My father was chief engineer on the Blairatholl when she was lost in 1942.
I still have the correspondence between Geo Nisbet & Co the owners and my mother.
It would appear from the information I have that the collision occurred during extremely bad weather conditions. Having turned back the ship began to founder and since the boats had been carried away the crew had to take to the rafts.
I sailed on the Blairatholl as a small boy of four on the Manchester Ship Canal as she was leaving on her last outward voyage.
I have a letter from my father from New York just prior to sailing on the return leg.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of the particular convoy regarding their recollection of conditions at the time.