Steamship Bosnia

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by sol, Jan 12, 2011.

  1. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Interesting to see that there was a ship with a name Bosnia in the British Merchant Navy. But unfortunately ship didn't have too much luck and was sunk very early in the war by one of the most famous German submarine commander Günther Prien on 5th September 1939 (his first kill).

    Bosnia (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net

    At 08.15 hours on 5 Sep, 1939, the unescorted Bosnia (Master Walter Henry Poole) was stopped by U-47 with gunfire about 120 miles north-northwest of Cape Ortegal and sunk at 09.38 hours by one torpedo. One crew member was lost. The master and 31 crew members were picked up by the Eidanger (Master Johannes Presthus) just after the sinking and landed at Lisbon on 6 September.
    [​IMG]

    And from u47.org

    When war broke out in September Kapitänleutnant Prien was to make his mark as the first U-boat commander to gain a successful sanctioned kill on his first Atlantic patrol, with the sinking of the British steam ship Bosnia on 5 September 1939, a mere two days after the opening of hostilities. Prien conducted the attack with a chivalry that was often shown by the U-boat aces: after the British vessel had refused to heed verbal warnings, it was attacked with deck gunfire. Not before having the crew of U-47 assist the Bosnia's survivors by bailing out their capsized lifeboat, Prien allowed its stricken crew to be picked up by a neutral Norwegian ship before finally sending the steamer to the bottom of the Atlantic with a torpedo. No-one was killed during this attack (*).
    (*) this is mistake because one crew member of Bosnia lost his live during this action.

    There is a photo of U-47 taken on that day from the Norwegian freighter Eidanger.

    u47.org | photograph album

    Link on the wreck site

    WRECK SITE - SS Bosnia (+1939)

    Every day you learn something new.
     
  2. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Name: WOODS, JAMES
    Initials: J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Fireman and Trimmer
    Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
    Unit Text: S.S. Bosnia (Liverpool)
    Age: 36
    Date of Death: 05/09/1939
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 18.
    Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

    CWGC :: Certificate
     
  3. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    'BOSNIA' was lost on the third day of hostilities - 5th September 1939. She was the second merchant ship lost, the first being 'ATHENIA' on the first day of the war.
    Below is a photo of the ship [The War Illustrated] on fire after the torpedo attack.
    Regards
    Hugh
     

    Attached Files:

    sol likes this.
  4. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Nice found Hugh. According to this article crew of Bosnia was transferred to Lisbon.

    Also this

    Eidanger rescued 32 people (her Voyage Record gives 1 passenger, 32 crew) from the torpedoed British steamer Bosnia on Sept. 5-1939 and landed them at Lisbon the next day

    from here
     

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