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Thread: Jim Griffiths saying Hello- interests in convoy HX234 and M.V Amerika

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    Post Jim Griffiths saying Hello- interests in convoy HX234 and M.V Amerika

    Just saying hello to all the members hope all are safe and well

    My main focus on joining the website is undertaking some family research on a member of my family who was lost at sea during WW2. Sadly I never knew him and the family never talked about the tragic loss . I have since found out he was called Alfred William Griffiths (29) a 3rd Radio Officer on the M.V Amerika which was sunk by German submarine U-306 on Convoy HX234 22nd April 1943.

    Apart from trying to find out about his family background as many of my family members are now deceased , I would like to find out about his Merchant Naval career in how he became a radio office, the training , and the ships he served on. Personally I had a career spent in telecommunications and would be interested in the type of radio equipment used onboard the M.V Amerika and any anecdotal stories other members can re-call. or useful links.

    Thank You

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    Default Re: Jim Griffiths saying Hello- interests in convoy HX234 and M.V Amerika

    GRIFFITHS, Third Radio Officer, ALFRED JAMES, M.V. Amerika (London). Merchant Navy. 22nd April 1943. Age 29. Son of James and Annie Griffiths, of Ashley, Staffordshire. Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial. Panel 7.

    Passenger cargo ship Amerika, 10,219grt, (MOWT, United Baltic Corporation) loaded a general cargo including flour, meat and bags of mail as well as fifty-three passengers at Halifax, Nova Scotia bound for Liverpool, joined up with the 46 ship Convoy HX-234, which departed New York on the 12th April 1943. On the 22nd April 1943 South of Cape Farewell in position 57’ 30N 42’ 50W the Amerika found herself almost straggling behind the main convoy in atrocious weather and heavy seas and in the early hours of the same morning the ship was struck almost simultaneously by two torpedoes in number two and four holds fired from U-306. The ship was immediately ordered abandoned and with great difficulty a number of lifeboats were launched. As the ship began her final descent a number of rafts and boats struck the ships funnel and engine room ventilators, capsizing one of the boats and within thirty minutes of the attack the Amerika sank in position 57’ 30N 42’ 50W. The fifty-four survivors were rescued two hours later by the Corvette HMS Asphodel and landed at Greenock on the 28th April. Forty-two crewmembers, seven DEMS gunners and thirty-seven passengers belonging to the Royal Canadian Air force perished, many from the effects of exposure before rescue arrived.

    His CRS-10 service file if it has survived should be held at the National Archives at Kew, but this would incur costs if you cannot visit in person or get someone to access his file. The records you require are held in the 1941 to 1972 Fifth Register of Merchant Seaman's Service. Alfred’s records should be held in BT 382/695 covering the surnames “Griffin A to Griffith D A” These files are held in block by surname of up to 60 individuals and the reason why you would to check in person or pay for a private researcher.

    These details from his CRS-10 include the following information: Name of seaman, Date and place of birth, Discharge (Seaman’s) book number, Rank, Details of the ships on which he served. These include: Name of ship and official number, date of engagement (Joining ship), Date of discharge (Leaving ship), whether ship was a foreign going of home trade vessel, and records in some cases National Insurance contributions. Details shown in these records are similar to those contained in an individual seaman's discharge book.
    "Across the seas where the great waves grow, there are no fields for the poppies to grow, but its a place where Seamen sleep, died for their country, for you and for peace" (Billy McGee 2011)

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