| Author |
Message |
    
Michael Poirier
| | Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2000 - 5:52 pm: | 
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Does anyone know if the only survivor of the Ceramic disaster gaves his account after being rleased as a prisoner of war? |
Mark Baber
| | Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 5:42 pm: |
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Hello, Mike---
At least as far as U.S. based sources are concerned, I'm not aware of anything along these lines; this is on my "medium priority" list and I've made some, but not extensive, efforts to find it, thus far without success.
There's one aspect of Ceramic's sinking that I think is inaccurately reported in a number of sources. Haws' Merchant Fleets, Vol. 19, White Star Line, says that Ceramic's loss was "unrecorded for many months" and Kludas' Great Passenger Ships of the World says that the Admiralty did not know when and where she sank "until much later". Although I don't know when Ceramic's loss was officially acknowledged, on 9 December 1942, two days after the event, The New York Times carried an an Associated Press article reporting that Nazi radio had announced Ceramic's sinking the day before, and that "[t]here was no confirmation of this assertion."
MAB |
Inger Sheil
Member
Username: isheil
Post Number: 2914
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:31 am: |
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I've long had an interest in the SS Ceramic - both in her pre-War career (Harold Lowe served aboard her in peace time) and in her tragic fate.
The question has been raised before about whether the one survivor ever told his story, and I think most WSL researchers have often wondered about this man.
A new book by Clare Hardy, SS Ceramic: The Untold Story, has been published. For the first time the sole survivor, Eric Munday, tells his story.
The author is herself the granddaughter of one of the lost, Trevor Winser.
I haven't yet read the book myself (am hastening over to put in an order, however!) but it was brought to my attention by someone in the Australian academic community who has an interest in the ship because of her Australian connections (many of the 655 casualties were Australian).
Information can be found here:
http://ssceramic.co.uk/
[MAB - couldn't post this in the pre-existing Ceramic thread, but you may want to lob it over there!] |
Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 1549
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:48 am: |
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Done, Ing.
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
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Linda Sherlock
Member
Username: marina
Post Number: 6
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 11:49 am: |
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Thank you Inger, for the information about the book on SS Ceramic's fate. I have ordered a copy today and I am looking forward to reading an account of the tragic loss. |
Clare Hardy
Member
Username: ceramica
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:28 pm: |
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Inger let me know about this website, and I have signed up today. I am Clare Hardy, the author of the book. Or maybe I should say "compiler" as it is made up mainly of first-hand accounts rather than narrative, which really gives a flavour of life on board throughout the 30-year period.
My grandfather was one of the 655 casualties, which is how I met Eric Munday. Eric's diary and letters fill a gap in recorded history. Eric and I also went to Germany in 2001 to meet the remaining crew of U-515 and hear their version of events. Their stories are recorded in the book. There is also a 70-page section listing the casualties, taken from various original documents. The book totals 572 pages and there are over 200 black and white photos and illustrations.
I have priced the book at cost, because I didn't think it right to profit from a tragedy and a book that is primarily commemorative. I have printed 600 copies initially, and I have a limited number of books that have been signed by Eric Munday for those "first off the blocks"! Ordering details are on my website. It isn't available anywhere else yet, as it is privately published.
www.ssceramic.co.uk |
Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 341
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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That is wonderful Clare. Congratulations!
I will order a copy and review it for Voyage magazine. Can't wait to read it.
Mike
Clemency: We've been torpedoed! Oh, Mother! What shall we do?
Millicent: Get the jewelry.
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Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 342
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
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Oh I didn't know I started this thread years ago!
Wow!
Clemency: We've been torpedoed! Oh, Mother! What shall we do?
Millicent: Get the jewelry.
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Clare Hardy
Member
Username: ceramica
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:59 pm: |
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Michael, your signature reminded me of the following:
(When the torpedo struck, was it sudden?)
