SS Kalev Arctic Convoys & Normandy Campaign

[Dennis Billaney]

NAVARINO MOWT 165913
DROMORE CASTLE MOWT 143836
SS KALEV MOWT 165996

Thank you for allowing me aboard and A BIG THANK YOU to the owners, as well as anyone contributing to this website and forum. I really appreciate your efforts!


Mission

I’m searching about my Grandad’s WW2 Merchant Navy service, including Atlantic, Africa, Arctic Convoys, the Normandy Campaign, the Liberation of France & Europe (1939-1945).

My focus is on the arctic convoys and about an event during the liberation of France.

I have a lot of child-hood memories from stories about his life at sea and from the war. The problem is just the way he told those stories, Normandy was simply a place where he handout biscuits, chocolate and sweets to the kids of Caen.

My search is based on what I know from him, info I gathered or from documents I have, such as his Certificate of Discharge, as well as medals and so on.

Initially it seemed quite promising and the first two entries in his certificate yielded good results. Within in a short time, the internet allowed me to find the records of those 2 vessels with the entire voyages and entries of all destinations he sailed to.But the third and final vessel was just one dead-end after another.

It’s almost 20 years since he passed away and my search began. Believe it or not, it took me around 3-4 years until I got my first breakthrough and was able to identify the name of that vessel – SS KALEV.


My Main Search Topics > Events aboard the SS Kalev (5.Dec.1941 – 30.Nov.1945)

Chapter 1 - SS Kalev & Russian Convoys

I came across a medal issued by the Soviet Union with a certificate, hand signed by Mikhail Gorbachev. It is the so-called Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", issued 1985.

Unless someone had made a mistake, the only reason why this medal was awarded to him, could only be because his name was in a Soviet database, which means that he must have taken part in the arctic convoys to Russia. However, there was nothing in his documents or anything I could find to back this up.

I contacted the National Archives to obtain his records. I hunted down all leads, but it turned up nothing. Some records were either missing, got lost or have yet to be found. Bottom line is, I’m still searching for information about the reasons behind this Soviet medal.

During the entire time I was searching, I think I sent emails to anyone and anywhere from Russian Embassies to Ministries and perhaps even to Putin himself, but I never got any feedback. However, a few month ago, I made a fresh attempt and sent another email to the local Russian embassy. To my amazement, just a few days ago, they actually wrote back and told that on their behalf, my request was sent to “Moscow”. Therefore, I have more hope than ever, that one of these days, I might receive an email from Moscow and hopefully they will be able to tell me why Grandad received that medal.

Perhaps there is someone here who might know another way or source to check out.


Chapter 2 – SS Kalev Normandy, D-Day, Sword Beach, Liberation of Caen

The SS Kalev also took part in the Normandy Campaign. The following events I am interested in took place after D-Day and include the keywords “Sword Beach”, “Caen Canal” and “City of Caen”.

The entry in his Certificate of Discharge for Description of Voyage is “Special Operation” 21/4-13/10/44.

From the National Archives I obtained the details of the actual convoys as follows:

He sailed from Barry on the 8th of June and arrived in Normandy area on the 11th of June, on convoy EB.5.
They stayed there until the 26th of June and then sailed back to Southend on convoy FTC.19.
They sailed back to Normandy on 20th of July on convoy ETC.43 and sailed back on 27th of July on convoy FTC.48.
On 5th of August they sailed from Southend on convoy ETC.59 but somehow the records then are listing a second departure on the 7th of August and arriving in France on the 8th, with convoy ETC.61

This continues until the end of September 1944.

The 6th of August was the date of the Liberation of Caen, narrowing down date and search area in question.

I want to find out when, where, and what took place while he was there.

He had a child-hood story he always told, about handing out candy to the kids in Caen after D-Day!

Before he passed away, I asked him if he remembered the story about handing out candy which he used to tell me when I was a young boy. He was already too old to provide exact details, but he started to explain, that his vessel had a “flat bottom” and they were supposed to get to some place to offload their cargo, consisting of construction materials. The plan was to run the vessel aground on the “river” bed (note, he mentioned river, not beach!). He explained, because it had a flat bottom, it was able to maneuver into shallow waters and sit stable on the bottom, without tipping over, and after offloading, the vessel would re float again so they could go.

