D/S Marosa
Updated Dec. 15-2008

To Marosa on the "Ships starting with M" page.

Notes:

2nd Mate on this ship when the war broke out was Bernt Anker Olsen, who is listed on my Merchant Marine Prisoners of War/Page 3. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Hong Kong on Dec. 8-1941 when he later served as 2nd mate on the British S/S Kiangsu. But he was also held by the Japanese for a few days while still on board Marosa in May* of 1941. Marosa's officers were Norwegian and the crew was Chinese. She had just departed Hong Kong when a Japanese warship signalled for her to stop and give her name. The name was given but Bernt A. Olsen, who was on duty did not stop the ship, which resulted in her being shelled by the warship, at which point the captain and 1st mate came running to the bridge, and the ship was stopped. She was now ordered to follow the warship to Bias Bay (north of Hong Kong) under threat of being sunk if she didn't, where she was told to drop anchor and wait for further orders. Not until 3 days later was she allowed to proceed to Singapore. No explanation for this treatment was ever given to them. (B. A. Olsen had also served on Falkefjell, as able seaman, probably pre war).

* It's possible this took place in June(?). When going to Page 2 of the archive documents we see that she was indeed in Hong Kong in May-1941, but left on June 17, returning to port on the 20th. According to this document she left again for Singapore the same day (perhaps she had been at anchor off Hong Kong for 3 days prior to this?).

It looks like she ran ashore when on a voyage from Melbourne to Newcastle N.S.W. in Oct.-1942 - see Page 3. After this, there's a long gap in her voyages.

Some Norwegians on board as per 1943 were Ole Kristian Abrahamsen (captain?), Tollef Nilsen, Thorolf Harald Ottersen, Odd Einar Hansen, Ole Martin Olsen, Gottfred Lindstrøm.

For information on some of Marosa's convoy voyages, please follow the instructions provided at the last external link below. As will be seen, she appears in a few Newcastle, N.S.W.-Melbourne convoys, as well as returning convoys in 1943 (CO and OC convoys), among others.

Related external links:
The Fall of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong

Not the slightest chance - The defence of Hong Kong. Includes a listing of each individual defender.

Misc. convoys - By clicking on "Ship Search", using "Marosa" as keyword, a few convoys will come up.

Back to Marosa on the "Ships starting with M" page.