The Convoy Battles
The period 18-20 October 1940 is one of the most devastating of the war for the British due to huge losses at sea. Air raids can be handled, though of course they inflict great punishment; but Britain relies on imports for its very survival. Winston Churchill later comments that the war at sea was always his greatest concern during the war’s early years, and, as discussed below, today is an extreme example of why that is.
Two tremendous convoy battles rage: German submarines U-38, U-46, U-47, and two others attacked Allied Convoy HX.79 200 miles west of Ireland, sinking 5 ships and damaging tanker Shirak. Meanwhile, German submarines U-99, U-100, U-101, and U-123 continued to attack Allied Convoy SC.7 100 miles northwest of Ireland. U-123 sank British ship Shekatika as Shekatika received her fifth torpedo hit. U-99 sank Norwegian ship Snefjeld; the entire crew of 21 survived. The Allied losses today are severe.
Convoys SC.7 and HX.79 begin to merge in the Western Approaches to Liverpool. A U-boat wolfpack has been attacking SC.7 on the night of 18/19 October, and the convoy’s survivors begin to recede to the east. Today, an entirely new convoy, HX.79, hoves into view from the west. The wolfpack begins stalking Convoy HX.79 as well. Yesterday we summarized the attacks on SC 7, which continue through the morning of the 19th; today, we summarize the attacks on HX.79.
Convoy HX.79 is composed of 49 ships that sailed out of Halifax on 8 October. It is about four days from landfall at Liverpool. It had been several days behind Convoy SC.7 but has since almost caught up to it. While originally the convoy had no escorts in the mid-Atlantic, the Admiralty, realizing by reports from Convoy SC.7 that U-boats are in the area, quickly sends 11 Royal Navy vessels (LCdr. Russell) out to protect it. These consist of:
Destroyers HMS Whitehall and HMS Sturdy
Corvettes HMS Hibiscus, HMS Heliotrope, HMS Coreopsis, and HMS Arabis
A/S Trawlers HMS Lady Elsa, HMS Blackfly, HMS Angle
Minesweeper HMS Jason
Submarine O-14
The U-boats had savaged Convoy SC.7 during the night of 18-19 October. Some U-boats depart the scene after that, due to running out of torpedoes or under instructions to stalk another target, Convoy HX.72. Those left are:
U-47 (Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien);
U-100 (Joachim Schepke);
U-46 (Engelbert Endrass);
U-48 (Heinrich Bleichrodt); and
U-38 (Heinrich Liebe).
Everything is being coordinated and controlled by Konteradmiral Karl Dönitz at his U-boat headquarters in Lorient. Doenitz relays instructions through Prien, who spotted the convoy originally. The sequential attacks on Convoy SC.7 and HX.79 are the first classic wolfpack action of the war, though there has been some small-scale cooperation previously.
The U-boats wait throughout the day as Convoy HX.79 approaches from the west. As darkness falls, they approach on the surface. Prien brazenly sails into the middle of the convoy from the south, Endrass from the north. This is Prien’s favorite tactic, and Endrass had been Prien’s second before receiving his current command, so they know what the other is likely to do without communicating. The convoy escort is completely ineffective, as was the one for Convoy SC.7.
After the U-boats are in position, all Hell breaks loose. The battle continues past midnight into the 20th, but we will look at the entire night’s results here.
U-47 sinks (damages) the following ships:
4966-ton Uganda
6023-ton Shirak (damaged)
4947-ton Wandby
5185-ton La Estancia
5026-ton Whitford Point
8995-ton Athelmonarch (damaged).
U-100 sinks the following:
8230-ton Caprella
6218-ton Sitala
5452-ton Loch Lomond
U-46 sinks:
4548- ton Ruperra
9965-ton Janus
U-38 sinks:
7653-ton Matheran
6856-ton Bilderdijk
U-48 sinks:
6023-ton Shirak (U-47 damages her first)
Altogether, the U-boats sink 12 ships of 75,069 tons and damage two others of 15,018 tons. The Allied escort not only is ineffective, it also trips all over itself, as the surface escorts mistake their own submarine O-14 for a U-boat and attack it without, fortunately, sinking it.
