#OTD 1945 “The Germans signed their General Surrender and, importantly for us, Admiral Doenitz recalled all U-Boats. It was revealed also that Goebbels, his wife and family had all died together from poisoning.” #wwiihistory #wwiibooks #wwiiconvoydiaries
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#OTD 1945 “On Sunday, I heard #LandsEnd radio calling St. Peter Port #Guernsey in the #ChannelIsles with a message requesting their ‘surrender’! Also heard, was a message from #Prague in #Czechoslovakia asking the allies for assistance. #wwii #merchantnavy amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

3 May '45 “Joined convoy making it 54 ships. That evening 'old man' burst in asking, “What’s happened ... is it surrender?” Listening to Dutch news he only heard occasional word of message ‘German Forces in Holland and Denmark capitulate from 8 am.” #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1944 “2 planes launched for U-Boat activity & icebergs & became enveloped in fog. 1 plane lost so Mother ship launched a lifeboat, but also lost. 2nd plane forced to crash-land on deck. Only lifeboat was later recovered. Instructed to re-join convoy.” amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1940 “Moved towards Devonport with other ships & close together due to fog. At 4.45 pm we had to pass close to the cliffs between 2 buoys as a submarine kept guard. At the same time, two large bomber aircraft were continually circling above us.” #WWII amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1940 “Heard ship’s bummer & a great shudder. Made my way on deck to see we were hit. It was a sight to witness the damage like a large wedge & the remains of a lower deck toilet. I would not wish to be seated there when the collision occurred!” #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1945 “Attended pre-sail conference on Friday 27th, and we sailed at midnight. Next day we heard news of the death of Benito Mussolini. Unable to make it through the Pentland Firth in daylight, the Captain altered course for the Stronsay Firth.' #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1944 “On Wednesday we heard a distress message from a ship off Eire saying that she had been chased by a submarine and then torpedoed. The sea moderated somewhat but there was a strong, southerly wind & the ship pitched badly in the head sea.” #wwii
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#OTD 1940 “Anti-mine electric cables being attached to the hull to prevent attracting German magnetic mines. After a Naval team fitted the temporary ‘de-gaussing’ (DG) device we had to return as cables had a problem & had to be tested again.” #wwii
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#OTD 1943 “Convoy reformed just as we had another abrupt change of course as U-Boats being reported ahead of us. Threat persisted when a later message received of U-Boat sightings 210 miles ahead. Depth charges were again dropped during the evening.” #wwii
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#OTD 1943 “Met main convoy of 116 ships - 2 with plane ejection launch systems on the bow. When brought into use, they could not land back on the ship. The theory being they would land on the sea close-by & recovered by the ship’s on-board crane.” #wwii
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#OTD 1943 “6am rude interruption when depth charges were dropped. Ship reported U-Boat within convoy & more depth charges followed. Later in thick ice & icebergs urgent message came from Commodore, ‘You are Standing into danger, act independently’.” #wwii
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#OTD 1941 “SS Czikos also lay in #LoughFoyle after attack by bombers in Bay of Biscay & bridge shot away. 2nd Engineer Victoria Drummond (godchild of Queen Victoria) awarded MBE & Lloyds Medal. Saw her at McKinney’s Hotel, #Moville with her Captain.” #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1941 “Irish destination was a surprise. Ordered to break from convoy into #LoughFoyle , #Moville as supply ship to transfer cargo of oil. Only had rope ladder to get off & on. 3rd R/O’s father, captain of SS Athenia sunk on 3 Sep '39, visited the ship”amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1940 '2 Destroyers brought welcome extra protection whilst an RAF seaplane circled the convoy overhead. Later 11 ships & 1 Destroyer headed for west coast whilst we & five others with 1 Destroyer headed to English Channel.' #wwiibooks #merchantnavy
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#OTD 1942 'Sailed from #NYC with oil & additional deck cargo of Tanks & Planes. We also had some passengers, including DBS from lost ships, and R/O 'Snowy' from SS Peder Bogen who was most keen to travel home with us.' (IWM image painted by 3rd R/O) #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

14 Apr '40 “Smoke from ship sighted. Escort turned in their direction but ship had disappeared. We were zig-zagging - a tactic to hinder U-boat attack. We sighted what appeared to be a vessel & turned-out to be a stern broken-off by mine or torpedo.” #wwii amzn.eu/d/4jl9LtK

#OTD 1942 “U-Boats were active on US coast so directed to #CapeCod Canal #LongIsland & East River to safety of #NYC harbour. Quite an experience sailing under the bridges. Capt. offered pilot bottle of whisky if he only took off the tip of the mast.” #wwii Photo @photographerdave