MV Petronella - Sunk 15 Oct 1944

Hi everyone

The MV Petronnela, a 770 ton water tanker was one of 250 ships which participated in the 2nd British Expedition to Greece (OP MANNA) on October 1944.

She struck a mine at 1040 on the 15th October 1944 and sunk in less than 3 minutes.

According to everything I have read 18 crew and 8 passengers sadly died, however, I can however only find the following 5 casualties.

LIM AH YONG - - MV PETRONELLA MERCHANT NAVY 15/10/1944 Hong Kong War Memorial
MANSBRIDGE JG C/JX 278302 MV PETRONELLA ROYAL NAVY 15/10/1944 (DEMS Gunner) Chatham War Memorial
NGO AH KIM - - MV PETRONELLA MERCHANT NAVY 15/10/1944 Hong Kong War Memorial
HEALD S Lead Seaman D/JX 254383 MV PETRONELLA ROYAL NAVY 15/10/1944 (DEMS Gunner) Portsmouth Naval Memorial
MATKIN R.J. AB Seaman P/JX 399990 MV PETRONELLA ROYAL NAVY 15/10/1944 (DEMS Gunner) Portsmouth Naval Memorial

According to the OP MANNA landing tables, there were 8 members of 6th Army Troops Company,Indian Engineers on board, but I can't find them anywhere on CWGC or Geoff's Search Engine.

I have just found a 'naval casualties record' on National Archives Discovery at WO 361/747. Is it likely to have anything?

If anyone can help me find the names of the rest of the casualties I'd very grateful as ever.

Gus

 

Just found three from 6 Arm Tps Coy IE.

FAZL ILLAHI - Lance Naik 21860 6 ARMY TROOPS COY KING GEORGE V'S OWN BENGAL SAPPERS AND MINERS 15/10/1944 Athens War Memorial
YUSUF SHAH - Lance Naik 21704 6 ARMY TROOPS COY KING GEORGE V'S OWN BENGAL SAPPERS AND MINERS 15/10/1944 Athens War Memorial
MUHAMMAD ZAMAN - Lance Naik 20181 6 ARMY TROOPS COY KING GEORGE V'S OWN BENGAL SAPPERS AND MINERS 15/10/1944 Athens War Memorial

Maybe the other 5 survived.

Gus

 

Hi

Just found three more on the Dutch Roll of Honour 1939-1945. She was originally a dutch tanker.

Van Goudzwaard G. 3rd Engineer MV PETRONELLA Dutch Merchant Navy 15/10/1944
Köster H.G.J 1st Tel Op MV PETRONELLA Dutch Merchant Navy 15/10/1944
Van Der Wacht M.P.J. 1st Engineer MV PETRONELLA Dutch Merchant Navy 15/10/1944

Gus

 

Hello Gus,

Yes well worth getting hold of as the file would list the military casualties and/or missing (military) personnel

DEMS gunners are frequently missed from online research especially the MRA (as they are difficult to research) so here is the MRA casualty. I have left a message with a knowledgeable contact on the Dutch Merchant Navy. If I hear back from him I will post on this thread.

RODDEN, Gunner, JAMES ROBERT, 11422066, 3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Petronella) 15 October 1944. Age 27. Son of William T. and Seragh J. Rodden, of Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Republic of Ireland.

Regards
Hugh

 

Many Thanks Hugh. That's 12 now.

Have put WO 361/747 on my 'must get' list on next visit to Kew.

Gus

 

Hi

Just found this on a dutch website.

In English thanks to Google translation.

15-10-1944 The Petronella under the command of Captain P. Buisman they departed from Taranto on October 11 with a load of water to Nauplia in the Gulf of Argolis, Greece. On October 15, near her destination she walked on a mine. A heavy explosion took place under the engine. The stern began to sink off the tanker was heavy heel, capsized and sank within minutes. Captain Buisman had immediately after the explosion ordered to abandon the ship. Rafts were thrown into the water and the crew who were on deck jumped overboard.Several ships shots to help, but the speed with which the Petronella sank 24 people on board were killed.

Source: LL von Munching: "The Dutch merchant in WW II '

Gus

 

Hi

I managed to get WO 361/747 on my last trip to Kew and it does clear up who was on board.