It is a classic U-boat attack. Just like on the previous night, there are burning ships, sinking ships, derelicts getting in the way, lifeboats, U-boats, flotsam, jetsam, explosions, men drowning left and right, ships careening at full speed into the night — everything. The U-boats make a clean getaway, though an armed merchant ship takes a few potshots at U-1010 and misses.
While the Germans are frantically trying to uncover Italian intentions toward Greece using their own sources, Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano continues to dribble out information. Today, he sends a telegram summarizing the planned invasion but puts the start date as 23 October. In fact, the projected start date is 28 October, as he should know. Shortly after, German Ambassador to Rome Hans Georg Mackensen telegrams that Ciano has informed him that Hitler has approved Mussolini’s plan to attack Greece. This is news to Ribbentrop, who was present at the Brenner Pass meeting and has no inkling that this was supposedly discussed. Upon being informed of these communications, Hitler tells Ribbentrop to do nothing regarding the matter — which some interpret as approval of the invasion by silence. However, the entire affair is muddled and subject to interpretation.
The OKW completes planning for Operation FELIX, the invasion of Gibraltar. This, however, requires the participation of Spain, and thus Spanish entry into the war.
Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler travels by train to Spain to meet with Franco and get in a little tourist time devoted to his mystical beliefs about German ancestors.
Belgian Prime Minister Pierlot and Foreign Minister Spaak have been interned in Barcelona since the fall of Belgium in May. They elude their captors and escape to neutral Portugal hidden in a truck. Technically they can also be interned there, too, but the Portuguese government is notorious for not doing so.
Adolf Hitler decides to meet with French leader Petain and Spanish leader Franco. He will depart on his train Amerika late on the 20th.
Serious charges were lodged in Riom, France today against Leon Blum and Paul Reynaud, both former Premiers, and Georges Mandel, former Foreign and Interior Minister, in the course of the Supreme Court’s investigation of the causes of the war and the defeat of French arms.
The Stavka plans a major ship-building program in the Soviet Union.
At Malta, Governor Dobbie once again complains about the mail and newspaper service to the island. Everything comes around Africa and takes weeks, if not months, to reach soldiers stationed on Malta. This is creating a real morale problem. For instance, at this time, the latest mail received by the troops is from August, and some just recently received is from as far back as May. This was before the start of the bombing of London, so there is increasing anxiety about the safety of relatives and property.
General Sir Alan Cunningham becomes commander of British forces in East Africa.
During the day, a German Ju 88 bomber was shot down near Maidstone, Kent and another near Falmouth, Cornwall in England, United Kingdom. A raid of 60 German fighters and fighter-bombers for London was intercepted by 5 RAF squadrons over Kent at 1430 hours; 2 British fighters were shot down during the battle with 1 pilot killed. Overnight, London, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, and Coventry were bombed.
The poor weather continues, restricting flight operations. There are scattered reconnaissance flights and an occasional “pirate raid,” with some houses destroyed in Coventry.
At 14:00, some fighter-bombers (Jabos) set out for London, but they don’t accomplish anything. At 15:00, the day’s major daylight raid takes place. About 60 aircraft, including some Dornier Do 17s and Junkers Ju 88s, head for London. The RAF sends up five squadrons to intercept them. The RAF loses a couple of Spitfires.
The poor weather continues into the night, but the Luftwaffe attacks the usual targets: London, Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry, Birmingham, Bristol, and South Wales. London takes the brunt of the attack, with the rail lines and dockyards suffering greatly. In the silver lining department, so much has been destroyed in the dockyards area that the bombs only stir up old debris. Eastbourne also takes damage to its gas works, where the gasometer is damaged.
Overall, it is a quiet day and a rare “victory” for the Luftwaffe. It loses two planes to the RAF’s five. The Luftwaffe tends to do well on days with little action, whereas it gets its head handed to it when it mounts massive daylight attacks.
Pips Priller, 6./JG 51, gets his 20th victory and is awarded the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz). Pips Priller is known for a flamboyant lifestyle, driving a fancy red car, and dressing well.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 16 Blenheims on daylight cloud-cover raids on a sweep; no bombs dropped and no losses.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden overnight to Osnabruck and Berlin but Berlin was not reached. No losses but 1 Whitley crashed in England.
The RAF attacks Italian positions at Benghazi, Berka, Halfaya, Maritza (in the Dodecanese), and Diredawa, Abyssinia. The Italians respond during the night with attacks on Cairo, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, targeting British ARAMCO oil installations. There are reports in the press that the Italians are sending out patrols in anticipation of a continuation of their offensive, but the Italian Commando Supremo has its eyes on Greece, not North Africa.