Apparently, they reached their target destination and were in the right place at the right time. It remains unclear when and where this was or what exactly happened next.

However, from his accounts, while they were sitting and waiting to offload (no clue how long that took), a sudden order was given to abort mission and immediately retreat. Before they understood what was about to happen, the Germans started shelling the entire area. He said, the orders were to dump everything overboard to get afloat and sail out to sea.

During that period, in the middle of dumping cargo, is when this “Candy Event” took place.

He said most civilians ran for shelter, only some kids stayed on, desperate for food. That’s when he decided to disobey orders and instead directed the crew to get all their food supplies which they somehow brought ashore and handed them out to those kids.

This experience stuck with him for the rest of his life, always wondering what had happened to those kids. Now I’m the one who’s a bit obsessed, hoping to find out what happened to those kids, or where that was, when it was and what exactly was going on.


I hope one day I’ll find someone who might know or have heard about this event. If anyone has any feedback or recommendation to share, I would love to hear from you!


PS: I haven’t used the search button here yet, which was one of the reasons I registered, in order to use it. That’s where I’m headed next…

Cheers
Dennis

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Dennis
Thank you for the Thread and the story, its nice to know that you are still looking into the reasons etc.
I hope at some stage that some here may be able to shed more light on the events for you.
As for me well i will delve into it as well, and if anything comes up of interest i will surely post it here.
Thanks for joining
Cheers

The only Ship named Kalev that has movement Cards is this one at the NA but its too early for your one i fear
Cheers

Reference:	BT 389/17/106
Description:	Ship Name: Kalev Gross Tonnage: 1867 Country of Origin: Estonia
Date:	1939-1946
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Legal status:	Public Record(s)

[Dennis Billaney]

The only Ship named Kalev that has movement Cards is this one at the NA but its too early for your one i fear
Cheers

Reference:	BT 389/17/106
Description:	Ship Name: Kalev Gross Tonnage: 1867 Country of Origin: Estonia
Date:	1939-1946
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Legal status:	Public Record(s)

Dear Doc,
This is the correct vessel. But the movement cards I obtained from the NA are missing data for nearly 2 years.

I have them on my laptop and will try to post them here once I get home.

Cheers
Dennis

[Doc Vernon]

As it was during the War Years , possible that records of Movements were kept under wraps as i know that all documents for Convoys were held secret!
So the full records would not be available ??
Cheers
I have these Movements from 1940 to 1945 from the Archives??
Is this what you are after at all??
Cheers

I can send them to you in Email which will be better.?

Cheers


Have sent a PDF File through Email Dennis hope its of use!

[Dennis Billaney]

Dear Doc,

Yeah, I have those too, thanks anyway! I mixed things up, when I got those movement cards, I sent them to Tony Cooper and he tried to look into it but as I recall, he said one probably would have to go to Kew and dig around there.

What I have not been able to find and have been lloking for, are the convoys between August 1941 to beginning 1944. There's nothing I could find in Arnols Hague's data base on the convoyweb or warsailors.

The theory of "secret/classified" info also came to mind, especially as I read several comments that crew members were told not to use real port name in case their documents came into enemy hands.

Therefore, I started to try and see if the Russians are able to help. At the same time, I keep looking and over the years, new bits and pieces come up.

I was hoping that maybe perhaps some data bases have been updated or new ones get published. Anyway, once again thanks for your kind support and if you come up with any other idea, let me...

btw, got your mail but thought better to respond here.

Cheers
Dennis

[Dennis Billaney]

In addition to what I wrote earlier, I might add the following regarding the Normandy Campaign and my search about those events.

As mentioned, my focus is around Sword Beach and the Caen canal, which is correctly called the river Orne.

Furthermore, the operation was interrupted by German shelling, assuming it was artillery. His convoy EB.5 arrived in the Seine Bay area on June 11 and they stayed until the 26th.

If it took place during that period, there is following entry I found in the Naval archives for the “Timeline of Operation Neptune” for June 15:

“Germans regained control of the east bank of the mouth of the Orne and shelling of ‘Sword’ Beach intensified”.

The other entry of interest dates to June 25th:

“Continued enemy shelling of ‘Sword’ Beach forced abandonment of unloading by all but minor craft”

Both sound quite matching with the story he told and especially the one on the 25th, which would nearly fit the departure date, 1 day before the official departure date of convoy FTC.7

From speaking with a veteran from the royal engineers, I forgot his unit, there likely could have been many other dates and places, considering the repeated attempts to move forward and take Caen.

