Edwin James Rice:

[Administrator]

Edwin James Rice spent his life in the Merchant Navy, including his involvement in the Arctic Convoys, lttle information regarding his seafaring life exists.

Regarding the Arctic Convoys, we know that he was Master of the SS Llandaff and was involved in convoys JW53 and RA54B, being stranded in Murmansk/Archangel for many months.

The Llandaff was bombed by ME-109's on the return journey and set ablaze. The ship was beached and flooded but managed to get back to the UK. Edwin received the OBE and Russian Medal for Valour, it is also known that the Llandaff was involved in convoys QP9 and PQ12.

Edwin was originally based in Cornwall, then in Cardiff

Read more: mntribute.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nnmen&action=display&thread=339&page=1#1377026413#ixzz2cYEKCNd6

[Administrator]

23rd MONTHLY REPORT – 1st July to 31st July 1943 (Extracts)

… A convoy of three British ships bringing timber from the White Sea to Kola Inlet on behalf of the Russians was bombed when approaching Kildin Island, SS Llandaff being hit aft and set on fire. There were no casualties., HMS Britomart (Lt Commander S Stamwitz DSC) one of the escort, stood by and escorted the ship to an anchorage behind Kildin Island and then helped to get the fire under control. Llandaff eventually entered harbour, though it was three days later before the fire was out.

The attack was made by four ME109’s in conditions of low cloud, and was all over in a few seconds. Fighters escorting the convoy were unable to intercept, though the Russian Naval Staff report that another group of fighters sent from Vaenga did intercept and drive off a force of seven Ju’s and fifteen FW190’s which was attempting to attack from seaward…

LINK

[Administrator]

'Star letter of the week' South Wales Echo: 5 Dec 2012

My grandfather, Edwin James Rice, lived in Cardiff and was Master of the SS Llandaff on convoy JW53 to Russia. I would like to point out how incredibly modest Mr Connelly is, like so many of the veterans, in his description of his experiences.

Siobhan Palmer

Read more: Wales Online LINK

[Administrator]

A submission from Siobhan Palmer, whose grandfather was trapped in Russia on an Arctic convoy for nine months.

'My grandfather, Edwin James Rice, was Master of the SS Llandaff on convoy JW53 to Russia. Their convoy left in a gale and was attacked 10 days later by aircraft and U-boats. The weather turned into a hurricane, dispersing the convoy, but also deterring the German attacks. Eight vessels were too damaged to continue. Some of the Llandaff’s lifeboats broke away and were smashed in the storms. When the wreckage was found, my grandmother heard twice on Lord Haw Haw’s broadcasts and once via the Government that my grandfather’s ship had been sunk.

As the ships were loaded with munitions (including TNT), they were frequently blown to smithereens if they were hit and as survival time in the Arctic water was three minutes, many perished. When a merchant ship was sunk, the sailor’s pay stopped immediately, so families not only lost their loved ones, but also their incomes.

On reaching their destinations of Murmansk and Archangel, my grandfather was told that operations were being suspended and they were being stranded in Russia indefinitely. This turned out to be nine months. It became known as 'The Forgotten Convoy' and there is still very little documented about it.

During this time they were on starvation rations, managing to swap limes with the Americans for Spam and being supported by the starving locals, who shared their black bread.

They were subject to air attacks (the Llandaff was bombed by ME-109s and was ablaze for three days before being beached and flooded) and in the height of summer had to endure 24-hour daylight.

Rear Admiral Archer SNBO for North Russia said: “The situation can be summed up very briefly, our life is akin to that of a concentration camp but with the difference that those in one of those establishments at least know who their warders are and what to expect.” (Obviously, this was at a time when the true horrors of the Nazi concentration camps was still to be revealed).

There were mental breakdowns, suicides and a murder.

In November, the merchant convoy finally returned home, my grandfather’s ship with temporary repairs. Much of the detail of what went on is still shrouded in secrecy, but we do know that the convoy carried back Russian gold under the code name caviare. When the convoy first docked at Loch Ewe in early December, the locals had to rally together to feed the men as many had no money.

Because of my grandfather’s circumstance and position, he was awarded the OBE and the Russian Medal for Valour, which Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden gave him permission to accept and wear

LINK