Royal Navy commanders were tonight counting the cost of Admiral Donitz’s escalation of the U-boat war. U-boats are now ordered to hunt in “wolfpacks” of up to a dozen boats. One pack has sunk over 30 ships from two convoys and damaged another in the last two days. The slaughter began when Lieutenant Heinrich Bleichrodt in U-48 spotted a slow convoy, SC-7, escorted by two sloops and a corvette. Without waiting for the rest of the pack to catch up, Bleichrodt attacked and sank two merchant ships. A Sunderland flying boat and a sloop then chased him. After dark last night five other pack members joined him. They struck together with devastating effectiveness, sinking 15 ships in six hours. Tragically, the escorts could do little to help as they floundered around picking up survivors. By this time U-48 and two others had used up all their torpedoes and headed for home. The others stayed to pick off some of the stragglers and to look for new prey. The pack leader was Gunther Prien, called the “Bull of Scapa Flow” in recognition for his daring sorties into the home of the British fleet. He homed in on the 49-ship convoy HX-79. Cautiously Prien waited for three other submarines to join him, by which time the convoy had an escort of two destroyers, four corvettes, three trawlers, and a Dutch submarine. Again Prien waited and then after nightfall struck suddenly with his full force. Within hours he had hit six ships and his colleagues had hit seven — 12 sank. In the chaos the defending forces mistook the Dutch boat O-14 for a German submarine and attacked it twice. This same night the U-boats run into Convoy HX-79A, outward from England and sink a further seven ships.
At 0250 hours on 19 October 1940 the now straggling Blairspey was hit by two torpedoes from U-100, but the badly damaged ship remained afloat because her load of timber and was saved.
In attacks on convoy SC.7, U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim, sank British steamer Assyrian (Convoy Commodore Vice Admiral L. D. I. MacKinnon, CB, CVO Rtd, 2962grt) and Dutch steamer Soesterberg (1904grt) in 57-12N, 10-43W. At 0122 hours on 19 Oct 1940, U-101 fired three bow torpedoes at the convoy SC.7 about 102 miles west by north of Barra Head, Outer Hebrides, and two minutes later the stern torpedo. Frauenheim reported four hits on four ships and claimed 21000 grt sunk. However, the Assyrian was hit by a bow torpedo and the Soesterberg by the stern torpedo.
The Assyrian (Master Reginald Sanderson Kearon) was the ship of the convoy commodore (Vice-Admiral Lachlan D.I. Mackinnon, CB, CVO, RN). 15 crew members and two naval staff members were lost. The master, the commodore, three naval staff members, 20 crew members and nine passengers were picked up by HMS Leith (L 36) (Cdr R.C. Allen, RN) and landed at Liverpool. The master, Reginald Sanderson Kearon, was awarded the Lloyd´s War Medal for bravery at sea. The 2,962-ton Assyrian was carrying grain and was bound for Liverpool, England.
The explosion of the torpedo that hit Soesterberg blew four men overboard and wrecked the starboard lifeboat. While three gunners left the ship on a raft, the rest of the crew abandoned ship in the port lifeboat. After a headcount revealed that the men from the engine room were missing, the master and the first mate reboarded the vessel and unsuccessfully tried to locate them, but they apparently had been killed on watch below. The abandoned ship remained afloat and even grazed the stern of the Assyrian nearby. Suddenly she came upright and sank shortly thereafter, bombarding the survivors of the Assyrian with pit props that came loose from the cargo. It wrecked most of the life rafts, but in the other hand the props were then also used as lifesavers by the survivors. A stoker from Soesterberg was later picked up by a lifeboat from Empire Brigade, which had been sunk by U-99 (Kretschmer) at the same time like Soesterberg. The survivors were picked up by HMS Leith (L 36) (Cdr R.C. Allen, RN) and landed at Liverpool. The 1,904 ton Soesterberg was carrying pit props and was bound for Hull, England.
U-101 attacked two other steamers claiming to have sunk both, but no confirmation is available.
