My father was a DEMS gunner (Maritime Regt RA) on Bandar Shahpour when she was sunk off Freetown Sierra Leon on 30 April 1943. I have the crew list but I understand there were a few, perhaps four, passengers and they are not on the crew list. All passengers and crew survived except one crew member. Does anyone know how I might find the passenger list, if indeed, it exists ? Thanks in advance for any assistance Regards Chris Anderson
Another avenue or suggestion, would be to see the ships logs or records for HMS Birdlip, the ship that rescued 61 of the survivors In the south Atlantic HMS Birdlip saw active service. She rescued 61 crewmembers from British Merchant Bandar Shapour sunk 30/Apr/43 by U-515 on pos. 07º 15"N 13º 49"W. 2)HMT BIRDLIP T 218 - BRITISH ROYAL NAVY LOSSES SOUTH ATLANTIC - ROYAL NAVY SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND - Articles - Sixtant - War II in the South Atlantic
Your Fathers update on the link below states 7 passengers Benjidog Ship Histories|History of Bandar Shahpour At 22.56 hours on 30 Apr, 1943, U-515 fired two stern torpedoes at the convoy TS-37 about 130 miles southwest of Freetown and observed hits after 58 and 59 seconds. The first ship was seen sinking fast and another broke in two after being hit under the bridge. At 22.57 hours, one torpedo was fired, which struck a freighter amidships after 52 seconds. A fourth torpedo fired one minute later struck another freighter amidships, which exploded. At 22.59 hours, a fifth torpedo was fired and struck after 1 minute a ship, which immediately sank. A sixth torpedo fired at 23.01 hours hit a freighter after 1 minute 30 seconds, but the sinking could not be observed. Henke claimed five ships of 31.000 grt sunk and another of 6000 grt probably sunk. However, only four ships were hit and sunk, the Corabella, Bandar Shahpour, Kota Tjandi and Nagina. One passenger from the Bandar Shahpour (Master Wilfred Allinson Chappell) was lost. The master, 61 crew members, eight gunners and seven passengers were picked up by HMS Birdlip (T 218) (Lt. E.N. Groom, RNR) and landed at Freetown the next day.
Hi Chris, The sole casualty from BANDAR SHAHPOUR was Sher Ali Bandhu of the Indian Merchant Navy. The ship's official logbook would have been lost with the ship but there is a shoreside copy the [Red Copy] which is held at TNA. The official logbook may hold details of signals sent which may include lists of people who joined the ship as passengers, supernumeraris, DBS etc. Best viewed by visit to Kew or via a researcher who knows his way through MN logbooks. Of course this information may not have survived. The majority of RN logbooks for ships smaller than cruisers appear not to have survived after 1939. There appears to be no surviving logbook for HMS BIRDLIP. If anywhere search ADM 53. Incidentally, you say you have the crew agreement for BANDAR SHAHPOUR. The crew agreement is one part of the official logbook so you may have been in the required file already but didn't know. Regards Hugh
Hi Hugh, I'll try to get a copy of the official log. I'll contact Lee Richards at www.arcre.com who has been very helpful in the past. My father saw the Master leaving in a lifeboat with the ships documents under his arm. Is it likely he would take the ships log with him ? Incidentally, my father was still on board with several others at that time. Regards Chris
Hi Chris, It is unlikely the ship's papers were saved as they were usually despatched overboard in case they fell into enemy hands. Can you check the private conversation you sent me today please as I cannot reply to you - maybe you made it read only? Regards Hugh
