Bruyère
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Bruyère | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,335 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - A. McMillan & Son Ltd, Dumbarton | ||
| Owner | Lamport & Holt Ltd, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 23 Sep 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-125 (Ulrich Folkers) | ||
| Position | 04.55N, 17.16W - Grid ET 7333 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 51 (0 dead and 51 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Buenos Aires - Rio de Janeiro - Freetown - UK | ||
| Cargo | 6729 tons of foodstuffs and general cargo | ||
| History | Laid down as War Mole for The Shipping Controller, completed in October 1919 as Bruyère for Lamport & Holt Ltd, Liverpool. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.34 hours on 23 Sep, 1942, the unescorted Bruyère (Master Thomas William Major) was hit by two stern torpedoes from U-125 after a chase of eight hours southwest of Freetown. The ship settled by the bow but sank only about one hour after being hit by a coup de grâce under the foremost mast at 00.24 hours on 24 September. The Germans questioned the survivors in one of the four lifeboats before leaving the area. The master, 44 crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Petunia (K 79) (LtCdr J.M. Rayner, RD, RNR) and the British armed trawler HMS Sir Wistan (4.105) (Lt W.H. Forster) and landed at Freetown. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.