U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Moehle, sank Dutch steamer Boekolo (2188grt), which was rescuing the survivors from British steamer Beatus (4885grt) in 57-14N, 10-38W. On 18 October 1940 the Boekelo fell behind the convoy SC.7 because she rescued survivors from the Beatus, which had been sunk U-46 (Endrass) at 2103 hours. At 2337 hours, she was torpedoed and damaged by U-100 (Schepke) in 56°40N/10°45W and was torpedoed and sunk by U-123 at 0131 hours on 19 October. The entire crew was rescued by Sloop HMS Fowey. The 2,118 ton Boekelo was carrying timber and was bound for London, England.
In attacks on convoy SC.7, U-99, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Kretschmer, sank British steamer Empire Brigade (5154grt) in 57-12N, 10-43W, Greek steamer Thalia (5875grt) in 57-00N, 11-30W, Norwegian steamer Snefjeld (1643grt) in 57-28N, 11-10W.
At 0138 hours on 19 October 1940 the Empire Brigade (Master Sydney Wyman Parks) in convoy SC.7 was torpedoed and sunk by U-99 about 100 miles east-southeast of Rockall. Five crew members and one gunner were lost. The master and 34 crew members were picked up by HMS Fowey (L 15) (LtCdr L.C.A. Leefe, RN) and landed at Greenock. The 5,154 ton Empire Brigade was carrying general cargo, including copper, ferro alloys, and steel and was bound for Leith, Scotland.
At 0155 hours on 19 October 1940 the Thalia in convoy SC.7 was hit in the bow by a G7e torpedo from U-99 and sank in 40 seconds. The 5,875 ton Thalia was carrying steel, lead, and zinc and was bound for Garston, England.
On 19 October 1940 the Snefjeld (Master Finn Skage) in convoy SC.7 launched three boats to search survivors from the Thalia, which had been sunk by U-99 at 0155 hours. They found four survivors and at 0302 hours were just about to raise two lifeboats back on board, when Snefjeld was hit on the starboard side at hatch #2 by a torpedo from the same U-boat, which had missed the ship with two torpedoes at 0240 and 0255 hours. Both lifeboats were destroyed, but a motor lifeboat was still on the water and saved those who had been in the boats, while the remaining crew abandoned ship in a dinghy. After one hour, the ship broke in two and sank. The survivors in the motorboat and the dinghy started to row towards land because the motor was inoperable. The next day, they found an empty raft of the Greek ship and took supplies from it. Shortly thereafter they found an empty lifeboat from Empire Brigade, which had also been sunk by U-99 and some of the men from the dinghy transferred to it. After one hour, a man standing on some debris was spotted and picked up, he came from Fiscus, another victim of Kretschmer. On 21 October, the survivors met a lifeboat with 29 men from Port Gisborne, which had been sunk by U-48 (Bleichrodt) ten days earlier, but lost contact overnight. The following day, all survivors transferred to the lifeboat as the motorboat kept taking in water and then rowed eastwards until they were picked up by HMS Clematis (K 36) (Cdr Y.M. Cleeves, DSO, DSC, RN) on 23 October. The 1,643 ton Snefjeld was carrying timber and was bound for London, England.
U-123 sank British steamer Sedgepool (5556grt) from convoy SC.7 in 57-20N, 11-22W. At 0155 hours on 19 October 1940 the Sedgepool (Master Robert Bell Witten) in convoy SC.7 was hit by one torpedo from U-123 and sank in five minutes about 80 miles west by south from St. Kilda. The ship had been missed by a first torpedo at 0135 hours. The master and two crew members were lost. 35 crew members and one gunner were picked up by the HMS Salvonia (W 43) (Lt G.M.M. Robinson, RNR) and landed at Gourock. The 5,556 ton Sedgepool was carrying wheat and was bound for Manchester, England.
U-99 damaged British steamer Clintonia (3106grt) from convoy SC.7 in 57-10N, 11-20W and U-123 sank the British ship with gunfire a short time later. At 0358 hours on 19 October 1940 the Clintonia (Master Thomas Hector Irvin) in convoy SC.7 was hit by one torpedo from U-99 (Kretschmer) about 200 miles west of St. Kilda. The vessel remained afloat and was sunk by gunfire from U-123 at 0504 hours. One crew member was lost. The master, 33 crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS Bluebell (K 80) (LtCdr R.E. Sherwood, RNR) and landed at Greenock. The 3,106 ton Clintonia was carrying pulpwood and was bound for Manchester, England.
