FOR ALL THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION (BI) The sinking of Calabria - possibly one of BI's largest losses CALABRIA   Principal Particulars           Gross tons 9,515   Length oa 479.7 ft   Breadth 57.6 ft   Depth 31.2 ft   Propulsion 2 x triple exp steam   Screws twin   Output 604 nhp   Speed   12.5 knots   Passengers   1st: 74 2nd:90 as built   Built (yard no) 1922 (324)   Builder A G Weser, Bremen       THE North Atlantic evening of December 8, 1940 found twin-screw passenger/cargo vessel Calabria a straggler from convoy SL56, 300 miles or so west of Ireland. The 62-ship covoy was northbound from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Liverpool. The former Italian ship - now British prize - was homeward bound from Calcutta with general cargo and replenishment crew for other ships - with a planned destination of the River Clyde. It wasn't a good evening to get detached from the confines of the convoy, for at 2058 hours the ship was hit by two torpedoes from U-103. According to most sources, there were no survivors: the master, 128 crew, one DEMS gunner and 230 seamen (crew for other ships) were lost, according to the most reliable source. Even though Calabria was not BI-owned, this was one of the greatest losses of crew in any ship of the company. According to Laxon & Perry, Calabria was built in 1922 as Werra for Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) of Bremen. One of six sisterships**, she served the German firm for 13 years until the vessel was acquired by Italia Flotte Riunite of Genoa in 1935, under whose ownership she was briefly engaged in trooping bwtween Italy and Ethiopia. Two years later in 1937 Lloyd Triestino acquired the ship. It may be significant that German Wikipedia states the ship's passenger capacity as 145 Class II, 818 Class III. (One of the other NDL sisterships, Toscana (ex Saarbrucken), was requisitioned as an Allied hospital ship (No 59) with 567 beds and 88 medical staff, and operated under BI management, Jan 1944 to Dec 1945). For Calabria, it was then four years until on June 11, 1940, the day after Italy entered the War, that she was seized as a prize by the British while she was in dry dock at Calcutta. She was quickly transferred to the Ministry of War Transport and management of the ship was handed over to BI. From June 21 she was under the Liner Division, joining the Ship Management Division in October. The British prize name Empire Inventor was assigned but Calabria was lost before the renaming could be formalised. The ship left Calcutta laden with 4,000 tons of iron, 3,050 tons tea and 1,870 tons oil cake. She made Freetown and sailed in convoy SL56 under the protection of Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Bulolo, departing the West African port between Nov 19 and 21. Though the convoy was slow moving, sometime between Dec 5 and 7 Calabria became a straggler and detached from the convoy. On Dec 8 while the ship was 295 miles and bearing 262° off Slyne Head*, Co. Galway, Ireland, U-103, under the command of Viktor Schütze, made contact and fired torpedoes, two of which struck Calabria. Just 18 minutes later she was gone with, as one report states, a coup de grâce fired by the U-Boat. The vessel sank with a huge loss of Merchant Navy seamen. (*position 52° 43'N, 18° 07'W) ** Weser, Werra, Saarbrucken, Coblenz, Trier, Fulda Seamen associated with Calabria There still are still discrepancies over the exact losses that December night. Those commemorated on the Tower Hill Merchant Navy Memorial, London - officers, ratings and supernumerary are shown in the first table (with ages). BI staff also commemorated on the BI war memorial are shown in blue. David LONIE, Master, 45 Robert William MACDONALD, C/O, 37 Lawrence Higginson WHITE, 2/O, 31 William Ian Muir McMULLAN, 3/O, 33 Leslie Charles NORRIS, Cadet, 18 Henry Francis Adderson BERRY, Cadet, 18   Alexander Riach MASSON, C/E/O, 50 John Eltis BENSON, 2/E/O 38 Charles PATERSON, 3/E/O, 29 David RAE, 4/E/O, 27 Robert Orr DUNCAN, J/E/O, 21 Michael John QUINN, J/E/O, 25 Douglas Cameron JENKINS, J/E/O, 24 Alexander Ritchie STIRLING, J/E/O, 20 Stanley Alexander WALLIS, J/E/O, 25   John HEATLEY, R/O, 44 Edward Blakeman TURNER, 2/R/O, 22 George Edward SHONE, Purser, 41 Thomas Langton BUTLER, Surgeon, 48 Kenneth S O'BRIEN, Boatswain, 32 George BIRKETT, Seaman. 