# SS City of Cairo

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British passenger steamship sunk during World War II

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SS City of Cairo in wartime livery History United Kingdom Name City of Cairo Operator Ellerman Lines Ltd, London Port of registry Liverpool Builder Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Hull Launched 21 October 1914 Completed January 1915 Identification UK official number 137423 Fate Sunk on 6 November 1942 General characteristics Class & type Steam passenger ship Tonnage 8,034 GRT tonnage under deck 6263 5,088 NRT Length 449.9 ft (137.1 m) Beam 55.7 ft (17.0 m) Draught 33 ft 11 in (10.34 m) Depth 31.3 ft (9.5 m) Decks 2 Installed power 774 NHP Propulsion Quadruple-expansion steam engine Speed 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) Capacity 7,422 tons general cargo 311 passengers and crew

**SS *City of Cairo*** was a British passenger steamship. She was sunk in the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II) with heavy loss of life, most after the sinking, but before being rescued.

It was built by [Earle's Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd](/source/Earle's_Shipbuilding), [Hull](/source/Kingston_upon_Hull) in 1915 for [Ellerman Lines Ltd](/source/Ellerman_Lines) of [London](/source/London). It was 449.9 ft (137.1 m) long, had two decks, two masts and 8,034 [gross register tons](/source/Gross_register_tonnage) (GRT). She was registered in [Liverpool](/source/Port_of_Liverpool).

On 29 January 1929, *City of Cairo*′s propeller struck the British [tug](/source/Tugboat) [*Speedy*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ST_Speedy&action=edit&redlink=1) at [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool), then *Speedy* sank.[1]

## Final voyage

*City of Cairo* was requisitioned during the Second World War to bring supplies to the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom). Her last voyage, under the command of her master, William A. Rogerson, was to take her from [Bombay](/source/Bombay), which she departed on 1 October 1942 for the United Kingdom, via [Durban](/source/Durban), [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), and [Pernambuco](/source/Recife), [Brazil](/source/Brazil).

The ship departed Cape Town at 0600 hours on the morning of 1 November, carrying 101 passengers, including 29 women and 18 children. Also on board were 10 [DEMS](/source/Defensively_Equipped_Merchant_Ship) Gunners from the Army and [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy). Among the total complement were two spare [Lascar](/source/Lascar) crews recruited in [India](/source/India) for service on British ships. She was carrying 7,422 tons of general cargo, including pig iron, timber, wool, cotton, manganese ore and 2,000 boxes of silver coins.

The ship sailed north for 800 miles (1,300 km), zigzagging during the day and keeping about 45 miles (72 km) off the African coast, before turning westwards across the [South Atlantic](/source/South_Atlantic) towards Brazil and her next port of call. She was unescorted and capable of only 12 knots (22 km/h). Its problems were exacerbated by the excessive smokiness of her engines which increased her visibility.

## Torpedoed

On 6 November, the smoke trail was sighted by the [German submarine *U-68*](/source/German_submarine_U-68_(1940)) under the command of [Karl-Friedrich Merten](/source/Karl-Friedrich_Merten). At 2136 hours, *U-68* fired a torpedo at the lone merchant ship. The torpedo struck *City of Cairo* abreast of the after-mast. The master gave the order to abandon ship. Only six people, two male crewmen and four male passengers, were lost in the evacuation. Several women and children were struggling in the water, but they were later rescued by other boats. The ship, still underway, had stabilised, but she was slowly settling by the stern. A distress call was sent, which was acknowledged by the *U-68*, which provided the callsign of the [Walvis Bay](/source/Walvis_Bay) station in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).

