Hello everyone, My father was a driver in the RASC, T/251275.He was aboard the SS Shahristan which was heading to Basra (IRAQ) and at 01-38 on the 30th of July 1941 he was torpedoed by U371 Commanded by Heinrich Driver.There were 141 personnel on board,76 survived including my father,65 were lost including her master Eric Henry Wilson. I remember my father telling me they were adrift for 10 days,with little or no food or water.Some survivours tried to drink the sea water,and were very ill. They were eventually picked up by the Spanish tanker CAMPECHE,and landed at Ponta Delgada,Azores. I have read the SS SHAHRISTAN was torpedoed on the 29th of July, not the 30th. Sadly my father passed away a few years ago.Does any member's on this forum know the exact date? would be very grateful. .......Graham.
hello Graham Forum members will be along shortly to add to the thread Shahristan She was a 6,935 grt steam cargo ship that was sunk on 30 July 1941 by torpedoes fired by German submarine U-371 at position 35° 19’ N, 23° 53’ W. Tower Hill WW2 Memorial Sembilangan to Shakespear
Hello Graham, welcome to the forum. Re the loss of the Shahristan....... 29 July 1941 south of the Azores the passenger - cargo liner Shahristan 6,935 tons (F C. Strick & Co) the UK to the Persian Gulf was sunk by U 371 Source - Britain's Sea War - J M. Young Edit I see that Clive has 30th along with Uboat.net
At 01.38 hours on 30 July 1941 the unescorted Shahristan (Master Eric Henry Wilson), dispersed from convoy OS-1, was torpedoed and sunk by U-371southeast of the Azores. The master, 38 crew members and 26 passengers were lost. 33 survivors were picked up by the Spanish tanker Campeche and 37 survivors by the HMS Sunflower (K 41) (LtCdr J.T. Jones, RNR) and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores. Six survivors were rescued by HMS Derbyshire (F 78)(Capt E.A.B. Stanley, DSO, MVO, RN) and landed at Gourock.Shahristan (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
Many thanks to your reply's, I have noted the 30th of July, and the 29th July. still confused? Graham.
Maybe differences in the source you read, German or British or time zones. I would need to check the survivors reports to see what the senior survivor had to say. Regards Hugh
Fortunately, I managed to show my father (he never knew) a picture of the SS Shahristan, u371, and the U-boat captain, Heinrich Driver, It brought tear to his eye's, and he was so grateful. My father passed away in 2013 aged 94. Graham.
Thanks for the reply, I have seen the uboat.net website, and its a very good source for information. regards............Graham.
Hi Hugh, Very interested in the suvivour's reports.Never seen or read any of them. Would love to see and read them. best regards,.................Graham.
Hi Graham, Just checked the survivor's report for the ship which is actually held at Kew in piece ADM 199/2137 page 349. I have a database of quite a few of them, however, this one is not good quality and would not reproduce very well here. If you wish to send me your email address via a private message I can send it on to you if you wish? The senior survivor was chief radio officer B.H. Smith. He states the ship was hit at 22:30 ATS which is 23:30 GMT on 29th July 1941 this would be 01:30, 30th July in the German time zone I presume. Another file at the National Archives is WO 361/127 (Casualties at sea: SS Shahristan, torpedoed on 29 July 1941) Although I can find reference to ATS time I don't know what it stands for. Anyone know? Regards Hugh
Evening Hugh, A great piece of work. Both Peter and Clive were correct about the date of the attack 29th/30th.It all came down to the time zones. Happy to send you my e.mail, Many thank's for your efforts.............Graham.
Hi Peter, You were both right, Hugh has solved the mystery. It was a simple case of different time zones. regards...............Graham.
The survivor's reports kindly supplied to me from Hugh.Sorry about the quality,had a fiddle about on my scanner but coundn't improve them. .
Not happy with the above post ref quality.It don't do the reports any justice. I shall endeavour to retype the 4 pages at a later date.. Hi Hugh, I have checked out the file ADM199/2137 in the N/A, its quite thick (at least 349 pages) The WO 361/127 file covers (casualties at sea) this is a large file Jan 1941-Dec 1942.Will give that one a miss as I already have the casualty list of SS Shahristan. ..Graham.
Hi Graham, I didn't think they would reproduce via upload that's why I sent via email. That file ADM 199/2137 page 349, it's only page 349 you are interested in as the other pages cover other ships. Regards Hugh
Evening Hugh, The night my father was torpedoed abord SS Shahristan. The attack by U371 was witnessed by the crew of SS Sitoebondo, another merchant ship (7049 tons) with a crew of 71 and 6 passengers.This ship was also attacked by U371 about 1 hour later.The crew abandoned ship and took to 3 lifeboats,2 of these boats were picked up the following day by the Spanish tanker Campeche.(the same tanker that picked my father up some 10 days later) The 3rd lifeboat of SS Sitoebondo, with 12 crew and 2 passengers,was never found. I was wondering if the survivours reports may/might mention picking my father up whilst aboard the tanker Campeche. That's why I'm keen to see file ADM 199/2137. (I'm hoping your going to tell me, you have the file) if not I will give Andy a shout. best regards........Graham.
Evening Graham, Survivor's reports usually concern the ship that was lost in your case the SHAHRISTAN. I have checked for a report for CAMPECHE - there is not one for her. Regards Hugh
Hi Hugh, I was looking for the survivors repots from SS Sitoebono which was torpedoed about 1 hour after the SS Shahristan? best.........Graham.
