Peterton
British Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Peterton | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,221 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Richardson, Duck & Co Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees | ||
| Owner | R. Chapman & Son, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Homeport | Newcastle | ||
| Date of attack | 17 Sep 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-109 (Heinrich Bleichrodt) | ||
| Position | 18° 45'N, 29° 15'W - Grid EH 3258 | ||
| Complement | 43 (9 dead and 34 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OG-80 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | London - Hull - Oban (1 Sep) - Buenos Aires | ||
| Cargo | 5758 tons of coal | ||
| History | Completed in November 1919 | ||
| Notes on event | At 13.14 hours on 17 September 1942 the unescorted Peterton (Master Thomas William Marrie), dispersed from convoy OG-80, was hit by three torpedoes from U-109 and sank by the bow after capsizing northwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Eight crew members were lost. The master was taken prisoner by the U-boat, landed at Lorient on 6 October and brought to the POW camp Marlag und Milag Nord. Twelve crew members in a jolly boat were picked up by the Empire Whimbrel after 8 days and landed at Buenos Aires on 11 October. 18 crew members and four gunners in a lifeboat were picked up after 49 days by HMS Canna (T 161) (Lt W.N. Bishop-Laggett, RNR) and landed at Freetown, where one crew member died in a hospital. More information about this sinking can be found in the book Local Heroes - An Epic WW2 Shipwreck and Survival Story written by Neil Carlsen. | ||
| On board | We have details of 43 people who were on board. | ||
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