D/S Leo

Report about the war loss of the s.s. "LEO" on the 19th March, 1941

The s.s. "LEO" ... left Alexandra Dock, Hull, on the 11th March bound for Iceland.

The cargo consisted of about 300 tons of ice, 7000 empty cases and about 140 tons of reserve bunker coal in the tween deck. The permanent bunkers contained about 145 tons coal.

During the stay at Hull effective watch was kept on board by day as well as by night and before departure the vessel was properly inspected. The crew consisted of 21 men including the master, one man in excess of what is provided for in the manning scale. The vessel was otherwise in good seaworthy condition and the cargo was everywhere well stowed and secured.

After the compasses had been adjusted, we anchored in Hull Roads.

Wednesday the 12th March. Went over the range in order to check up on the wiping. Continued to Grimsby Roads and anchored in order to await convoy. Boat drill was carried out.

Thursdag th 13th March. At 9.30 o'clock hove up the anchor and contiued in convoy to Methil.

Friday the 14th March. AT 17.00 o'clock anchored in Methil Roads. Received instrucitons and orders for deaprture on the 15th March.

On account of thick fog there was no departure before the 17th March.

Monday the 17th March. At about 16.00 o'clock left Methil in convoy.

Tuesday 6th 18th March, at 18.00 o'clock passed Dunnet Head light.

Wednesday the 19th March. At 0.15 o'clock passed Cape Wrath. At 2.30 o'clock passed Butt of Lewis, bearing S.W. about 12 nautical miles off where we left the convoy according to instructions. The course onwards was N. 52 W. At 8.50 o'clock a British aeroplane passed over the ship. At 9.45 o'clock another aeroplane came from astern over the vessel and, when it passed, the ship was fired at with machine guns and bombs were dropped. 2 or 3 bombs struck the vessel forward on the fore deck. One bomb fell into the sea abreast of the amidship. The vessel was shortly afterwards lying with the fore deck awash in the water and had a heavy list to port. The lifeboats were at once manned and lowered. When all the men had got into the boats, 21 in all, they rowed away from the ship. The aeroplane, which had the German national marking, circled round the vessel a couple of times before it disappeared. We remained in the vicinity ofr the vessel and saw that the forward part of the ship was gradually sinking deeper and at 10.00 o'clock the after part of the ship rose up and stood up in the water for about 3 minutes before she disappeared. We rowed round the spot where the vessel had sunk and came across the lifesaving rafts from which we took various articles of food and clothes. The motor boat had been smashed and was lying with the bottom up so that we could not make use of it. We set sails and steered for the Hebrides.

All the ship's papers and the crew's papers went down with the ship, likewise all the secret covoy instructions which were lying in a canvas bag to which had been fasteneed a piece of iron. The mail was lying in the chart room on the bridge. When the casualty occurred the weather was slightly cloudy with fresh north-westerly wind with some swell.

At about 14.30 o'clock the crew from both lifeboats were picked up by the H.M.S. "ECHO". We were about 75 nautical miles off the Butt of Lewis in a northwesterly direction when the vessel sank.

On Sunday morning th 23rd March, we were put on board the depot ship in Scapa Flow. Contiued on Monday morning to Thurso and from thee on to Glasgow where we arrived on Tuesday morning.

Ivar Eilertsen, Master