Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Mac,

Today I have discovered here in Western Australia a photocopy of a typed letter apparently prepared by the wife/mother of a surviving family of 3 from this (S. S. Athenia sinking 3 Sept 1939) tragedy. I decided to Google for more information and – so far – have yet to locate a passenger list of a survivor’s list to try to identify the family’s surname. I have 3 given names for the family members and 3 given names for the recipient of the letter and a postal address in Milwaukee for the letter typed on 22nd September ’39.

The letter gives a very descriptive account of the effect of the torpedoing, their access to lifeboats and the time on & in the sea before rescuing and then finally when the family are back in Milwaukee where the mother gives several interviews.

I’d like to find out more about the people – especially their surname and also how to contact the son who was 9 years old. I imagine the parents are long since deceased.

I’m not related to them

Peter Holmes

Mac, within minutes of sending to you my message as below I Googled some more and found a list of surviving passengers – from a news paper clipping at the bottom end of a web site - http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/athenia.html

I’m about to try to locate the family group’s surname. Here’s hoping.

Peter Holmes

Peter,

An interesting letter you have uncovered, could you please send me a copy?

With the christian names it may be possible to unearth the family surname. 

I am constantly suprised at the interest still shown about her sinking, and the material that continues to come to light after all this time. 

Best wishes,
Mac.

Mac,

I’ll have to do the scans later today/tomorrow but in the mean time the given names of the travelers who boarded in Liverpool are/were Harold (Hal) & Ruth with their son “Geof” aged 9 at the time of the sinking.

I’ve looked through the listing (that you apparently supplied) and can’t find appropriate given names yet – but the survivors list appears in no apparent order and possibly not complete. 

Peter Holmes

Peter, 

Some survivors from Athenia were rescued by Royal Navy destroyers and taken to the Clyde, thus far those names have eluded me but for a very few.

It may be that the family you seek were amongst those picked up by destroyers, hence not appearing on any published lists.

Thank you for offering to scan the letter for me, I look forward to receiving it, and with your OK we will add it to our Athenia pages.

Regards,
Mac.

Mac,

Here are the pages of the letter.

You’ll notice the Milwaukee address in top RH corner & the date of writing is 22nd Sept. Amazing  that the appears to have got back home in less than 20 days, and -according to last main para on page 4 – she was able to give interviews to 2 northern American newspapers unless they had journos in UK/

I also wonder if there’s a way to trace the family name by finding out who lived at the Milwaukee address in 1939??

Let’s keep in touch.

Happy Father’s Day!!!
Peter Holmes

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