Military Casualties
6th Indian Troops Company, Indian Engineers (DAMFORCE).
Collins, Howard Allen, Sgt, 5097161, 870 Mechanical Equipment Coy (Attached 6 Army Tps Coy, IE).
FAZL ILLAHI - Lance Naik 21860
YUSUF SHAH - Lance Naik 21704
MUHAMMAD ZAMAN - Lance Naik 20181.

3 Maritime Regiment, Royal Engineers (DEMS)
RODDEN, JAMES ROBERT, Gunner, 11422066

Royal Navy (DEMS)
MANSBRIDGE, John Gordon, AB Seaman , C/JX 278302.
HEALD, Sydney, Leading Seaman, D/JX 254383.
MATKIN, RICHARD JAMES, AB Seaman, P/JX 399990.

Military Wounded
6th Indian Troops Company, Indian Engineers (DAMFORCE).
Nazir Hamed, Havindar, 21439, wounds to jaw & compound fracture left arm, evacuated to MEF. Recuperated at Hospital Ship Maine (Piraeus). Discharged 23 October 1944.
Bakhshi Singh, Havindar, 12467, un-diagnosed injuries, evacuated to Alexandria.
Jumma, Sapper, 23098, Shock, recuperated at Hospital Ship Maine (Piraeus). Discharged 23 October 1944.
Painde Khan, Sapper, 24002, Shock, recuperated at Hospital Ship Maine (Piraeus). Discharged 23 October 1944.

Merchant Navy Casualties
The speed with which the Petronella went down meant 4 ships officers and 11 Chinese crew sadly perished. At the moment I only have details on the 6 below.
BUISMAN, P. Captain
LIM AH YONG Chief Cook
NGO AH KIM Boy
Van Goudzwaard G. 3rd Engineer
Köster H.G.J 1st Tel Op
Van Der Wacht M.P.J. 1st Engineer

Merchant Navy Survivors
8 ships officers and 19 Chinese crew were plucked from the sea by a LS(T) and a RAF Rescue motor launch. None of the ships crew were badly injured. 12 of were transferred onto the Dutch steamship SS AGATHA and taken to Malta.

Note: DAMFORCE was one of the first units to land in Piraeus with the task of maintaining the water system in Athens, including the high level pumping station and Marathon Dam.

 

Gus,
Glad to see you are getting some results.
I never received a reply back from my contact so maybe you may wish to try contacting him via his guestbook on this site: http://members.ziggo.nl/hmeurs/

Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks Hugh

Email sent and fingers crossed.

Gus

 

HI Everyone

I am indebted to Henk Meurs, who is researching the Dutch Merchant Navy who visited the Netherlands National Archives and found a 'casualty' report submitted by the Master, P. Buisman to the Dutch Consulate in Naples.

This report details all of the crew who survived and well as confirming all those who sadly didn't make it including those crew from China.

I have retyped it below:

This day the 29th October 1944, Peter Johannes Droogendijk, consul of the Netherlands in Naples there appeared:
Peter Busiman, Master of the Netherlands motor vessel “PETRONELLA”, registered at the Hague, who having expressed the wish to lodge in my presence the declaration referred to in article 353, paragraph 2, clause 1 of the Commercial Code, stated as follows:

With the afore mentioned vessel, manned by 58 hands, including myself we left a Mediterranean port [Alexandria] on 11th October 1944, carrying a cargo of fresh water, loaded in the 5 centre tanks and with a floating pipe-line stowed on deck and in the forehold.

The voyage was without incident until the morning of 15th October 1944, when at 1105 ship’s time an explosion occurred under the vessel to hit under the engine room. We saw the after part of the vessel sink immediately and the vessel then heeled over to starboard, capsized and sank after 3 to 5 minutes after the explosion. Presumably the explosion was to be attributed to a mine. As the lifeboats were on the after part of the vessel and were immediately smashed to pieces, no use could be made of them. We launched those rafts which were accessible and gave order to abandon ship, whereupon everyone tried to save himself by jumping into the water and trying to reach the rafts. I has the ship’s documents in a bag with me, but owing to the suction of the vessel, was obliged to let go of it.

