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Gallant crew remembered

Victoria Morley
27/ 2/2008

MANY a man alive today owes his life to the SS Stockport and the gallant crew who gave their own lives in an endeavour to save others.

The selfless nature of their job meant the 64-man crew lived on borrowed time and their final hour came 55 years ago this week.

The SS Stockport, which had been chartered from the Admiralty and used as a hospital rescue ship, disappeared in the North Atlantic sea, on February 25, 1943, while cruising with convoy ON 166.

During her short career, she saved more lives than any other vessel in service - on one voyage she saved more than seven torpedoed ships in one day.

The excellent team spirit shown by her crew reflected in their work and was tragically reinforced when the courageous men went down with the ship on that fateful night.

Records state that she was sunk by German U boat U604, while picking up survivors in the dark Atlantic - the eerie fire from explosions being the only light around.

Two torpedoes hit her bow and neither her, or her crew, were ever seen again.

Before her loss, on February 25, 1943, the 30-year-old Stockport had saved hundreds of survivors from torpedoed vessels - including 350 from ships lost in attacks on convoy SC107 in October 1942.

The Stockport had also been in action the previous August with the destroyer ‘Viscount’ to locate and drive away the German ‘Veilchem’ from the edges of convoy ON 122.

It was at this stage of her career she would be tested to her limits and her crew undergo their most dangerous rescue mission to date.

Survivors from seven boats were rescued in less than 24 hours but the task was one of sorrow and loss as they watched the convoy fall victim to the hungry German pack.

Captain Fea, SS Stockport’s proud captain, was devastated by the destruction that he and his crew had witnessed.

He said at the time: "From this time, submarines were incessant. It seemed to me just a succession of ships being torpedoed and sinking, and a constant stream of survivors coming on board to be cared for.

"The sights we saw were heart-breaking. Two steamers, names unknown, were blown to pieces before our eyes, and there were no survivors.

"Rescue work is very slow even in good conditions and in many instances I spent several hours cruising to scattered groups of men."

The Stockport rescued 200 men that day - breaking records and making sure their survivors would live to see tomorrow.

On another occasion in August, she had observed that a ship had been torpedoed on the starboard wing of the convoy. She proceeded to the scene, and within 20 minutes of the explosion had commenced picking up 40 survivors from the Latvian SS Katvaldis.

While engaged in the above operation, a further signal was received that another ship had been torpedoed.

The brave crew went back into the dangerous waters, but thick black fog set in and they were advised to rejoin the convoy.

Its peacetime job had been to ferry holiday makers across to Holland for the London North Eastern Railway, but the 1,600 tonne ship, with a top speed of 13 knots, was finally sought out by Hitler’s U-boat fleet.

Despite claims that the SS Stockport was a struggling ship, out of its depths in a war dominated by younger more powerful ships, it was one of the most valiant and professional ships in the Royal Navy, and the spirit of its brave men alone helped carry it through the turbulent waters of war.

Probably the saddest document linked to the SS Stockport is the war diary of Captain Holstring, master of the German U-boat, that would send her men to their death. The lives of 64 of the finest men in naval history merits only a few lines in the U604’s log book.

Commander Horst Holstring wrote: "Independent ship, course 260 degrees, speed 11 knots. Turned hard A-starboard on attack course. Fired fan of four torpedoes. Two hits. Ship sunk 47 2in 34 05w. Ship was single funnel, two deck passenger superstructure. After two hits and internal explosion sank in three minutes. Proceeding on course 245 degrees low speed pursuing convoy."