Posted by Carl H. Swanson on March 5, 2012, 4:54 pm
My father, Hollis Swanson, was a radio operator aboard the Bering, which was part of the Forgotten Convoy (JW 53) to Murmansk, leaving in February 1943, and not returning until November 1943. This experience left him unwilling to talk about his service history. Is there a way of getting more information on his service? Or possibly a crew list from the Bering in 1943? Thanks very much.
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
My father was on the SS Bering as well! I have a couple of pictures. Please contact me and I will send you what information I have. My father, Robert W. Fuller was a gunner's mate on the SS Bering. I have his "arctic circle" certificate.
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
Hello Carl, My Grandfather was Master of the SS Llandaff, the lead British ship on Convoy JW53, the Forgotten Convoy. I can understand why your father was unwilling to talk about the experience - it was absolute hell. Through speaking to my Aunt and my own research, here is summary of what I know. Because I am talking from a British Merchant Navy perspective, some of the details may not be exactly pertinent, but it will give you an idea of what went on. The British convoy left Loch Ewe in Scotland on 15th Feb. The Convoys travelled in winter in order to take advantage of the Arctic darkness - at worst, this meant 24 hours of darkness, but it made it harder for the Germans to locate the ships. It was obviously also bitterly cold. There are instances where sailors went to replace their comrades on night watch only to discover that they had frozen to death. The sailors used to play at dripping to cocoa on the deck - by the time the drop hit the deck, the drip would bounce as it had been frozen. They left in a gale, but the winds developed into a hurricane. Two of the British escort vessels, the Sheffield and Dasher and 6 merchant vessels had to return to port because of damage. The convoy was located by aircraft on Feb. 23rd, unsuccessfully attacking on the 26th. U-boat contact was made on the 24th, but they avoided loss. The vessels were carrying explosives and other munitions - they were sitting on a powder keg, so it must have been terrifying. On my grandfather's ship, some of the lifeboats were damaged in the bad weather and set loose, wreckage was found in the sea and as a result, my grandmother heard twice from Lord Haw Haw's broadcasts (the traitor) and once from the government that my grandfather's vessel was sunk. There was no radio contact allowed, so she did not know he was still alive until he returned home the following November. Although rescue vessels sailed with the convoys, the survival time in the sea was less than 3 minutes - she announced his death to her children. The military escort returned home, leaving the merchant vessels in Russia. They were then given notification that they would be remaining in Murmansk/Archangel 'indefinitely' - the dominance of the huge German battleship Tirpitz and Sharnhorst, supported by a fleet of U-boats made safe return impossible as the Royal Navy's priorities lay elsewhere. Whilst stranded, they were subject to ongoing overhead attack. The British vessel Ocean Freedom was sunk in port. The ships were stranded with limited rations - as time went by, they were put on starvation rations. The Russians, in a worse food situation than the sailors, shared their black bread with them. The British swapped limes (to combat scurvy) for spam with the Americans. As summer came in, they were subject to 24 hour daylight. Many suffered mental breakdowns, there were suicides and a murder. The merchant vessels helped with transport of Russian supplies in between Murmansk and Archangel. During this time, my grandfather's ship was bombed and set on fire. It was beached and flooded on Kildin Island and following temporary repairs managed to return to Loch Ewe on Convoy RA54B, the same convoy that your father returned on. This was only a small convoy of about 8 merchant vessels. The diary of the escort ship HMS Anson records that the weather was so extreme, that the destroyers had to temporarily detach from the convoy, so they were sailing with limited protection in appalling conditions. In the UK, much of what went on with regard to the Arctic Convoys is still covered by the Official Secrets Act and will not be available until 2043. However, from anecdote, evidence from salvaged vessels and some ships records, it is now recognised that some of the vessels returned home with Russian gold and silver, which went predominantly to the US as part of the lend lease agreement. On Convoy RA54B, Royal Naval records show that gold was carried under the code name 'Caviar'. Churchill described the Arctic Convoys as "the most dangerous journey in the world" - Convoys JW53 and RA54B had the worst of the Arctic weather, plus the hell of being stranded in terrible conditions for many months.
Hope this is of some interest to you.
