About André Chissel

The author is the son of one of the Merchant seamen who was onboard the troopship Cameronia when it was torpedoed. He initially became motivated to research the story of the torpedoing when he came became aware of George Chadwick's diary on the internet in 2006. George had been a Steward onboard the Cameronia when the ship was torpedoed and his diary covered the lead up and aftermath of the torpedoing in quite vivid detail. It was also a subject that the author's father never spoke about. Having researched the events that led to the torpedoing, the author now has some appreciation as to why the story was such a taboo subject in the house.

The First Attack

By André Chissel

Major P. Pettit – 17^th Field Regiment Cameronia:

“At 2230 Bill and I were on deck, we heard an aircraft coming nearer, it seemed to swoop on the ship and away again. As it came in our AA opened up with tracer and as it went away the other boats opened up as well. Really a ‘Brocks Benefit’ (a wartime expression meaning a ‘Night Bombardment’ named after a well known British firework manufacturer of the time – ‘Brocks’). Then the alarm bells rang for ‘Action Stations’ and we went below to our jobs on the troops messdecks”

In the words of Master of the Cameronia Captain Kelly, in his ‘Shipping Casualty Report’:

“At about 2230, when just leaving the swept channel, an attack was made upon us by three Heinkels 111 and (The five) Junkers 88 bombers. ‘Action Stations’ were sounded, and a heavy barrage put up by ourselves and the Escort”

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The Second Attack

By André Chissel

The Prisoner Of War (POW) Interrogation Report of one of the crews of the He 111 H-6 bombers shot down during this attack revealed that the Catania based aircraft initially navigated their way to the Cap Carbon, Bougie and from there, the formation flew eastward along the coast some 10 miles out to sea for about 35-40 miles. Their landmarks gone and in darkness, the aircraft tried to remain together and locate the convoy. The Cap Carbon was a well known promontory in the area and as impressive and majestic from the ground as it appears, it was even more impressive from the air. Also interesting is the fact that none of the Axis reports on air activity at the time make mention of this flight of initially six aircraft.

Captain G.B. Kelly - Cameronia:

“At approximately 2330 another four enemy planes came in to attack and again a heavy barrage was put up”

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The Third Attack

By André Chissel

It was now the 22^nd December 1942 and the combined convoy KMF-5/TE-10 was in the middle of “Suicide Alley”.

Navigator’s Log book – HMS Scylla:

“0306 Friendly aircraft fired recognition signals off port bow”

Navigator’s Log book – HMS Aurora:

“0345 Two aircraft in vicinity, probably Hudsons A/S air Escort”

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The Fourth Attack – The torpedoing of the troopship Cameronia

By André Chissel

At 0200, a reconnaisance aircraft took off from Elmas in Sardinia to shadow the convoy. At 0435 six Ju 88 level bombers from I/KG 60 also took off from Elmas and headed towards KMF-5/TE-10. To the frustration of one Ju 88 A-4 torpedo bomber crew from III/KG 26, there were problems with their aircraft and their take off from Sardinia was delayed until 0458.

When the torpedo bomber finally took off, it travelled at maximum speed to catch the six Ju 88s whose orders were to attack the convoy and then carry out an attack against ships in east Djidjeli harbour. However, four of the six Ju 88 level bombers got lost en-route (but did attack the hourbour). This left three German aircraft to attack KMF-5/TE-10.

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