D/S Grey County
Updated Sept. 23-2011

To Grey County on the "Ships starting with G" page.

Source: Bjørn Milde's postcard collection.

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 more details; the Commodore's notes and/or narrative are also available for some of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

Grey County, general cargo for Le Havre, can be found among the ships in Convoy HX 24 from Halifax on March 2-1940. According to Page 1 of the archive documents, this voyage had started out in New York on Febr. 26. She arrived her destination on March 16, later proceeding to Bordeaux on Apr. 3, with arrival Apr. 7, and she was still there on Apr. 9, when Norway was invaded, departing Bordeaux for Plymouth on Apr. 24. Together with Lynghaug, Nueva Granada, Snar and Torborg, we now find her in Convoy OA 139, wich left Southend on May 1 and dispersed May 4, Grey County arriving New York May 17 (ref. link provided in the Voyage Record above). She returned to the U.K. in June in Convoy HX 50, general cargo, station 82. Her destination is given as Brest on the A 1 form, as "Belfast for orders" in the Advance Sailing Telegram. Going back to the archive document, we learn that she arrived Eastham on July 3 (via Belfast), Manchester on July 4, and it looks like she remained there for over a month. A. Hague has subsequently included her, along with Erica, Inga 1, Jamaica, Nova, Sandar and Varangberg, in Convoy OB 197, departing Liverpool Aug. 13. Grey County arrived Port Alfred on Aug. 25, the convoy having been dispersed Aug. 16.

She headed back to the U.K. on Sept. 13 in Convoy HX 73 from Halifax, general cargo for Avonmount, station 82, arriving her destination on Sept. 30. The following month, she's listed (along with Austvard) in Convoy OB 234, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 24 and dispersed on the 30th, Grey County arriving Montreal Nov. 9, according to A. Hague. With a cargo of aluminum and newsprint for Avonmouth, she was scheduled for the Sydney, C.B. section of Convoy HX 93 on Dec. 4, but instead joined the next convoy on Dec. 7, HX 94 (Sydney, C.B. portion - both convoys had started out in Halifax). A Report of proceedings is also available for HX 94. Grey County arrived Oban on Dec. 20 (Page 1).

In Febr.-1941, she took part in Convoy OB 287, which left Liverpool on Febr. 16 and dispersed on the 21st, Grey County arriving St. John, N.B. March 3. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 115 from Halifax on March 17, but instead joined the next convoy on March 21, HX 116, general cargo and 3 Hurricanes, bound for Avonmouth, station 93, arriving that destination on Apr. 10. Wth Egda, Kaia Knudsen, Nova (to Iceland only), Polartank and the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian managers), A. Hague later has her in Convoy OB 319, which originated in Liverpool on May 7. Grey County sailed from Milford Haven on May 6 and arrived Montreal on May 24, the convoy having been dispersed on the 13th - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 2. On June 20, she was scheduled for the Sydney, C.B. section of Convoy HX 134, but joined HX 135 a few days later, general cargo for Avonmouth. She collided with the British Newbrough on July 5 and was damaged, but was able to complete her voyage. A report on this collision on my page for HX 135 says: "Grey County was astern of station and only a ship's lengths ahead of Newbrough. Newbrough was a little to port. Grey County's helm jammed with port helm and she went full speed astern blowing 3 blasts to avoid running in to adjacent column. Tried to blow 3 blasts a second time, but lanyard parted. Newbrough went hard a Port and full astern. Grey County scraped all way down side of Newbrough, starting plates which caused a small leak in No. 2 hold, and a certain amount of damage to structure. Grey County sustained slight damage to guard rails. Both ships resumed station again and returned with convoy without further trouble". Grey County arrived Avonmouth (via Belfast Lough) on July 15.

At the end of that month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 3. Her destintion is again given as Montreal, where she arrived Aug. 16, the convoy having been dispersed Aug. 14. She headed back to the U.K. on Sept. 4 with Convoy HX 148 from Halifax (station 93), along with the Norwegian Ørnefjell (55), James Hawson (83), Herbrand (52), Stigstad (64), Idefjord (35), Egda (54), Vivi (76) and Mirlo (23), as well as the Panamanian Norvinn (station 53, between Herbrand and Egda). A. Hague has also included Gefion in this convoy. Via Belfast Lough, Grey County arrived Avonmouth on Sept. 19 - agan, see Page 2. The following month, she's listed as bound for Montreal in Convoy ON 24*, which originated in Liverpool Oct. 8 and dispersed on the 15th, Grey County arriving Montreal Oct. 24. Abraham Lincoln, Aristophanes, Brasil, Glittre, Herbrand, Idefjord, Innerøy, Petter, Solfonn, Thorshavet, Thorshov, Topdalsfjord and the Panamanian Norvik (Norwegian managers) are also named in this convoy. On Nov. 8, we find her in Convoy HX 159 from Halifax. She arrived Avonmouth on Nov. 27, and a couple of weeks later, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 47*, along with Solitaire (convoy originated in Liverpool Dec. 15, dispersed Dec. 23). Grey County was bound for Halifax with coal, station 12, with arrival Jan. 2-1942.