Eric: Oh yes, there were three before we got off, and then they told me, another two. You know something’s happened - and it was dark. From memory it was about 8 o’ clock - we were still up in the bar playing cards. And I remember one of the chaps we were playing with bending over scooping up the money and putting it in his pocket! |
Anthony John Cunningham
Member
Username: anthony
Post Number: 44
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 5:51 pm: |
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Clare your book sounds fascinating and I have just popped a cheque in the post.
How super that you did all that research on a ship which most people know so little about. Many thanks! |
Jason D. Tiller
Moderator
Username: jtiller
Post Number: 2382
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 7:03 pm: |
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Hello Clare,
Your book sounds very interesting! I will have to purchase a copy as soon as possible.
"To be happy is to be contented in your own mind"...Harold Godfrey Lowe
43° 0' 39" N, 79° 0' 23" W.
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Inger Sheil
Member
Username: isheil
Post Number: 2915
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 12:55 am: |
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Thank you for visiting ET to tell us more about the book, Clare. I was amazed when the notice of it came across my desk at work - we'd so often spoken of the near-complete loss of the ship's complement and Eric Munday's experience as one of the most significant untold stories connected with a WSL vessel, and then there was notification of an entire work dedicated to the loss! The more I learn about this publication the more fascinated I am - you're right, this is a gap in recorded history. The feedback from the person who sent us world about SS Ceramic: The Untold Story indicated he felt strongly that it was an important piece of previously untold, unexplored wartime history.
With your own profoundly personal connection to this tragic event and what sounds like a wealth of sources, both written and oral, this promises to be a most remarkable book. The efforts you and Mr Munday went to in order to get the other side of the story make it all the more fascinating. My order went in this morning. |
Linda Sherlock
Member
Username: marina
Post Number: 7
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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I posted my order to Clare Hardy on Wednesday 17th May and the book arrived today Friday 19th! I have only glanced at it as yet, but have already e-mailed Clare to congratulate her on what is a magnificent achievement. I am eager to read the book and it has been signed both by the author and the survivor of SS Ceramic, Mr. Munday. Although I have yet to read the book in depth, even my first glance through it is enough to say with confidence that I can thoroughly recommend it as a fascinating read and excellent value for money. Thanks Clare! |
Timothy Trower
Member
Username: tjtrower
Post Number: 18
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:52 pm: |
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I've got my copy ordered, and am looking forward to receiving it. I guess this is one of the reasons that I like this message board -- I'm not sure that I'd have ever heard of this book otherwise. |
Iain Stuart Yardley
Member
Username: boz
Post Number: 949
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:09 pm: |
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My copy is safey at home after an amazingly fast delivery. It's the next book on the list to read and just glancing through it, it looks sure to be a greatly researched book. Congratulations, Clare.
Cheers,
Boz |
Anthony John Cunningham
Member
Username: anthony
Post Number: 60
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
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Have received my copy also. Fantastic - can't wait to start reading it. Beautifully presented. Many thanks, Clare!
You've got to climb Mount Everest to reach The Valley of the Dolls...
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Inger Sheil
Member
Username: isheil
Post Number: 2927
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:23 am: |
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quote:My Dear Boy was our all I feel I haven't got nothing to look for now.
quote:I am enclosing his photograph, hoping that if you didn't know him by name, you will recognise his face.
Will you please let us have the photograph back, because it is the only one which we have...
quote:I'm so sorry to have worried you in the first instance, but you see my Husband was my whole life and I'm waiting & praying that by some miracle he will one day come back. Your letter, & newspaper cutting with photograph, are amongst the few items I treasure most. You might have known him.
quote:They were just newly married, he would be about 32 years of age when he sailed, and his wife somewhat younger...was of medium height, slim build, and fair complexion and wore glasses.
quote:it must be a great work of sympathy on your part dear Eric to take on all the letter writing it is going to mean replying to all the anxious suffering people who are left in this world as a result of their dear ones being on that ill fated ship...only we who are down in the deep hell of it all can appreciate what you are doing & thank you with all our hearts.