31 Oscar Charles Marinus EKKENBERG, Supernumerary, 36 Locally engaged seamen There are conflicting reports of the number of crew which were sailing in Calabria. The picture is confused by the fact that the vessel was carrying, in addition to her own crew, seamen for other ships travelling as passengers. Similarly, there are conflicting reports of the number of seamen actually lost in Calabria. A further uncertainty is that convoyweb.org.uk mentions 21 Calabria survivors picked up by HMS Sikh and landed at Londonderry. The following is taken from Valiant Voyaging, the history of BI in the Second World War. The list of men who lost their lives names 109 Indian and Goanese seamen of Calabria's crew, and 96 Indian and Goanese proceeding in Calabria for Vasna. Also known to have been on board are Chinese petty officers, three of whom are named below. Until the anomalies are resolved, we offer this list with a major caution as to its completeness and accuracy. At about the date of the casualty, it is known Vasna was in Liverpool, most likely awaiting relief crew from India, arriving per Calabria. It could well be that Calabria was carrying crew of other vessels as well. (Table key: name x father's name) Calabria's Crew   Vasna's Crew proceeding in Calabria Fazal Bari x Reazuddin Sk. Seadut x Munjoor Sk. Abdul Aziz x Banoo Abdul Wahab x Sadee Sk. Umbore Ali x Toboo Sk. Chand Mian x Sudder Ali Amjad Allee x Hakim Ali Ameer Ahamode x Wazeer Ali Yeacoob Allee x Eusuph Ali Abdul Joralli x Molla Ganheruddin Sk. Hamid x Cader Sk. Panchoo x Sk. Ismail Akbar x Nizamat Munzoor x Azher Sk. Usman Sk. x Ozob Sk. Abdul x Amjad Sadeck x Nadir Sk. Ahmad Newaz x Nobee Newaz Teetoo Molla x Abbas Molla Ramez Ali x Meher Ali Mu!id. Idris x Abdul Ghafur Wahed x Jessarabulla Abdul Hossain x Ghulam Rabbani Noor Mohamed x Bhooloo Sk. Jabedur Rahman x Maiidur Rahnian Asphia x Fazal Ban Abdul Mohit x Nizabber Sk. Farak Hossain x Sahebjan Sk. Ahmad x Teenoo Abdul Kariin x Abdul Aziz Abdul Maleek x Abdul Waliad Pearou x Bacha Rathiya x Ganesh Jaya Naik x Nabu Naik Mozai Sk. x Monie Sk. Ameer Allee x Munsoor Ali Luttfar Rahman x Golam Ali Abdool Somode x Alice Meah Abdool Gunny x Asgar Allee Matiar Rahman x Nazir Ali Abdul Khaleque x Hashim Ali Abdul Gatfbor x Anwar Ali Choonoo Meali x Mon Gazi Bassa Meah x Kala Meah Raja Meah x Hyder Ali Abdus Samad x Heda Gazi Anoo Miaii x Abdur Rahman Shookoor Ahmad x Qurban Ali Bela Meah x Ossie Meah Abdool Makck x Abdul Majid Oinda Meah x Hyder Ali Sona Mian x Rahini Ali Sultan Ahmode x Abdul Latiff Attore Allee x Anwar Allee Siddiq Ahmad x Chand Mian Noor Bux x Fazal Rahman Omer Meah x Abdul Hamid Khalilur Rahman x Ahbas Ali Ishil Ahmad x Saddock Alee Syed Rahman x Abdul Latiff Wadll Huq x Eusuph Ali Abdul Jolil x Nazir Ali Allee Ahmode x Rotizuddin Buxsha Meah x Abdul Rahman Jalal Ahmode x Nazir Ali Ali Aliamad x Karam Ali Syed Ahmad x Oily Meah Kholill Rohman x Hasmut Aliee Nabu Meah x Hasmat Allee Abdul Khair x Mofizullah Abdul Razzaque x Abdul Majid Nazir Ahmed x Rossed Ali Badsha Meah x Thanda Mian Bacliii Mkm x Rahamat Ali Nozoo Meah x Hamid Ali Abdul Ghani x Neamat Ali Wali Meah x Mushrafali Abdul Aziz x Kala Mian Fozlur Rahman x Ashrafali Nazoo Meah x Monoo Mian Seedick Ahmode x Saduck Ali Nou Ahmad x Hakimullah Abdul Sattar x Mon Gazi Doola Meah x Anwar Ali Worzoon x Gorib Saha Jakhai x Khan Khan Gurdit Singh Sharazool Haq J. Fernandes x P. Fernandes Nicholas Alfanso x T. M. Alfanso Santan Martin Andy Gonsalves x J. F. Gonsalves C. B. Alfanso x F. Alfanso M. S. Rebello x C. Rebello F. X. D. Almeida x C. AImeida Erfan Khan x Rajab Allee S. Fernandes x J. X. Fernandes F. I. D'Cruz x M.D'Cruz S. R. Fernandes x C. Fernandes A. R. Fernandes x F. Fernandes Agdul Jubber x Abdul Cader Syedur Rahman x Rahim Buksh Mohamed Nokoo x Ansar Ali Kassim Ali x Karam Ali Sokoo x Kandai Mohamed Jan x Dll Md. Baboo x Patram Francis Davies x Martin Davis L. P. Miranda x I. S. Miranda   Serang First Tindal Second Tindal Cassab Winchman Seacunny Seacunny Seacunny