares was sighted by U-48, who fired two torpedoes at her at 23.45 hours. Both torpedoes missed, and at 00.01 hours on 18 September, the U-boat fired another torpedo at her. The torpedo struck her in the stern causing her to sink within 30 minutes, 253 miles west-southwest of Rockall.

    Among the many on board were seven children from Newport as well as a couple from Cardiff who did not survive. SEE FOLLOWING LINK:

    http://www.newportsdead.bravehost.com/young%20casualties.htm
    Brian Probetts (site admin)
    R760142

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    Default Very fitting!

    Hello Brian,
    A very fitting Post for the 17th Sept 1940 indeed,and what a lovely remembrance writeup as shown,for all concerned!
    I am sure we will all Stand and remember all those brave Men and Women who were involved.
    Thank you for posting this Brian!
    Sincerly

    Good Link too Brian!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 16th September 2008 at 02:31 AM.
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    For all who go down to the sea, lest we forget.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

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    Default

    ref post #2

    hi vernon. i agree with your sentiments and i wonder!. was the u-boat waiting for the declaration of war whilst following the ship that was torpedoed on the 3rd of september?. sad. alf
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 22nd September 2010 at 08:45 PM.
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    Default Sad indeed

    ref post #4

    Hi Alf,
    Well just the tought of something like that in mind really makes the Blood boil mate! But then we will never really know i suppose!
    A really sad ending!
    Cheers
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 22nd September 2010 at 08:45 PM.
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    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Hope this is of help

    Sinking of SS Athenia The history and unfolding of events of the sinking of SS Athenia by U-30, the first ship sunk during World War Two.

    http://www.uboataces.com/battle-athenia.shtml

    Regards,

    Keith at Tregenna.

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    Default Link

    ref post #6

    Hi Keith,
    Many thanks for that Link you have given,i will sit and go through it in more detail a bit later!
    Cheers
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 22nd September 2010 at 08:46 PM.
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    Default Liverpool and WW II

    Whilst searching for info on the City of Benares (I'm ex Ellermans) came across the following site:

    http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/shippingWW11.html

    R866332
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    Default Site!

    ref post#8


    Hi Bill,
    Well yet another good site which i have added to the growing list i have,also added it to the link here on site namely Other Nautical Sites many thanks for that Bill always nice to get some new sites,and there are so many
    Cheers


    See list here if you havent allready!

    http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/showthread.php?t=800
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 22nd September 2010 at 08:46 PM.
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    Default On This Day

    Thank you Brian for a Wonderful yet very sad memory, of the Children of the City of Benares, Being an Orphan of the War myself, of which 20,000 were shipped to Australia, it never fails to bring Tears as I remember the struggles of my childhood days, and also knowing that I also lost my nearest next of Kin in the Second World War Merchant Navy and so was Shipped to the Colonies and not told anything at all until the 1980,s. War is a Horrific thing and the Outcomes are never good. It was only in 1980 that I learned most of my Family were at Sea in the Merchant Navy, no wonder I myself Joined up as a young boy, and the Sea and the Ships became my Home. Let us never forget what happened in the Second World War at Sea with the Merchant Navy and try and find a way to teach and let Kids in the schools know the true price of Freedom, because by God it was very high. I dont think you can ever imagine the Loneliness of being a War Orphan and actually from the Sea , it carries right through ones life. all the best Glenn

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