D/S Boreas
Updated Febr. 4-2013

To Boreas on the "Ships starting with B" page.

Historical Index of the Great Lakes (external link) has a lovely picture and technical details of this ship, as well as several other ships (type Boreas, or Canadian Squatter, in the search field for vessel, then click on the item number that comes up.

Misc. Convoy Voyages:

For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for further info; the Commodore's notes and/or narrative are also available for some of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

Boreas is listed in the Norway-U.K. Convoy HN 6 in Dec.-1939/Jan.-1940. She's said to have arrived Shields (or Tyne) on Jan. 7, and must have headed across the Atlantic shortly thereafter, because in March-1940 she's listed, with a cargo of pulp for London, in station 74 of Convoy HX 28 from Halifax, together with the Norwegian Annik, Europe, Stiklestad, Varanger and Mathilda. When war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9, she was on her way from Queensborough to Sunderland - see Page 1 of the archive documents; it'll be noticed that she subsequently spent a long time in Sunderland, before proceeding to Rouen. According to A. Hague, she also took part in Operation Aerial in June (the evacuation of troops from France) - see the link provided in the Voyage Record above. He has later included her in Convoy OA 175, which originated at Southend on June 27 and dispersed on July 1. Her destination is given as Norfolk, Virginia, station 25; from the archive document, we learn that she arrived Sydney, C.B. on July 11, proceeding to Montreal a few days later. Again, ref. link in the table above, as well as my own page related to OA 175 (Vice Commodore's report). A. Hague has also included Brandanger, Leikanger and Topdalsfjord in this convoy (another section of the same site also has Audun and Sevilla, both bound for ports in the U.K. - the listing may be an error, follow the links to my pages about these ships).

With a cargo of paper for Preston, Boreas headed back in the other direction again on Aug. 16 with the Sydney, C.B. portion of Convoy HX 66, station 83, arriving her destination on Sept. 1. This is the convoy in which the Norwegian Norne was sunk (follow the link for details - see also Eli). Boreas later had a long stay in Liverpool (Page 1), and the following month we find her, with Ingerfire, Olaf Fostenes (Commodore Vessel) and Tore Jarl, in Convoy OB 236, which left Liverpool on Oct. 29 and dispersed on Nov. 2, Boreas arriving Sydney, C.B. independently on Nov. 10 (again, see the external link provided in the table above - incomplete listing).

On Nov. 18, she left Sydney, C.B. for Newport with a cargo of steel, joining Convoy HX 89 (originated in Halifax Nov. 17). On Dec. 2, she was in a collision with the Greek Mount Kassion, 10 miles off Smalls (this ship had also been in HX 89, sailing right in front of her). The tug Seine arrived from Milford Haven to assist and Boreas was beached in Dale Roads the following day, Dec. 3. She was found to have damages to her engine room and the stoke hold was flooded. She was refloated on Dec. 19 and anchored in Dale Roads. After the engine room and stoke hold had been pumped dry, she left Milford Haven on Christmas Eve with a tug in attendance, arriving Newport for repairs on Dec. 25-1940. As will be seen, when going back to Page 1, she later spent a long time in Cardiff, where she had arrived from Newport on Dec. 29 - perhaps that's where the repairs were undertaken?

In Apr.-1941 she shows up, together with Borgfred, in Convoy OB 312, originating in Liverpool on Apr. 18, dispersed on the 25th, Boreas arriving Halifax independently on May 4, returning to the U.K. later that month with Convoy HX 127. She had a cargo of steel for Newport on that occasion and arrived there on June 3. She's now listed as bound for Charlottetown in Convoy OB 335, which originated in Liverpool on June 16 (again, ref. external links above for more on these OB convoys). Abraham Lincoln, Charles Racine, Hada County, Leiv Eiriksson, Ranja, Skaraas (collided - returned), Skiensfjord and Thorshavet are also listed. Boreas arrived her destination on July 2, having sailed from Milford Haven on June 15 (Page 1). With a cargo of pulp for Manchester, she was scheduled to return across the Atlantic with the Sydney, C.B. portion of Convoy HX 139 on July 17, but instead joined the Sydney portion of Convoy HX 140 (taking station 16). The Norwegian Madrono (112), Skiensfjord (97), Velox (56), Velma (96), Alaska (106), Stiklestad (95), Vardefjell (84), Evita (114), Olaf Bergh (124), Thorshov (83), Ferncastle (113), Bonneville (82), Thorshavet (43) and Helgøy (77) are also named. Beth and Petter were also initially in this convoy but left due to engine problems. HX 140 had originated in Halifax on July 22, Boreas sailed from Sydney, C.B. the next day. Her destination is now given as Loch Ewe, where she arrived on Aug. 6.