Merten fired a second torpedo 20 minutes after the first, which smashed one of the lifeboats, overturned another, and caused the ship to sink by the stern about 480 miles (770 km) south of [St Helena](/source/St_Helena). One of the two crewmen lost in the sinking, Chief Radio Officer Harry Peever, was killed by this strike. He had remained in the wireless room to send distress signals. Once *City of Cairo* had sunk, *U-68* surfaced alongside the six lifeboats that had been launched. Merten spoke to the occupants of No. 6 boat, asked the ship's name, cargo and whether it was carrying prisoners of war. He then gave a course for the nearest land, which by now was either the Brazilian coast, approximately 2,000 miles (3,200 km) away, Africa was 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and St Helena was 500 miles (800 km) distant. Merten then left them, with the words "Goodnight, and sorry for sinking you".[2] He privately thought that they had little chance of survival.[2]

## Journey

There were 296 survivors: 54 in Lifeboat 1, 56 in Lifeboat 5, 57 in Lifeboat 6, 57 in Lifeboat 7, respectively, whilst the smaller Lifeboat 4 held 17 people. After assessing the situation, it was decided to attempt to reach the nearest land, St Helena, despite the danger of overshooting the small island and becoming lost. Each boat had a [compass](/source/Compass), but there was only one [sextant](/source/Sextant) which had been recovered from his belongings as the ship went down by second officer Les Boundy. These, along with Master William Rogerson's [Rolex](/source/Rolex) watch, would be needed for navigation, and this would require the boats to remain together. The survivors hoped to reach St Helena within two or three weeks, and water was rationed at 110 ml a day per person, despite the tropical heat.

Over the next three weeks, most of the boats lost contact with each other, and numerous occupants died. Rogerson had hoped to prevent the dispersal of the boats for as long as possible, but as the situation worsened, he was compelled to allow one of the faster boats, which was short of supplies and taking on water, to press on ahead. The boats also suffered damage, with rudders or masts being broken, causing some to lag behind. Eventually, most of the boats had lost sight of each other and proceeding alone.

## Rescue

Lifeboat 6 was rescued on 19 November by the [*Clan Alpine*](/source/SS_Clan_Alpine_(1918)), en route to St Helena. 48 of 57 occupants had survived (all 9 who died were Lascars). George Nutter informed the captain that there were other boats further ahead of his. The *Clan Alpine* then rescued the survivors from Boat 7 (55 of 57 occupants survived — 2 Lascars had died at sea) and then Boat 5 (47 of 56 occupants had survived — 2 Europeans and 7 Lascars had died at sea). The survivors reported that there were three other boats at sea, but by now were unsure where they were. After fruitless searching, the *Clan Alpine* landed the survivors at St Helena, though more would die after being transferred to the hospital. On the evening of 19 November, Boat 8, with 48 survivors out of 55 occupants (1 European and 7 Lascars died at sea) was rescued by the SS *Bendoran*, and taken to Cape Town. These four boats had been at sea for 13 days before being rescued. Of those picked up, one man later died aboard the *Bendoran*, two aboard the *Clan Alpine*, and another four died in hospital in St Helena.

Another three survivors — Angus MacDonald, John Edmead, and Diana Jarman — were picked up by the German merchant ship and [blockade runner](/source/Blockade_runner) [*Rhakotis*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MS_Rhakotis&action=edit&redlink=1), which was travelling from [Japan](/source/Japan) to [Bordeaux](/source/Bordeaux), on 12 December 1942. They had spent 36 days at sea. One of the survivors — Diana Jarman — then died aboard the *Rhakotis*. The *Rhakotis* was intercepted by the cruiser [HMS *Scylla*](/source/HMS_Scylla_(98)), torpedoed and sunk off [Cape Finisterre](/source/Cape_Finisterre) on 1 January 1943. The two remaining survivors from *City of Cairo* managed to make it to different lifeboats and survive their second sinking. One was picked up the next day by [*U-410*](/source/German_submarine_U-410) and landed at [Saint-Nazaire](/source/Saint-Nazaire) three days later. The submarine was almost destroyed en route, when she was detected and attacked by British bombers. The other survivor's lifeboat eventually landed in [Spain](/source/Spain).

