HMS Rosaura 18 march 1941

Discussion in 'Non-Commemorated War Dead' started by enzus59, Sep 27, 2013.

  1. enzus59

    enzus59 Member

    Hi All.

    about the sank of HMS Rosaura I found this note:

    “Armed boarding vessel ROSAURA (1552grt) was sunk on a mine 146° from Mersa Tobruk. Fourteen crew, including P/T/Surgeon Lt J. F. Roberts RNVR, five military guards and 59 prisoners of war were lost”.

    With Geoff's engine I was been able to know the name of 14 crew of Rosaura but there is no reference about five military guards died.

    Thanks in advance for any possible help to know the names of these 5 guards.

    Regards
    Enzus
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Source
    Rosaura, ship loss
    BLIZARD, Henry R, Electrician, NAP, killed
    CAMPBELL, Murdo, Seaman, RNR, D/6787 C, MPK
    CORDINA, Carmelo, Greaser, T.124 X, killed
    DE GIORGIO, Anthony, Greaser, NAP, MPK
    DEBONO, Anthony, Carpenter, NAP 64882, MPK
    DOUGHERTY, John R, Seaman, RNR, D/19858 A, MPK
    GILLIES, Norman, Seaman, RNR, D/X 9736 B, MPK
    LAMONT, Robert W, Act/Leading Signalman, C/JX 152186, MPK
    MEIKLE, William, Able Seaman, RFR, D/J 97333, MPK
    ROBERTS, John F, Py/Ty/Surgeon Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK
    SCHEMBRI, George, Canteen Manager, NAAFI, MPK
    THOMPSON, John T, Chief Engine Room Artificer (Pens), C/M 5585, MPK
    WALL, Charles, Assistant Cook, NAP, MPK

    http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1941-03MAR.htm


    Rosaura SS was a British Passenger Vessel of 1,210 tons built in 1905 by Fairfield, Govan for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway Co, London as the DIEPPE SS. She was powered by a Triple screw ss 3 direct drive Parsons Turbines.

    In 1933 she was refitted with 2 x M8cy Atlas Diesels and the centre propeller was removed. A single funnel replaced the two funnels. Now 1538g In 1923 she was acquired by the Southern Railway Co, London.

    In 1933 she was acquired by Lord Moyne and renamed the ROSAURA SS. During WW1 she served as a Military Transport/Hospital Ship/Troopship. When she was sold to Lord Moyne she was converted to ocean going yacht to replace ROUSSALKA ex BRIGHTON (qv).

    In WW2 she was requisitioned by Royal Navy as armed boarding vessel. On the 18th March 1941 she was sunk by a mine off Tobruk.
    http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?99020
     
  3. enzus59

    enzus59 Member

    Thanks so much for your big help!!!

    Did you find something about 5 military guards died and something about IT POWs?

    Regards
    Enzus
     
  4. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    Link to board of enquiry report on loss of HMS Rosaura
    http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/AssetMain?iaid=C7423217
    Unfortunately report is not digitalized so will have to be ordered if interested.

    Interesting post in this thread here:

    http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-8094.html
     
  5. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    I think I can help with the names of your guards.
    I did a search on the CWGC war site under date of death 18/3/41 and found that five members of 2/5 Battalion A.I.F had died on that date.
    They are:
    Sgt. James Taylor http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2125361/TAYLOR,%20JAMES
    Private Walter George Bretherton http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2119844/BRETHERTON,%20WALTER%20GEORGE
    Private George Michael Doyle http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2218048/DOYLE,%20GEORGE%20MICHAEL
    Private William Joseph Mcleod http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2205730/McLEOD,%20WILLIAM%20JOSEPH
    Private Robert Dickie Holland http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2225490/HOLLAND,%20ROBERT%20DICKIE

    The war diaries of 2/5 Battalion are posted online:
    http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm52/8/3/5/awm52-8-3-5-5.pdf
    and this was listed under March 19th 1941:
     
  6. enzus59

    enzus59 Member

    Hi,

    thanks so much for your big help and for your courtesy.
    Last week I recived a copy of the Board of inquitity from NA Kew and
    it is an interesting paper.

    Do you know anything about 400 italian POWs and their 59 deads?

    Regards
    Enzus
     
  7. Dear Enzus::
    I am researching the sinking of the Rosaura for a lifetime friend of mine whose father was the Chief Engineer on the ship when she went down in Tobruk Harbour. He is not internet savvy so I an helping him gather some information so he can pass it on to his own children and grandchildren The chief, John (Jack) Herbertson, had previously served on the ship when it travelled the world when it was Lord Moyne's private yacht. You mentioned that you had a copy of the Admiralty Inquiry and I would be gratefully if you could share it with me. My friend is not in the best of health and I would like to get some information to him before he passes on. Thanking you in advance for your co-operation with my request. Yours sincerely, EngineRoomChiefRosaura
     
  8. Michael DeGeorgio

    Michael DeGeorgio New Member

    Hello, I am trying to discover details of Anthony De Giorgio NAP MPK who died on the Rosaura 18/03/1941, he was a 'greaser'. My grandfather went from Malta to Tunis, Tunisia in 1936. He was titled as 'Engineer' and had worked at 'Luna Park' in Malta for three years or so. His name was Anthony De Giorgio. It may be the wrong Anthony De Giorgio. My grandfather was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1895. Thank you for your assistance and time. Michael
     
  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    The Anthony De Giorgio who was lost on HMS Rosaura was born 31 May 1919, Port Said, Egypt.
     
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  10. Michael DeGeorgio

    Michael DeGeorgio New Member

    Thank you for your response. Not my grandfather. I will continue my search. Regards,
    Michael
     
  11. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Although interestingly born in Egypt, perhaps a relation?
     
  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

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  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960
    Name: Anthony DE Giorgio
    Event: Death
    Birth Date: 31 May 1919
    Birth Place: Port Said, Egypt
    Death Date: 18 Mar 1941
    Death Age: 21
    44994_adm_104_129-0326.jpg
    States his job as 'Greaser' aboard HMS Rosaura killed 18 March 1941

    TD
     
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