We now find her in station 103 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 11, originating in Liverpool on Aug. 30-1941, dispersed Sept. 11, Boreas arriving Botwood that same day (she had started out from Loch Ewe on Sept. 1) - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 2. She returned to the U.K. with Convoy HX 150, which had originated in Halifax on Sept. 16, but Boreas, cargo of zinc concentrates, joined from St. John's, N.F. a few days later. Together with Akabahra (returned), Astra, Bjørkhaug, Marga, Spero (returned), Spica and Trondheim, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 29*. The Norwegian corvettes Eglantine and Montbretia are named among the escorts for this convoy, which originated in Liverpool Oct. 22 (see ON convoy escorts). Boreas was bound for Lewisport, where she arrived on Nov. 5. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in the slow Convoy SC 59 from Sydney, C.B. on Dec. 10, bound for West Hartlepool with a cargo of zinc concentrates, arriving there Dec. 30.

She returned across the Atlantic in Jan.-1942 in Convoy ON 57*, which originated in Liverpool on Jan. 13 and included Astrell (grounded, returned), Inger Elisabeth (also returned), Ingerfem, Ingrid (wrecked - follow link for info), Ranja and Romulus; Eglantine is again named among the escorts. Boreas arrived her destination Philadelphia independently on Febr. 11, the convoy having dispersed on the 7th, then headed back to the U.K. again with the slow Convoy SC 72 from Halifax on Febr. 28, cargo of steel and general for Preston, where she arrived March 18. At the beginning of the following month, she's listed as bound for Baltimore in Convoy ON 82* (originated in Liverpool Apr. 2, arrived Halifax Apr. 18). Going back to Page 2, we learn that she arrived New York on Apr. 20, Baltimore on Apr. 22. Inger Elisabeth had again been in company, as had Kaia Knudsen, Lago, Lista, Norse Lady and Ramø. With a general cargo for Liverpool, Boreas headed back in the other direction on May 14 with the slow Convoy SC 84 from Halifax, then appears, with destination Bridgetown, in Convoy ON 102*, which left Liverpool on June 9 and also had the Norwegian Ada, Bernhard, Grey County, Inger Elisabeth, Ingerfire, Norse King, Para, Rena, Rio Branco, Solitaire, Trolla and Vest among its ranks. Bridgetown is not mentioned on Page 3, which shows that she stopped at New York and Hampton Roads, before proceeding to Barbados (via Key West and Trinidad - convoy info in Voyage Record above).

Skipping now to Sept. 26-1942, when she according to Arnold Hague joined the slow Convoy SC 103* from New York. This convoy arrived Liverpool on Oct. 14, however, Boreas only went as far as Halifax on that occasion, and subsequently joined Convoy SC 104* from there to the U.K., in which Fagersten and Senta and several others were sunk - follow the links for details (convoy originated in New York on Oct. 3, arrived Liverpool Oct. 21). Ada, Ingerfire, Rio Branco, Rolf Jarl, Solitaire, Carmelfjell, Jan, Norfalk, Pan Aruba, Solhavn, Solstad and Vinland are also named in SC 103, while SC 104 included Bernhard, Bonde (returned), Garnes, Gudvor (both to Sydney, C.B. only), Inger Lise, Ingerfem, Lido, Nea, Suderøy and Vinga, in addition to Fagersten and Senta already mentioned. Acanthus, Eglantine, Potentilla and Montbretia were among the escorts (see SC convoy escorts) - in fact, my page about Potentilla has more on this convoy battle. The following month Boreas is listed, with a general cargo and cement, in the westbound Convoy ON 146*, leaving Liverpool on Nov. 15, arriving New York on Dec. 8. As usual, she had been in the company of other Norwegian ships, namely Ada, Arosa, Ingertre and Lido. From New York, Boreas later made a voyage to Kingston, Jamaica; again, see Page 3 and Voyage Record above for information on her subsequent voyages.