Anyway, this is the way I have been trying to narrow down locations and dates, but it then starts to get difficult with finding more detailed information, such as lists of vessels or troop reports which would give more accurate insight.

Perhaps someone here can recommend possible sources or data bases to sift through?

Regarding my other quest, the arctic convoy topic, I can add two more clues I have.

My father mentioned he was once a POW for a short period, by mistake, locked up in a Russian prison. My father explained that the Navy simply mounted an Oerlikon gun on the vessel, put Grandad on it and made him Gunner and Captain of the ship. Because it was an Estonian vessel and crew, Grandad was in charge of the ship and when they went to Russia, they considered them as enemy, as Estonia was by then either a traitor nation or occupied by the Nazis, something like that. Whatever, that is another clue speaking for the fact that they did sail to Russia at some point.

On my last visit to Grandad, he was very focused on the Scharnhorst and asked me to search his drawers for a video cassette where he had recorded a documentary about finding the wreck of the Scharnhorst. He was quite upset about the documentary and kept saying, “those idiots, I told them all along where she was, but they never bothered to listen”. He said that he even drew maps and sent them to the Navy. It annoyed him that they’d been searching for decades while he knew exactly where they should look and would find her. He said he knew those Fjords like the knuckles on the back of his hands. And he also said he used to see her all the time on the radar or sonar (?), when they were trawling and kept the net clear from the wreck, to not get tangled up in her guns.

What I don’t know is if he knew about that because he put one and one together during his fishing career after the war, or if he was somehow involved in the hunt and sinking of the Scharnhorst.

Whatever the case might be, to me, this might be another indication of participating in arctic convoys.

Thought I’d better share, perhaps it could be helpful.

Cheers
Dennis

[Doc Vernon]

This is taken from the Convoy base, i guess the same as what we already have ?
Cheers

KALEV (Est) 1,867 tons, built 1917.

