Ships hit by U-boats


Melrose Abbey

British Steam merchant



Melrose Abbey

NameMelrose Abbey
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage2,473 tons
Completed1936 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerFrederick Jones & Sons, Cardiff 
HomeportCardiff 
Date of attack27 Dec 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-356 (Günther Ruppelt)
Position47° 30'N, 24° 30'W - Grid BD 41
Complement34 (7 dead and 27 survivors).
ConvoyONS-154
RouteTyne (13 Dec) - Loch Ewe (18 Dec) - Boston - Trinidad 
Cargo3403 tons of coal and 70 bags of mail 
History  
Notes on event

About 02.40 hours on 27 Dec 1942 the Empire Union and Melrose Abbey in convoy ONS-154 were torpedoed and sunk north-northeast of the Azores. About 03.10 hours, the Soekaboemi and King Edward were also hit. All ships must have been torpedoed by U-356, which was herself lost after the attacks.

Six crew members and one gunner from Melrose Abbey (Master Frederick J. Ormod) were lost. The master, 22 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Toward (Master Arthur James Knell MBE DSC), transferred to HMCS Shediac (K 110) (Lt J.E. Clayton) and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores.

 
On boardWe have details of 10 people who were on board


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