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Letters
Herbert Schofiel survivor on the SS Empire Gold, torpedoed in the Atlantic in WW2
September 29, 2011
Hello – my name is Janice Joyce and I am the daughter of Herbert Schofield, one of the survivors on the SS Empire Gold, torpedoed in the Atlantic in WW2.
My father’s memorobilia has found its way back into my life once more and I am putting together a talk about my father being one of only 4 survivors on this ship. I thought it might be interesting to get some facts if possible about the other 3 survivors – their lives, their families and anything else that might be of interest that I could add to my talk.
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks and kind regards
Janice Joyce,
Bradford, West Yorkshire UK
Janice,
Nice to hear from you.
EMPIRE GOLD
tons 8,028
type Motor Tanker
nationality BR
built 1941 - Furness
Shipbuilding Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees company Ministry
of War Transport -
Common Brothers - Newcastle upon Tyne voyage Philadelphia
and New York to
Antwerp convoy HX-348 cargo 10,278 tons of white
spirits.
Master Capt. Henry
Cecil Cansdale.
Casualties 43 lost from a complement of 47.
Attacker U -107 date 18.04.1945 time 1015 fate torpedoed
position 47.47N/06
26W.
Notes. Technical tanker - motor.
8,028 GRT - 464' x 61'
The 4 survivors were picked up by the rescue ship Gothland Captain James
Murray Hadden OBE ( Gothland 1286 tons, built 1932, in
rescue service from
5 February 1942, sailed with 41 convoys, rescued 149
survivors) and landed
the 4 survivors at Gourock Scotland on the 21st. Of April.
U-1107 received her comeuppance on the 30th. In April
1945, sunk with all 37
crew killed, in the Bay of Biscay by an American Catalina
aircraft.
The cargo of Empire Gold was 10,278 tons of white spirit, very combustible indeed.
See URL:
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/ships/1871/GOTHLAND_115.jpg
for photo of SS Gothland
The 4 survivors from Empire Gold including you Father were:
DOBSON, GEORGE, Chief Officer. Age 32. Amble.
KAY, DENIS, Third Engineer. Age 24. Hartlepool.
SCHOFIELD, HERBERT, Fifth Engineer. Age 25. Halifax.
SLATER, TERENCE, Junior Ordinary Seaman. Age 17. Whitby.
But I do not have any other details.
Best Regards,
Mac.
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