The next Trans-Atlantic convoy we find her in is Convoy SC 119*, leaving New York on Febr. 3-1943, arriving Liverpool on the 22nd; Boreas stopped at Loch Ewe. She had a cargo of sugar, sailing in station 43 (the archive document indicates her final destination was London). Askot (for St. John's only), Iris (for St. John's), Iron Baron, James Hawson, Kirsten B (for St. John's) and Primo are also listed. Boreas later spent several weeks at Tynes (or Shields - see Page 3). Together with Athos, Buenos Aires, Høyanger, Katy, Molda, Mosdale, Norheim, President de Vogue and Tai Shan, she now joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 179* (originated in Liverpool Apr. 18, Boreas sailed from Loch Ewe that day), but put back to Clyde on Apr. 22, subsequently joining Convoy ONS 7, which originated in Liverpool on May 7. Boreas was bound for Botwood, station 41. She arrived St. John's, N.F. on May 23, continuing to Botwood the next day, with arrival May 25.

She returned to the U.K. with the slow Convoy SC 133, which had started out in Halifax on June 5, but Boreas joined this convoy from St. John's a few days later and stopped at Belfast Lough on June 18, before proceeding to Avonmouth - see Page 4. According to A. Hague, she had a cargo of zinc concentrates. In July she's listed, with coal and general for St. John's, N.F., in station 105 of Convoy ONS 14*, which originated in Liverpool on July 26 and included Acasta, Bestik, Karmt, Marie Bakke, Norhauk, Snar, Solstad and Tercero. Boreas arrived her destination on Aug. 6 (having sailed from Milford Haven on July 24), and with a cargo of zinc concentrates she headed back to the U.K. later that month in the slow Convoy SC 140, again joining with the Newfoundland portion, the convoy having started out in Halifax on Aug. 21. Her destination is given as Swansea, where she arrived Sept. 5. This marked the end of her Trans-Atlantic voyages; her services were now needed in another part of the world.

Direct links to the combined convoys mentioned in the next few paragraphs have been provided within the Voyage Record above.

With a cargo of coal for Algiers, she's listed, along with Gezina, Lisbeth, Lynghaug, Norvarg and Spurt, in Convoy KMS 28*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 26-1943. She arrived Algiers on Oct. 10, and from there she sailed to Gibraltar with Convoy MKS 29 at the end of that month, arriving Gibraltar on Nov. 2 - scroll down to the second table on my page about this convoy. Next we find her in Convoy MKS 30 from Gibraltar (Nov. 13), which rendezvoused with Convoy SL 139 on Nov. 16. The SL convoy (in which Mathilda is listed, follow link for some additional details) had started out in Freetown on Nov. 2, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on Nov. 26. Boreas was bound for Workington, where she arrived on Nov. 27, cargo of iron ore. With Fernbank, Ingertre (returned) and Mathilda, she subsequently went in the other direction in Convoy OS 62/KMS 36*, which left Liverpool on Dec. 15 (Boreas sailed from Belfast Lough - again, see Page 4) and split up Jan. 2-1944, the KMS portion arriving Gibraltar on Jan. 3, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown, with arrival there on Jan. 11. Boreas' destination is given as Lisbon, where she arrived on Jan. 3.

