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The SS Anslem was built in Dumbarton in 1935, a coal fired passenger ship, she was converted to a troop ship in 1940. The SS Anselm was sunk by U96 5 July 1941 about 300 miles north of the Azores while on passage from Gourock to Freetown carrying 1,200 troops. 250 troops and 4 crewmen were lost. The Monthly Anti-submarine Report for September, 1941, states that immediately preceding the attack, HMS Challenger and SS Anselm were in line ahead and were being screened by HMS Lavender and HMS Petunia. HMS Starwort, whose Asdic (anti-submarine detection equipment) was out of order, was stationed astern. The escorts had been keeping listening watch in thick fog, but at 0350 the fog cleared and both ships commenced transmitting. At this time, HMS Lavender and HMS Petunia took up screening positions on either bow of HMS Challenger and commenced a zigzag on a course just east of south at a speed of 11 knots. At 0426, in approximate position 44 30N, 28 30W, not far from the Canary Islands, the SS Anselm was struck by a torpedo on the port side amidships. The SS Anselm settled rapidly by the head and sank 22 minutes after being hit.
All the lifeboats got away with the exception of No 6, which was damaged by the explosion. By skilful manoeuvring, HMS Challenger placed her bow alongside the SS Anselm’s port quarter, and in this manner rescued 60 men. Unfortunately 254 men, including 175 RAF personnel, lost their lives, but it is probable that many of these were killed by the explosion of the torpedo which struck the ship immediately below the accommodation space.
My father Wilfred Marten was on board the SS Anselm and has always had great admiration for the actions of the padre Cecil Pugh, he mentioned how he helped the erks when the stair case had been blown up, as far as my father knows the ship was still moving along as the 'padre' was consoling the men. My father was on the first deck down only because on arrival in Liverpool they asked for volunteers to man the machine guns he thinks the may have been browning's. As he had done some shooting at blackpool on training and was a member of the rifle club. All bullets having gone through the same hole at a hundred yards.
Wilfreds hammock was attached to the stair well so he was knocked out of bed by the explosion. Somebody pulled my father up from the first deck down to the main deck, he does not know the name of the man who lowered the rope and does not know what became of him? They had been told that it was safe enough to undress so he was only in undergarments, no boots and airforce trousers. My father and one other man went around throwing ropes into the hold, and could hear them shouting. After first affixing the ropes to anything fixed atop. He also let rafts down and threw them into the sea. The deck of the ship at this time was empty except maybe for two others helping the best they could. The front of the ship started to go down and LAC W Marten (butch) moved to the stern, got to the railings and got ready to jump in. It was just getting daylight. he jumped in and went a long way down and then swam for the light and looked for something to hold on to. He floated around for an hours or so with only a small Naval float which kept him up.
An officer who had removed his epaulette's and any notification of rank started to order my father to row. After being picked up by a rowing boat 'butch' looked near deaths door and was exhausted, a kindly naval rating possibly a petty officer came to his aid and suggested that if he did not shut his mouth he would go over the side. My father had been in the water for a few hours and he was treated very well by the ratings that picked him up, he was in no fit state to row a boat.
He was taken to the Starwort and climbed with help the netting. When on the boat they were treated like Lords. He was given rum and got rid of the sea water. He thinks that he was taken to Flora bay. He still does not know where he was bound for but this site has given me some information to act on. The following day 150 approximately of RAF personnel were sent to Bo. He would like to hear from anyone aboard.
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List of those who served on this Ship
- Sqn-Ldr The Rev Herbert Cecil "Padre" Pugh. RAF (d. 5th July 1941)Read his story
- Wilfred Marten. Read his story
- Leading Aircraftman Charles Lewis Woods. (d. 5th July 1941) Read his story
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