Dear Geoff,

I was just doing a search on the SS Empire Wave after having researched her sinking at the Public Records Office in Kew some time back and saw your more recent posting here.

My best friends father and somewhat of a father to me when I was young, Steve Maisey was2nd Engineer on the ship and was in the lifeboat with your Dad. I always knew about his story although he spoke little of it. I do remember his feet being a problem for him right up to his death in 1976, he suffered frostbite of a particularly nasty kind. The very jacket he wore in the lifeboat and to which he attributes his survival, used to hang in the cupboard in the kitchen- I still remember him wearing outside when he worked in the garage.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you that when I researched the sinking of the Empire Wave at the PRO, Kew I was able to find many documents relating to her and the subsequent enquiries and reports are all available, in fact even Steve Maisey's seaman cards where there and detailed his frostbite injury. Reports by those on the lifeboat, particularly the second officer whose name I think was Cameron, from the Island of Islay if I'm not mistaken, as included. There is much to read up on.I hope the about is of help and good luck with your research.



Bob Biggart