Clan Campbell SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 7,255 tons built in 1937 by Greenock Dockyard Co, Greenock for the Clan Line Steamers Ltd, Glasgow. The Clan Campbell formed part of a convoy which left Alexandria for Malta on March 20th 1942. The merchantmen were protected by a force of cruisers and destroyers under command of Rear Admiral Sir P. Vian. The weather on leaving port was thick and stormy but it cleared while the ships were still off Cyrenaica and they were sighted by enemy aircraft.
These summoned a squadron of four Italian cruisers to the scene, but after a brisk engagement Admiral Vian drove them off. On the afternoon of the same day (22nd) the Italian battleship Littorio and two 10,000 ton cruisers put in an appearance. The British again attacked despite heavy odds and a torpedo hit was scored on the Littorio. The Italians then broke off the action and retired. On the 23rd, off Malta, the Clan Campbell was hit by bombs and also torpedoed, and had to be abandoned. Five of the Merchant Seamen, including the Master, Captain Vooght are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, the two Indian Merchant Navy men are commemorated on the Bombay and Chittagong 1939-1945 War Memorials and the Royal Navy Able Seaman, Dennis Brian Lewis is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Captain Vooght was posthumously awarded the MBE and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.
The other cargo ships reached Malta on 24 March but were sunk by air attacks: Pampas and the Norwegian Talabot on 26 March and the cargo liner MV the Breconshire the following day.
These summoned a squadron of four Italian cruisers to the scene, but after a brisk engagement Admiral Vian drove them off. On the afternoon of the same day (22nd) the Italian battleship Littorio and two 10,000 ton cruisers put in an appearance. The British again attacked despite heavy odds and a torpedo hit was scored on the Littorio. The Italians then broke off the action and retired. On the 23rd, off Malta, the Clan Campbell was hit by bombs and also torpedoed, and had to be abandoned. Five of the Merchant Seamen, including the Master, Captain Vooght are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, the two Indian Merchant Navy men are commemorated on the Bombay and Chittagong 1939-1945 War Memorials and the Royal Navy Able Seaman, Dennis Brian Lewis is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Captain Vooght was posthumously awarded the MBE and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.
The other cargo ships reached Malta on 24 March but were sunk by air attacks: Pampas and the Norwegian Talabot on 26 March and the cargo liner MV the Breconshire the following day.
Engineer Officer (Sixth) Alan DONALD
Merchant Navy
M.V. Zealandic (Southampton)
Died: 17-1-1941 aged 23years
Son of George & Gertrude Donald, Dulwich, Adealide, South Aust
Father was Master S.S. Myrtle Branch, M.N. lost at sea by enemy action 11-4-1918
Merchant Navy
M.V. Zealandic (Southampton)
Died: 17-1-1941 aged 23years
Son of George & Gertrude Donald, Dulwich, Adealide, South Aust
Father was Master S.S. Myrtle Branch, M.N. lost at sea by enemy action 11-4-1918
Electrician Arthur DOWN
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942, At Sea (North Atlantic Ocean) aged 21years
Son of Percival and Martha Down, of Punchbowl, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942, At Sea (North Atlantic Ocean) aged 21years
Son of Percival and Martha Down, of Punchbowl, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Able Seaman Douglas EVANS
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died 2-2-1942 (At Sea - Prisoner of War) aged 25years
North Atlantic Ocean
Son of William Henry & Cecilia Catherine Evans, North Bondi, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died 2-2-1942 (At Sea - Prisoner of War) aged 25years
North Atlantic Ocean
Son of William Henry & Cecilia Catherine Evans, North Bondi, N.S.W.
Shipwright Idwal Bertram EVANS
Merchant Navy
S.S. Clarissa Radcliffe (London)
Died: 18-3-1943 aged 21years
Son of Captain Evan Idwal Evans, M.N., & Henrietta May Evans, Mosman Park, W.A.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Clarissa Radcliffe (London)
Died: 18-3-1943 aged 21years
Son of Captain Evan Idwal Evans, M.N., & Henrietta May Evans, Mosman Park, W.A.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Fireman James Joseph FLATTERY
Merchant Navy
RMS Queen Mary
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 (at sea, North Atlantic Ocean) aged 23years
Son of Veronica Flattery, of Stanmore, Sydney, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
RMS Queen Mary
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 (at sea, North Atlantic Ocean) aged 23years
Son of Veronica Flattery, of Stanmore, Sydney, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
First Engineer William Robert FLEMING
Merchant Navy
S.S. Lorle
Killed in Action 11-6-1918 aged 55years
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Lorle
Killed in Action 11-6-1918 aged 55years
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Ordinary Seaman Geoffrey John FORD
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-9142 aged 21years
North Atlantic Ocean "M.V. Spreewald"
Son of John Alexander & Winnifred Elvir Ford
Stepson of Mrs. I.O.A. Ford, Williamstown, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-9142 aged 21years
North Atlantic Ocean "M.V. Spreewald"
Son of John Alexander & Winnifred Elvir Ford
Stepson of Mrs. I.O.A. Ford, Williamstown, Victoria
Fireman Patrick GANNON
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died (At Sea - Prisoner of War) 2-2-1942 aged 61years
North Atlantic Ocean
Son of William & Sarah Gannon
Husband of Jeannie Gannon, Bootle, Liverpool.
