[IAN M]

Vinnie05. The following is extracted from the R. Chapman's & Sons section of my book, SHIPPING COMPANY LOSSES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

CARLTON. (Captain W. Learmont). Sailed in Convoy OB.260 which left Liverpool on 16 December, 1940 and dispersed on the 19th. Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Calvi (Capitano di Corvetta Giuseppe Caridi) on the 20th in position 55º18´N 18º49´W. Twenty-nine died. One lifeboat overturned when being launched and only 4 remained alive in the other boat when it was found 18 days later. See also under Jumna, NOURSE LINE.

 

[IAN M]

Thanks Ian. I have more info about the lifeboat journey which I copy and send to you. Both lifeboats were launched although the one of the davits on the portside had problems. The lifeboat with 18 men including the captain, disappeared the first night and my father's boat with 4 out of the original 16 were rescued after 18 days. The ship took the survivors to Halifax where my father and another had both their legs amputated due to frostbite.

I didn't know about the amputations, Vinnie. Very sad.