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

Further details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System" Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of WW II", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets", R. W. Jordan.

Crossed out ships did not sail.

MOWT = Ministry of War Transport

Notes:
Commodore Roy Gill was in Basil, Vice Commodore was initially J. A. Jeffrey in Winkleigh (not seen after departure), W. W. Love of Culebra to Jan. 29-1941 (became detached after attacks), then J. H. Colvins in Barrhill (also Commodore Clyde section).

Average speed: 5.5 knots.

The convoy had 28 ships when leaving Halifax, by Jan. 28 only 19 ships were present.

SC 19 formed up at Red Buoy in 44 30 36N 63 59 27W between 13:30 and 17:30 on Jan. 12. The weather was bad with rough sea and snow squalls lasting until Jan. 18, and with the exception of Barrhill the following ships were not seen at any time afterwards:

Grelrosa (later sunk by aircraft, see Page 2), Kul, Merchant Royal, Winkleigh, Tovelil, Barrhill (joined Jan. 21), Ruth I, Kyriakoula, Dimitrios Chandris.

The Commodore's handwriting is hard to decipher in places, but it looks like Carperby, Rockpool and Penhale also lost touch at some point. Carperby re-joined at 09:00 on Jan. 25, Rockpool* on Jan. 28. Also, Shirvan and West Wales were out of visual touch since departure, but rejoined on Jan. 16 (as per Commodore's notes). Additionally, see the report on Page 2 with regard to Rushpool and other ships that parted company and/or lost touch with the main body of the convoy.

* According to R. W. Jordan's "The World's Merchant Fleets", Rockpool ran aground on Febr. 1-1941, off Little Cumbra Island, Firth of Clyde - abandoned, total constructive loss - but later salvaged and became Empire Trent.

The Commodore says that:
"At 00:44 Jan. 29 convoy was attacked by enemy submarine and at daylight 12 ships were present, and during the night Sesostris became detached. Strong head wind and sea continued until our arrival in the North Channel". (The convoy had slowed down to 4 knots on Jan. 19 when the wind shifted ahead)

Commander Gill adds:
"Two ships which kept exceptionally good station all the way across from Halifax were the SS W. B. Walker and the SS Culebra. The latter was appointed Vice Commodore and Commodore of the Clyde section on the way across, but became detached after convoy was attacked. The former was unfortunately torpedoed and broke in half, both halves floating.

The following ships were splendid in the way they obeyed all signals and kept together under fierce(?) and very trying circumstances, not knowing when their turn was coming next:
Baltara, Carperby, Rockpool, Vestland, Shirvan, Varanger, Vigsnes and Snar.
The Master of the Basil, A. Allan, was calm and collected throughout and gave his utmost help in every way, and his valuable assistance was much appreciated".

Grelrosa, Captain C. F. Linton, and Kyriakoula, Captain D. Kayakos, broke W/T silence by asking for bearings of Cape Race (these ships had not been seen since leaving Halifax, as mentioned).

Escort: Arrowhead - left at 18:00 Jan 12-1941, Aurania. - left at 08:30 on Jan. 26 in 55 19 21 42W.

Air Escort was present from 56 14N 13 40W (date and time illegible in margin of document), and left at dusk. "These aircraft joined daily in the morning and left at (? word missing in margin) until our arrival at Liverpool".

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