Battleaxe Division Troopship

I am researching my father's service in 237 Field Coy. RE. His War Album includes a Canadian Pacific "Au Revoir" Dinner Menu card dated 21/11/42, presumably shortly before disembarking at Algiers. Can anyone tell me the name of this particular troopship?
Thank you,
Tuffer.

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Your best bet would be the War Diaries. I wouldn't just check his Field Coy either. Some of the higher formations may mention it if the his units diary doesn't like the Brigade or Division files, some have movement orders for a whole Brigade within them etc.

Do you live near London ?

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Tuffer

Welcome aboard !

When I arrived in North Africa in April 1943 my troopship was the Frankonia.
Although my final destination was to be the 78 Div I've no way of knowing what all of the ship's "load" consisted of.

Do you at least know the port of embarkation ?

Without wishing to state the obvious, the more info you can post here the more chance of forum members have to help you.

Good luck with your research.

Ron

 

Welcome to the forum

Cheers
Paul

 

Hi Tuffer,

She was HMT Duchess of York. Here is a short history from Maureen Venzi's website

"Four months after Empress of Canada was torpedoed, the CPR lost the second of its four Duchesses, Duchess of York. A veteran of the 1940 evacuations from Norway and France, the York had travelled widely on hazardous routes and been a lucky ship. During one of her six voyages to North Africa she had survived a near miss from an unexploded bomb which had been pushed over the side by courageous volunteers from her crew. Duchess of York sailed again for the Mediterranean at the beginning of July 1943. By this time in the war, the Allies had secured North Africa and were completing preparations for the July 10th landings in Sicily. The York was part of a small convoy escorted by the Canadian Tribal destroyer, HMCS Iroquois, the British destroyer HMS Douglas, and the British frigates HMS Moyola and HMS Swale. Unfortunately, the convoy had not been provided with any air cover as it approached the British stronghold of Gibraltar on July 11th, and it was attacked by some Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Condor bombers. All the ships in the convoy did their best to shoot down the enemy aircraft, but, Duchess of York and the Anchor Line transport, California, were both hit and set ablaze. The fires on Duchess of York became uncontrollable very quickly and her master, Captain Busk-Wood had to order the vessel to be abandoned. Survivors were picked up by HMCS Iroquois and the two frigates. A total of 34 people aboard Duchess of York perished. She was the last CPR ship to be sunk by the Axis powers during the war."

25th Tank Brigade sailed aboard her in January, 1943.

Gerry

 

Tuffer

There............ you've got it, straight from the "horses mouth".

All you have to do now is thank the man

Ron

 

Well done Gerry - your diary does come in handy at times -

did this Duchess of York which was sunk hold the Canadian Hospital and all equipment was lost but the Canadian Nurses took to the lifeboats- singing their heads off- until told by some idiot to keep quiet as the enemy might hear them -

think about it large Condor aircraft hurtling bombs down - and the crews MIGHT hear women singing -they were landed on the beaches and within three days had "borrowed" - "scrounged"- and otherwise "aquired" enough stuff to open their
hospital ? - Tough girls !
Cheers

 

Hi Tuffer,

She was HMT Duchess of York. Here is a short history from Maureen Venzi's website

"Four months after Empress of Canada was torpedoed, the CPR lost the second of its four Duchesses, Duchess of York. A veteran of the 1940 evacuations from Norway and France, the York had travelled widely on hazardous routes and been a lucky ship. During one of her six voyages to North Africa she had survived a near miss from an unexploded bomb which had been pushed over the side by courageous volunteers from her crew. Duchess of York sailed again for the Mediterranean at the beginning of July 1943. By this time in the war, the Allies had secured North Africa and were completing preparations for the July 10th landings in Sicily. The York was part of a small convoy escorted by the Canadian Tribal destroyer, HMCS Iroquois, the British destroyer HMS Douglas, and the British frigates HMS Moyola and HMS Swale. Unfortunately, the convoy had not been provided with any air cover as it approached the British stronghold of Gibraltar on July 11th, and it was attacked by some Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Condor bombers. All the ships in the convoy did their best to shoot down the enemy aircraft, but, Duchess of York and the Anchor Line transport, California, were both hit and set ablaze. The fires on Duchess of York became uncontrollable very quickly and her master, Captain Busk-Wood had to order the vessel to be abandoned. Survivors were picked up by HMCS Iroquois and the two frigates. A total of 34 people aboard Duchess of York perished. She was the last CPR ship to be sunk by the Axis powers during the war."