Boat 4, with 17 people on board, having not sighted St Helena by 23 November, decided that they must have overshot it. Several of the occupants were already dead, and rather than trying to search the area for the island, decided to head west for the coast of [South America](/source/South_America) 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to the west. On 27 December, after a voyage of 51 days, only the third officer and a female passenger were still alive when their boat was spotted by the [Brazilian Navy](/source/Brazilian_Navy) [minelayer](/source/Minelayer) *Caravelas*. They had got within 80 miles (130 km) of the Brazilian coast and were landed at Recife. The [third officer](/source/Third_mate), James Whyte, was awarded the [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire). He was repatriated on the [*City of Pretoria*](/source/SS_City_of_Pretoria), but was killed when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by [*U-172*](/source/German_submarine_U-172) on 4 March 1943. The female survivor, Margaret Gordon (Ingham), was awarded the [BEM](/source/British_Empire_Medal), but refused to cross the Atlantic until the war was over.[3]

Out of a total of 302 people aboard *City of Cairo*, 107 died, with 195 surviving. Six are known to have died in the sinking, 94 in the boats, and seven after being rescued. Some of the names of those lost are inscribed on the [Tower Hill Memorial](/source/Tower_Hill_Memorial).

## Rediscovery

In April 2015, it was announced that the wreck had been rediscovered in 2011 at a depth of approximately 17,000 feet (5,150 metres), and that £34 million of silver, a "large percentage" of the total, had been salvaged by September 2013. The money generated from this recovery is still undergoing a legal dispute as to the true ownership.[4][*[needs update](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] This is the current record for the deepest marine salvage operation.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Times300129a_1-0)** "Casualty reports". *The Times*. No. 45114. London. 30 January 1929. col. G, p. 25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-1) ["BBC - The People's War"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071228091731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/77/a4440377.shtml). Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/77/a4440377.shtml) on 28 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Margaret Ingham"](https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/explore-collections-theme/childrens-books/childrens-literature-research-collection/margaret-ingham). *State Library Victoria*. Retrieved 22 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Record dive rescues $50m wartime silver from ocean floor"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32316599). BBC. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.

## External links

- ["SS City of Cairo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071227104019/http://www.sscityofcairo.co.uk/index.php). Archived from [the original](http://www.sscityofcairo.co.uk/index.php) on 27 December 2007.

- [""Goodnight sorry for sinking you" — An Apology"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071228091731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/77/a4440377.shtml). Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/77/a4440377.shtml) on 28 December 2007.

- ["SS City of Cairo at Uboat.net"](http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2383.html).

[23°30′S 5°30′W / 23.500°S 5.500°W / -23.500; -5.500](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=SS_City_of_Cairo&params=23_30_S_5_30_W_)

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1929 Shipwrecks 2 Jan: Malakoff 16 Jan: Hsin Wah 12 Feb: Alloway 19 Feb: Kanowna 22 Mar: I'm Alone 25 Mar: Muggia 29 Mar: Selje 26 May: Aleutian 9 Jul: HMS H47 17 Jul: USS General Alava 1 Aug: Asakaze 30 Aug: San Juan 7 Sep: Kuru 9 Sep: Andaste 11 Sep: Acielle 2 Oct: Commandant Bultinck 22 Oct: Milwaukee 29 Oct: Wisconsin 31 Oct: Senator 4 Nov: Gilbert San 29 Nov: Norwich City 7 Dec: Ägir 18 Dec: Fort Victoria Unknown date: San Antonio Other incidents 5 Jan: Siboney 20 Jan: President Garfield 29 Jan: City of Cairo 28 Feb: Liberty Glo 7 Mar: Thétis 10 Mar: Pengreep 22 Mar: USCGC Dexter 25 Mar: Germaine L D 26 Mar: Europa 28 Mar: Libia 30 Mar: Naïade 6 Apr USS Childs 7 Apr Paris 18 Apr Paris 27 Apr: Duchess of Richmond April (unknown date) Franconia 15 May: Irwell May (unknown date): Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Rothesay 9 Jul: HMS L12 11 Jul: I-55, Kinugasa 3 Aug: Medway Queen 9 Aug: Viceroy of India 20 Aug Paris September (unknown date): Binnendijk, Eider 5 Oct: NRP Adamastor 12 Oct: USFS Widgeon 13 Oct: Empress of Canada 19 Oct: Bowes Castle 20 Oct: USAT Liberty 6 Nov: Barbana G 13 Nov: Ro-63 22 Nov: Parizhskaya Kommuna 7 Dec: Aba 18 Dec: Algonquin 24 Dec: Roosevelt 1928 1930

