The following names are listed at the
Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill
Date of attack
12 Sep 1942
Nationality:
British
Fate
Sunk by U-608 (Rolf Struckmeier)
Position
48° 55'N, 33° 38'W - Grid BD 2744
Complement
86 (1 dead and 85 survivors).
Convoy
ON-127 (straggler)
Route
Liverpool (4 Sep) - New York
Cargo
Ballast
History
Completed in July 1899 as steam passenger ship Medic (11985 grt) for White Star Ltd (Oceanic Steam Navigation Co), Liverpool. In August 1899 she made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Sydney via Capetown and on her return voyage carried Australian soldiers and horses to South Africa for Boer War service. During World War I, the ship remained in commercial service due to her large frozen meat capacity, although she was operated under the Liner Requisition Scheme for two years. In June 1928 sold to Norway and converted by Grayson, Rolls & Clover Docks, Birkenhead, to the whale factory ship Hektoria for N. Bugge, Tønsberg. 1932 sold to Britain to Hector Whaling Ltd, London.
Notes on event
At 01.05 hours on 12 September 1942, U-211 (Hause) attacked convoy ON-127 southwest of Cape Clear and damaged the Hektoria with two torpedoes and the Empire Moonbeam with one. Both vessels were later sunk by coups de grâce by U-608.
The Hektoria (Master Frederick Arthur Gjertsen) was sunk by U-608 at 03.51 hours on 12 September. One crew member was lost. The master, 76 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by HMCS Arvida (K 113) (Lt A.I. MacKay, RCNR) and landed at St. John’s on 15 September.
On board
We have details of 11 people who were on board.
Torpedoed and Sunk in The North Atlantic - 1942
As White Star Line’s Medic
Laid down as British steam passenger ship Medic (11985 tons) for the Cunard White Star Ltd, Liverpool. launched on 15 Dec, 1898 delivered on 6 Jul, 1899 The Medic made her maiden voyage on 3 Aug, 1899 from Liverpool to Sydney via Capetown. In September 1899, on her return voyage, she carried Australian soldiers and horses to South Africa for Boer War service.
During World War I, the ship remained in commercial service due to her large frozen meat capacity, although she was operated under the Liner Requisition Scheme for two years.
In June 1928, the Medic was sold to N. Bugge, Tønsberg and was rebuilt as whale factory ship by Grayson, Rolls & Clover Docks, Birkenhead. The ship was registered in Norway under the name Hektoria.
1932 sold back to Britain to Hector Whaling Ltd, London.
Life before Hector Whaling
Vessel |
Built
|
Service
|
Tonnage
|
Hektoria
|
1899
|
1899 Built for White Star Line as Medic
1928 Sold to Bugge N - Hektor Whaling renamed Hektoria
1932 Transferred to Hector Whaling
1942 Torpedoed and sunk in N Atlantic
|
13797
|
Official Number
|
Ship Builder
|
Engine Builder
|
Engine Type
|
HP
|
Screws
|
110573
|
Harland & Wolff
Belfast
|
|
2 x Quadruple Expansion Steam
|
4800 IHP
|
2
|