I've been researching and writing about maritime history for quite a few years now. Because of the nature of my work, many books about ships and the people connected with them cross my desk. Quite a few of these deal with the more tragic aspects of maritime history - even outside my obvious interest in the Titanic and Lusitania.
I can't remember a time when a book has moved me more than SS Ceramic: The Untold Story. And I've barely arrived at the WWII chapters.
The book arrived yesterday (Tuesday in Oz time - note that I put my order in for the book last Thursday...what incredibly swift dispatch, and not even an express request! The entire ordering process went without a hitch, and the book was well packaged). The first impression was extremely positive - cover design and layouts were all excellent.
I had intended to read it start to finish, but as I chatted to the family I flipped through the pages and my eye caught the section dealing with the letter after letter after letter written to Eric Munday from those seeking information on what had happened. The above quotes were chosen at random, and can hardly give an idea of the cumulative effect of these wrenchingly painful requests for information on loved ones. What an extraordinary burden to place on one man, the sole survivor...and what an extraordinary man to rise to that burden and try to give whatever comfort was in the information he could provide. As Clare notes in the text, this book will now fulfil a deep need for all those out there who, for personal reasons, want to know what happened to the Ceramic.
But that's getting ahead of the story. I should probably wait until I've read it cover to cover, but the impact of reading this book is so immediate it won't wait.
It's the richest collection of primary source material imaginable, and it covers the history of the vessel from the time of its inception. In that sense, it's a wonderful ship history. It's also wartime history - I was so engrossed in the commemorative magazine produced by Aussie troops returning home in 1920 that I forgot the ultimate end. I was reminded of some of the stories from her troopship transport days of what my grandfather, a Gallipoli reinforcement, related of similar experiences. Then those wonderful halcyon days of the 20s and 30s, when men like Harold Lowe sailed in her and she was known as the Queen of the Southern Seas - a happy ship, according the reminiscenes of those who knew her in this period, crew and passengers.
Documents, photographs, plans, schematics...you'd be hard pressed to think of a ship better served by a collection of material relating to all aspects of its existence. From interior shots to the ephemera to the people who sailed in her - all are well represented with the images reproduced.
Clare largely allows the primary source material to speak for itself, but she has arranged it in such a way as to make the story entirely coherant and comprehensible. Her linking narrative, when she has used it, is clear, lucid and is itself engaging.
I have no hesitation in suggesting that this is one of the most powerful and comprehensive of books ever written about a White Star Line ship and the stories connected with it - and I'm including the popular culture giant Titanic in that assessment. |
Pat Winship
Member
Username: pbowman
Post Number: 403
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:28 pm: |
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From the "Other Firm"
On 26 Nov, 1942, the Ceramic (Master Herbert Charles Elford) left Liverpool in convoy ON-149 with 264 crew members, 14 gunners, 244 military and naval passengers (mostly nurses of the Queen Alexandra´s Imperial Military Nursing Service) and 133 fare paying passengers in 1st class, among them 12 children. On 2 December, the convoy was dispersed and she began sailing independently as routed.
Just at Midnight on 6/7 December, the Ceramic was hit by one torpedo from U-515 west of the Azores. On action stations were sounded and two or three minutes later two more torpedoes struck the engine room below the waterline. The engines stopped and the vessel was plunged into darkness. There was very little panic among the passengers and the crew launched approximately eight full loaden lifeboats. Despite of the cold weather, the rough seas and the poor visibility in the darkness. The Ceramic stayed afloat and three hours later U-515 hit the ship with two more torpedoes, which broke her in two and she sank immediately.
By this time, the sea was very rough and it was raining. The lifeboats were becoming swamped and needed continual bailing out. Some lifeboats capsized and threw the occupants into the water, so that many people were floating in the water, supported by their lifejackets.