U-38 sank British steamers Matheran (7653grt) in 57-00N, 17-00W, and the Dutch steamer Bilderdijk (6856grt) in 56-35N, 17-15W, 250 miles west of Skerryvore Light House from convoy HX.79. At 2213 hours on 19 October 1940, U-38 fired a torpedo at the convoy HX-79 about 120 miles west-southwest of Rockall and missed the intended target but hit a vessel behind, the Matheran. At 2219 hours, the U-boat fired another torpedo, which struck the Bilderdijk. Liebe then prepared to attack the next ship in the column but had to evade U-47 (Prien), which had set its sights on the same ship, the Uganda and sank her with one torpedo at 2227 hours.
The master and eight crew members from the Matheran (Master John Greenhall) were lost. 72 crew members were picked up by Loch Lomond from the same convoy, but the ship was sunk the next morning by U-100 (Schepke) as straggler. All men from Matheran survived the second sinking and were picked up by HMS Jason (J 99) (LtCdr R.E. Terry) and landed at Methil. The 7,653 ton Matheran was carrying iron, zinc, grain, machinery, and general cargo and was bound for Liverpool, England.
The master of the Bilderdijk (Master J. Munnik) observed the hit on the Matheran and had to evade her to avoid a collision. Before the turn was completed, she was hit by the second torpedo from U-38 An inspection revealed that there was no hope of saving the vessel and the entire crew went into the lifeboats. They were picked up after 30 minutes by HMS Jason (J 99) (LtCdr R.E. Terry, RN) and landed at Methil five days later. The 6,856 ton Bilderdijk was carrying grain and general cargo and was bound for Liverpool, England.
U-47, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, sank Uganda (4966grt) in 56-37N, 17-15W from convoy HX.79. Liebe of U-38 was about to attack the next ship in the column but had to evade U.47 (Prien), which had set its sights on the same ship, the Uganda and sank her with one torpedo at 2227 hours. The 4,966 ton Uganda was carrying lumber and steel and was bound for Milford Haven, England.
U-47 badly damaged British tanker Shirak (6023grt) from convoy HX.79 in 57-00N, 16-53W. Forty five minutes later, U-48 sank tanker Shirak. At 2331 hours on 19 October 1940 the Shirak (Master Lawrence Robert Morrison) was hit by a stern torpedo from U-47 (Prien), caught fire for a short time and fell behind the convoy where the crew abandoned ship. At 0024 hours on 20 October, the tanker was hit amidships by torpedo from U-48 caught again fire and sank about 90 miles southwest of Rockall. The master and 36 crew members were picked up by HMS Blackfly (FY 1173) (Lt A.P. Hughes, RNR) and landed at Belfast.
German submarines U-46 and U-47 sank British steamer Wandby (4947grt) from convoy HX.79 in 56-45N, 17-07W. At 2346 hours on 19 Oct 1940, U-46 (Endrass) and U-47 fired one torpedo each at a ship from the same side and both reported a hit, but it is likely that only the latter hit the Wandby (Master John Kenny) in station #16 The ship was on her maiden voyage and remained afloat on her cargo of lumber until she sank on 21 October. The master and 33 crew members were picked up by HMS Angle (FY 201) (Lt A.N. Blundell) and landed at Belfast on 26 October. The 4,947 ton Wandby was carrying lumber, lead, and zinc and was bound for Middlesbrough, England.
U-46, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass, sank British steamer Ruperra (4548grt) from convoy HX.79 in 57-00N, 16-00W. At 2347 hours on 19 October 1940 the Ruperra (Master David Thomas Davies) in convoy HX-79 was hit by one torpedo from U-46 and sank about 90 miles southwest of Rockall. The master, 29 crew members and one gunner were lost. Seven crew members were picked up by Induna and landed at Methil. The 4,548 ton Ruperra was carrying steel billets, scrap iron and aircraft and was bound for Leith, Scotland.
U-47 attacked a steamer in convoy HX.79 in 56-45N, 17-07W, but did not hit the steamer.
U-123 found the abandoned and damaged Shekatika again at 0244 hours on 19 October. At 0317 hours, a fifth torpedo hit the ship amidships, starting a fire in the engine room. The vessel developed a list and the deck cargo of pit props fell overboard before she sank. The master and 35 crew members were picked up by HMS Fowey (L 15) (Lt C.G. de L. Bush, RN) and landed at Grennock on 20 October.
