My father at sea 1944.

[Ken Thompson]

Hi,
I'm Ken Thompson a member but sadly not a sailor. The management team sent me an email last week encouraging me to 'get in touch again'. So as I'm researching my family history I took up their offer. I know very little about my fathers life at sea, in fact he was drowned 7 weeks after I was born in 1945, and the likes of my mother when she was alive just couldn't answer any of my questions.
So can anybody help me with what Merchant Navy 'special operations' ships did during the war. My father was assigned to COMNO from normal service in May 1944 till September of that year, and he served on the Fort McMurray as chief cook. Towards the end of August 1944 he was sent on a Merchant Navy A/A Gunnery Course and I have his certificate of proficiency to prove that he qualified... It would be great if any member knows exactly what the Fort McMurray operations were during 1939-45? Thanks for reading this.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Ken
Welcome to the site and i hope that in time we may be able to help in your quest.
First up we will nedd some info as to your Das full name,date or at Least Year of Birth and place of Birth,all this will help us to help you.
So as we can get started will await your reply with this info
Cheers

[John Arton]

Ken
Check out this on a sister maritime website, it's free to join.
Rgds
J.A.
https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showt...#/topics/27533

[DeepSea]

The "special Operations" COMNO you mention shows he was involved in the Normandy Landings in the following Convoys:

Convoy ETM.5 (Jun 1944: Southend - Seine Bay)
Convoy ETM.10 (Jun 1944: Southend - Seine Bay)
Convoy ETM.51 (Jul 1944: Southend - Seine Bay)
Convoy ETM.60 (Aug 1944: Southend - Seine Bay)

Convoy FTM.6 (Jun 1944: Seine Bay - Southend)
Convoy FTM.17 (Jun 1944: Seine Bay - Southend)
Convoy FTM.59 (Aug 1944: Seine Bay - Southend)
Convoy FTM.70 (Aug 1944: Seine Bay - Southend)

[eric fisher]

Ken, Fort McMurray was built in Vancouver, I signed on in London Dec '42. Sailed with supplies for Russia via Capetown to Basra then India, Suez, Gib and home. Signed off in Glasgow Oct '43. In my Disc Book R262245. Cheers, Eric

p.s. I have the movement ports, convoys,dates, from Sept '42 - Dec '45 courtesy of Don Kindell, from Arnold Hague,s papers

[Helen]

Dear All, I was extremely interested in Ken's post regarding Fort McMurray and Special Operations. Can anyone please advise:-
1. Where I can find out information about any 'special operations' my father's ship was involved in during WW11 aboard the oil tanker SEPIA as, by all accounts in his memoirs, this ship was involved in the invasion of Madagascar (Operation Ironclad) but his ship is not in the slow or fast convoy lists.
2. As he states he was doing something for the Royal Navy being RN Special Reserve (I have his original card), is it possible, as a Radio Officer, he could have been transferred aboard another ship for the operation?
3. As the Log Book for the relevant period is the only one missing does anyone know if the Royal Navy took charge of such during WW11?
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks.
H