D/S Tres

To Tres - Page 2
(interview with 1st Mate Ragnvald Marcus)

To Tres on the "Ships starting with T" page.

Partial Crew List


Source: Bjørn Milde's postcard collection.

Bombed - 1940:

Tres left Goole on July 26-1940 for Plymouth with a cargo of 1096 tons coal, anchoring outside Spurn Point to await convoy, continuing in convoy the following day at noon. On July 28 a pilot came on board outside Fisherman Gate and that afternoon they dropped anchor near Southend according to orders, then continued on Aug. 7 (Convoy CW 9 - see also this thread on my Ship Forum). At 02:15 on Aug. 8, when outside Newhaven, the convoy was attacked by several aircraft and torpedo boats (according to the 1st mate's report), the attacks lasting until 04:15. While this was going on the ships maneuvered in zig-zags with varying speeds. That same day, at 12:25, masses of aircraft appeared and a terrific bombardment started (St. Helens Roads?), and Tres was eventually hit amidships by 4 bombs, immediately setting her on fire. The entire crew, 15 + 3 gunners took to the lifeboats, 8 of whom were in the starboard boat which was later machine gunned, but nobody was hit. The port boat had 10 men. (This is the opposite of what is noted in a report of an interview with the 1st mate date Aug. 13, see Page 2).

Captain Kvilhaug stated at the subsequent inquiry that Tres had 2 machine guns on the upper bridge and 2 on the after platform, served by 3 British gunners and the 2nd mate (upper bridge). He estimated there were about 50 planes, 20 of which were bombers, Tres being the last ship to be attacked. He ran down to the chart room to save the ship's papers, but was hit by something and rendered unconscious for a while. Finding the chart room on fire, he ran out on the bridge and down to the boat deck, where all hands were in the boats except for the cook, who subsequently lowered himself down by the tackle; he ended up in the water but was immediately picked up by the port lifeboat. The captain, in great pain, having received serious burns to his face and hands was also placed in the port boat.

They rowed towards a tug which picked them up, then later transferred them to the patrol vessel Ostende of Antwerp in order to get ashore as quickly as possible, several of the crew having been badly injured. They were landed in Portsmouth at 18:00. In addition to burns, Captain Kvilhaug was suffering from shock and both his ear drums were pierced, while the cook had injured his leg and was also suffering from shock. Both were immediately taken to the Naval Hospital, and later Ordinary Seaman Palmer was admitted to the same hospital, having injured both legs and an arm, while the remaining crew members were put up at the Military Barracks. The steward and the 1st mate were given medical treatment there, while Able Seaman Johnsen had been treated aboard Ostende. According to the 1st mate's report, Gunner Glouster had shot down one of the planes during the attack.

The maritime hearings were held in London on Sept. 19-1940 with only the captain attending (the others were in Southampton). He had been in the hospital until Aug. 27.

According to "Nortraships flåte", the cook died at a hospital in Haston Gasport a couple of months after the attack. However, from statements given at the inquiry I gather that he died as early as Aug. 13 at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar suffering from Diphtheria, Pneumonia and multiple injuries.

Partial Crew List as per Aug.-1940 - No casualties:
but the cook later died at a hospital.
The 1st mate was on watch on the bridge when the attack occurred; the captain was also on the bridge, as was the lookout, Ordinary Seaman Espe. *My Norwegian Guestbook has a message from his grandson, looking for more info on him (E-mail address can be supplied via my contact address at the bottom of this page). He later perished with Chr. Knudsen
Able Seaman Johnsen was at the helm.

Captain Vermund Kvilhaug	1st Mate Ragnvald Marcus	Able Seaman John Johnsen	Ordinary Seaman Oscar Palmer (Nationality?)	Ordinary Seaman* Olav Espe	Cook Bjarne Arntsen (died Aug. 13)
Gunner H. Glouster (British)	+ 9 more crew	+ 2 more British Gunners

To Tres - Page 2
(interview with 1st Mate Ragnvald Marcus)

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Våre gamle skip" by Leif M. Bjørkelund and E. H. Kongshavn, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume II, Norwegian Maritime Museum - (ref. My sources).