Carl, if you have a moment, would you consider signing the attached petition? The UK government has refused to issue a medal specific to the heroes of the Arctic Convoys Campaign and is also stopping the few remaining survivors from accepting the Ushakov medal which the Russians would like to award to the veterans. The Merchant Navy website has launched this petition, and could do with all the help they can get to make this happen: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40873
With best wishes Siobhan Palmer (grandaughter of Captain Edwin Rice O.B.E.)
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
Thanks so much for taking the time to write your post. I tried to sign the petition, but it appears to be restricted to British citizens. I applaud your efforts to convice your government to recognize the hardships that were endured, and the contributions of these extraoridnary men.
My father was influenced strongly by this experience the remainder of his life. While he would not talk about many of details of the ordeal, he did share some stories. He told me about using seal skin kayaks to get back and forth from the ship to the shore, and trading cigarettes for various local items. He described the Russian natives as strong, but kind, and the women as extremely "sturdy". I remember him telling me that there were a few self proclaimed aethiests aboard when they set out, but when the attacks started, they all joined the rest of the crew on their knees praying for their lives.
Again, thank you so much for your time and your thoughts.
Sincerely, Carl H. Swanson
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
Thank you so much for trying to sign the petition. In the UK there are fewer than 200 survivors of the Convoys. Like your father, my grandfather preferred to put these hard times behind him and the tragedy is that, as a result, their suffering and their contribution to the war effort has been largely forgotten. There seems to be very little published information regarding the 'Forgotten Convoy'. I have not been able to locate any of the 'log books' (apologies if this is not the correct naval term) or ships' records for the merchant vessels, but in the new year, I am going to try to get down to our records offices to see if I can piece anything together from the Royal Navy records (as the RN vessels were not 'trapped' in the same way as the MN vessels, I suspect this still won't give a full picture). Your stories are very interesting and add richness to the picture of their lives. If you don't mind, I will mention these to the members of the merchant-navy.net website who have been helpful in gathering information about my grandfather's ship and who are leading the fight to get some recognition for the Convoy veterans and allow them to receive the Ushakov Medal. I can't remember if I sent you this link previously - it is a summarised version of the Senior British Naval Officer's reports from the Halcyon class vessels (minesweepers and survey ships)stationed in Russia at that time. A mention is made of the Bering. The SBNO describes their existence as being 'like a concentration camp' I'll keep you informed if I manage to find any more information about the 'Forgotten Convoy' http://www.halcyon-class.co.uk/SBNOreports/feb-apr_1943.htm
With kind regards,
Siobhan
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
1946 A record of the 135 ocean tankers of the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) and the Panama Transport Company during world war 2. One chapter about the SS Beaconhill one of the "forgotten convoy".
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
My father was the OIC of the gunnery crew aboard the Beaconhill. In that capacity he had to keep detailed records because he had to file a report upon returning to the US. We still have those records, plus my mother persuaded him to talk in detail before he died in 1987. I have a 38 page account from this project. My father turned 23 during the year there and lost 50 pounds. The ships at Murmansk were bombed daily, which is why they were moved to the White Sea. By the time this happened it had become obvious that they would not be leaving Russia any time soon. I am in the midst of writing a book with the stories that came out of all of this. These men deserve not only to be remembered, but honored for their sacrifices.
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
M. Keller, could you share with me the account you have from your father as OIC of Beaconhill gun crews. If you have published it please advise where to buy. My father was gunners mate - William Twyford
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
Hello there. My late father, John A Trainer was a 21 year old crew member of the SSBeaconhill which arrived in NY in Dec 1943. I would love to know more about this facet of his life's journey and would greatly appreciate any advise you may be able to offer to further that aim. Please get in touch if possible. Thank you
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
My father was a gunners mate on the Beaconhill in the forgotten convoy.5 He never ever ate brown bread after being in Russia. He talked about going back/forth from murmansk and archangel. Always under attack. Any way you could share your father's report with me?
Re: Hollis Swanson, aboard Bering in Forgotten Convoy
Check the National Archvies and Records Administration (NARA). They should have the AG report and also crew lists included in the "secret Log." etc for the ship...and 10th fleet records should have a convoy file.
You can check their web site and send a request at www.archives.gov