Arr.	Port	Dep.	Cargo	Convoy	Pdt	Remarks
	BERGEN	13.03.1940
20.03.1940	NEWPORT	08.04.1940
08.04.1940	MILFORD HAVEN	10.04.1940
27.04.1940	SHEET HARBOUR	.05.1940
09.05.1940	HALIFAX NS	11.05.1940
28.05.1940	PRESTON	30.05.1940
30.05.1940	BARROW	15.06.1940
17.06.1940	ARDROSSAN	19.06.1940
07.07.1940	THREE RIVERS	18.09.1940
22.09.1940	SYDNEY NS	27.09.1940
12.10.1940	RIVER CLYDE	29.10.1940
29.10.1940	GLASGOW	05.12.1940
17.12.1940	RIVER CLYDE	17.12.1940				ANCHORED
17.12.1940	GLASGOW	31.01.1941
01.02.1941	RIVER CLYDE	01.02.1941
02.02.1941	WORKINGTON	10.02.1941
14.02.1941	PLYMOUTH	21.02.1941
22.02.1941	NEWPORT	03.03.1941
05.03.1941	FALMOUTH	05.03.1941
06.03.1941	DARTMOUTH	06.03.1941
07.03.1941	SOUTHAMPTON	.03.1941
22.03.1941	FALMOUTH	22.03.1941
24.03.1941	NEWPORT	28.03.1941
30.03.1941	FALMOUTH	15.04.1941				REPAIRS
15.04.1941	DARTMOUTH	16.04.1941
17.04.1941	SOUTHAMPTON	24.04.1941
27.04.1941	WEYMOUTH	.04.1941
28.04.1941	FALMOUTH	29.04.1941
30.04.1941	NEWPORT	09.05.1941
11.05.1941	FALMOUTH	11.05.1941
12.05.1941	DARTMOUTH	13.05.1941
13.05.1941	SOUTHAMPTON	17.05.1941
20.05.1941	DARTMOUTH	21.05.1941
21.05.1941	FALMOUTH	22.05.1941
23.05.1941	CARDIFF	28.05.1941
30.05.1941	FALMOUTH	31.05.1941
01.06.1941	SOUTHAMPTON	06.06.1941
07.06.1941	DARTMOUTH	08.06.1941
08.06.1941	FALMOUTH	09.06.1941
10.06.1941	BARRY	17.06.1941
18.06.1941	MILFORD HAVEN	19.06.1941
20.06.1941	BIRKENHEAD	27.06.1941
.06.1941	HOLYHEAD	28.06.1941
30.06.1941	CARDIFF	04.07.1941
05.07.1941	MILFORD HAVEN	05.07.1941
13.07.1941	REYKJAVIK	28.07.1941
02.08.1941	RIVER CLYDE	02.08.1941
03.08.1941	GREENOCK	14.08.1941
14.08.1941	RIVER CLYDE	14.08.1941
16.08.1941	OBAN	17.08.1941
19.08.1941	METHIL ROADS	20.08.1941
20.08.1941	METHIL	25.08.1941
28.08.1941	HULL	11.09.1941
13.09.1941	TYNE	20.09.1941
20.09.1941	GRAVESEND	.09.1941
23.09.1941	LONDON	27.09.1941
05.10.1941	GRANGEMOUTH	09.10.1941
10.10.1941	METHIL	15.10.1941
17.10.1941	GRAVESEND	.10.1941
18.10.1941	LONDON	.10.1941
.10.1941	SOUTHEND	20.10.1941
22.10.1941	METHIL ROADS	.10.1941
24.10.1941	METHIL	25.10.1941
27.10.1941	GRAVESEND	.10.1941
30.10.1941	LONDON	30.10.1941
. .1941	GRAVESEND	02.11.1941
02.11.1941	SOUTHEND	05.11.1941
07.11.1941	TYNE	14.11.1941
14.11.1941	TYNE	19.11.1941				PUT BACK DYNAMO TROUBLE
22.11.1941	GRAVESEND	.11.1941
24.11.1941	LONDON	24.11.1941
24.11.1941	GRAVESEND	27.11.1941
27.11.1941	SOUTHEND	30.11.1941				ANCHORED
01.12.1941	HULL	06.12.1941				REPAIRS
06.12.1941	SPURN	.12.1941				ANCHORED
12.12.1941	IMMINGHAM	12.12.1941
12.12.1941	RIVER HUMBER	14.12.1941				ANCHORED
16.12.1941	GRAVESEND	.12.1941
19.12.1941	LONDON	19.12.1941
19.12.1941	GRAVESEND	21.12.1941
22.12.1941	SOUTHEND	23.12.1941				ANCHORED
25.12.1941	HULL	01.01.1942
01.01.1942	SPURN	03.01.1942				ANCHORED
05.01.1942	GRAVESEND	06.01.1942
06.01.1942	LONDON	06.01.1942
.01.1942	GRAVESEND	07.01.1942
.07.1942	SOUTHEND	10.07.1942
12.01.1942	HULL	12.01.1942
18.01.1942	GRAVESEND	19.01.1942
24.01.1942	TYNE	30.01.1942
05.02.1942	SOUTHEND	05.02.1942				ANCHORED
05.02.1942	GRAVESEND	05.02.1942
05.02.1942	SOUTHEND	07.02.1942				ANCHORED
09.02.1942	SUNDERLAND	07.03.1942
09.03.1942	GRAVESEND	10.03.1942
10.03.1942	LONDON	10.03.1942
10.03.1942	GRAVESEND	10.03.1942
11.03.1942	SOUTHEND	12.03.1942				ANCHORED
14.03.1942	TYNE	20.03.1942
21.03.1942	TYNE	22.03.1942				PUT BACK
27.03.1942	GRAVESEND	28.03.1942
28.03.1942	LONDON	28.03.1942
.03.1942	GRAVESEND	30.03.1942
30.03.1942	SOUTHEND	31.03.1942
02.04.1942	SUNDERLAND	13.04.1942
16.04.1942	GRAVESEND	16.04.1942
17.04.1942	LONDON	17.04.1942
17.04.1942	GRAVESEND	19.04.1942
19.04.1942	SOUTHEND	20.04.1942				ANCHORED
21.04.1942	BLYTH	27.04.1942
29.04.1942	HULL	30.04.1942
02.05.1942	ROCHESTER	03.05.1942
