Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegram and A 1 form) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy are also listed in the westbound Convoy ON 153 in Dec.-1942 (see also in ON 155).

Notes:
Commodore Errol Manners was in Pacific Grove, Vice Commodore was H. D. Wakeman-Colville in Manchester Exporter, Rear Commodore in Antilochus.

The convoy had 35 ships on departure New York, 2 left for Halifax. According to the Commodore's notes, 9 joined from Halifax (as mentioned, Meigle was later ordered to proceed to Sydney C.B.), 1 joined from Newfoundland.

Average speed: 9.2 knots. (Daily Noon positions of convoy are available on request).

Commodore's comments:
Station keeping was "very good by all ships". As far as signalling, Flashing - good, flags - good.
"Following ships require to be commended - Antilochus, Clausina, Empire Coleridge, Baarn, Elona.
Mahama, Empire Emerald, Gulf Point "requires improvement and to be supplied with an Aldis lamp".

Pacific Grove "is a very efficient ship and really good as Commodore's ship".

U.S.A. ships still without DAY signalling lamp, this requires immediate remedy.
Gulf Point requires careful over?(part of word missing, possibly "overhaul of"?) engines and steering gear - managed to keep up with convoy, but apt to be dangerous due to temporary breakdowns. At 08:30 2nd Nov. she reported ? blade of propellor and so speed of convoy was reduced for remainder of voyage.
Gulf Point and Lucerna - both tankers, reported maximum speed 8 1/2 knots due to engine trouble.

A very successful voyage - good steaming by ships(? word missing in margin of document). Weather was very good, fog only for a few hours?. No adverse winds, although it blew hard on several days, but from abaft the beam. Order received for diversions on 29th, 30th and 1st Nov. were complied with. At 01:00 2nd Oct. star shells were seen far away (40-50 miles) on port bow, from 6 ships of SC 107, torpedoed (ref. external links below). At 01:29 altered course 20° to starboard as suggested by Hesperus, and this was retained till dusk, so placing us about 30' more to the ? and then original course was resumed. This was undoubtedly a good move and convoy very slowly regained route laid down - convoy escaped attack, submarines concentrating on SC 107. Vanessa was sent away to assist SC 107, she rejoined on 6th Nov. Net Defence ships were ordered to get nets out on evening of 2nd Nov. but were unable to do more than possibly 8 knots and so got the nets in - ships were Empire Coleridge, Jasper Park, Fort Pelly and Ocean Messenger. 6 fast ships, City of Hongkong, Beaverhill, Zacapa, Madoera, Zoella Lykes and Manchester Exporter proceeded at 12 knots as ordered by C. in C. Western Approaches.

Escorts: HMS Witch, HMCS Buctouche, Sarnia, Stratford, Georgetown, Dundas, Barrie, Kinora, HMS Hesperus, Whitehall, Clematis, Gentian, Heather, Vanessa.

Air Escort:
Aircraft round convoy on Oct. 27 and 28.
Oct. 29th, one aircraft, then a Hudson was seen at 11:00 and 11:40 as well.
Oct. 30 - 07:41, Catalina sighted and at 16:40 a Hudson sighted.
Oct. 31 - 15:53, aircraft sighted.
Nov. 1 - 08:00 and 11:20, plane No. 571 over convoy. 15:00, one Catalina and another? plane seen. 16:20, one plane round convoy for 1 hour.
Nov. 6 - Hudson seen at 11:05, 15:00.
Nov. 8 - Hudson seen at 12:30.

Related external links:
Battle for Convoy SC 107

The attacks on Convoy SC 107 - From Tom Purnell's website about Convoy HX 72

See also
This thread on my Ship Forum.

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