Ramsay (III) 1930 np

Ramsay

4855 tons grt 9000 dwt

121.9 LPP x 16.3m

(L 410 feet B 53.5 feet D 28 feet)

1xTriple expansion engine

10kts

R. Duncan & Co., Port Glasgow

Yard No 395

1942 10th June at 03.40 hours U-94 fired three torpedoes at a group of three ships from convoy ONS-100 south-east of Cape Farewell.

Three hits were heard and the sinking of two ships verified.

Empire Clough, on her maiden voyage, was the first hit and abandoned but sank after the Ramsay, who must have taken two torpedoes, being the only other ship to be hit, and sinking rapidly.

Ramsay at that time was on her 7th trans-Atlantic voyage from the Tyne to New York.

35 crew members and five gunners from the Ramsay were lost. The master (Brinley Frederick Roberts Thomas) , six crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS Vervain (K 190) (Lt H.P. Crail) and landed at St.Johns.

1st Hand

My Grandfather was serving as a Chief Steward on the S.S. Ramsay in 1942.

In the early hours of June 10th whilst in the Atlantic his ship was hit and sunk by a torpedo at 51° 53’ N 34° 59 W. 

He had recently finished a watch so had gone down to his bunk to get some sleep and as the ship sunk so fast was unfortunately lost.

Simon Storey, WW2 People's War, BBC - relating the story of his grandfather William Storey