British Cargo Steamer City of Shanghai

On May 10th 1941 the Cargo Steamer City of Shanghai on which my dad`s brother Harry was the Quartermaster, was torpedoed at 10.07pm.Only three lifeboats made it onto the sea, the other being smashed by bullets from the submarine. Because of the efforts of the submarine to sink the vessel, the lifeboat Uncle Harry was in, lost sight of the other two boats. So began 30 days of Hell. 27 men were in the lifeboat, they survived on a 1/2 cup of water in the morning, a spoonful of milk at noon, and at night 1/2 a biscuit, piece of meat or milk and 1/2 cup of water. Add to this the boat taking in water, and you can imagine the feeling of these men. By Wednesday May 21st they still had not sighted any land, and the day dawned with heavy rain, which continued until 10am. The water tanks they had were refilled, but their blankets were sodden. They spent a very cold night. By Monday May 26th, everyone was feeling very week, as they were having to row the boat, because the sail kept on tearing, and so it went on, until the men were as weak as babies, and half mad, until Monday June 9th, when they had all but given up, they spotted smoke on the horizon. Where they found the strength to row their boat towards the ship which was from Rotterdam, they never knew. My Uncle Harry never told this story to me, but I have read it in a book written by the Captain of the City of Shanghai, who sadly committed suicide a good few years ago. The book is called Blue Hell, and is a story of the courage of the men of that time, of which my own Father was too. I have a copy of this book, which is sadly now out of publication. I read it now and again, to re-live what my brave Uncle did, and the men he served with.

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