Henke reported the sinking to the BdU and was ordered to return to the site to find the master and to find out where she had been bound. At about midday, the surfaced U-515 returned. A lookout first saw a body, then empty life jackets and the broken mast from the ship. A lifeboat whose occupants waved to him was also seen. It was reported later that Henke was very upset at the sight that greeted him. At this time the wind had almost reached Force 10 and a storm started. The sea was almost swamping the conning tower, so Henke ordered his men to take the first survivor that came close enough to his vessel. Two men threw a rope to one of the men in the water, Sapper Eric Munday of the Royal Engineers, took him aboard and U-515 left the area. Other seamen in the area considered later, that this storm was one of the worst storms that they had experienced.
Sapper Eric Munday was landed at Lorient on 6 January and was taken to the POW camp Stalag 8B in Upper Silesia and remained there until the end of the war.
Pat W |
Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 1559
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:19 pm: |
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Just a minor comment.
By the time of her sinking, Ceramic was no longer a White Star ship. At the time of the 1934 merger of the North Atlantic operations of Cunard and White Star, Ceramic, together with other ships that had been employed on White Star's Australian and New Zealand services went over to Shaw, Savill & Albion.
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
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Clare Hardy
Member
Username: ceramica
Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:34 pm: |
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A few points, regarding the article above, the Ceramic didn't have first class accommodation, it was a single class ship though quite comfortable; my grandfather wrote, "in fact we are in luxury". Also, Ceramic was dispersed on 5th December not 2nd December. In addition, the link provided above says the Ceramic didn't have time to put out a distress signal. This is not the case. U-515's log records their interception of the distress call, by which they identified the ship. The distress call was picked up, located and acted upon as on 9th December the Portuguese destroyer Dao and HMS Enterprise were sent to search for survivors, and the sinking was also reported in the weekly resumé of the War Cabinet. |
Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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In addition, the link provided above says the Ceramic didn't have time to put out a distress signal. This is not the case.
I don't remember which of the sources I cited has this statement in it. Once I get the copies of the book I've ordered---guess I need to pay first, eh?---the Great Ships write-up will have to be updated.
on 9 December the Portuguese destroyer Dao and HMS Enterprise were sent to search for survivors
This is great. It confirms what I wrote on Great Ships about the sources that state that the sinking went unknown for months.
BTW, Clare, payment will be forthcoming tonight.
:-)
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
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Inger Sheil
Member
Username: isheil
Post Number: 2929
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 1:03 am: |
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Quite right, MAB - Clare writes up the transfer of ownership in the book, and the refit that took place at that time. I'm referring to 'WSL' throughout my comments, but perhaps 'Harland & Wolff built liner' might more usefully cover her entire lifespan.
Pat, there's a wonderful wealth of material about Henke and the U-Boat crew in the book - Clare has gone to great lengths to gather material about these other witnesses, including interviews with those still alive. |
Pat Winship
Member
Username: pbowman
Post Number: 404
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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Inger, I posted a link to Clare's website on uboat.net for that very reason! :-)
Henke met a tragic end. He was captured and imprisoned in the US. Apparently he believed that he would be subjected to a show-trial for war crimes. He went to the fence of the POW compound and kept climbing until the guards killed him.
Pat |
Inger Sheil
Member
Username: isheil
Post Number: 2936
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:54 am: |
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I'm sure they'll be intrigued, Pat!
There's a lot of material on Henke's end in the book - several accounts are represented. |
Clare Hardy
Member
Username: ceramica
Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:21 am: |
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For those who are interested in Werner Henke, whose story is just touched upon in my book, his biography was published by Timothy Mulligan in 1993 under the title "Lone Wolf: The Life and Death of U-Boat Ace Werner Henke". This is a meticulously researched and referenced book that portrays a complex character with no partiality either way. Tim got to know the crew of U-515 very well in the course of his research, and they hold him in very high regard. The book is rare and out of print but available secondhand through Amazon marketplace sellers and occasionally eBay. The ISBN is 0-275-93677-5. |
Linda Sherlock
Member
Username: marina
Post Number: 8
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:52 am: |
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Many thanks for the information on Timothy Mulligan's biography of Werner Henke, Clare. I just ordered it from ABEbooks and while I was doing so, one of his other books, Neither Wolves nor Sharks, about the u-boat arm of the German Navy in WWII, fell into my basket as well |
Timothy Trower
Member
Username: tjtrower
Post Number: 27
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 3:38 am: |
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Received my copy of Claire's book this afternoon (what more appropriate place to have it mailed to than a company called "White Star"!) and it was a huge battle of wills to not read it but to concentrate on work instead.