Royal Canadian Navy patrol vessel HMCS Bras D’Or foundered in the early morning while keeping the Rumanian freighter Ingener N Vlassopol under surveillance in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Anticosti Island. Her last known position was 40.20N, 063.50W. Brad D’Or sank with no survivors. It has been suggested Brad D’Or foundered due to icing conditions that were prevalent at the time.
Destroyers HMS Venetia, HMS Walpole, and HMS Garth departed Dover on the 18th patrol in Straits of Dover. Returning on the 19th, destroyer Venetia (Lt Cdr D. L. C. Craig) was mined and sunk in the Thames Estuary near East Knob Buoy in 51-33N, 01-10E. Craig, S/Lt D. H- Jones DSC RNR, S/Lt J. S. E. Rogers, Temporary Surgeon Lt S. P- H- Fergus, MB, CHB RNVR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt D. Drew RNVR, thirty ratings were lost in the destroyer. Eighteen ratings were wounded.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curacoa arrived at Scapa Flow at 1415 after escorting convoy OA.231 from the vicinity of Buchanness.
Destroyer HMS Duncan departed Scapa Flow at 1900 for repairs at Liverpool.
Destroyer HMS Cleveland departed Scapa Flow at 0400 to escort the minelayer HMS Atreus from Kirkwall to Lerwick. On arrival, destroyer Cleveland returned to Kirkwall and escorted British steamer Ben My Chree to Aberdeen.
Polish submarine ORP Wilk attacked a Danish steamer, identified as Norge, in Lister Fjord without result.
British steamer Aridity (336grt) was sunk on a mine forty yards northeast of east Oaze Light Vessel.
British trawler Velia (290grt, Temporary Probationary L. J. G. Shoobridge RNR) was sunk on a mine near Kentish Knock Light Vessel, 51-48-05N, 1-44E. Trawlers Hekla and Stella Carina rescued the entire crew.
Destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Forester, HMS Fury, and HMS Foresight arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.
British troopship Reina Del Pacifico departed Gibraltar for Liverpool, escorted by destroyer HMS Foresight and given local escort by destroyer HMS Wrestler, which returned to Gibraltar after dark on the 21st.
From information found in Italian submarine Durbo, six destroyers (including HMS Forester, HMS Gallant, HMS Griffin, and HMS Hotspur) departed Gibraltar to hunt for Italian submarine Lafole, known to be operating off Cape Tresforcas.
Convoy OB.231 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Castleton and HMS Wanderer, corvettes HMS Erica and HMS Picotee, and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Cape Argona, HMS Drangey, and HMS Paynter. Destroyer Wanderer and corvette Picotee were detached on the 22nd and the remainder of the escort the next day.
Convoy OL.8 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMCS Margaree, HMS Havelock, HMCS Skeena, and HMS Hesperus on 19 to 21 October. The convoy dispersed on the 22nd. Destroyer Havelock was detached to convoy HG.45.
Convoy FN.312 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Winchester and sloop HMS Egret. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 21st.
Convoy FN.313 was cancelled.
Convoy FN.314 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Woolston and sloop HMS Black Swan. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 20th.
Convoy FS.314 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Wolsey and sloop HMS Lowestoft. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.
Wendell L. Wiilkie declared tonight that “we can accomplish the miracle of a safe, strong and prosperous America.” He called upon the people to end intolerance and an administration which, he said, “plays politics with the livelihood and hopes of the people.” Speaking in what he called the heart of the great agricultural area of the United States, Wendell L. Willkie gave a pledge tonight that, if elected President, he would give the full assistance of the Federal administration to those engaged in agriculture in solving the farm problem. Greeted with enthusiasm by 12,000 in the municipal auditorium and an overflow crowd of 2,000, the Republican candidate declared that he would immediately call a conference of representatives of agriculture, labor and industry, establish a system of continual research to improve the methods of marketing. to increase the scope of the farmers’ markets and to uncover new uses for agricultural products. He indicated that he would abandon the crop-control program of the present administration restricting production and said he would seek the advice of his running mate, Senator Charles L. McNary, as an expert on agricultural legislation and a friend of the farmer, and would appoint a forward-looking, outstanding farm leader as Secretary of Agriculture.