She's listed among the ships leaving Halifax to form Convoy HX 171 on Jan. 20-1942, but there's a notation saying "goes north" and there's no convoy station given for her, so I don't believe she left Halifax that day in order to join this convoy - in fact, when checking her Voyage Record, we see that she left Halifax for St. John, N.B. around this time. She's listed in station 71 of the slower Convoy SC 68 to the U.K. on Febr. 4, general cargo for Avonmouth, where she arrived Febr. 23/24, acording to Page 2. In March that year, she's listed as bound for Halifax with coal and general in station 64 of the westbound Convoy ON 79*, which also included Brant County, Hallanger, James Hawson, Meline, Norefjord, Noreg, Stigstad and Trondheim. The convoy originated in Liverpool on March 23 and arrived Halifax Apr. 7; Grey County's arrival Halifax is given as Apr. 5 - see Page 3 of the archive documents, which indicates she joined this convoy from Belfast Lough. She later returned to the U.K. with Convoy SC 82, departing Halifax on Apr. 30 (she had been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 81). She again had a general cargo for Avonmouth, arriving there on May 18. In June that same year, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 102*, which originated in Liverpool on June 9 and arrived Halifax on the 25th. Ada, Bernhard, Boreas, Inger Elisabeth, Ingerfire, Norse King, Para, Rena, Rio Branco, Solitaire, Trolla and Vest are also listed. Grey County later proceeded to Montreal, arriving there, via Sydney, C.B. and Father Point, on July 3, continuing to Quebec a few days later.

With a general cargo for Avonmouth, she was scheduled for the slow Convoy SC 98 on Aug. 29, but instead joined a faster convoy the next day, HX 205. Acanthus, Eglantine, Montbretia and Potentilla are named among the escorts (see also the Commodore's suggestions). Avonmouth is not mentioned for this time period in her Voyage Record, which says she arrived Cardiff on Sept. 13, and later that month, she appears, along with Anna Knudsen, Athos, Bello, Brimanger, Emma Bakke, Garonne, Kosmos II, Minerva, Molda, Noreg, Nueva Granada, Petter II (returned), Polarsol, Polartank, Sandanger, Skandinavia, Thorshavet, Thorshov, and the Panamanian Norbris (Norwegian managers), in the westbound Convoy ON 133*, which started out in Liverpool on Sept. 25 and arrived New York Oct. 11; Grey County, however, was bound for St. John, N.B., where she arrived, via Halifax, on Oct. 13 (Page 3). She later returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 214, which originated in New York City on Nov. 3, but Grey County, general cargo for Avonmouth, joined the convoy from Halifax a few days later and arrived Avonmouth on Nov. 19. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made with the westbound Convoy ON 152, for which the Norwegian Bonneville acted as Commodore Vessel. Grey County arrived St. John, N.B., via Halifax, on Dec. 31 - see Page 4.

In Jan.-1943, A. Hague has her in Convoy SC 118*, in which Daghild and others were sunk - follow the link to Daghild for more on this battle. Annik, Bestik, Cetus, Glarona, Maud, Norbryn, Petter II and Sommerstad are also listed. This convoy started out in New York on Jan. 24, but Grey County joined with the Halifax portion a few days later, and arrived Cardiff on Febr. 13, according to the archive document mentioned above. In March, she's listed as bound for St. John with a general cargo and coal in station 82 of the first convoy in the ONS series, Convoy ONS 1*, which left Liverpool on March 15, arrived Halifax Apr. 4, and also included Bestik, Cetus, Gausdal, Grado, Mathilda and Petter II (Vice Commodore), while Eglantine, Potentilla and Rose are named among the escorts - see ONS convoy escorts. Grey County went in the other direction again about a month later in Convoy SC 129, in which the Norwegian Grado was sunk. James Hawson, Norfalk and Vanja are also listed in this convoy, which departed Halifax on May 2 and arrived Liverpool on the 21st; Grey County arrived Swansea that day.

With a general cargo and coal for St. John, N.B., she subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ONS 10*, along with Acasta, Cetus, Fjordheim, James Hawson, Mathilda, Novasli, Ravnefjell, Sirehei and Titanian (convoy sailed from Liverpool June 8, arrived Halifax June 27, Grey County arrived St. John June 28/29, remaining there for about a month - see Page 4). She headed back to the U.K. again on July 30 with Convoy SC 138 from Halifax, general cargo for Swansea, where she arrived Aug. 14. She now joined the westbound Convoy ONS 17*, again with destination St. John, N.B. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Aug. 31 and arrived Halifax Sept. 16. Evanger (Commodore Vessel), Fernbank and Suderøy also took part, and Potentilla and Rose are again named among the escorts; Grey County arrived her destination on the 19th, and the following month, she's listed in Convoy SC 144. With Dagrun, she joined the westbound Convoy ONS 23* in the middle of Nov.-1943 (originated in Liverpool Nov. 17), but returned to port (Oban), subsequently joining ONS 24*, which had started out in Liverpool on Nov. 30 and arrived Halifax Dec. 18. Grey County proceeded to St. John, with arrival there on Dec. 20-1943. Atlantic, Brush (joined from St. John's, N.F.), Chr. Th. Boe, Evanger, Solstad and South America are also named in ONS 24.

