Finding the truth about my father being torpedoed twice during the war …. explained his annual trips to London, and why he was not in good shape as we met him off the train.
The National Archives includes the reports written following the arrival of convoys during World War II. Searching these revealed a report on convoy SL125 (TNA ref ADM 199/2189/30) , leaving from Cape Town for the UK in 1942. The convoy timing coincided with that of the transport of troops sailing for the Torch landings in Africa at the start of the Africa campaign. The maximum speed of the convoy, dictated by the slowest ship of the convoy, theNagpore, was 7 knots.
The artivcle also revealed that my father was Chief Officer on board the Nagpore, which was torpedoed by two U-boats as they decimated the convoy. He was rescued by a corvette, and his trips to London were for reunions of those rescued. This convoy is now regarded as a decoy convoy and it attracted a major pack of U-boats to the area, resulting in the loss of no less than 13 of the 41 ships in the convoy.
If you want to research the history of your Hampshire family you can learn how these Hampshire archives can help you;
Portsmouth History Centre and Records Office
