M.V. Empire Gem [Archive] - Caithness.Org Forums

trinkie

02-Dec-07, 12:01

I have found another member of my family killed at sea in WW2 1942, when the ship he was serving on - M.V.Empire Gem, a Tanker, was torpedoed by U-66.

On the Web, I found that a diving team have been exploring the wreck and there are some pictures.

I wonder if any other local man served on this ship?
From Ally Budge's book on WW1, I notice that often a group of local men were serving on the same ship.
Does anyone know please?

Also, where can I get a picture of MV Empire Gem, I have been searching the Web without success.

trinkie

fred

02-Dec-07, 19:11

Also, where can I get a picture of MV Empire Gem, I have been searching the Web without success.

trinkie

There is a photo taken from the air after she had been torpedoed at http://www.divehatteras.com/gem.html

trinkie

02-Dec-07, 20:09

Thank you Fred,

What can I say, that's horrendous!
The reality of War,

trinkie

golach

03-Dec-07, 11:21

Trinkie, have you tried this web site, may not have photo of the Empire Gem but will have some similar as all the Empire Tankers were built to a similar design
http://www.merchant-navy.net/ (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.merchant-navy.net/)

trinkie

03-Dec-07, 18:35

Thank you Golach, that's an very interesting site.
I will have a good browse there later.

trinkie

Dusty

03-Dec-07, 19:28

Trinkie,

I have found a line drawing and some details for the Empire Gem and her two sister ships which I have copied to a Word document but I don't know how to attach it to a post (sorry, no photograph other than the aerial one Fred advised you of).

If you want to PM me with an e-mail address, I can forward it to you.

The source is: Empire Ships of World War II by W. H. Mitchell & L. A. Sawyer (1965) which may be in your local library.

You can always try the National Maritime Museum (www.nmm.ac.uk/ (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.nmm.ac.uk/)) for a photograph. The contact there was Colin Starkey on 020 8312 6600. They were charging around £18 for a 7 by 5 print including delivery.

Hope this helps.

Dusty.

trinkie

03-Dec-07, 20:35

That's very kind of your Dusty - I really appreciate all the help and I am slowly putting together a file of this dreadful disaster. I like to have more than just names and dates and now have a huge Family Book with stories and pictures to make it all the more interesting for future generations

I will PM you with my address.
trinkie

trinkie

03-Dec-07, 21:29

Thank you Dusty - that 's most interesting, and a very good line picture which will go in the Family Book !

Regards
Trinkie