Athenia 1923

[john sefton]

ATHENIA. Passenqer. Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Govan. Launched 1923. Built for Anchor Donaldson Ltd. L526'3" B66'4" Dr38'1". 13,581tons. Double reduction steam turbines. 2 screws. 15 knots. Passengers 516 Cabin, 1,000 third class. (later 314 cabin, 310 tourist and 928 third class) Anchor-Donaldson became Donaldson Atlantic Line in 1935. She was the first Passenger ship sunk in WW2 (on the opening day of the war), shown on the stamp presumably with Submarine U-30 which sank her. Sailing from Glasgow, about noon for Montreal on 1 Sept. 1939 commanded by Capt. James Cook, calling at Liverpool and Belfast to embark Passengers, 1418 persons were on board, 1103 were Passengers, and 311 were Americans. On the evening of the 3rd, 250 miles west of Inishtrahull, Donegal she was torpedoed. War with Germany had broken out only a few hours before. Soon after the explosion the Submarine surfaced and from 800 to 1000 yards fired two shells in order to silence the radio. By this time the ship had taken on a list making it difficult to lower the boats. Some days later after the survivors had landed Donaldson Line announced that 128 persons had lost their lives. It was reported that Lt Commander Lemp torpedoed the ship without giving any warning. The U-30 was one of a number of German Submarines which were scuttled in Flensburger Fjord on 4-5th May 1945. Doubt has arisen that the vessel depicted in the background of this sheet is a correct identification. Two funnels can be seen whereas the ATHENIA only had one. Two books confirm that ATHENIA had one funnel, The Atlantic Liners 1925- 1970 by F Emmons and Great Passenger Ships of the World, Vol 2 by Arnold Kludas - Grenada 1990. $6 SG2119 Min. Sheet (P Snijers E J Hogan)