A poll taken by Reuters, the English news agency, among its correspondents in the forty-eight States indicates President Roosevelt’s re-election by an Electoral College majority of more than two to one, according to an announcement yesterday.
Plans for a nation-wide celebration of “National No Third Term Day” on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 rallies opposing the third-term nomination of President Roosevelt being held in principal cities and towns throughout the country, were announced here yesterday.
A meeting without political significance in international affairs but symbolic of the development of cooperation between the United States and Canada occurred here today when the Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada, came down to Hyde Park house to spend an informal weekend with President Roosevelt.
Edward J. Flynn, Democratic National Chairman, denied last night that he was violating any provision of the Hatch Act when he sent letters to local Democratic chairmen throughout the country telling them that Federal employes could make voluntary campaign contributions.
Martin Dies, Texas Democrat, declared tonight that “if the government doesn’t define or adopt a firm and uniform policy putting an end to political activities of representatives of foreign powers in the United States, I propose to make public all the evidence I have on the subject.” “I want a clear definition of policy from the federal government as to what it plans to do about consular representatives of Russia, Germany, Italy, England and other countries engaged in political activities in this country,” Dies, chairman of the house committee investigating un-American activities, asserted in an interview. lie added he referred to “activities not connected with their official functions.” Dies said that while much evidence had been made public concerning un-American activities, recent evidence obtained by subpoena in New York, Texas. Los Angeles and other parts of the nation had been turned over to the state department.
General George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, sent a message to the commanders of the four field armies, saying that “the task now looming before us is the expeditious development of a unified, efficient fighting force of citizen-soldiers.” He added that in reaching that objective there must be “no pampering of individuals, no distinctions between men because of their previous military experience or condition of entry into the service.” “In a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation,” Marshall wrote, “the army of the United States must now proceed with its high purpose of welding from the elements of the American democracy a disciplined, seasoned fighting force, capable of defending the nation.”
Blazing gasoline from an exploding still at the big General Petroleum refinery in Torrance, California, burned two men to death today and severely injured five others. Edwin L. Robinson, 46, and Arnold Sundt, 36, both of Los Angeles, died from burns suffered when they and other workmen were showered with burning gasoline from the distilling unit. Company officials said a broken oil connection probably caused the explosion. Damage was estimated at approximately $20,000. Chemical crews from the Torrance fire department aided company firemen in keeping the flames from spreading to storage tanks. The blaze was extinguished after an hour’s battle. The terrific explosion occurred shortly after daybreak this morning and shook the area for miles around. Harold Peary, radio engineer on duty at the Columbia Broadcasting Co. station a short distance away, said flames from the explosion roared 500 feet into the air.
The Hawaiian Air Force was established at Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii.
“Only Forever” by Bing Crosby hit #1 on the Billboard singles chart.
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS St. Louis departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for San Juan, Puerto Rico with the Greenslade Board aboard.
A convoy, US.6, carrying the Australian 7th Division, Australian Imperial Air Force, 20th Infantry Brigade and 21st Infantry Brigade sets sail for the Middle East.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart was refitting at Colombo from 19 October to 19 November 1940. On completion of this refit, light cruiser Hobart relieved New Zealand Division light cruiser HMS Leander in the Red Sea Force.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 132.18 (-0.27)
Born:
Michael Gambon, Irish-born English actor (“Harry Potter” movies), in Cabra, Dublin (d. 2023).
Jerzy Kulej, Polish light welterweight boxer (Olympic gold medals, 1964, 1968), in Częstochowa, Poland (d. 2012).
Larry Chance [Figueiredo], American doo-wop vocalist (The Earls — “Remember Then”; “I Believe”), in The Bronx, New York, New York (d. 2023).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-442 is laid down by F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1493).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IID U-boats U-149 and U-150 are launched by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 278 and 279).
The Royal Navy P 614-class submarine HMS P 614, laid down as the Türk Donanması (Turkish Navy) Burac Reis and requisitioned after the outbreak of war, is launched by Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.).
The Royal Navy Assurance-class rescue tug HMS Diligent (W 18) is commissioned.
The Royal Navy Dance-class ASW trawler HMS Saltarelo (T 128) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant William Renell Seward, RNVR.
History Diaries 