Shakespear

GLFT

Italian submarine 'Cappellini' sinking of SS Shakespear

On January 1st, 1941, SS Shakespear was part of a convoy bound from Liverpool to North America.

Shakespear had a crew of 40, two gunners, and one small gun aft.

Off Senegal, the sub opened up at roughly 6000 yards, Shakespear returned fire, which landed close to the sub.

At Port Pirie in South Australia

Torpedoed and Sunk in The Atlantic - 1941

Shakespear

Left Liverpool

For North America

Lost 1 January 1941

Fate

Chief Officer

R W Sharp

Lost

Second Officer

J W Summerson

Lost

Third Officer

P Jones

Survived

Third Radio Officer

M Thompson

Lost

Chief Engineer

W E Thirlwell

Lost

Second Engineer

F J Jeffery

Lost

Third Engineer

L C Pearce

Lost

Fourth Engineer

E R James

Lost

Chief Steward

T R Cridland

Lost

Bosun

F Lorenson

Lost

Carpenter

G A Blamander

Died shortly after

Able Seaman

F Jansson

Lost

Sailor

E Foulkes

Lost

Boy

S Anderson

Lost

Donkeymen

P Golovanuc

Lost

Fireman & Trimmers

W Burke

A Muscat

Both Lost

Asst Cook

D A Morrisey

Lost

Mess Room Boy

F J Goodfellow

Lost

After roughly two hours of fighting, the sub landed a shell right on the gun, killing three (apparently both gunners and one crew). 3rd Officer Percy Jones, who was awarded the George Medal for this action, commanded the gun position & was wounded in the head & chest, but kept fighting until the gun was KO'd. There was a fire quickly burning in the bridgehouse and the holds of the ship, which was heavily damaged.

Ordinary Seaman Anderson, on his first voyage, was WIA but wouldn't leave his post at the gun station, was killed when the gun was hit. He was 16 yrs old, & awarded a Lloyd's Bravery at Sea War Medal. 18 crew & both gunners were KIA.

Survivors, including the captain, abandoned ships into their boats, & afterwards the sub put in the coupe de grace & sunk the burning ship.

The CO of the sub was Lt Cdr Salvatore Todaro, who towed the boats until they were in site of land, & was noted by the survivors for his humane treatment of them.

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

Shakespear

1926

1940 Acquired with the takeover of Shakespear Shipping Co

1941 Torpedoed and sunk near Cape Verde

5029

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

149747

R Duncan & Co

Port Glasgow

David Rowan & Co

Glasgow

Triple Expansion Steam

531 NHP

1

South American Saint Line
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