PACIFIC STAR official number 132763

[Hugh]

Hello all,

I have been asked a question on another forum that now has me intrigued. I wonder if anyone can help further.

On 27th October 1942 she was attacked by U-509 and, according to reports, sank on the 30th October. All the reports and accounts I have read agree with the version in the link: http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/2300.html

However, this piece in the Peoples War site suggests she made it back home: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/s...a4468106.shtml

Any thoughts?

Regards

[RoyVMartin]

Hello Hugh,

According to Britain's Sea War by John Young the Pacific Star sank the next day, 28th
The HMSO book says "Abandoned on 28th in position 27 15N 19 28W. Last seen on 30th, sinking.

Another mystery?

Roy

[Roger]

Hello Hugh,
She doe's have a survivors report in ADM199/2142.
However Tennant page 27/28 is a little confusing. He says "she was attacked by U-509 on 27/10/1942 and was abandoned by her crew on the 28/10/1942 and later sank whilst on a voyage from Rosario to Liverpool 16/10/1942 with a cargo of 5037 tons of frozen meat".
My guess is Tennant has got it arse about face and uboat.net has taken it as fact.
It would be worth following up via her logbook and survivors report. If my theory is correct then which submarine was responsible for the first attack? Maybe a post on uboat.net will give us an answer.
There is nothing in Rohwer or BVLS concerning the first attack.
regards
Roger

[Billy McGee]

Hugh, Roger,

There is a good account of the incident leading upto when the ship was abandoned in the book "Blue Star Line at War 1939-45" by Taffrail and can be seen at the following link.

http://www.bluestarline.org/pacific1.html

I cannot find a reference in any book I have stating the Pacific Star survived as mentioned in the link Hugh sent us.

[Hugh]

Thank you gents,

I think the Peoples War account is incorrect as it was written by a third party albeit with the permission of the person in the story. Either the facts have been confused or we really do have a mystery on our hands. However, the Peoples War account does mention how she sailed up the river Tyne etc etc, so I don't like to dismiss it without checking further.

Roger, I think Tennent is trying to say (albeit not very well) that the PACIFIC STAR sailed from Freetown on 16/10/42 and was attacked by the U-boat on 27/10/42. This site gives more details: http://www.bluestarline.org/pacific1.html According to the link, she sailed from Freetown on the 18th not the 16th given by Tennent and by Convoy Web. I also note that much of the information is probably from the captain's report which confirms they abandoned ship and last saw PACIFIC STAR on the 30th October.

I will feeback your suggestion regarding the log book and survivors's report

Regards

[Roger]

Hello Hugh,
Point taken on Tennant.
Yes. I think there is a need to check it out as there are inconsistences in the peoples war statement such as the port of depature, which as you say could be the result of a third party writter and the lack of clarity after 60 odd years.
Apart from the Logbooks and survivors report ( which I am sure will concern the attack of 27/10/1942.)
I think there is also a need to look at the CRS10 of Albert Henry Thompson. I can only find one AHT in BT372 who fits the bill R227684.
My guess is he was on another vessel and he recalled some of the events from another incident.

regards
Roger

[Hugh]

Much obliged, Roger. I tend to agree and I am sure the various BT/ADM files should clarify this. I will pass this info on to the enquirer.

Regards

[Hugh]

I picked this out from the London Gazette - Captain Evans OBE.

Published in the London Gazette Tuesday, 30 March, 1943

Captain Griffith Lawrence Evans, Master.

The ship, sailing in convoy, was torpedoed in darkness. Although she was badly damaged, the engines were intact and the Master decided to get her to the nearest port. Pumps were kept going but the wind and sea increased considerably, the fore-deck became awash and, with the propellers out of the water, the ship was unmanageable. The Master decided to abandon her and to stand-by in the boats which, with difficulty, were got away. Throughout a night of heavy weather, the boats laid to sea anchors. In the morning the Master made an effort to board the vessel which was listing heavily.
The weather, however, was too bad and as there was no hope of saving her the Master ordered the boats to make for land, which they all reached safely. Captain Evans displayed great courage and determination in his efforts to save his ship.

Regards

[Hugh]

I have received a copy of the survivor's report for the vessel and I have no doubts that the ship would have sunk sometime on the 30th. The Master and all the crew left the ship on the 28th. Three lifeboats sailed on and two remained in the vicinity of the sinking ship until daylight on the 30th before leaving the scene. There was no hope of saving the ship.

I think we can safely say that the ss "PACIFIC STAR" did not sail up the river Tyne and had its Holds repaired.

Regards