They may as well have been ghost ships.

[MNA Wales Barry Branch]

NEWPORT ARGUS, PRE FEBRUARY 2007

They may as well be ghost ships.

Can I place a request for help which is important to Newport's history. For personal reasons I am trying to trace a wartime visitor. He was a US sailor who's ship docked in Newport about March 1944 and again about October 1944. However, all the wartime ships ( Merchant Navy ) that visited Newport Docks, may as well have been ghost ships, because I cannot find these records in any establishment locally or nationally.

Peter Hackling

Name, Address, e.mail etc supplied

By chance we came across this request from Peter. We hope to investigate and report our findings. We have met up with the gentleman and feel that this is a request, a mystery worth researching and the results of such findings both recorded and preserved for all and all time, as part of Welsh, Newport's and World History. We ask Wales, Newport and the world for every assistance. Please contact us at SS. Tregenna in the first instance and we will keep all informed. Thankyou KG.

Note: Newport refers to NEWPORT, Gwent. South Wales. GB.

[Administrator]

They may as well be ghost ships

In his letter to the editor of the Argus, Newport, Gwent, Wales early in 2007: Peter Hackling of Pontywaun, Crosskeys, placed a request for help which he believes to be important to Newport's history. This was in regard to Newport Docks Wartime Records.

Peter stated "All the wartime ships (Merchant Navy) that visited Newport Docks, may as well have been ghost ships, because I cannot find these records in any establishment locally or nationally", Peter described this as to Newport's shame.

We at the Web Site wish to aid Peter with his research.

We look toward making all records public and also graphically by using Merchant Ships outlines, with colour coded detail representing every year of the war to demonstrate the dreadful losses, show the ships that used the port and the fates of such
vessels with percentages, highlighting the fates of such ladies of the sea, whether by air attack, torpedo mine and those that survived etc.

Please contact us, we will record all details.

Working closely with Peter, we intend to make the results available to all. This will remain ongoing until complete. Following similar requests for Cardiff and Barry Docks Wartime Records, we ask for any information on all Welsh ports.

WE ARE ABOUT TO COMMENCE RESEARCH ON THIS CAN ANYONE HELP?

Keith, Paul and Peter

www.ss-tregenna.co.uk
E-mail: Keith, Paul or Peter

[Sue King]

[e-mail]

04/05/2007

They may as well be ghost ships

For the attention of Keith Greenway

Your recent email requesting information has been forwarded to me and you may be interested to know that we have handwritten logbooks of the arrival and sailing of all vessels (including Merchant, Royal Navy and American) through Alexandra Dock, Newport during 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 & 1944. We do not, however hold lists of personnel on board these vessels as this data has never been given to, or held by the port authority.
If you would like to visit the Port to view the logbooks, please let me know.

Regards
Sue King

Commercial Assistant
Associated British Ports
NEWPORT

[mable]

does anyone have information on ss nessus or ss tor i was told my late father served as an officer on these but cannot find evidence of their existance or what happened to them

[KG]

RE: ss nessus or ss tor:

Will certainly enquire and report back, do you have anymore info ? dates etc.

YOUR FATHERS DISCHARGE BOOK WOULD BE OF ADVANTAGE AND ANY INFO WITHIN.

Even date and where born etc.

Please e.mail direct to Keith at Tregenna if not willing to post all here. e.mail to [e-mail]

Include MN or similar in title to avoid spam.

Will appeal to all sources and check out all usual suspects etc.

K.

[KG]

Peters work on Newports Wartime Shipping did result with his Web Site and ongoing results, results and info etc at:

Newport’s War time Shipping

www.newportswartimeshipping.info/

[KG]

Would like to help more and / or liase further:

Please e.mail me at

[e-mail]

Info found thus far as below:

Still looking, would like more info from yourself if you can help.

HMS Nessus

www.jeanelaine.co.uk/text/HMSNessus.htm

NESSUS, 8th September 1918, North Sea - collision with 11,000 ton large cruiser "Amphitrite". Serving with Grand Fleet flotillas. At the time on North Sea patrol when she collided

HMS Nessus.

HMS Nessus was an M class destroyer launched ay Swan Hunter on 24 August 1915 and sunk on 8 September 1918 in a collision with the cruiser HMS Amphitrite in the North Sea.

HMS Nessus was a 150 ton river steamer armed with a single 3 pdr gun. The vessel was bought in 1926 in Hong Kong and sold in 1929.

www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...%20C5A-01.html

TOR

There is a mention of a Swedish ship SS. Tor here:

RE: JAVELIN

www.hms-javelin.co.uk/hms-jav...ce-history.htm

1940

January

3rd On completion of post repair trials rejoined Flotilla and deployed for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea. (Note: One source records that on departure from Middlesbrough ship detonated mine damaging one shaft and returned for repair. To be investigated.)

February

Under repair.

March

On completion deployed for North Sea convoy defence with Flotilla

19th After sister ship HMS JERVIS sustained major structural damage after collision with Swedish SS TOR escorted damaged destroyer to Tyne for repair.

TOR

Dont know if this may be one of them!

Started out as
IDNo: 7819840 Year: 1979
Name: STENTOR Keel:
Type: Cargo ship Launch Date: 22.11.79
Flag: NLD Date of completion: 12.79

86 STARUM - 88 LA PAIMPOLAISE - 97 RIVER OCEAN I - 98 GULF STAR - 00 NJORD - 01 TENTOR - 02 TOR II - 03 HAYMO - 04 DONNA DINA

Or this

started as

IDNo: 5078430 Year: 1955
Name: ANFITRITE Keel:
Type: Cargo ship Launch Date: 6.12.54
Flag: ITA Date of completion: 1.55

56 CONDORINA - 74 TOR

www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...es/Tor-03.html

Or could it perhaps be Thor! ?

www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...s/Thor-04.html


JAVELIN

www.hms-javelin.co.uk/hms-javelin-service-history.htm
• 1940
• January
3rd On completion of post repair trials rejoined Flotilla and deployed for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea. (Note: One source records that on departure from Middlesbrough ship detonated mine damaging one shaft and returned for repair. To be investigated.)
• February
Under repair.
• March
On completion deployed for North Sea convoy defence with Flotilla
19th After sister ship HMS JERVIS sustained major structural damage after collision with Swedish SS TOR escorted damaged destroyer to Tyne for repair.

As said would appreciate further contact and info if pos.

K.

Post further here or e.mail direct:

[e-mail]