Miscellaneous Ship Histories

Athenia (II)

 

Sinking - Newspaper and other accounts 18 November 1939 to 31 December 1945,

Tower Hill Memorial and Roll of Honour

Govan to Nuremberg - the History of Athenia (II)

In February 1940 The Times makes brief mention of one of the lifeboats from Athenia (II) being washed ashore in Lerwick in Shetland. After this date there are numerous press references to the sinking of Athenia (II) but they do not add any new information. In mentioning some new action by the Germans, they hark back to the Athenia (II) with remarks similar to “….like when the Athenia was torpedoed” so these have not been included here. The next press item of real interest does not appear until after the end of war in Europe and the setting up of trials of German War Criminals in Nuremburg.

Press Coverage 31 December 1945

Image 3

Image 3 is from page 4 of The Times on 31 December and reports on the preparations for the trial. The Athenia (II) sinking will form part of the case against Raeder.

Press Coverage 3 January 1940

Image 2

Image 2 is from page 8 of The Times on 3 January and reports on the award of an O.B.E. to Barnett Copeland, Chief Officer of Athenia (II) and a B.E.M to Boatswain William Harvey.

Press Coverage 18 November 1939

Image 1

Image 1 is from page 4 of The Times on 18 November and is a letter to the editor about the assistance given to survivors by the owner of Southern Cross.

Tower Hill War Memorial

Image 3

Images 4 & 5 show the plaques for Athenia (II) on the Merchant Navy memorial at Tower Hill.

Roll of Honour

 

The table below lists the members of the Merchant Navy who died as a result of the sinking of Athenia (II). Information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commision website Ext. Ref. #10.

Images

 

1. Images #4 and #5 by the Webmaster

2. All other images are from The Times Archive - Ext Ref. #12

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