Hampton Lodge Merchant Navy Ship 1942

[Terry Chafe]

one of the ships my father was assigned to was the Hampton Lodge also known as the Essex Abbey. It was bombed and sunk January 21, 1943. My father was rescued and sent to Gibraltar until September 11, 1944 when he was assigned to the Empire Razorbill. I am not sure of what happened on Gibraltar. He may of had training in underwater demolition under Lionel Buster Crabbe? I am looking for any information anyone will have. Also I could not find any picture of the Hampton Lodge.
Thank you,
Terry Chafe

[Keith at Tregenna]

Although there are no guarantees. many on site I am certain will try to help.

Any further information that you can give will help.

Full name, date / place of birth / death,
any MN reference numbers etc, all and everything will help.

Regards Keith.

[Terry Chafe]

My father’s name was George William Chafe born 1918 died 1981. Continuous certificate of discharge No. R237094. Service no. G127732. First ship Hampton Lodge 132608. Last Convoy MKS6 departed Philipeville on January 19 1943 sunk January 21, 1943. I cannot think of any more information to add. Thank you to Keith at Tregenna for your comments. Looking forward to hearing more!

Terry Chafe

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks Terry, will do all pos to help, noticed you are in Ontario, where was George born.

Keith.

[Keith at Tregenna]

one of the ships my father was assigned to was the Hampton Lodge also known as the Essex Abbey. Also I could not find any picture of the Hampton Lodge.
Thank you,
Terry Chafe

Commencing with some info that you would be aware of but, may help others assisting.

SS Hampton Lodge was a British cargo steamer of 3,595grt that was sunk in an air raid on the 21st January 1943 when on route from Algiers for Benisaf in ballast.

https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?165439

K.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Terry.
You may have this info. The Hampton Lodge was hit by enemy aircraft on the 20th January 1943 and she sank on the 21st, an asterix in my book means that she was on charter to the Admiralty at the time.
Cheers Des

[Red Lead Ted]

Found This Terry,

Essex Abbey (1) 132608 1911 3595
1916 sold to Grahams & Co, London r/n Panayiotis, 1920 sold to Loyal Line, London r/n Loyal Devonian, 1932 sold to S.N.Vlassopol, Braila r/n Inginer N. Vlassopol, 1941 seized by MOWT r/n Hampton Lodge, 21.1.1943 sunk by air attack in 36.44N 01.50E


Name Official number Flag IMO
ESSEX ABBEY 132608 GBR
Year built Date launched Date completed
1911 31/08/1911
Vessel type Vessel description
Cargo General Steel Screw Steamer
Builder Yard Yard no
Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co, Greenock Cartsdyke Mid 333


Tonnage Length Breadth Depth Draft
3595 grt / 2266 nrt / 348.5 ft 50.2 ft 23.6 ft
Engine builder Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock
Engine detail
1-screw. T3cyl.(25", 41" & 67" - 45") 180lb. 362nhp.

First owner First port of register Registration date
Essex Steamship Co. Ltd. (H. Meldrum & Co.), London. London 21/09/1911
Other names
1916 PANAYIOTIS - 1920 LOYAL DEVONIAN - 1932 INGINER N VLASSOPOL - 1941 HAMPTON LODGE
Subsequent owner and registration history
1914 - (Managers Meldrum & Swinson, London).
10/02/16 - Requisitioned for service as an Expeditionary Force Transport
30/10/16 - Owner, Grahams & Co, London, (Cooper & Moncreif, Managers).
03/11/16 - Renamed PANAYIOTIS by her Owners.
06/01/20 - Owner, Loyal Line Ltd, Cardiff (Carpenter & Tuck, Managers) London.
31/01/20 - Registered at Cardiff as LOYAL DEVONIAN.
05/32 - Owner, Captain S.N. Vlassopol, Braila, Romania and renamed INGINER N.VLASSOPOL.
24/06/32 - British registry closed
02/41 - Requisitioned while under repair at London.
15/02/41 - Registered at London as HAMPTON LODGE, owners the MoS with J.& C. Harrison, London as Managers.
20/12/41 - Register closed presumably in anticipation of a subsequently cancelled disposal.
23/12/41 - Re-registered at London name unchanged.
Vessel history
1941 seized by U.K.
Remarks
Thanks to James R Smith RFA, for ownership and registration history.
End year Fate / Status
1943 Bombed 21/01/1943
Disposal Detail
Hit by 3 bombs from a German Ju-88 NW in the Mediterranean NW of Algiers in
position 36.44 N 01.50 E while on passage from Algiers to Oran and Benisaf in
Convoy KMS 6 in ballast. The ship started listing very quickly and was abandoned by
her Crew who were all picked up by the Rescue Tug ST. DAY (451/19) within half
an hour. The ship eventually sank the following morning.



No photos available for this vessel. Hope it helps Regards Terry.

[Hugh]

Hello Terry,
It is not always easy to identify what a seaman was doing in between being losing a ship and repatriation back home.
You obviously have some records but I will point you to what is out there in case you don't have it all.

His seaman's pouch held at Kew in piece BT 372/369/141
His CRS 10 - service record from Jan, 1941 - should be held at Kew, if it has survived, in piece BT 382/304
His medal file held at Kew in piece BT 395/1/15761

Service no. G127732

That is not his service number - his discharge book number is for all intents and purposes his service number and should be used in any research of him.

Regards
Hugh

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks Hugh, I was holding back for reply, initial thoughts were he may have been hospitalised ?

Regards Keith.

[Hugh]

Thanks Hugh, I was holding back for reply, initial thoughts were he may have been hospitalised ?

The CRS10 should indicate if that was the case.

Regards
Hugh