04.05.1942	SOUTHEND	04.05.1942
06.05.1942	SUNDERLAND	09.05.1942
11.05.1942	ROCHESTER	15.05.1942
15.05.1942	SOUTHEND	16.05.1942				ANCHORED
18.05.1942	BLYTH	23.05.1942
25.05.1942	GRAVESEND	08.06.1942
08.06.1942	LONDON	08.06.1942
09.06.1942	GRAVESEND	09.06.1942
09.06.1942	SOUTHEND	09.06.1942				ANCHORED
12.06.1942	BLYTH	19.06.1942
21.06.1942	GRAVESEND	21.06.1942
22.06.1942	LONDON	22.06.1942
27.06.1942	BLYTH	03.07.1942
05.07.1942	GRAVESEND	05.07.1942
06.07.1942	LONDON	06.07.1942
06.07.1942	GRAVESEND	08.07.1942
08.07.1942	SOUTHEND	09.07.1942				ANCHORED
10.07.1942	BLYTH	13.07.1942
15.07.1942	GRAVESEND	18.07.1942
18.07.1942	LONDON	23.07.1942
25.07.1942	GRANGEMOUTH	28.08.1942
29.08.1942	METHIL	18.09.1942
18.09.1942	METHIL ROADS	19.09.1942
19.09.1942	GRANGEMOUTH	27.09.1942
28.09.1942	METHIL ROADS	28.09.1942
29.09.1942	GRIMSBY	03.10.1942
07.10.1942	BLYTH	09.10.1942
11.10.1942	GRAVESEND	.10.1942
24.10.1942	LONDON	24.10.1942
24.10.1942	SOUTHEND	26.10.1942
28.10.1942	IMMINGHAM	29.10.1942				REPAIRS
31.10.1942	BLYTH	04.11.1942
07.11.1942	GRAVESEND	09.11.1942
09.11.1942	LONDON	12.11.1942
12.11.1942	GRAVESEND	14.11.1942
14.11.1942	SOUTHEND	16.11.1942				ANCHORED
18.11.1942	HULL	22.11.1942
22.11.1942	GRAVESEND	22.11.1942
23.11.1942	LONDON	23.11.1942
23.11.1942	GRAVESEND	25.11.1942
25.11.1942	SOUTHEND	26.11.1942
28.11.1942	HULL	04.12.1942
07.12.1942	GRAVESEND	07.12.1942
08.12.1942	LONDON	08.12.1942
09.11.1942	SOUTHEND	09.12.1942				ANCHORED
12.12.1942	GRANGEMOUTH	17.12.1942
17.12.1942	METHIL ROADS	18.12.1942
20.12.1942	GRAVESEND	22.12.1942
22.12.1942	LONDON	22.12.1942
23.12.1942	GRAVESEND	23.12.1942
24.12.1942	SOUTHEND	24.12.1942
27.12.1942	GRANGEMOUTH	31.12.1942
31.12.1942	METHIL ROADS	02.01.1943
02.01.1943	METHIL	04.01.1943
09.01.1943	GRAVESEND	.01.1943
11.01.1943	LONDON	11.01.1943
11.01.1943	GRAVESEND	11.01.1943
11.01.1943	SOUTHEND	12.01.1943				ANCHORED
13.01.1943	MIDDLESBROUGH	27.01.1943
29.01.1943	IPSWICH	.02.1943
.02.1943	HARWICH	03.02.1943
04.02.1943	GRAVESEND	05.02.1943
05.02.1943	LONDON	09.02.1943
09.02.1943	GRAVESEND	11.02.1943
12.02.1943	SOUTHEND	13.02.1943				ANCHORED
16.02.1943	METHIL	22.02.1943
22.02.1943	METHIL ROADS	23.02.1943
26.02.1943	BELFAST LOUGH	01.03.1943
01.03.1943	BELFAST	05.03.1943
07.03.1943	NEWPORT	10.03.1943
11.03.1943	BRISTOL	25.03.1943
26.03.1943	RIVER MERSEY	26.03.1943
26.03.1943	LIVERPOOL	26.06.1943				REPAIRS
28.06.1943	MILFORD HAVEN	29.06.1943
30.06.1943	PLYMOUTH	10.07.1943
11.07.1943	FALMOUTH	18.07.1943
20.07.1943	CARDIFF	23.07.1943
.07.1943	RIVER MERSEY	.07.1943
25.07.1943	LIVERPOOL	09.08.1943
13.08.1943	METHIL ROADS	14.08.1943
16.08.1943	SOUTHEND	16.08.1943
16.08.1943	GRAVESEND	22.08.1943
24.08.1943	HULL	25.10.1943
25.10.1943	IMMINGHAM	01.11.1943
03.11.1943	METHIL ROADS	06.11.1943
12.11.1943	NEWPORT	20.11.1943
26.11.1943	GRAVESEND	. .1943
02.12.1943	LONDON	.12.1943
.12.1943	GRAVESEND	04.12.1943
04.12.1943	SOUTHEND	06.12.1943				ANCHORED
07.12.1943	HULL	16.12.1943
17.12.1943	SOUTHEND	23.12.1943
25.12.1943	PLYMOUTH	29.12.1943
29.12.1943	FALMOUTH	30.12.1943
31.12.1943	AVONMOUTH
03.01.1944	BRISTOL	05.01.1944
.01.1944	AVONMOUTH	06.01.1944
06.01.1944	NEWPORT	12.01.1944
14.01.1944	LIVERPOOL	19.01.1944
20.01.1944	BARRY	23.01.1944
23.01.1944	NEWPORT	28.01.1944
28.01.1944	SWANSEA	29.01.1944
31.01.1944	SOUTHAMPTON	04.02.1944
05.01.1944	SOUTHEND	06.02.1944
07.02.1944	HULL	14.02.1944
16.02.1944	TYNE	24.02.1944
25.02.1944	METHIL ROADS	25.02.1944
28.02.1944	BELFAST	06.03.1944
08.03.1944	BRISTOL	13.03.1944
13.03.1944	PORT TALBOT	22.03.1944
25.03.1944	GLASGOW	30.03.1944
31.03.1944	BELFAST	03.04.1944
05.04.1944	PORT TALBOT	11.04.1944
11.04.1944	CARDIFF