Together with me, the Chief Officer, Lucas Tibbs, 2nd Officer, J Roos, 3rd Officer, J.B. Gregory, 2nd Engineer, J.J. Hester, 2nd Wireless Operator, R.E. Jarvis, were picked up by various vessels, whilst 3rd Engineer, L.A. Groenendaal and 5th Engineer, J.J. Betten were picked up injured. As regards the remainder of the crew, I saw that the following had been saved: 4 gunners, namely A.W. Kinch, W.A. Lee, T. Homes and W. Humpreys as well as the Chinese: (1) Storekeeper (2) Pumpman (3) No.1 Fireman (4) No.2 Fireman (5) No.3 Fireman (6) Fireman Kwok Hai (7) Fireman Cheung Now (8) Fireman’s cook (9) Fireman’s boy (10) Carpenter (11) Boy Jen Shan Ming (12) Boy Chee Saon Po (13) Sailor Chee Ah Fat (14) Sailor Lew Ah Yue (15) Fireman Vun Fing, as well as the 4 Chinese quartermasters and three British-Indian soldiers.

The chief Engineer M.P.J. Van Der Wacht and the 4th Engineer, G. Van Goudzwaard, were on watch in the engine room at the time of the casualty; they were not seen again either by me or by any of the other survivors. Consequently they may be considerd to have perished. At the time of the casualty , the Chief Wireless Operator, H.G.J. Köster, was in the midships and probably fell under the vessel owing to the rapid capsizing of the vessel; he was not seen again either by me or by any of the other survivors. The 3rd Wireless Operator, H.W. Case was in the wireless operator’s cabin on the poop at the time of the casualty and in view of the destruction on this deck, it is probable that the wireless operator did not succeed in getting out; he was not seen again either by me or by any of the other survivors.
The 4 DEMS gunners, S. Heald, J.G. Mansbridge, R.J. Matkin and J.R. Rodden must presumably be considered as lost as also a British Sergeant and 4 British-Indian Soldiers. Of the Chinese crew must furthermore be considered lost: the Steward, 2 Boys, Chief Cook, 2nd Cook, Boatswain, 2 Sailors, Sailors Cook, Sailors Boy and the Donkeyman.


True Copy Naples 30th October 1944

Consulate of the Netherlands
Naples
The Consul Sgd.) P.J. Droogendijk

Section A. Missing
Name Name Role Nationality
VAN DER WACHT M.P.J. Chief Engineer Dutch
VAN GOUDZWAARD G. Third Engineer Dutch
KÖSTER H.G.J Chief Wireless Operator Dutch
CASE H.W. Third Wireless Operator British
NGAY AH SIK Boatswain Chinese
AH FOEY Sailor Chinese
POK DAAN Sailor Chinese
AH SANG Boy Sailor Chinese
AH SING Boy Sailor Chinese
NING SHOY CHONG Donkeyman Chinese
TEO SOON LYE Chief Steward Chinese
LIM AH YOUNG Chief Cook Chinese
AH LING Second Cook Chinese
CHEN WIN CHING Second Steward Chinese
NGO AH KIM Messroom Boy Chinese
MATKIN R.J. DEMS Gunner British
MANSBRIDGE J.G. DEMS Gunner British
HEALD S DEMS Gunner British
RODDEN J.R. DEMS Gunner British
COLLINS H.A. 6 Inf Tps Coy IE British
YUSUF SHAH 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
MUHAMMAD ZAMAN 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
FAZL ILLAHI 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian

 
Section B. Survivors
Name Inits Role Nationality
Buisman Peter Master Dutch
Tibbs Lucas Chief Officer Dutch
Roos Jacobus 2nd Officer Dutch
Gregory J.B. 3rd Officer British
Hester J.J. 2nd Engineer Dutch
Jarvis R.E. 2nd Wireless Operator British
Qui Yau Carpenter Chinese
Tang Swee Storekeeper Chinese
Man Wong No.2 Fireman Chinese
Yit Seng No.3 Fireman Chinese
Wan Sinw Pumpman Chinese
Kwok Hai Fireman Chinese
Cheung Now Fireman Chinese
Yam Kim Fireman’s boy Chinese
Cheong Koon Fireman’s Cook Chinese
Jen Shan Ming Messroom Boy Chinese
Nazir Ahmed 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
Bakhfhi Singh 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
Jumma Khan 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
Baindd Khan 6 Inf Tps Coy IE Indian
Lee W.A. DEMS Gunner British
Kinch A.W. DEMS Gunner British
Holmes T DEMS Gunner British
Humphries W DEMS Gunner British
Groenendaal L.A. 3rd Officer Dutch
Betten J.J. 5th Engineer Dutch
Eng Po Sin Quartermaster Chinese
Yam Koon Quartermaster Chinese
Pang Boon Quartermaster Chinese
Lee Chim Seng Quartermaster Chinese
Lew Ahiwah Sailor Chinese
Chwee Sailor Chinese
Kan Lan No.1 Fireman Chinese
Yun Fing Fireman Chinese
Chee Saon Po Captain’s Boy Chinese

