Master

From

To

J D Matthews

1941

1941

Mined & sunk

Mined & Sunk - 1941

Master’s Report

Confidential TD/DEMS/139/1175

9 December 1941

Shipping Casualties Section - Trade Division

Report of an interview with the Master: Captain J.D.Matthews

SS Clan Cumming 7,264 Gross Tons

Independent - Sunk by mine on 15 April 1941

1. We were bound from Piraeus to Alexandria in Egypt We were armed with a 4.7" gun and a 12 pounder. The ship was degaussed and the apparatus was working. The crew including myself numbered 107. There were no casualties. The confidential books were kept in a safe in my cabin and went down with the ship.

2. We left Piraeus at 2030 A.T.S. (1830 G.M.T.) pm the 14th April bound for Alexandria. (Our ship was torpedoed on 19th January but we managed to get back to Piraeus where she remained for about three months for repairs to be effected).

3. Prior to leaving Piraeus about 1700 A.T.S on the 14th April, our ship was attacked and damaged by 'Stuka' dive-bombers and the 'All Clear' was sounded while I was ashore getting a route from Lieut. Cdr. O'Caffery, the Naval Routeing Officer. It was arranged that I should leave harbour and dodge around outside the harbour until an escorting Destroyer, either H.M.S.Hero or H.M.S.Flamingo, arrived when we were to proceed into Phaloron Bay until daylight for the convoy. We steamed outside the harbour and cruised around, waiting for the Destroyer escort which I was given to understand would be with me not later than 2100 A.T.S, but although I waited until 2255(??) A.T.S. no escort arrived.

4. As the moon was getting up, and there was a possibility of further air attacks, I decided to proceed in a SWly course (210°). I laid this course down on my chart and proceeded at half speed for (??) miles, then altered course to (180° ??) for approximately one mile. About 2310 A.T.S. we had reached a position on Aegina (??) Island when a warning shot was fired and we received a signal by morse from this island 'Danger from mines'. 'You should alter route to the North'. We turned the vessel around to the North by using the engines and at 2355 A.T.S. both engines were stopped. The position by cross-bearings placed the ship approximately two miles clear of the charted minefield, the engines remained stopped and the ship drifted in a South-easterly direction, at the approximate rate of ½ mile an hour.

Vessel

Built

Tonnage

Official No

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

Clan Cumming (2)

1937

7264

165924

Greenock Dockyard

Greenock

John Kincaid

Greenock

2 x Triple Expansion Steam

1362 NHP

2

Clan Cumming (2)

GDGW

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