[Dennis Billaney]

Thanks Doc,

Most of those dates I have in the movement cards, but I haven't got it in such a nice table! If you have this table in excl or pdf format, please send me by email.

I looked and saw a few dates which I didn't have or wasn't able to identify. However, from looking at the entire voyage history, there just seems nothing which indicates any kind of arctic convoy, considering each way would last anywhere from 9-15 days or more.

There's only one window which would allow such a journey, that is the entry 24.8.43 HULL 25.10.43. However, in the movement cards from the NA I take it that they were doing repairs "std 22.8.43, est comp 30.9.43, completed 22.10.43". Perhaps this was "code language" or maybe he and the crew joined another vessel during that time? But then again, I cannot find any convoys matching those dates either, there's only JW.53 in Feb'43, followed by JW.54A in Nov'43, unless there's another series for the summer/autumn 1943 time frame.

The only other possible time frame would be 29.8.42 Methil 18.9.41, seem a bit too short tough. Or maybe I'm reading these card wrong?

But I really don't wish to be bothering you with my puzzle too much. Glad for what you already shared here. Thanks again!

Cheers
Dennis

[Dennis Billaney]

Let me share my latest find and as tiny it might seem, it felt like digging up a treasure.

I came across this Oral interview about MN Veteran Mr. Boyes Harry and his time in the war. It’s about his entire life, before, during and after the war, covering all his ships, mainly the SS Gemstone and his time as POW.

The reason I found this Interview was because the vessel SS Kalev was listed in the table of contents (listed below).

It’s a fascinating memoire and Mr.Boyes is very gifted speaker. I enjoyed it very much and can only recommend it to anyone who’s interested in this kind of topic. It’s split into 4 x 30min parts, 2hr in total.

As I was listening along, getting towards the end of Part 1, just as I was getting ready to start Part 2, I went from standby mode to WIDE AWAKE! He mentioned the adrenaline kicking keyword KALEV!!!

Nothing could be more rewarding than finding an oral testimony where for the first time in your life, you hear someone talking about the ship which has been in your imagination for years. It was stunning!
Although he barely spoke about that ship, which was just a short episode in his life, he did mention the name and a few other interesting details (he speaks about the Kalev in the last minute of 1of4 & at the start of 2of4).

He said that in Nov/Dec 1941 he was sent to the MN Pool in Hull and they put him on the SS Kalev. Was funny how he described the Kalev as “a strange coaster” and he also clearly stated the ship & crew were under Estonian flag….
He goes on telling how they saild to London, where he received new orders, ending up on the SS Gemstone and sailing to New York.