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died (At Sea - Prisoner of War) 2-2-1942 aged 61years
North Atlantic Ocean
Son of William & Sarah Gannon
Husband of Jeannie Gannon, Bootle, Liverpool.
Chief Officer William Inglis GIBSON
Merchant Navy
S.S. Rose Schiaffino (Cardiff)
Died 31-10-1941, aged 23years
Son of Thomas Fleming & Blanche Alice Gibson, of Largs Bay, South Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Rose Schiaffino (Cardiff)
Died 31-10-1941, aged 23years
Son of Thomas Fleming & Blanche Alice Gibson, of Largs Bay, South Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
The S.S. Mavis (London) , armed with a 12-pounder H.A. and a Lewis gun, was attacked continuously by enemy bombers. A delayed action bomb shattered the ship, but the bomber, who came within close range, appeared to be struck by one of the Mavis's shells and flew off emitting a trail of smoke. The crew took to the boats, under fire from another aeroplane. Some hours later, seeing that the ship was still afloat, the crew boarded her again. Continuous bombing and machine-gun attacks followed: the lifeboat with six men broke adrift. During further bombing the captain, with the remaining five men, took to a raft. They were landed by a French patrol vessel in France, where the captain secured a tug and set out towards his ship to try and save her. Before the tug had proceeded far she blew up in a magnetic mine, four of her crew of five becoming casualties. The Mavis herself was reported to have sunk soon afterwards. In the most trying circumstances the captain and the whole ship's crew had behaved throughout most gallantly. - Geoffrey Gillon
Butcher Percy John GLAZIER
Merchant Navy
S.S. Orcades (London)
Died 10-10-1942, aged 40years
Son of William George and Mary Elizabeth Glazier
Husband of Ethel Lillian Glazier, of Blackheath, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Orcades (London)
Died 10-10-1942, aged 40years
Son of William George and Mary Elizabeth Glazier
Husband of Ethel Lillian Glazier, of Blackheath, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Third Engineer Officer Edwin GOODSON
Merchant Navy
S.S. Viceroy of India (Glasgow)
Died 11-11-1942 aged 44years
Son of Thomas and Florence Goodson
Husband of Pearl P. Goodson, of South Hurstville, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Viceroy of India (Glasgow)
Died 11-11-1942 aged 44years
Son of Thomas and Florence Goodson
Husband of Pearl P. Goodson, of South Hurstville, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Second Engineer John GORDON
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942 aged 27years
North Atlantic Ocean "M.V. Spreewald"
Son of Herbert & Mabel Gordon
Husband of Dorell Mary Gordon, Concord, New South Wales
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942 aged 27years
North Atlantic Ocean "M.V. Spreewald"
Son of Herbert & Mabel Gordon
Husband of Dorell Mary Gordon, Concord, New South Wales
Boatswain's Mate Albert Stanley GREEN
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 (at sea North Atlantic Ocean) aged 51years
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Alice Green
Husband of Ada Green, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 (at sea North Atlantic Ocean) aged 51years
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Alice Green
Husband of Ada Green, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
On 29th June 1944, about 400 miles E. of the Chagos Archipelago. the Japanese submarine I-8 floatplane spotted the 6,942-ton Eastern and Australia Line´s freighter NELLORE. She was en route from Bombay to Sydney with a cargo of 2,720 tons.
HMS LOSSIE rescued 112 crewmen.
Of her 209 passengers and crew, 79 were lost and eleven taken prisoner by I-8.
Almost one month later and 2500 miles from the site of sinking, ten crewmen landed at Sambavany, Madagascar.
HMS LOSSIE rescued 112 crewmen.
Of her 209 passengers and crew, 79 were lost and eleven taken prisoner by I-8.
Almost one month later and 2500 miles from the site of sinking, ten crewmen landed at Sambavany, Madagascar.
Able Seaman Carl GUNDERSON
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died (Prisoner of War) 16-10-1941 aged 52years
North Atlantic Ocean "MV Kormoran"
Son of Carl and Alma Gunderson
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Died (Prisoner of War) 16-10-1941 aged 52years
North Atlantic Ocean "MV Kormoran"
Son of Carl and Alma Gunderson