paynie Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 Hello, I'm looking for any informayion and hopefully a photo on HMS Avenger, I had a relative on board. I think she sank some time in 1917. Any info at all would be appretiated, e.g. crew size, how many survived, what happened etc. Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 Hello, I'm looking for any informayion and hopefully a photo on HMS Avenger, I had a relative on board. I think she sank some time in 1917. Any info at all would be appretiated, e.g. crew size, how many survived, what happened etc. Thanks in advance Hello 'Paynie' Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure the resident Ships and Navies specialists will respond with more but to start with this is from Dictionary of Disasters at Sea: AVENGER Union Steamship Co. of New Zealand; 1915; Fair field Co.; 14,744 tons; 548x68-2x34; 20 knots; turbine engines. This ship was built for the Union Steamship Co. of New Zealand as the Aotea-Roa, but on her completion in 1915 she was taken over by the Admiralty for service as an auxiliary cruiser. Her name was changed to Avenger and she was placed in the 9th Cruiser Squadron. On the night of June 13th/14th, 1917, the Avenger was in the North Atlantic when she was torpedoed by a German submarine. One man was killed by the explosion, but with this exception all the crew were taken off in safety. The ship, which had a speed of 20 knots, would have been one of the fastest employed in Australian waters. She was designed with a view to service on the Australian-Canadian route. Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 Hello, I'm looking for any informayion and hopefully a photo on HMS Avenger, I had a relative on board. I think she sank some time in 1917. Any info at all would be appretiated, e.g. crew size, how many survived, what happened etc. Thanks in advance She was an armed merchant cruiser [ex-Aotearora, Union Steamship Company of New Zealand] of 15000 tons commissioned in 14/12/1915. Armament was 8x6inch guns & 2x3pounder guns, speed was 18 knots. Torpedoed & sunk by U.69 in the North Atlantic 14/6/1917, casualties 1. Avenger was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron comprised of AMCs enforcing the blockade against Germany, with bases in the Orkneys & Shetlands. I don`t have exact crew numbers for Avenger but Arlanza which was also in the 10th Cr.Sqdn. & was about the same size had a complement of 39 officers & 220 men. Hope this helps you. David [ARABIS]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paynie Posted 13 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2007 /\ Thankyou, most interesting, would there be any site, or place where I might get bearings of where she sank and a picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionia Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 /\ Thankyou, most interesting, would there be any site, or place where I might get bearings of where she sank and a picture? 61.03N, 03.57E. (west of Shetlands). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 /\ Thankyou, most interesting, would there be any site, or place where I might get bearings of where she sank and a picture? Hello Paynie H.M.S Avenger: Employed as a Armed Merchant Cruiser. Sunk by German submarine U69. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 Hello paynie, welcome aboard. On 14th June 1917 the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Avenger, built 1916, 13,441 grt, was torpedoed and sunk in 60.22N, 04.35W by German U-boat U 69, W from Shetland Islands, Scotland, Atlantic Ocean. 1 crew member died His Admiralty death record: KERR, DAVID, TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve, A 53753, AVENGER, H.M. Armed merchant cruiser (hired), 14-Jun-17, SHIP LOSS. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paynie Posted 14 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2007 /\ Thankyou all, just what I was looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 15 July , 2007 Share Posted 15 July , 2007 Were any of the gunners or naval crew aboard killed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 15 July , 2007 Share Posted 15 July , 2007 As per my post above, only one one naval man was lost; a trimmer. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 16 July , 2007 Share Posted 16 July , 2007 I have a scan of U 69's KTB describing her attack on Avenger. Can e-mail it along if anyone is interested. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paynie Posted 16 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 July , 2007 I have a scan of U 69's KTB describing her attack on Avenger. Can e-mail it along if anyone is interested. Would love that thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wick Posted 7 April , 2009 Share Posted 7 April , 2009 Hello, I'm looking for any informayion and hopefully a photo on HMS Avenger, I had a relative on board. I think she sank some time in 1917. Any info at all would be appretiated, e.g. crew size, how many survived, what happened etc. Thanks in advance Hello Paynie, I have a photo of HMS Avenger sinking and the crew being rescued. I've yet to copy them but will get on to it soon if your interested. They aren't great photos just snaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnalex Posted 17 July , 2010 Share Posted 17 July , 2010 My grandfather John Dunlop was Engineer Commander of HMS Avenger when she was sunk. He stood by the building of the ship when she was being