Mystery ship at St Nazair June 18th 1940

[HMac]

OK, concentrating on BEN-MY-CHREE as your father has made a reasonable guess at its name and indicated it was an IOM steam packet company ship which is correct. If you are in a position to visit Kew you should check the ship's Official Log which for 1940 is held in piece reference BT 381/769 under the ship's official number 145304.

Movement cards were made up by Board of Trade clerks and were not always up to date or accurate but still a cheap source of information that should never be ignored.

Regards
Hugh

[ScouseBoy]

One other factor is that  news of the sinking of Lancastria  was suppressed by Churchill  for about three months, and men returning from St Nazaire  were told not to tell anyone what had happened.

The parents of my dad had received a telegram to say that he was missing.  But  by the time the telegram was delivered my dad was back at home.

[HMac]

Just going back through documents that I have on Dunkirk, they differ slightly to your information. The BEN-MY-CHREE completed two trips to Dunkirk and was scheduled to complete four. The master refused to sail again to Dunkirk after the experience that the ship had undergone in the previous sailings. A Naval crew was put aboard apart from the Chief Officer who stayed as captain together with 3 greasers and the W/T Officer. On sailing at 1905/2nd June BEN-MY-CHREE was in collision and did not complete the trip.

The question is if she was in a collision on 2nd June how badly was she damaged? Was she still undergoing repairs on 20th June as suggested by the movement card?  The Official Log is where I would go next to rule her in or out of your search.
Regards
Hugh

[ScouseBoy]

According to one report I have just read on wikipedia (I think)  Ben my Chree rescued 4000 men from Dunkirk.

[kyt]

The following has a comprehensive chronology and list of ships involved in Operation AERIAL:

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWDa-Aerial.htm

K

[ScouseBoy]

Lady of Mann  is mentioned in  that file.  She was probably an IOM  boat,  possibly could be confused with the other IOM boat.

[Certacito]

Thought "The Navy's here" remark was attributed to the Altmark incident?

[Sapper59]

Confused, yur reckon?

 Brest Arrivals: Wed Jun 12, 1940, include BAHARISTAN; Fri Jun 14, 1940, CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH, Sun Jun 16, 1940, CITY OF FLORENCE,  ETTRICK, ORMONDE, OTRANTO.    Mon Jun 17, 1940, CITY OF DERBY & STRATHAIRD, all independent; FRANCES DAWSON OA.168GF.   Brest Departures CITY OF DERBY, BAHARISTAN, Sat Jun 15, 1940, BEURSPLEIN, CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH, PORT MONTREAL, YORKWOOD.   Sun Jun 16, 1940, BLAIRANGUS, CANTERBURY, LADY OF MANN,  ORMONDE,  OTRANTO, VIENNA.  Mon Jun 17, 1940 CITY OF DERBY, KONINGIN EMMA, LYCAON, STRATHAIRD,  ULSTER MONARCH.  Tue Jun 18, 1940 ETTRICK, CITY OF FLORENCE, Wed Jun 19, 1940 JAMES MCGEE, Escorted,  ATHELCHIEF.  Thu Jun 20, 1940 ANASTASSIA, DAVANGER, Fri Jun 21, 1940, FRANCES DAWSON. Sat Jun 22, 1940, VILJA

16th JUne
S.N.O. Brest reported that LADY OF MANN, MANXMAN & CANTERBURY were loaded with 6000 troops, but held up by mines. He intended to load VIENNA, who was in harbour under orders for Nantes.
ETTRICK, KONINGIN EMMA & LADY OF MANN were also to proceed to Quiberon Bay to embark troops from Loire (having disembarked the ones loaded earlier?). MACKAY was ordered to send destroyers not immediately required to join Captain D.9. at St. Nazaire.  WESTCOTT was to join them on the following morning.

17th June
LADY OF MANN arrived Plymouth from Brest 0450; CANTERBURY & MANXMAID AT 0521.

18th June
WREN escorting AMSTERDAM & LADY OF MANN sailed for Plymouth (0224)(Having arrived the day eirlier)

19th JUIne
MACKAY (1041) stated La Pallice gate shut, ALDERPOOL & LADY OF MANN outside. Endeavouring to get it opened. (having set sail for Plymouth the day after she arrived)

Confused yet?







 

[john70]

I have a letter my father sent to my mother saying he had landed at Plymouth on June 19th 1940 at 6pm, he drew a picture of the ship with 3 funnells, he said the ship he should have been on had got hit and sunk, I dont know whether this could have been the Lancastria in St. Nazaire or not, and I am trying to find out the name of the ship he was on. Anyone any ideas?.