Posted by Keith Haywood g8hxe@iclway.co.uk on June 25, 2001.

I am trying to obtain information about the circumstances of a collision between the John Bakke and
the British ship Blairatholl which occured on 26th November 1942. The British ship later sank as a result of collision damage with the loss of all crew.

Can anyone give me any details of the John Bakke or identify which eastbound convoy the ships were in at the time.

Thanks.

RESPONSES:

Posted by Siri siri@lawson.net on June 26, 2001.

My Norwegian sources place tthis incident on Dec. 5-1942 - they may be wrong of course.
The only info I have on this is what can be found here
[www.warsailors.com]
John Bakke escaped unharmed, while the British ship sank, as you say.
I've checked a recently published book on Haugesund ships, but onfortunately there's no further info on this ship (other than what I've already included on my page).

Siri
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Posted by Keith Haywood on June 27, 2001.
Siri, thanks for the information on John Bakke.

I don't think the collision you mention is the correct one - although I can't find a reference to the one you mention in any of my books.
The collision I am looking for details on occurred on 27th November 1942. I have the following details from Lloyds casualty records:-

Blairatholl (Nisbet Shipping, Glasgow) foundered
after collision with John Bakke 27/11/42.
51.25N 48.30W

Keith
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Posted by Roger W Jordan rogwj@aol.com on June 28, 2001.
Keith:
You do not seem to be having much luck with this one.
The collision apparently took place at night, which would probably explain why some reports say 26 Nov and others 27 Nov 1942.
Like you, the only "published" sources I have found for this incident is 'Lloyd's Casualty Reports' and Lloyd's Register Casualty Returns.
Unfortunately the owners/managers, George Nisbet & Co ceased trading in the 1960s, and I have no note of the company's records being passed to any archive.
Most marine hazard losses in wartime were the subject of an official enquiry, so there is a possibility that such information will be held at the Public Record Office.
Regards
Roger W Jordan