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D/S Belize To Belize on the "Ships starting with B" page. Historical Collections of the Great Lakes has a picture of this ship (external links). Type Belize (or Cornucopia) in the field for vessel, then click on the item number that comes up. The page also names her various owners. Owner: Rederi-A/S Nidaros. Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Corp, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.A. in 1919. Captain: Olav Georgsen Her war voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
As will be seen when going to Page 1 above, Belize was on her way from Tampico to Baltimore when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. It looks like she made a voyage to Greenland (Ivigtut) in June that year. It'll also be noticed that she spent quite a long time in Baltimore that fall and there's an indication she subsequently made another voyage to Greenland (Godthaab). Her 1941 voyages also start on this document.
Torpedoed on January 21-1942 by U-754 (Oestermann) in 47 21N 52 08W while on her way from New York to St. John's, N. F.(?), having left New York on Jan. 15 (note that Page 2 of the archive documents gives her destination as St. John, N.B.). 17 Norwegians, 5 Swedish, 1 Danish and a mess boy from British Honduras were lost, no survivors. A lifeboat from Belize with 4 dead seamen was found by the Canadian corvette Spikenard 25 naut. miles east of St. John's on Jan. 24. 10 ships went down Jan. 21/22 in the area, 4 of them were Norwegian. Just a couple of hours after Belize was torpedoed, Norway lost D/S William Hansen to the same U-boat. M/T Alexandra Høegh was sunk the same day (U-130), and the next day M/T Innerøy became the victim of U-553. For info, U-754 was also responsible for the attack on Kollskegg later that year - follow the link for details. The U-boat was sunk with all hands in July that same year - ref. link at the end of this page for more information.
18 Norwegians are commemorated at the Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, Norway (link below). *Able Seaman Arthur Vasdal is identical to the Arthur Hansen in my list (because his father's name was Hans). His brother Arne died when Bennestvet was sunk - follow the link for details. Stoker Georg Torstensen*, who is listed as Swedish above, is included as Norwegian at the memorial. Also, there's a Seaman Georg Andersen commemorated. According to "Våre falne", a series of 4 books naming Norwegians who died during the war, he had served as donkeyman on Belize, but had later joined the Swedish Atland, and died between March 25/March 27-1943 after this ship had collided east of Scotland when on a voyage U.S.-London. His body was found ashore and he was cremated in Aberdeen. In fact, the memorial has also listed him with the ship Atland (saying she was torpedoed on March 25-1945, on her way to the U.S.). Related external links: Back to Belize on the "Ships starting with B" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume I (Norwegian Maritime Museum), and misc. others for cross checking info. - ref My sources.
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