built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding Co and was presented with a water painting of the ship in Union Steam Ship Co colours then known as SS Aotearoa. This painting was displayed in the Wellington Maritime Museum, New Zealand for many years and is still in their possession on loan from me. I would be interested to receive any information on the sinking of the Avenger particularly the snaps and the U Boat description of the sinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnalex Posted 17 July , 2010 Share Posted 17 July , 2010 I have a scan of U 69's KTB describing her attack on Avenger. Can e-mail it along if anyone is interested. Best wishes, Michael I would be grateful to receive a copy of the scan by e-mail as my grandfather was Engineer Commander when she went down Thank you for your help John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnalex Posted 17 July , 2010 Share Posted 17 July , 2010 QUOTE (paynie @ Jul 13 2007, 06:52 PM) Hello, I'm looking for any informayion and hopefully a photo on HMS Avenger, I had a relative on board. I think she sank some time in 1917. Any info at all would be appretiated, e.g. crew size, how many survived, what happened etc. Thanks in advance Hello Paynie, I have a photo of HMS Avenger sinking and the crew being rescued. I've yet to copy them but will get on to it soon if your interested. They aren't great photos just snaps I would love a copy of the snaps if you can send them by e-mail. Thank you in advance John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 17 July , 2010 Share Posted 17 July , 2010 John, Not a problem -- PM me your e-mail address so I can send you the scan from U 69's war diary. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wick Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 The photo attached shows HMS Avenger sinking in June 1917. This is one of many taken by a Canadian crew member of HMS Vienna, other ships featured are HMS Royal Arthur, HMS King Orkay (I think), Hospital ship Plassie and the SS Roanoke's crew c1917 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wick Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 Landing the survivors from HMS Avenger, Taken by crew member of HMS Vienna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wick Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 HMS Vienna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbw541 Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 Hello Dave, Great photos, thanks for posting them. Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chappo Posted 29 March , 2015 Share Posted 29 March , 2015 Sorry if I seem a bit "late" on this topic. Just adding some info for general interest. Have only recently been researching my grandfather's naval service and found that he was one of those rescued from Avenger. I have an old photo that shows him on a deck of a ship in happier time which I think may be the Avenger, but there's no definitive evidence (just some very large ventilator thingys that could be a match). His service record shows that 4 weeks after the sinking, he was assigned to HMS Ferret - mine laying destroyer operating in the North Sea - on which he spent the remainder of the war. Not much time to get over the experience methinks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Lee Temple Posted 4 September , 2021 Share Posted 4 September , 2021 I'm looking for a crew list for HMS Avenger when it was torpedoed. Particularly I am trying to confirm the first name(s) of 373882 Junior Engineer T Cull MFA (SWB 15301 issued 13.7.17, ref A.G. 4a 7.5.1917) - as the SWB register lists Cull as being on Avenger I assume that he was invalided out as a result of the attack. Signalman Lewis Ridland RNR - Killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 4 September , 2021 Share Posted 4 September , 2021 (edited) 32 minutes ago, George Lee Temple said: I'm looking for a crew list for HMS Avenge "Crew lists", as a general rule, do not exist for RN ships. 32 minutes ago, George Lee Temple said: I am trying to confirm the first name(s) of 373882 Junior Engineer T Cull MFA Thomas CULL Mercantile Marine Reserve (MMR) per Admiralty medal roll. (An MFA is a type of ship - Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary) 32 minutes ago, George Lee Temple said: Signalman Lewis Ridland RNR - Killed RIDLAND, Lewis, Seaman, RNR (Shetland Section), L 1434, was drowned on 31 May 1917, not killed in the sinking. From AVENGER's log book:- 31 May 1917 At Sea Lat 66.1, Long -25.1 8.44am L Ridland AB RNR No 1434L: -departed this life by drowning- (accidentally falling overboard from N4 cutter). N° 1 and 2 sea boats lowered and cruised in the vicinity from 8.45 to 9.50am Pos Lat 66 04N Long 24 25W. - Overbalanced whilst working in a boat at davits and was drowned before he could be rescued. Body not recovered. 1 lifebuoy recovered, 2 lost 1010 Divine service for burial of the dead held. 1.30pm Court of Enquiry held to investigate cause of death of Seaman L. Ridland RNR Edited 4 September , 2021 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Lee Temple Posted 4 September , 2021 Share Posted 4 September , 2021 Thank you for confirming the name is 'Thomas'. The Medal Roll I have access to just lists him as 'Cull, T Jr Engineer'. His medals are marked 'JNR. ENG T. CULL. M.F.A.' - am I correct in inferring that this is not right (Cull not being 'a type of ship') ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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