Aussie girl needing assistance

[Pixie76]

Hi guys I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me out. My mother works in a nursing home & takes care of an elderly lady who really needs your help. When this lady was 4 years old at the outbreak of the second world war her 14 year old brother ran away from home & joined the merchant navy. Sadly just before his 18 birthday the British ship he was on the "Winamac" was torpedoed by U66 and sunk off Brazil. Some of the men survived but "Allan Stewart Winchester" did not. The lady remembers a man in uniform coming to tell her mother that her brother had been killed. She also remembers that he was on another boat prior to the "Winamac" that was sunk off England & he was rescued & an English family took him in for a while and looked after him. All she knows was that their name was "McDonald". She doesn't know the name of the boat. If anyone could give me any info at all I would greatly appreciate it. I haven't been able to find much info & can't find a picture of the "Winamac". I am willing to help out if anyone would like help with research in Australia in return.

[Tony Wilding]

she was launched as SS PULPIT POINT In 1926, name changed to SS WINAMAC 1934, Sunk 31 august 1942 by U66, 51 dead 21 survivors, only photo i can find is of her under original name of Pulpit Point. click on photo and it will enlarge, she was sunk approx 390 miles east of trinidad. best wishes, Tony W.

[Gulliver]

Some information gathered for you:-


　
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
CLYDEBUILT SHIPS
U-BOAT.net


Best Regards
Gulliver
　
　
　

[Mike Hall]

hi,
traced his seamans registration number as R 215894.
mike

[Tony Wilding]

another photo of her being built,pulpit_point_ss.jpg

[Pixie76]

Thanks guys that is all the info I've been able to find already. I thought someone might know something else but it seems that there isn't alot of info available about the Winamac. Thanks for your help anyway.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hello Pixie 76, I have really just come across your post as I am certain others will. Please do not give up, info generally comes at once, or can take an age. Generally, many do seek to help but do not report back if negative. At a time when requests are made, often it is to do with the elderley and we appreciate that time is of the essence. Please bear with us on this and all that can be done will be, I for one will also do my best to help.

Any further info would assist much, links to what you have found are invaluable, as you must realise research is time consuming and as no one here charges, our only reward is possibly a result and knowing we have helped or tried to and sometimes just a simple thank you.

As said will do all that I can, fingers crossed - K.

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------

At 14.17 hours on 31 Aug, 1942, the unescorted Winamac (Master Edgar Harrison), dispersed from convoy TRIN-3, was hit in the engine room by one of two torpedoes from U-66 about 390 miles east of Trinidad. The tanker burst into flames and sank quickly. The master, 26 crew members and three gunners were lost. 21 crew members were picked up by Empire Lugard and landed at Trinidad.

Personal information:

Son of William Arthur Sydney and Catherine Winchester, of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

I am aware that you hold this information already, but tend to post as I find and usually liaise much with the enquirer as to content and direction, need as much input from yourself/selves as possible.

K.

---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------

Along the way often much else is found also and if in any way a little relevant will be added: Hopefully, this may be well received by yourself and others ?

"Australia's Merchant Mariners WW2"

They need no dirge, For time and tide fills
All things with tribute unto them;
The warmth of a Summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,
The comforting arm of night,
The generous soul of nature, The power of the sea birds flight.

Blow golden trumpets blow mournfully,
For all the golden youth that be,.
For all the shattered dreams that lie,
Where God has lain His quiet dead
For all the world to see, beneath some Alien Ocean Bed.

Author Unknown.

K.

[Tony Wilding]

HELLO PIXIE, In all honesty not much is written about merchant ships, unless involved in a disaster, SS WINIMAC was a tanker one of thousands, was not untill she was torpedoed that she became a news item, passenger ships make more headlines, thats why photos of old cargo ships are hard to find, unless taken by the builder or a crew member, one way to find his previous ships is to obtain his seamans pouch from the public records office at kew in the UK, am sure somone will advise you how to do that, unfortunately that service is charged for by that office, you would at least get the names of all the ships he served on, best wishes, Tony Wilding.

[Pixie76]

Thanks Keith I won't give up, as a family history researcher I know it all takes time. I dont charge people either I just help because I love doing it. As I said if anyone needs help with researxh in Australia I'm willing to help out with that. I love your Welsh flag by the way, I'm 1/4 Welsh through my mothers side but researching that line of the tree is not easy. Trying to search for "David Lewis" in Wales is like looking for a John Smith in England not fun at all !!! My mum is very disappointed about it.
Tony I was thinking maybe the National Archives might have something so will have to check it out too. Will keep checking in with you guys to see whats happening, like I said if I can help any of you let me know.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Personally, just in from work, tonight just checking mail, posts etc. I tend to try and answer all as quickly as pos, even if not actually giving the results required. I than do again as much as pos ASAP. Initially thanks for your reply often few actually return or seem not to. It comes over that we may have not given the results soon enough, but can guarantee many will have tried.

Glad you will keep looking in, generally working with those that enquire helps much and they usually hold the key with some small piece of info they thought not important: Keep the thread alive with updates etc, it helps much and add any new finds, saves us exhausting the same territory.

Will as said do all pos to help.

Would have taken up your offer of help in Oz, took some time but am now re-united with family folk in Mooroopna, took an age.

Hopefully by the weekend, I will be able to look into all more.

If I as many can help, we will.

Your liaison is most important, if you seem to give up, a newer request for help may receive more attention. Keep all fresh, it works to a large extent.

Regards, Keith.