Lapland (1942) Baltic Type Carrier - COMNO

[Stefan Hay]

Hello, my name is Stefan Hay. Worked for Sealink, DFDS and P&O Princess Cruises late 80s and early 90s.

My main reason for joining the group is that I am looking for some information regarding my Granddad George Williams, D.O.B. 21/02/2, R183723.

We have a lot of information about Granddad, but from 26/05/44 - 6/10/44, he was shown as being on Special Operations with COMNO. I have been to Kew and have looked at the limited contents of his pouch.

He was on the Currie Line Ltd. Single Screw Steamship (Baltic Class) SS Lapland O.N. 167031. Granddad once told me he was involved in the D-Day landings, I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction to establish if that ship was involved in the landings. The timings seem to fit and he also mentioned 'training' near the Isle of Wight in 1944.

All help much appreciated!

Best regards,
Stefan

[Frederick Lacey]

Hi Stefan, this is the only one I could Find at the moment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Lapland

F

[Keith at Tregenna]

LAPLAND / SHUNA / SOFIA M / SCUTARI / VARVARA 1872

(There was a ship called LAPLAND belonging to Currie's Castle Line which later became Union-Castle Mail SS Co.) This one was a 1,269 gross ton ship built in 1872 for the Leith, Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Co. She was chartered to D.Currie and used on the S.Africa Mail service and sold to him in 1875. Later used on the S.African coastal service. Reverted to UK - Continental service in 1882. Became SHUNA (British) in 1902, SOFIA M (Greece) in 1906, SCUTARI (Turkey) in 1911, VARVARA (Greece) in 1912 and torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean on 19/7/1917. [The Cape Run by W.H.Mitchell and L.A.Sawyer]

LAPLAND 1908

The LAPLAND was built in 1908 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the Red Star Line of Antwerp. She was a 17,540 gross ton ship, length 605.8ft x beam 70.4ft, two funnels, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 17 knots. There was accommodation for 450-1st, 400-2nd 1,500-3rd class passengers. Launched on 27th Jun.1908, she sailed from Antwerp on her maiden voyage to Dover and New York on 10th Apr.1909 under the Belgian flag. She started her last voyage on this service on 4th Jul.1914 and on 1st Sep.1914 commenced sailing between Liverpool and New York. On 29th Oct.1914 she commenced Liverpool - New York sailings under the British flag while under charter to Cunard Line. In April 1917 she was mined off the Mersey Bar Lightship, but managed to reach Liverpool and in June 1917 she was requisitioned and converted to a troopship. On 23rd Nov.1918 she commenced her first voyage after the Armistice when she sailed from Liverpool for New York for the White Star Line and on 2nd Aug.1919 started her sixth and last round voyage on this service. On 16th Sep.1919 she transferred to the Southampton - New York route under charter to White Star Line and made three round voyages on this route, the last starting 27th Nov.1919. She was refitted to 18,565 gross tons with passenger accommodation for 389-1st, 448-2nd and 1,200-3rd class and resumed service for the Red Star Line, but under the British flag on 3rd Jan.1920 when she sailed from Antwerp for Southampton and New York. In April 1927 she was altered to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class passengers and on 29th Apr.1932 started her last voyage between Antwerp, Southampton, Havre, New York (arr.8/5, dep.11/6), Cobh and Antwerp. Between 1932-33 she was used on London - Mediterranean cruises and in October 1933 was sold to Japanese owners. She was scrapped at Osaka the following year. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2, p.858] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 11 March 1998]

[Hugh]

The above are both the wrong ship. He is looking for LAPLAND official number 167031 which was built in 1942.
Is that ship mentioned in the COMNO pouch?

Regards
Hugh

[Stefan Hay]

Yes the Lapland is mentioned in the COMNO Pouch Hugh. You are correct in saying the two other ships mentioned by Keith are not what I'm looking for. Is there a list of ships used in D-Day?

[Doc Vernon]

Pic of her at Ebay but that would not be much help!

RP01088 Currie Line Cargo Ship Lapland Built 1942 Photo 6x4 | eBay

Is this the one Hugh??

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks Hugh, did not find much earlier, was pressed for time. Taking another look. Info at PDF link below appears to be her ?

http://www.fdca.org.uk/pdf%20files/Caledon%20L.pdf

[Doc Vernon]

Also found that Keith here are the Details (I must have been copying and pasting when you were submitting your post Keith)

Lapland ON 167031 Currie Line Ltd., Leith Leith 402 1942 Single Screw Steamship [Baltic Type
timber

Engined by North Eastern Marine; Fitted with heavy lift gear,for handling tanks and transferring heavy lifts at North Russian Ports. including 2‐80 ton S.W.L derricks on
specially strenghtened posts. also 8‐5 ton S.W.L derricks

1943 Sailed from Loch Ewe in Convoy JW55A.Arrived at Kola Inlet [Murmansk] unmolested

1944 Sailed from Murmansk in Convoy RA59.Arrived Loch Ewe and Clyde 6‐7th May one ship lost 1944 Sailed from Loch Ewe in convoy JW61.Arrived Kola Inlet on Oct 28th
Very strong escort no losses

1945 Vessel remained working in this area,and did not leave for U.K. until post Aug. 1945. Exact date not known but post war

Heavy lift gear and derrick posts [2] Removed

1948 Returned to Caledon for conversion from coal to oil fuel [May] 1957 laid up at London
1958 Moved to Burntisland

1959 Sold to Halcophil Campania Naveira S.A. Lenbanon for £53,000; Re named "Pavlos" Port of Registry Beirut [Bayrouth]

1967 Re named "Liana" same owners; Managers c/o Victoria S.S.Co.,Ltd., London.E.C.2 Port of Registry Lebanon

1973 Broken up at Piraeus

Sistership to "Iceland" 1943 yard no 403 similar to "Scandinavian" type built to Ministry of Shipping [later Ministry

[Stefan Hay]

Hi all yes that's the correct Lapland. Thank you all very much for finding her. There appears to be no information for the period my Granddad served on her. As I mentioned earlier, Grandad was shown as being on Special Operations in his Blue Book from May - November 1944. His COMNO Pouch says he was on the Lapland so I assume he was involved in D-Day landings.

[Doc Vernon]

Would this period not then cover those dates!
Cheers


1944 Sailed from Murmansk in Convoy RA59.Arrived Loch Ewe and Clyde 6‐7th May one ship lost 1944 Sailed from Loch Ewe in convoy JW61.Arrived Kola Inlet on Oct 28th