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1942 Shipwrecks 2 Nov: Empire Antelope, Empire Leopard, Gifu Maru 3 Nov: East Indian Ro-65 4 Nov: Hobbema, U-132 5 Nov: U-408 6 Nov: Chulmleigh, City of Cairo, Dekabrist 7 Nov: Donbass, Eveleen, Ha-11, USS Majaba 8 Nov: Actéon, Albatros, Amphitrite, Argonaute, Brestois, Boulonnais, Fougueux, Frondeur, HMS Hartland, La Psyché, La Surprise, Milan, Oréade, Primauguet, Savoie, Tornade, Tramontane, HMS Walney, West Humhaw 9 Nov: Ariane, HMS Cromer, Danaé, Diane, USS Leedstown, Typhon 10 Nov: HMS Broke, I-15, HMS Ibis, Jean Bart, HMS Martin, Méduse 11 Nov: Hōkoku Maru, USS Joseph Hewes, Sidi Ferruch, HMS Unbeaten, Viceroy of India 12 Nov: USS Edward Rutledge, USS Erie, Hokkai Maru, USS Hugh L. Scott, USS Tasker H. Bliss, HMS Tynwald, U-272, U-660 13 Nov: Akatsuki, USS Atlanta, USS Barton, USS Cushing, Isaac Sweers, USS Juneau, Kinugasa, USS Laffey, Le Conquérant, USS Monssen, U-411, Yūdachi 14 Nov: Hiei, Scillin, Narkunda, U-595, U-605 15 Nov: HMS Algerine, HMS Avenger, Ayanami, USS Benham, Kirishima, Le Tonnant, USS Preston, U-98, U-259, USS Walke 16 Nov: Irish Pine, U-173 17 Nov: U-331 18 Nov: Krasnoye Znamya, Tower Grange 19 Nov: USS YP-26 20 Nov: Prins Harald, Pierce Butler 21 Nov: U-517 22 Nov: Sokrushitelny 23 Nov: Benlomond, Tilawa 24 Nov: Hayashio 25 Nov: HMS Utmost 27 Nov: Achéron, Aigle, Algérie, Aurore, Bordelais, Caïman, Casque, Cassard, Colbert, Commandant Teste, Diamant, D'Iberville, Dunkerque, Dupleix, Eurydice, Foch, Foudroyant, Fresnel, Galatée, Gerfaut, Guépard, Henri Poincaré, Jean de Vienne, Kersaint, L'Adroit, La Galissonnière, Lansquenet, L'Espoir, L'Indomptable, Lion, Lynx, Mameluk, Marseillaise, Mogador, Naïade, Panthère, Pascal, Provence, Sirène, Siroco, Strasbourg, Tartu, Thétis, Tigre, Trombe, Valmy, Vauban, Vauquelin, Vautour, Vengeur, Vénus, Verdun 28 Nov: Empire Cromwell, HMS Ithuriel, Nova Scotia, Thomas T. Tucker 29 Nov: Dunedin Star 30 Nov: USS Northampton, HMCS Quinte, Takanami, Thor, Uckermark Unknown date: Sibylle, Saint Edmond, U-184 Other incidents 7 Nov: USS Thomas Stone 8 Nov: HMS Broke, USS Gunnel, USS Leedstown 9 Nov: Wandle 11 Nov: Giacinto Carini 14 Nov: USS Electra 15 Nov: Adviser, HMCS Saguenay 16 Nov: USS Electra 17 Nov: Piemonte 20 Nov: HMS Bramham, I-175 26 Nov: USS Swordfish 27 Nov: Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon 28 Nov: USS Alchiba 29 Nov: Akka, USS Tunny 1941 1942 1943 October 1942 December 1942

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SS City of Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Cairo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Cairo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.