Seacunny Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Bhandary Bhandary's Mate Topass Topass Topass Lascar Fireman Serang First Tindal Second Tindal Cassab Iceman Lampman Donkeyman Oilman Oilman Oilman Oilman Oilman Oilman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Bhandary Bhandary's Mate Wireman Wireman Butler Storekeeper Chief Cook and Baker Second Cook Third Coak Pantryman Captain's Boy Chief Engineer's Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy Half General Servant Boy Half General Servant Boy Butcher Galley Scullion Topass General Servant Boy General Servant Boy   Abdool Rahman x Md. Hossain Abdul Ghafur x Chand Mian Habeeoolla x Rumjan Allee Abdul Jalil x Yeacoob Abdul Barrick x Ahamode Ali Secunder x Bhola Gazee Jalal Ahamode x Mucklas Rohoman Seedick Ahamode x Mushraf Ali Munshi Mian x Md. Yeasin Sobcithoolla x Kala Meah Mozlbul Haq x Abdul Barrey MuckbulAhmed x Abdul Goffbor Fazal Rahman x Buckoor Ali Secunder Meah x Abdul Guny Abdul Khaleck x Abdul Aziz Sultan Ahmed x Bossirulla Sookor Ali x Keramat Ali Abdur Rashid x Neamat Ali Rajab Meah x Lall Meah Sultan Ahmad x Somed Ali Yaqub Ali x Omed Ali Nuriial Haq x Abdul Khaleck Sobee Ahmed x Ashraf Ali Abdul Khoyer x Keramat Ali Doloo Meah x Maqbul Ali Jalal Ahmad x Muckran Ali Rajab Ali Somoroody Musa Mian x Anwar Ali Abdul Has.sein x Moniruddin Baladin x Boodhoo Panna x Moonshi Mewa Lall x Budhoo Nanku x Merai Sultan Mian x Abdul Karim Anwar Allee x Omer Allee Salamatulla x MohobLiddin Enus Mian x Amanuddin Abdul Haque x Aslam Buzlur Rahman x Abdul Aziz Muslim Mian x Nasiruddin Ollyoola x Rohimoody Abdul Jabbar x Rossuen Ali Essack Mian x Aminuddy Abdul Majid x Wally Miah Habizulla x Ebadulla Islam Meah x Robinuddin Jajee Zianal Abedin x Hassan Ali Wali Mian x Erad Mian Qurban Alt x Callinuddin Salamatulla x Lall Mian Allee Meah x Robinuddy Abdul Aziz x Kobeeruddin Zulfikar x Abdul Karim Arub Allee x Someeruddm Ali Ahmed x Nokoo Mian Sheraz Meah x Keramat Ali Nokoo Mian x Wabed Ali Sooraz Mian x Ahmad C. Correa x L. P. Correa G. Gomes x D. Gomes Ratan Gomes x Bissoo Gomes Joonun x Boodye Modone Gomes x Hanoo Gomes Kaminuddin x Rahirnuddin A. G. Pereira x P. F. Ferrau Paul Charlie Gomes x Bhooban Gomes Hormooz x Ahmad Abdul Latiff x Sagos Mongari Kamroodin x Rahimuddin Mohd. Yusuf x Abdul Qadir S. Baptista x P. Baptista I. C. Gomes x R. V. Gomes Mohamad x Jooman Hossamee x Amir Cecil Rogers x Duncan Rogers M. J. Fernandes x S. Fernandes Nooroo Khan x Neamat Khan J. Cardoze x L, Cardoze Me. Disilva x P. D'Silva P. Pereira x C. Pereira J. M. Lancerdo x C. Lancerdo Francis Pereira x R. Pereira P. Rebellow x R. Rebello J. P. DeCosta x J. T. D'Costa R. Countinho x A. Countinho A. Feram x F. Feram C. S. Coutinho x F. P. Counnho Jooma x Mohamad Shew Cliaran x Toonoo Bangali x Ram Lall Kishen Lall x Kaloo Hira Lall x Bahadur Kassoo x Tern Lalloo x Moon Moon Abdul Jubber x Romjan S. Fernandes x D. Fernandes   CHINESE PETTY OFFICERS Ah Sam, 49 Lew Wah, 42 Tan Ah Him, 49   Deck Serang First Tindal Second Tindal Cassab Winchman Seacunny Seacunny Seacunny Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Lascar Bhandary Bhandary's Mate Seacunny Topass Topass Topass Topass Fireman Serang First Tindal Second Tindal Cassab Donkeyman Lampman Iceman Oilman Oilman Oilman Oilman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Fireman Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Coal Trimmer Bhandary Coal Trimmer Oilman Butler Chief Cook Chief Cook Second Cook Second Cook Second Cook Third Cook Third Cook Baker Assistant Baker Assistant Baker Baker's Mate Pantryman Pantryman's Mate Butcher Assistant Butcher Storekeeper Assistant Storekeeper Captain's Boy Chief Engineer's Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy General Servant Boy Laundryman Laundryman's Mate Laundryman's Mate Topass Scullion Topass Captain's Boy General Servant Boy     Carpenter Carpenter's Mate Carpenter   Other history pages: Timeline | Companies | Routes | BI News | Mercantile Empire | BI/P&O Merger document | Gairsoppa & Mantola | Dara wreck | Rohilla disaster | Calabria | Abhona trials | E Africa Shipwrecks | Today in History

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