Hello all, just to furnish some info on crew / sinking of U 26. UB NET does not give any crew loss at sinking, YET my info / files give that 7 were lost at sinking - 41 surviving (UB gives non lost !). HOWEVER, be it known that of those taken POW to BANFF, Scotland 6 were killed in an air attack by a Heinkel 111. They are buried at German M.C, Cannock Chase. Will post further details U 26 / names of lost crew later. To a Gallant enemy, now blessed with 6 feet of English soil - RESURGAM !! Sadsac
Details MY file U 26 ; Type: I.A, ocean-going. Constructor: Deschimag, Bremen. Armament: 14 Torpedoes, 1 x 105mm, 1 x 20mm. Commissioned: 11.5.36. Operational: Pre-war. Service Life: 10. Operational Life: 10. Patrols: 5. Theatres: Atlantic, Northern, Mediterranean. Sank 9 m/vs (41,275 grt), 4 of which to mines; and damaged 1 m/v (4,871 grt). On station in 1st Wave, in August, 1939. Laid mines off Portland on 10.9.39 which seriously damaged HMS Kittiwake. Employed in the transport role during the German invasion of Norway in April, 1940. Departed: 20.6.40, Wilhelmshaven; for Biscay and waters W of UK. Last Action: 1.7.40, 2.U-Flotille, 5 minutes after U 26 sank the SS Zarian, she was sighted by Sunderland H/10 Sqd. RAAF, Mount Batten, (Flt Lt W.N. Gibson) which made 2 attacks, each with 4 primitive A/S bombs); U 26 had already been attacked by HMS Rochester (SLP Capt G.F. Renwick) and HMS Gladiolus (CVT L.Cdr H.M.C. Sanders), with DC's, which had caused serious damage. The craft was scuttled. The action took place in position 48.03N 11.30W, Bay of Biscay. 41 survivors rescued by HMS Rochester, the Commander was among those who were lost. Commanders: FK O. Schomburg 11.38-08.39. KK E. Ewerth 09.39-01.40. KL H. Scheringer 01.40-07.40. M/V attacked/damaged/sunk : Alex van Opstal(S), Binnendijk(S), Elena R(S),(Ewerth),Nidarholm(S),Langlee Ford(S), Steinstad(S), Cedarbank(S), Frangoula Goulandris(S), Zarian(D), (Scheringer). Sadsac
In 1935 Gunther Prien (U 47) graduated from the U-boat school in Kiel and was commissioned as watchkeeping officer aboard the U 26. The sinking of U 26 was the first U-boat 'kill' in which a corvette (Gladiolus) took part.
To a Gallant enemy, now blessed with 6 feet of English soil - RESURGAM !! Sadsac Hear Hear, destroying unarmed civilian ships and burning to death or drowning merchant seaman 1000's of miles from dry land takes a special type of bravery. Kev
KEV, in first instance I was just trying to correct anomoly that U26 did not lose any crew. Then that some were later lost due to `German own action'. Comment re `Gallant enemy' - must admit I agonised as to where, and which comment to put re their loss. As a member of a U-boat `club' & also ex-Swanley Boy / RAF / TA / RNA / RAFA / BL I know a little of `loss'. In most cases UB crews were `men doing their job'. MOSTLY after battle the rescue of enemy crews was accompanied by `for you Tommy the war is over'. Just giving `mutual respect' !! Quite appreciate the point that `our Merchant boys' went through horrific times. Regards Sadsac
As I previously have posted on another thread - my late father told me that if you ever saw a tanker "going up" it was "something which you would never forget". Equally at the end of the war when he met U-Boatcrew at close quarters he saw them as being sailors just like him who were equally glad that the war was over. I do not , nor would I ever think little of the fate of so many thousand merchant seamen who were lost at sea or who died adrift in boats or who froze to death in Arctic seas for a small wage and little recognition. In balance the U-boat crew increasingly had little chance of survival and often when sunk faced the same limited chance of survival - from a depth charged submarine there was often no escape - their losses are similar to those of Bomber Command. Monsarrat's title "The Cruel Sea" summed up it up quite well. These men probably did not survive, nor those below - in the water they were all equal ,all looked the same and died the same. The aircrew shown is that of Al Bishop - they sank "489" SE of Iceland and were shot down in the process, both the U-boat crew and the aircrew were rescued by the Royal navy - it was only when they were trying to restore heat to their bodies that they found they had fished out aircrew - in the water they looked the same.
SAdsac, I know just trying to cause a bit of debate. I can understand the bravery involved, but struggle with the Galantry. Ive been going through my Grandads medals And just found out that to qualify for an Atlantic Star its 3 months at sea. Kev
KEV, my use of `Gallant' - wwweeellll, yes, not quite appropiate I suppose. What probably went thro my mind was the poem `Gallant little `S' boats' - 8 Little S boats Etc. on / down to `four little `S' boats putting out to sea, one failed to return, now there are three' !!! Also Churchill on submarines sailing off the Dutch coast, `the little submarines & their Gallant crews' !! If the Jerry UB crews could not be explained as `Gallant', one could possibly apply `sailed off to die with harness on their backs' !! Sadsac
All, list of those UB crew `lost' while POW due to bombing by German Aircraft, at Banff, Scotland. MOg ACKERMANN Hermann Matg HEYMANN Heinz MEg MARSCHALL Conrad MatOg NORDHAUSEN Gunter Matg POPP Rudolf MatHg REDIECK Kurt Sadsac
I'm presently researching the bombing of POW Camp 5 at Duff House, Banff, Scotland with a view to erecting a cairn to remember the 6 PoW and 2 British soldiers who were killed in this, the only UK 'friendly fire' attack on a POW camp. I have lists of those injured and would welcome contact from anyone who has any information on this incident and PoW Camp 5. Cullen