Still, flipped through it and am deeply impressed with the amount of detail that is included. Shortly I'll be off to bed, but will probably read way past when I should be asleep.
I meant to grab it off the wall and bring it home for reference: I've a copy of a Smithsonian Institution photograph of the Ceramic in dazzle paint hanging on the wall of the print shop. I'll pull it from the frame and post the ordering number for anyone who might be interested in buying a copy from the Smithsonian.
I've always assumed that the Ceramic in dazzle paint was from WWI, but didn't see any like pictures in the book for comparison. Any thoughts on that? |
Clare Hardy
Member
Username: ceramica
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
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Hi Timothy... now that IS interesting, and I'd certainly like to see a copy of that picture and maybe include it in a second edition. I know that the Ceramic (Troopship A40) started off WW1 in her usual livery with a bit of Aussiefication, but by 1917 she was in grey war paint (see p.80). Dazzle paint must have been short-lived and a lot of effort. I look forward to seeing the picture, it should be straightforward to ID it as WW1.
I welcome any extra info on the SS Ceramic, as the book isn't a definitive record, just the best I could do for a first edition. Hopefully we can build on it! |
Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 1575
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 6:14 pm: |
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My copy arrived today; all I can say is:
WOW!
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
|
Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 351
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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I've read Clare's book from cover to cover and I can definitely say she has set a high standard for researching ocean liners and writing books. It was the perfect blend of text and pictures and the oral history was excellent. I certainly hope she writes about another ship/ or shipwreck.
Mike
Clemency: We've been torpedoed! Oh, Mother! What shall we do?
Millicent: Get the jewelry.
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Timothy Trower
Member
Username: tjtrower
Post Number: 38
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 9, 2006 - 3:19 am: |
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At long last I remembered to take my picture of the Ceramic off the wall at the print shop and bring it home to scan. This was ordered from the Smithsonian Institution and is negative 45702G. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
However, and maybe I'm too old to learn new tricks, I couldn't size it so that ET would accept it (without making it the size of a postage stamp). So, here is the url to the picture.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j288/tjtrower/scan.jpg |
Timothy Trower
Member
Username: tjtrower
Post Number: 81
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 - 1:50 am: |
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Pause to remember the passengers and crew of the SS Ceramic, lost this day in 1942. |
Faye Jeanette Brea
Member
Username: strand47
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 10:40 am: |
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My Uncle (Arthur) Keith Strand was in the merchant navy when his ship the Awatea was bombed in Nov 42 - the crew were picked up by a Dutch chip Marnix Van St Adegonde and taken safely to Liverpool. From a childhood tale I behieve the gangplank collapsed and my uncle and another crew member were taken to hospital. Upon discharge they went up on a lightening trip to Glasgow to say goodbye to some nurses - arriving at the station to return to see the train pulling out. They arrived back to Liverpool to see their ship that was to take them back home NZ departing - my uncle told me that ship was torpedoed with only one survivor.
I have found in mail he sent me before he passed away an article on the Awatea - A Viking's Funeral and also Sole Survivor of the Sea - Captain James F Wise?? Chapter Seven Sapper Eric Munday Royal Engineers relating to the Ceramic. I believe this could have been the ship my uncle was referring to that was bombed. I have written to Clare but wondered if anyone knows if any other Merchant Seaman were on this ship - particularly any of the Awatea crew but presume it may have only been my uncle and his crewmate that had been in hospital that were booked. Really appreciate finding this site . Faye Brea. |
