Waddie
0
As mentioned in the corona virus thing thread my family have recently come across a letter written by my grandfather to a lady who was asking for information about the loss of her husband. My grandfather and her husband were sailing on the Cape Corso which was carrying tanks and ammunition in the infamous Russian convoys during WWII
It is obviously a letter that we did not know was written and quite moving to hold and read (although a copy, but written eloquently and neatly by his own hand 78 years ago).
The incident took place exactly 78 years ago today.......................................................
Dear Mrs …..,
I am sorry to say I have inadvertently misplaced your letter, and consequently your address and so am having to reply to you via Lyles office hoping they will forward it.
I will endeavour to give you a few pictures of the sinking of the ‘Cape Corso’ as it appeared to me, hoping you will not think it egoistic by the repetition of the ‘’I’’, for I appreciate it is of Mr ….. you wish to hear.
We first received attention from the enemy on the night of Friday the 1st of May about 9pm, when three of them came over the convoy dropping bombs all of which fell into the sea. But of these three, one was brought down by AA fire.
Then on the Saturday there were intermittent alarms throughout the day. Now, upon the alarm sounding all on board, with the exception of the engineers and firemen, had action stations to which they repaired. Mr ….. was on the poop with the naval and military gunners.
On the night of Saturday the 2nd the Capt, Mr ….., 3rd Mate, two wireless operators, the steward and myself were in the saloon playing darts, when the alarm went, all hurried to their stations, but presently returned as the enemy had sheered off, this was about 11pm (you must appreciate that in this latitude about that time of the year it doesn’t get dark, just dusk, getting lighter as the year goes on until June and July, it’s broad daylight right throughout the 24hrs).
When the party had returned, Mr ….., the steward and myself, had gathered in the Stewards room to have a chat and a night-cap, when about 11.45pm the alarm sounded again, whereupon Mr ….. and the steward claimed their kit and went, leaving me alone. Incidentally Mr ….. was the last man I spoke to on the ship, wishing him ‘goodnight’ as he went out. I wandered to my room which was on the starboard side of the engine room , and made preparations to turn in, when something prompted me to go on deck for a final look around. As soon as I stepped on deck I heard Mr ….. shouting from the poop ‘Torpedo coming’ and saw him pointing away to starboard. Six torpedo bombers had dived from behind a cloud and had launched their torpedoes, one of which was coming directly for us. I immediately made haste to the port side and had hardly reached there when the torpedo struck, there was a deafening explosion and the ship burst into flames amidship. I was surrounded by flame and was considering the chances of getting to a raft or lifeboat (there was only the port jolly boat on the bridge deck left, the starboard lifeboat and the starboard jolly boat having been blown away, and the port lifeboat was in flames. The starboard wing of the bridge had been blown away taking with it the Master, 2nd Mate and wireless operators although the man at the wheel appeared unharmed) when through the flames came a sailor, with his head covered by his duffle coat, when near me he flung his coat away and dived overboard. He was followed by a fireman, clothes alight. I managed to extinguish him, then I realised that the ship was sinking rapidly, so I dived over. When I came to the surface (I had left my lifejacket in my room) the after well deck was under water, and Mr ….. and the gunners were still on the poop, which by this time was an island. I was immersed again and when I’d cleared my eyes the poop was awash, but all the men had gone. I presumed they had jumped for it. However I saw the 3rd Mate with some sailors in the port jolly boat preparing to lower it when the ‘Cape Corso’ sank. The whole affair took far less time in happening than it has taken in telling, I estimate about a minute and a half from the torpedo striking to the ship sinking.
I swam about for about half an hour despairing of being picked up, as the coldness of the water was gripping me, when an escorting trawler turned up, and I was hauled on board, whereupon I lost consciousness. When I came to, I asked how many had been picked up and was told 3 by this particular trawler, 2 sailors and myself, and three by another trawler, 1 sailor, a fireman and a naval gunner. However I didn’t give up hope then as I thought other ships might have picked others up, but enquiries upon our arrival in Russia dashed all our hopes, much to my intense regret for they were all a jolly fine crowd of shipmates. Mrs ….. I tender you my deepest sympathy, and this from the bottom of my heart.
Yours etc.
G.Waddingham
P.S. The last time I saw the carpenter was when I saw the torpedo approaching, he and the bo’sun were standing together in the after well deck. It was very sad to hear of his wife’s forthcoming birth. The Third Engineer’s wife was also expecting in May. He lived at the other side of the Forth, Methil I believe.
Let me know, will you? If you receive this letter, and if at any time during my voyagings I am in the vicinity I will take advantage of your offer to call on you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I have copied it exactly how it was written. His writing, though extremely neat, became obviously less so as he describes the sinking.