At the beginning of the new year, she's listed in Convoy SC 152, which left Halifax on Jan. 29-1944 (Vice Commodore in Evanger). Her destination is given as Swansea and Avonmouth; she arrived the former on Febr. 16, the latter on the 19th - see Page 5. In March, we find her in station 23 of the westbound Convoy ONS 31*, which started out in Liverpool on March 13 and arrived Halifax on the 30th (Solsten is also listed); Grey County again proceeded to St. John, N.B., arriving there Apr. 4, again remaining there for several weeks. Early in June that year, she can be found in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 294, having joined with the Halifax portion. Commodore was in Abraham Lincoln, Vice Commodore in Geisha. Via Belfast Lough, Grey County arrived Swansea on June 21. Together with Geisha, Kaia Knudsen, Mosli, Norden, Noreg, Norse Lady, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), Rutenfjell, Skaraas, Sommerstad, Sørvard and Velma, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 243* in order to go back to Halifax (convoy started out in Liverpool July 3, arrived New York July 18; Grey County arrived Halifax July 16). She subsequently returned across the Atlantic later that month in the Halifax portion of the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 301, for which Reinholt again served as Commodore Vessel, while the Vice Commodore was in Samuel Bakke. This time, Grey County's destination is given as Barry, and she arrived there on Aug. 9.

The following month, she's listed as bound for Halifax in station 69 of the westbound Convoy ON 251*, in which Fjordheim was sunk - follow the link for details. Bernhard, Elg, Evanger, Ferncliff (returned), Germa, Heimgar, Henrik Ibsen, Rutenfjell, Snar, Thorhild, Tungsha (Commodore Vessel), Veni and Vera, as well as the Panamaian Norbris are also listed in this convoy, which originated in Liverpool Sept. 1 and arrived New York Sept. 19 - Grey County arrived Halifax Sept. 17 (Page 5). On Oct. 4, we find her, with a general cargo for Liverpool, in Convoy SC 158 from Halifax. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made with the westbound Convoy ONS 36*, departing Liverpool on Nov. 13, arriving Halifax Dec. 2. She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Evanger, Geisha (Commodore vessel), Heimgar, Henrik Ibsen, Marie Bakke, Minerva, Snar, Sommerstad, Tropic Star, Velox, Veni and Vinga.

On the first day of Jan.-1945, Grey County was scheduled for the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 164, but instead joined the next convoy on Jan. 16, SC 165, general cargo for Liverpool. With Henrik Ibsen, Marit II, Minerva, Norelg, Sandviken and Veni, she then headed back across the ocean on Febr. 13 with Convoy ONS 42*, arriving Halifax March 5, and later that month, A. Hague has her, together with Arosa (returned), Evanger, Henrik Ibsen, Ima, Morgenen, Norsktank, Norvarg and Vinga, in Convoy SC 171*, departing Halifax on March 27; Grey County arrived Swansea Apr. 11 (Page 5). At the beginning of May, she's listed as bound for Halifax in station 15 of the westbound Convoy ONS 49*, which originated in Liverpool on May 2 and arrived Halifax on the 18th. In other words, VE Day was celebrated at sea. Askepot, Brush, Evanger, Germa, Henrik Ibsen, Iron Baron, Maud, Orwell and Velox are also included in ONS 49.

As will be seen when going to Page 6, she went home to Norway in Nov.-1945.

* The ON and ONS convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details 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 SC series will also be updated and completed, but for now, please see ships in all SC convoys.

More information on all the Norwegian ships mentioned on this page is available via the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

According to the Riversea International website (external link) she was sold in 1947 and renamed Titania (Rederi A/B Svenska Lloyd, Gothenburg), then Tolken in 1951 (Rederi A/B Transatlantica, Gothenburg), Resaro (Pesaro?) later that year for Rederi A/B Rex (Ragnar Kallstrom), Stockholm, Geowilka in 1955 (Cia. de Nav. Miramar, Liberia). Broken up at Hirao in October 1960. Again, see also this external page.

Back to Grey County on the "Ships starting with G" page.

This company had another ship by the name Grey County after the war. This was the ex Nortraship Harald Thorsvik (ex Henry B. Plant) renamed Grey County (Klaus Wiese Hansen) in 1946. Renamed Aegean Sailor in 1951, Panamanian flag (Lemos & Pateras, London managers). Converted to motor vessel in 1960 and came under the Greek flag as Kyramarouko (same managers), then renamed Spalmatori in 1964 (same managers, still under the Greek flag), Anastassios in 1966 (same managers), Stymfalos in 1967 (same managers). Broken up in Taiwan in 1968. ("Liberty Ships in Peacetime, and their Contribution to World Shipping History" I. G. Steward).

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mail from R. W. Jordan, and misc. (ref. My sources).