In researching the sinking of the Avondale Park 7 miles from my home, I have interviewed Mr Rapley, the survivor of the Avondale, in December 2004. He gave me his detailed account of the last voyage of the ship, starting at Cardiff, to Lochewe, Belfast. through the Pentland Firth to its resting place 1.5 miles SE May Island. Believe me, he is not, repeat not, a "confused" old man, as someone suggested. He is perfectly lucid about his experiences. So: why is this at odds with all the official and subsequent accounts? Could there have been two convoys off the May simultaneously? Could the escorts from the Sneland convoy have rescued the Avondale survivors, leading to an error? (NB: if the original record was in error, then every subsequent writer will have copied this, and so on.) Did Avondale Park sail from Methil on the 7th? Is there a primary source for this? Conversely, is there any record of it sailing from Lochewe?

There are questions here. any answers?