My father was also in the merchant Navy and unfortunatley he also had to write a letter concerning the death of one of his shipmates, as have I, and although both poignant, neither of them come close to my Grandfather's horrific narration.
Stay safe.
It is obviously a letter that we did not know was written and quite moving to hold and read (although a copy, but written eloquently and neatly by his own hand 78 years ago).
The incident took place exactly 78 years ago today.......................................................
Dear Mrs …..,
I am sorry to say I have inadvertently misplaced your letter, and consequently your address and so am having to reply to you via Lyles office hoping they will forward it.
I will endeavour to give you a few pictures of the sinking of the ‘Cape Corso’ as it appeared to me, hoping you will not think it egoistic by the repetition of the ‘’I’’, for I appreciate it is of Mr ….. you wish to hear.
We first received attention from the enemy on the night of Friday the 1st of May about 9pm, when three of them came over the convoy dropping bombs all of which fell into the sea. But of these three, one was brought down by AA fire.
Then on the Saturday there were intermittent alarms throughout the day. Now, upon the alarm sounding all on board, with the exception of the engineers and firemen, had action stations to which they repaired. Mr ….. was on the poop with the naval and military gunners.
On the night of Saturday the 2nd the Capt, Mr ….., 3rd Mate, two wireless operators, the steward and myself were in the saloon playing darts, when the alarm went, all hurried to their stations, but presently returned as the enemy had sheered off, this was about 11pm (you must appreciate that in this latitude about that time of the year it doesn’t get dark, just dusk, getting lighter as the year goes on until June and July, it’s broad daylight right throughout the 24hrs).
When the party had returned, Mr ….., the steward and myself, had gathered in the Stewards room to have a chat and a night-cap, when about 11.45pm the alarm sounded again, whereupon Mr ….. and the steward claimed their kit and went, leaving me alone. Incidentally Mr ….. was the last man I spoke to on the ship, wishing him ‘goodnight’ as he went out. I wandered to my room which was on the starboard side of the engine room , and made preparations to turn in, when something prompted me to go on deck for a final look around. As soon as I stepped on deck I heard Mr ….. shouting from the poop ‘Torpedo coming’ and saw him pointing away to starboard. Six torpedo bombers had dived from behind a cloud and had launched their torpedoes, one of which was coming directly for us. I immediately made haste to the port side and had hardly reached there when the torpedo struck, there was a deafening explosion and the ship burst into flames amidship. I was surrounded by flame and was considering the chances of getting to a raft or lifeboat (there was only the port jolly boat on the bridge deck left, the starboard lifeboat and the starboard jolly boat having been blown away, and the port lifeboat was in flames. The starboard wing of the bridge had been blown away taking with it the Master, 2nd Mate and wireless operators although the man at the wheel appeared unharmed) when through the flames came a sailor, with his head covered by his duffle coat, when near me he flung his coat away and dived overboard. He was followed by a fireman, clothes alight. I managed to extinguish him, then I realised that the ship was sinking rapidly, so I dived over. When I came to the surface (I had left my lifejacket in my room) the after well deck was under water, and Mr ….. and the gunners were still on the poop, which by this time was an island. I was immersed again and when I’d cleared my eyes the poop was awash, but all the men had gone. I presumed they had jumped for it. However I saw the 3rd Mate with some sailors in the port jolly boat preparing to lower it when the ‘Cape Corso’ sank. The whole affair took far less time in happening than it has taken in telling, I estimate about a minute and a half from the torpedo striking to the ship sinking.
I swam about for about half an hour despairing of being picked up, as the coldness of the water was gripping me, when an escorting trawler turned up, and I was hauled on board, whereupon I lost consciousness. When I came to, I asked how many had been picked up and was told 3 by this particular trawler, 2 sailors and myself, and three by another trawler, 1 sailor, a fireman and a naval gunner. However I didn’t give up hope then as I thought other ships might have picked others up, but enquiries upon our arrival in Russia dashed all our hopes, much to my intense regret for they were all a jolly fine crowd of shipmates. Mrs ….. I tender you my deepest sympathy, and this from the bottom of my heart.
Yours etc.
G.Waddingham
P.S. The last time I saw the carpenter was when I saw the torpedo approaching, he and the bo’sun were standing together in the after well deck. It was very sad to hear of his wife’s forthcoming birth. The Third Engineer’s wife was also expecting in May. He lived at the other side of the Forth, Methil I believe.
Let me know, will you? If you receive this letter, and if at any time during my voyagings I am in the vicinity I will take advantage of your offer to call on you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I have copied it exactly how it was written. His writing, though extremely neat, became obviously less so as he describes the sinking.
My father was also in the merchant Navy and unfortunatley he also had to write a letter concerning the death of one of his shipmates, as have I, and although both poignant, neither of them come close to my Grandfather's horrific narration.
Stay safe.