25th Tank Brigade sailed aboard her in January, 1943.

Gerry
Gerry,
I am most grateful, and already impressed by the members of this Forum! In due course I will upload some of the material in my father's album in the hope that it will be of interest to others.
Regards,
Tuffer

 

In case of interest I attach an image of the Menu referred to above. A couple of the signatures are readable, so maybe there's more to come on this topic..
Cheers,
Tuffer.

 

Tuffer -
you can be assured that ANYTHING concerning the 78th Division - always has something more to come - they weren't called the Battleaxe for nothing
Cheers

 

Hi Tuffer,

I spent my early years in Wallasey - our home overlooked the River Mersey. I cannot recall exactlywhen I started logging all the ships sailing to and fro from Liverpool. The graceful Union Castle liners bound for South Africa - Elder Dempster's 'Apapa' and 'Accra' on their regular runs to Nigeria - and of course the Empresses and Duchesses Canada bound.

Here's a couple of particular interest for you:



One great memory is of my father taking taking me to the launching of 'Ark Royal' at Camell Laird shipyards.

Great menu card - I would like to add it to my collection if I may. My regiment supported the Battleaxe Division in both Tunisia and Italy.

With best wishes to you and yours,

Gerry

 

I believe my dad Bill Smith was with the 78th Battleaxe, i have a great photo of him and some other guys, they called themselves the casanovas, does that ring any bells with anyone, no one else is identified in the photo.

 

Ann

As a former 78 Div man, welcome to the forum.
I believe my dad Bill Smith was with the 78th Battleaxe, i have a great photo of him and some other guys, they called themselves the casanovas, does that ring any bells with anyone, no one else is identified in the photo.

You have more of a chance of help if you post some of your pics.

I'm afraid the fact that they called themselves the "Casanovas" may not be too helpful, I would guess that a lot of young men, out on the town, would consider themselves to come under that heading

In my Army Album I have a snap that is titled "The three Caballeros" after a song title that was around at that time

Good luck with your research.

Ron

 

thank u for your response,I will try and post the photo tomorrow, my dad was also in north africa, sicily, italy and egypt, i am fortunate to be in possession of his medals. Anne

 

Sorry if the photo is too big, first time doing it, hope someone can identify some of the other soldiers in the photo, or at least it wil bring back some good memories of comradeship in hard times

 

Anne

The photos are perfect and now we can see the reason for the reference to Cassanovas

One of the this forum's highly valued members is a chap by the name of Gerry Chester, based in Canada and with a bit of luck he will see this thread and come to our aid.

I wanted to give you a link to Ron Tee's memories of the 78 Div which I consider the best personal story ever written about the Div.

A brief profile can be found here:
World War 2 Awards.com - TEE, Ronald A.

Gerry originally supplied Tom's book details as follows:

"A British Soldier Remembers"
Authors: Ronald A.Tee & Ken C. Dowsett.
Publisher: Epic Press, Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Copyright: 2001, 199 pp.
Nicely illustrated, these are the reminiscences of Sgt Ron Tee, who served with the 56th Reconnaisance Regiment, 78th (Battleaxe) Division, during WW II. Of interest to the NIH is the fact that the Regiment was attached to the 78th Division during two important actions - the capture of "Longstop Hill" in Tunisia and the assault on the Gothic Line in Italy. Additionally, as many from the 56th Recce, when it was disbanded in October 1945, were transferred to the NIH, I got to know Ron when we both were members of the Sergeant's Mess in Wuppertal, Germany.

Unfortunately the original link supplied by Gerry no longer works so perhaps others will come to our help ?

You can also try getting a paperback copy of "Battleaxe Division" by Ken Ford , this will certainly give you lots of background and a few maps.

Lets have more pics and follow this thread to see what other members can come up with.

Best regards

Ron

ps
You could also do a lot worse than go to the oft derised Wikipedia and print out some of the relevant data about 78 Div.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Infantry_Division_(United_Kingdom)

pps
Finally, and partly due to your own posting, I have started a thread devoted entirely to 78 div matters.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units-general/30220-78th-british-infantry-division-%22-battleaxe-div%22.html

 

Hi All I am sure you have already looked it up but


North Irish Horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



CPR Liner "Duchess of York"

Operation Torch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

hope its of use

Nick

 

Very nice and a informative thread. Thanks for sharing everyone.