Later that month she's listed, with a cargo of oranges for Glasgow, in Convoy MKS 37 from Gilbraltar. This convoy joined up with the Freetown Convoy SL 146 on Jan. 23, Boreas arriving Glasgow on Febr. 3-1944, later proceeding to Swansea (Norfalk, Tiradentes and Troubadour are also included, all from the MKS portion). Boreas now joined Convoy OS 69/KMS 43*, voyage from Milford to Bone with coal in station 35. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Febr. 23, the 2 portions splitting up on March 5, with the KMS portion (in which Boreas sailed) heading for Gibraltar, where it arrived on March 6; Boreas continued to Bone, with arrival March 10 (the OS convoy sailed on to Freetown, arriving there on March 15). Her voyages at this time are shown on Page 5. She later joined Convoy MKS 44*, which met up with the Freetown Convoy SL 153 on Apr. 2; voyage Phillippeville to Barrow with iron ore, arriving Barrow on Apr. 13 (the Norwegian Toulouse is also named). At the beginning of May, we find Boreas in Convoy OS 76/KMS 50*, voyaging from Belfast to Algiers with coal in station 45, sailing right behind Cetus in station 44; Snar is also listed (station 34, next to Cetus). Boreas arrived Algiers on May 17, the convoy having split up on the 13th. With a cargo of pyrites, she went back to the U.K. in June, having joined Convoy MKS 51* from Gibraltar on June 9. This convoy joined up with Convoy SL 160 on June 10 (in which Astrid took part), Boreas arriving Clyde on the 20th.

In July-1944 she's listed in Convoy OS 84/KMS 58*, which started out in Liverpool on July 21. She was on a voyage from Belfast to Gibraltar with coal and arrived Gibraltar on Aug. 2, the convoy having split up the day before. She later returned to the U.K. again, having joined Convoy MKS 58* from Gibraltar (Aug. 18), which rendezvoused with SL 167 on Aug. 19, Boreas arriving Barrow on the 29th. A. Hague has also included Astrid and Dagrun in this convoy. The following month Boreas is listed in Convoy OS 89/KMS 63*, originating in Liverpool on Sept. 15, split up Sept. 22. According to Page 5, she had sailed from Milford Haven on Sept. 16 and arrived Augusta on the 29th, continuing to Brindisi that same day, remaining there for quite a long time. Her subsequent voyages are shown on the archive document, with convoy information for some of them in the Voyage Record above. Her last convoy voyage that year was made with Convoy MKS 73*, departing Gibraltar on Dec. 26; Boreas, cargo of oranges, arrived Bristol on Jan. 3-1945 - see Page 6.

According to the external website that I've linked to at the end of this page, she was scheduled for Convoy OS 108/KMS 82* at the beginning of Febr.-1945, but instead joined the next convoy, OS 109/KMS 83*, which originated in Liverpool on Febr. 6 and split up on the 10th. Boreas was on a voyage from Clyde to La Goulette and Tunis with coke and coal; she arrived Tunis on Febr. 19, having sailed from Clyde Febr. 6. The Norwegian Jenny also took part in this convoy. With a cargo of iron ore, Boreas returned to the U.K. with Convoy MKS 87*, which left Gibraltar on March 6 and also included Alaska, Elg and Olaf Bergh. Boreas arrived Workington March 14.

The rest of her 1945 voyages are shown on Page 6, Page 7 and Page 8 (to Apr.-1946), with convoy information for a few of them in the table above. As can be seen (Page 7), she got to go home to Norway already in July-1945, making a couple of more voyages home before that year was over.

Billy McGee, England has told me that 1st Radio Officer Sydney William Newbold of Boreas is listed on this page of the Commmonwealth War Graves Comm. website (external link) as having died on May 23-1946, see also this page in my Survivors & Fatalities section. No further info is available.

* The ON convoys and ONS convoys mentioned here will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, with more information on each; in the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys and on the page for ships in all ONS convoys. The entire HX series and SC series will also be updated and completed, including the already existing convoys (some have already been updated), but for now, see ships in all HX convoys and ships in all SC convoys. Additionally, all the KMS and MKS convoys will be added - see ships in all KMS convoys and ships in all MKS convoys.

More information on all the other Norwegian ships named on this page can be found via the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

Sold in Apr.-1962 to Adel Abdul-Wahab, Tripoli. Broken up in Yugoslavia in the spring of 1970 - still named Boreas.

Related external link:
OS/KMS convoys - As can be seen, Boreas is listed as scheduled for Convoy OS 108/KMS 82 in Febr.-1945.

Back to Boreas on the "Ships starting with B" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Våre gamle skip" Leif M. Bjørkelund & E. H. Kongshavn (pre-war and post-war details), E-mail from Tony Cooper, England re. collision with the Greek Mount Kassion, and misc. (ref. My sources).