SS Empire Bowman
Encyclopedia
{|Empire Bowman was a 7,030 GRT cargo ship
built in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1942, she served until 30 March 1943 when she was torpedoed and sunk by . One of her crew was awarded an Albert Medal
for his actions in the sinking.
. She was yard number 437. Launched on 4 April 1942, she was completed on 25 May 1942.
The ship was 431 in 3 in (131.45 m) long, with a beam of 56 in 3 in (17.15 m) and a depth of 35 in 2 in (10.72 m). She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 24½ inches (62 cm), 39 inches (99.1 cm) and 70 inches (177.8 cm) bore by 48 inches (121.9 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd
, Glasgow
.
ON 99
Convoy ON 99 departed from Liverpool on 29 May 1942 and arrived at Boston
on 12 June. Empire Bowman was in ballast for this voyage.
SL 126
Convoy SL 126 departed Freetown
, Sierra Leone
on 12 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 1 April. Empire Bowman was on a voyage from Karachi
, India
to Hull
via Mormugao
, India; Durban
, South Africa
and Freetown. She was carrying a cargo which included 5,791 tons of general cargo and 2,500 tons of manganese
ore. On 30 March, Empire Bowman was torpedoed by U-404 at 47°26′N 15°53′W, some 425 nautical miles (787.1 km) northwest of Cape Finisterre
. The captain, 39 crewmembers and six DEMS
gunners were rescued by and landed at Liverpool. Four crew were killed; they are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial
. Her Second Engineer, Gordon Love Bastian, rescued two stokers from the sinking ships' flooded engine room at great personal risk. For this act, he was awarded the Albert Medal
on 17 August 1943, the citation read:
In 1971, all living holders of the Albert Medal and the Edward Medal
were instructed to exchange their medal for the George Cross
. Bastian thus became a recipient of the highest civilian award for gallantry in the United Kingdom.
. Empire Bowman had the UK Official Number 168714 and used the Code Letters
BDWN.
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
built in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1942, she served until 30 March 1943 when she was torpedoed and sunk by . One of her crew was awarded an Albert Medal
Albert Medal (lifesaving)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.The Albert Medal was first instituted by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971 with the last two awards promulgated in the London Gazette of...
for his actions in the sinking.
Description
The ship was built by C Connell & Co Ltd, ScotstounScotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
. She was yard number 437. Launched on 4 April 1942, she was completed on 25 May 1942.
The ship was 431 in 3 in (131.45 m) long, with a beam of 56 in 3 in (17.15 m) and a depth of 35 in 2 in (10.72 m). She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 24½ inches (62 cm), 39 inches (99.1 cm) and 70 inches (177.8 cm) bore by 48 inches (121.9 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd
Barclay Curle
-History:The company was founded by Robert Barclay at Stobcross in Glasgow, Scotland during 1818. In 1862, the company built a large engineering works at Stobcross in Glasgow. In 1876, the company moved their yard down the river to Whiteinch. It was incorporated in 1884 as Barclay Curle...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Career
Empire Bowman's port of registry was Glasgow. She was operated under the management of Hain Steamship Co Ltd. Empire Bowman was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.ON 99
Convoy ON 99 departed from Liverpool on 29 May 1942 and arrived at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 12 June. Empire Bowman was in ballast for this voyage.
SL 126
Convoy SL 126 departed Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
on 12 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 1 April. Empire Bowman was on a voyage from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
via Mormugao
Mormugao
Mormugao or Marmagao is a city and a municipal council in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is Goa’s main port. It was featured in the 1980 film The Sea Wolves and the Bollywood film Bhootnath....
, India; Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Freetown. She was carrying a cargo which included 5,791 tons of general cargo and 2,500 tons of manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
ore. On 30 March, Empire Bowman was torpedoed by U-404 at 47°26′N 15°53′W, some 425 nautical miles (787.1 km) northwest of Cape Finisterre
Cape Finisterre
right|thumb|300px|Position of Cape Finisterre on the [[Iberian Peninsula]]Cape Finisterre is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain....
. The captain, 39 crewmembers and six DEMS
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship was an Admiralty Trade Division program established in June, 1939, to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft...
gunners were rescued by and landed at Liverpool. Four crew were killed; they are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial
Tower Hill Memorial
The Tower Hill Memorial is a national war memorial on the south side of Trinity Square Gardens, just to the north of the Tower of London. It commemorates those from the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who died during both world wars and have "no grave but the sea".The First World War memorial...
. Her Second Engineer, Gordon Love Bastian, rescued two stokers from the sinking ships' flooded engine room at great personal risk. For this act, he was awarded the Albert Medal
Albert Medal (lifesaving)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.The Albert Medal was first instituted by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971 with the last two awards promulgated in the London Gazette of...
on 17 August 1943, the citation read:
In 1971, all living holders of the Albert Medal and the Edward Medal
Edward Medal
The Edward Medal is a British civilian decoration which was instituted by Royal Warrant on 13 July 1907 to recognise acts of bravery of miners and quarrymen in endangering their lives to rescue their fellow workers...
were instructed to exchange their medal for the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
. Bastian thus became a recipient of the highest civilian award for gallantry in the United Kingdom.
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
. Empire Bowman had the UK Official Number 168714 and used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
BDWN.