SS Mataroa 1943

[Philip Hammond]

Hi There

I've been searching for an elusive uncle. I believe he was an AB Seaman aboard SS Mataroa in July 1943 (Durban to New York). His name was Thomas Henry LANGLEY, born 1912, South Shields, and according to family lore died from Dysentery following being torpedoed in 1944, and buried at Durban, South Africa.
I have found no trace of this even, and his supposed ship "Narvik Castle" seems to have never existed. I have found one refernce to a Thomas Langley born 1912 on the above mentioned voyage of the Mataroa. The manifest states he had also been a member of the crewe on its previous voyage.

Can anyone help?

Philip

[Ray Buck]

philip
Not a lot of help
Thomas Langley aged 32 with 12 years sea service was an AB aboard the “ Mataroa” which arrived in New York on the 19th August 1943 sailed from Durban 2nd July 1943 and again on the 7th November 1943 sailed from Avonmouth on the 21st October 1943

he appears to have signed on in Avonmouth on the 13th April 1943
Ray

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Phillip
Welcome to the site,and i hope you may find all that you are looking for here!
There i know will be quite a few replies on your query,so just sit back relax and in time things may sort themselves out!
You allready have a start with Ray's post i hope that helps!
I am wondering if your man may have changed his Birth date at all,as so many did in those days!
There is this person a few Years difference ??

Record Summary
Scope and content R199305 LANGLEY T 14/11/1915 SOUTH SHIELDS
Covering dates 1913-1972
Held by The National Archives, Kew

Former reference (Department) R199305

Cheers

[Hugh]

Hello Philip,

I would suggest you obtain his form CRS 10 which should, if it has survived, be held at Kew in BT 382/978

This file [his service record from January, 1941] should list all his ships. From this you should be able to establish his last ship and if there is any record of his illness aboard it may be noted in the ship's Official Logbook.

There was no ship called "NARVICK CASTLE".

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

I am just wondering if that elusive "Narvick Castle" may have been the 'Warwick Castle" ??
Could have been misinterpereted over some conversations!?
Cheers

162527 1162527 1931 WARWICK CASTLE 20445 V1930 #762 Union-Castle Mail SS Co Ltd

167220 1167220 1939 WARWICK CASTLE 17392 1946 V1939 #415 Union-Castle Mail SS Co Ltd GBR London

[Gulliver]

I don't suppose the ship could have been the Polish ship NARWIK ?
I say this because of the following story,which has both a 2nd WW and a South African connection,and in the view of Phillip's family story being a bit uncertain......

Info from Sea Breezes Sept 1970 p 558
　
"On 10/10/42 s.s.ORCADES (II) outbound) independently from Durban -Oct.4th and Capetown (Oct.9th with 711 pass.-troops and civilians -was struck by 2 torpedoes.
As the ship was in no immediate danger of sinking,Capt.Charles Fox decided to put back to Capetown,some 280 miles distant.
However, a 3rd torpedo put paid to such a venture,and the passengers and most of the crew took
to the liner’s boats.Some 55 crew remained aboard with the idea of saving their ship if they could,but in the early afternoon 3 more torpedoes struck the ship sinking her.Capt.Fox was last off,and all were rescued by Polish merchant vessel NARWIK.(ex Empire Roamer).
In the disaster 48 lives were lost,remarkably low in the circumstances.
For his courage and leadership Capt.Fox was awarded a CBE and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea.".

That is a ‘wildcard ‘possibility(about the NARWIK).but’………
　
　
I was also thinking along the same lines as Vernon,i.e.WARWICK CASTLE(easily misread as NARVIK CASTLE in notes or second hand conversations?…
This could only either refer then to one of the two vessels of that name that Vernon just mentioned.(1)The 1931 built WARWICK CASTLE which was torpedoed on 14.11.42 about 200 nm WNW of Lisbon with loss of 63 lives..
Your uncle could have been repatriated back to U.K or Durban to continue his career,until 1944 when he died in S.A.
　
It could not have been the 1939 built WARWICK CASTLE(2),because that ship(which was converted into an aircraft carrier in 42 for the duration) was really the PRETORIA CASTLE- she was not named WARWICK CASTLE until she was converted back to pass.ship in 46,and that is outside the 1944 death timeline.And she wasn't torpedoed anyway.

As Hugh recommends-try to obtain his CRS10 service record for ships and dates etc.
Best Regards
Gulliver