Thanks once again to everyone who helped make this most comprehensive list possible.

Gus

 

I came across this thread while cross checking details in my father's account of his time during WW2 on the RFA Dewdale. As he has a first hand account of the sinking, I thought I'd post it in case it was of any interest to those on the forum. Note, he misremembered the name slightly as Petunella as you'll see below. I hope it adds in another element to your research on the sinking although I can't help with names.

On the 13th Oct 1944 we left Reggio, sailing South-East and then up into the Aegean Sea on the east coast of Greece. At this time the German Army was withdrawing to set up a more defensive line around Germany. Looking at the map now it seems surprising that our tanker carrying fourteen landing-craft and loaded with fuel could make its way through all the little islands between Crete and our final destination Thessaloniki. Although I said that the Germans had pulled out, they hadn’t just upped and run. All the sea lanes between the islands had been mined. Our minesweepers were busy clearing lanes for the main fleet of ships but they were having their problems as the mines were laid deep and it was difficult to cut their mooring chains. Another problem was that the mines were set to go off after a different number of ships had passed over them, so although clear lanes that had been swept were marked, you couldn’t be 100 per cent sure that they were safe.

This was quite a nerve-racking time with mines exploding all the time and not knowing if you were going over one with your number on it. On the 15th Oct. I happened to be on deck and was looking at another tanker near us. This was the Petunella {note, it was the MV Petronella} loaded with fresh drinking water. Suddenly there was a hell of a bang and flash from the stern of the Petunella as the rear was ripped out of her. The crew of the Petunella were mostly Javanese men with deeply religious beliefs. As we watched, the ship began to go down by the stern. The crew didn’t seem to make any attempt to get off but knelt down on the deck in prayer as the sea seemed to swallow them. By this time, we had lowered some landing craft to pick up survivors. As the ship settled into the water by the stern, we watched one man walk forward up the deck, which was at quite an angle by then as the ship rolled over on its side. The man climbed the hand rail onto the ship’s side and continued walking forward as the ship sank under him. We were all shouting to him to jump into the sea and swim away or he would be pulled under by the suction as she went down. I don’t suppose that he ever heard us as he finally ended up stood on the bow as the ship went from under him. With the sea swirling and bubbling around where the ship had been. Surprisingly all this had happened in the space of about 3 minutes from the time it had struck the mine until it was completely under water. As our landing craft returned with survivors, we were amazed to see among them the very man who we had been watching and shouting at. Sadly, however, many of the crew were lost, mostly in the engine room. Crew members said that the engine had turned over trapping many men underneath as the water poured in and as the ship was already loaded with fresh water it didn’t need much more to sink her.

 

Hi Colin

Many thanks for this.

Your fathers ship's details for Op Manna (second liberation of Greece)

Name - Dewdale
Prefix - RFA
Nationality - British
Pennant No - A151
Class - Dale
Type - Landing Ship (Gantry)
Tons -16,782
Commanding Officer - Capt. G. F. Rutter, RFA
Force - Assault
Sailing Group -15
Arrival Port - Piraeus
Assault Priority - 15
Time at Point 704 - H+2
Mooring Point - C5
Arrival Date - 15/10/1944
Tasks - Force Oilers & LCM Lift (14 x LCM on board)
Order of Battle - 641st Landing Craft Mechanised Infantry (LCM(I)) Flotilla
Speed -10
Departed Port - Heel Ports (Italy)
Troops - 56
Vehs - 56
MCs - 0
Source - WO 204/4960 - Op Manna Naval Op Order

Hope this helps

Gus