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.

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.