New Westminster City (1)

Comments from the forum - 1

On that initial convoy to Russia, New Westminster City arrived safely in Murmansk, along with five other merchant ships and their escorts. Eight months later, the NWC was again Russia bound, and this time arrived safely with convoy PQ 13 on 31st March. However, three days later, she was one of two vessels that were sunk in Murmansk by German bombing.

At the end of hostilities, she was raised by the Russian authorities, towed back to the UK where she was sold to the MOWT. Subsequently refurbished, she was sold to Irish Bay Lines of Belfast and renamed Dingle Bay. In 1951 she was then sold to Japan, renamed Asakaze Maru and continued trading until 1965 when she broken up. If you check out the photo Library again, you will find a photo of her as Dingle Bay.

Captain Oliver Lindsay is the expert in this field, and though he looks in on the Forum from time to time he does not post up. However, we are in regular contact with him, and keep him abreast of what goes on. He has written extensively on the Russian Convoys from first-hand experience. He was a first trip apprentice, in 1941, aboard the Botavon, one of three “Bots” operated by RSL for the MOWT. He made three Russian Convoy trips on that ship: PQ7b, in January 1942; an abortive one in April 1942, when in convoy PQ 14, the ship was forced to return to Iceland with ice damage; and a fatal one, PQ15, the following month, when she was sunk off Murmansk; 21 of his shipmates lost their lives.

Fortunately, Oliver, in recent years, often in the “Shipmates” Newsletter, has written down many of his wartime memoirs, and he has given several local radio and TV interviews, particularly on the subject of the Russian Convoys. Most recently, he has been to the fore in South Wales circles in lobbying for the issue of the Russian Convoy Medal. Now that the issue appears to have been settled, he is looking forward to receiving his. Mike Jones. Posted on forum 12 February 2013.

Hello Graham
The vessel you refer to was built in 1929. In April 1942 she was bombed and sunk in Murmansk with the loss of two crew members.
However, in March 1947, she was raised by the Russians and towed back to Penarth where she was repaired.
In 1948 she was sold to Irish Owners and renamed "Dingle Bay"
In 1951 she went to the Japanese and renamed "Asakazu Maru"
She was finally broken up in 1965
The above information recorded in Heaton's History of a South Wales Shipping Venture.
We are pleased that you found your way to our website and to have contact with someone closely connected with the vessel.
For your information, Reardon Smith built three further vessels by that name. John Cann. Posted on forum 21 July 2011.

Disclaimer: The statements on this page are the views of the person who posted them on the forum. The events took place many years ago and in most cases rely on those people's memories, and so we cannot guarantee the accuracy although every effort is made to check it.

New Westminster City. Page [1] [2]
Memories from RSL staff. Page [1]
Official Loss Report. Page [1] [2] [3]