Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Starboard Broadside view of S.S. BARON SEMPLE, Cardiff Docks c.1933.

Built by Charles Connell & Co. Ltd and launched at Scotstoun in 1938. Built to the order of H. Hogarth & Sons, Glasgow. (c.1933 in original catalogue but that is incorrect as only launched in 1938) Note from Laurence Bain - "Shortly after the picture was taken it was re-painted into its WW2 camouflage. My father was 1st Mate from 30th March 1940 to 28th March 1942 when he left the ship in Manchester (rheumatic fever). The ship was sunk in the Atlantic on 2nd November 1943 by U848 - all hands lost. On 5th November 1942 U848 was attacked by the US airforce from Ascension Island and eventually was sunk. There was one survivor Hans Schade who was picked up on 3rd December 1942 but he died shortly thereafter.The Captain of the Baron Semple was Philip Carnie of Carmarthen."