Ships hit by U-boats


Orminster

British Steam merchant



Orminister under her former name Clan Keith. Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameOrminster
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,712 tons
Completed1914 - Bartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland 
OwnerSouth American Saint Line, Cardiff 
HomeportCardiff 
Date of attack25 Aug 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-480 (Hans-Joachim Förster)
Position50° 09'N, 0° 44'W - Grid BF 3278
Complement62 (7 dead and 55 survivors).
ConvoyFTM-74 (straggler)
RouteJuno Beach, Normandy - Portsmouth 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in March 1914 as Etonian for Cambrian Steam Navigation Co Ltd (J. Mathias & Sons), London. 1918 renamed Clan Keith for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd (Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd), London. 1921 renamed Hilarius for British & South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd (R.P. Houston & Co), Liverpool. 1923 returned to previous owner and renamed Clan Keith. 1937 renamed Orminster for Minster SS Co Ltd (Thomas Eeles & Co), London. 1940 sold to South American Saint Line, Cardiff. 
Notes on event

At 14.43 hours on 25 August 1944 the Orminster (Master Harold Gittins), a straggler from convoy FTM-74, was torpedoed and sunk by U-480 about 35 miles northwest of Cap d’Antifer. One crew member and four gunners were lost. The master, 42 crew members, 13 gunners and one army storekeeper were picked up by HMS Pennywort (K 111) (T/Lt W.P. Hart, RNR) and HMS Damsay (T 208) (T/Lt A.M. Sullivan, RNVR) and landed at Portsmouth, but two gunners died of wounds after being rescued.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


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