I could trace that convoy or her voyage and given those dates as well as all the details he mentioned, I think it could be possible that he knew my Grandad or maybe they even sailed together from Hull to London. The dates would match!

Most important is however the clarification of various matters which have hereby been confirmed as true or correct facts. Such as the Estonian issue, the dates and places and also his short description of the vessel “strange coaster” is very interesting. I hope it might help somewhere down the road.

Anyway, it’s just so exiting and it’s moments like these that keeps you driving.
Should anyone who’s struggling with their own search read this, I hope it might serve as inspiration to keep hope. It’s not important how long or how hard you search, it’s only about never giving up.

Here you can enjoy Mr.Boyes remarkable story: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80010085

Cheers

PS:
Quick side note: a quick search here showed a related thread “SS Gemstone” where this Oral History is mentioned too, not intending to double post, thought it is OK to post it here again due to the content relating to this thread.
Here is the other thread about the Gemstone: https://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/...-gemstone.html

Boyes Harry Oral History
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as apprentice, seaman and officer with Merchant Navy, 1930-1939: reasons for joining Merchant Navy; work with Rowland Marwood Shipping Coy; conditions on board SS Runswick; period of hospitalisation; promotion. Aspects of period as second officer aboard SS Egton in Atlantic and North Sea, 1939: modification to ship on outbreak of Second World War; duties as second officer; encounter with German raiders off Norway, 11/1939; reasons for leaving ship. Aspects of period as second officer with Merchant Navy in North Sea and English Channel, 1940-1941: nature of east coast convoys, late 1939; escape from Belgian port, 5/1940; escape from French coast, 7/1940; view of German bombing of Tilbury, GB, 9/1941; transfer to SS Kalev, 1941. REEL 2 Continues: transfer to SS Gemstone. Aspects of period as officer with Merchant Navy aboard SS Gemstone in Atlantic, 1942: first voyage; encounter with German auxiliary cruiser Stier (HSK-6) in South Atlantic, 4/6/1942; destruction of confidential papers and abandoning ship; attempted escape and German sinking of ship. Aspects of period as POW aboard Stier (HSK-6), SS Charlotte Sleeman and Dogger Bank (Schiff 53) and in South Atlantic and Far East, 6/1942-8/1942: capture by Germans; character of auxiliary cruiser Stier; encounter with American freighter; treatment of POWs; transfer to SS Charlotte Sleeman; separation of POWs; at anchor off Martin Vaz Island; transfer to ex-British ship and German blockade runner, Doggerbank (Schiff 53); German method of passing ships off as British merchant vessels. Aspects of period as POW aboard SS Leuthen in Yokohama, Japan, 8/1942-9/1942: arrival in Yokohama; frequency of shipping between Germany and Japan; German offer of repatriation to Norwegian seamen; transfer to mainland, 9/1942; treatment by Japanese; comparison between treatment by Germans and Japanese. REEL 3 Continues: incidents as POW aboard SS Leuthen; rations available on board SS Leuthen; Japanese rations; medical facilities; mixed nationalities amongst POWs; work undertaken. Recollections of period as POW in Fukuoka No 3-B Camp, Kokura, Japan, 12/1943-8/1945: move to camp, 12/1943; Allied air raids and Japanese threat to kill POWs in event of Allied invasion; personal determination to survive; knowledge of progress of war; beatings and safeguarding false teeth; possibilities of sabotaging vehicle repair; US Army Air Force raids, summer 1945; feeling of vibration of atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki whilst sheltering in railway tunnel, 8/8/1945; end of Second World War, 15/8/1945. REEL 4 Continues: US supply drops and death of POW during one; obtaining supplies in Yawata; sight of devastation in Nagasaki; treatment by American Red Cross and Royal Navy personnel; journey to US via Philippines; period of recuperation in US; return to GB aboard RMS Queen Mary, 11/1945. Reflections on period as POW: physical condition on arrival in GB; work as deep sea pilot with Japanese shipping company in North Sea during 1970s; relations with Japanese crew and employers.

[Alan Blyth]

You could try the Facebook group Arctic Convoys - Forgotten Heroes for any knowledge within that group, which includes Russian members