More about the Ceramic

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 13

More about the Ceramic

SHIPPING NEWS

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JOHN LESLIE)

An account of the tragic wartime loss of the British liner Ceramic appeared in this column earlier this month, after a query from 1.T.. of Southbridge, who had stowed away briefly in the Ceramic when trying to rejoin an advance party of the Second Echelon, 2nd N.Z.E.F.

In the story, it was suggested that Kapitan-Leute-nant Werner Henke, of U 515, “believed” he had sunk a troopship. Of the 650 souls aboard the Ceramic when torpedoed, 378 were passengers, including many women and children. There was only one survivor — Sapper E. Munday, who was taken to Germany aboard the submarine as “evidence” that a troopship had been | sunk. Now comes a letter from Mrs M. L. Grew, of Richmond, Nelson, who has more data about, this tragedy. It does not make pretty reading for I.T. and others who have followed this wartime episode. Mrs Grew’s letter is appreciated, and appears below: “I was interested in your account of the Ceramic. I can add something to her story,” Mrs Grew says. "In January, 1942, my late husband, a chief radio officer with Alfred Holt and Company, (Blue Funnel Line), joined the Ceramic as a passenger en route to a new posting aboard the s.s. Mendoza. This was a former French passenger vessel which Holt’s was managing ‘for the duration’ — she was trooping between South Africa and Port Said. “The Ceramic sailed to South Africa via Halifax and Rio de Janeiro and eventually arrived at Durban, where my husband disembarked. On November I,! 1942, the Mendoza was tor-i ipedoed and sunk with heavy! I loss of life, 60 miles off; ; Durban. My husband was I the only senior officer left ! alive or uninjured. “On December 19. 1943, ■ Holt’s s.s. Phemius was tor- ■ pedoed and sunk about 55! miles south-east of Takoradi (my husband’s third such experience) by U515..My hus-! band was taken prisoner byi Kapitan-Leutenant Werner Henke. After a 27-day voyage — every day U 515 crash-dived to avoid Allied attack — my husband left the U boat at L’Orient and in due course arrived at Marlag and Milag Nord, near Bremen. “Henke boasted that he: had sunk the Ceramic with several torpedoes fired rapid-; ly along the water-line. He! also knew she was not a

troopship. During the VOyL_ o tr> T’Arinnt TJpnko sank I age to L Unent, Henke sank la British India Steam Navi'gation Company liner of the Marhira rises I .viaaura ciass. 0 “My husband was heavily (guarded at all times, but did

manage to communicate with the German radio ’ officer, who turned out to be a man with whom he had “talked” before the war as : their respective vessels had : travelled down the China coast, across the Indian : Ocean, and through the Red . Sea. “These facts are taken I from my husband’s writings, my own memory, and from Captain S. W. Roskill’s ‘A Merchant Fleet at War’.” ARRIVALS Thursday Rangatira 16.37 a.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wel- ' lington (U.S.SJ. H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti <9 a.m.), 134, ' Lieutenant S. P. Yates, R.N.Z.N., Wellington. Union Svdnev (9.30 a.m.). 4752, Capt. R. H. Stewart, Wellington (U.S.S.). Recife Maru <9.55 a.m.), 7772, Capt. S. Miatake, Wellington (Seatrans). Friday Union Wellington (6.10 a.m.), 2638, Capt. A. T. Moody. Wellington (U.S.S.). Woosung (7.25 a.m.l. 5393. Capt. J. A. Derrick. Wellington (P and O (N.Z.), Ltd). DEPARTURES Thursday Katelysia (6.11 a.m.), 12,143, Capt. P. C. Hoek, Auckland ’ (Shell). (Tanker.) Coastal Trader (9.14 a.m.), 2499. Capt. J. Taylor, Auckland (U.S.S.). I Rangatira (8 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). Union Svdnej’ (10.20 p.m.), 4752 Capt. R- H. Stewart, Melbourne (U.S.S.). Friday Union Wellington (11.27 a.m.), 2638, Capt. A. T. Moodey. Adelaide (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS i Rangatira. Wellington, today. I Hamilton, Marsden Point, March I 30 (tanker). ; Rangatira. Wellington. March 30. ' Coastal Trader, Auckland. March I 31. Rangatira, Wellington. April 1. Hawea, Wellington. April 1. Wild Fulmar. Auckland. April 4. Straat Clarence, Suva. April 8. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Grand Opal. Timaru, today. I (Bulk.) Hong Kong Surety, Bluff, April JPorl Brisbane, Pitcairn Island.; April 1. ■ Rangatira, Wellington, today. > Rangatira. Wellington, March; 29. (Daylight). Rangatira. Wellington. March 30. | : Hamilton. Nelson, March 31. i (tanker) Hawea Dunedin. April 1. ■ H M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti. Oamaru. April 1. Holmdale. Chatham Islands. April l , 4. | Recife Maru. Dunedin. April 5.; : Coastal Trader. Dunedin. March : ■ ! 31. (Rangatira, Wellington. April 1. VESSELS IN PORT

JJoosung, No. 1 Cashm Quay. Recife Maru No. 2 Cashin Quay. Hon2 Kong Suretv. No. 3. Casllin Quay. Port Brisbane, g.pe. Holmdale No. 2. Last Granrt nnal x 3, west h.m.n.z.s Rotom. No 4 East Ngatoro, No. 4 west (laid up), i