Transcribed from several original 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 World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan.

Crossed out ships did not sail.

MoWT = Ministry of War Transport

Comparing the information in this table with Arnold Hague's listing for SC 19 at ships in all SC convoys, we see that he has some of the ships in different stations than those given above.

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 for Clyde section). With regard to his ship, the Commodore says, "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."

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 heavy beam 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 (rejoined 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 rejoined 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 1939", 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(? under fire?) and very trying circumstances, not knowing when their turn was coming next:
Baltara, Carperby, Rockpool, Vestland, Shirvan, Varanger, Vigsnes and Snar."

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).

The convoy arrived rendezvous on Jan. 27, 48 hours late due to the bad weather.

Escorts: Arrowhead - left at 18:00 Jan 12-1941, Aurania - left at 08:30 on Jan. 26 in 55 19 21 42W.
The Commodore also mentions Local Escorts Arab, Lady Madeleine and Pegasus. Also, Anthony and Antelope (08:30 Jan. 27), and Heather (joined at 11:40, date looks like Jan. 28).

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."

Transmissions by Aurania ceased on Jan. 17.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of SC convoy escorts, based on Arnold Hague's database, received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Antelope - From 27/01/41 to 31/01/41
Anthony - From 27/01/41 to 31/01/41
Arrowhead - From 12/01/41 to 12/01/41
Aurania - From 12/01/41 to 26/01/41
Heather - From 26/01/41 to 01/02/41
Jackal - 29/01/41
Lady Madeleine - From 26/01/41 to 31/01/41
Pegasus - From 26/01/41 to 31/01/41
Picotee - From 26/01/41 to 01/02/41
Sardonyx - From 29/01/41 to 30/01/41
Scimitar - From 29/01/41 to 30/01/41
(As can be seen, he does not mention Arab).

Related external link:
Convoy SC 19 - Provides more details on the attack on each ship.

Back to Convoy Index