# SS Zamzam

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**SS *Zamzam*** was a [steam](/source/Steamship) [ocean liner](/source/Ocean_liner) that was launched in 1909 in [Ireland](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland) and [scuttled](/source/Scuttling) in 1941 in the [South Atlantic](/source/Atlantic_Ocean).

She was launched as ***Leicestershire*** and was a [UK](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland) [troop ship](/source/Troopship) in the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). In 1930 she was converted into an exhibition ship and renamed ***British Exhibitor***.

In 1933 she was bought by an [Egyptian](/source/Kingdom_of_Egypt) company that renamed her *Zamzam* and had her converted into a pilgrim ship. In 1941 she took passengers from Egypt to the USA. On her return voyage to Egypt a [German](/source/Nazi_Germany) [merchant raider](/source/Merchant_raider) attacked and scuttled her.

## Building

[Harland and Wolff](/source/Harland_and_Wolff) built *Leicestershire* in [Belfast](/source/Belfast) for the [Bibby Steamship Company](/source/Bibby_Line), launching her on 3 June 1909 and completing her on 11 September.[1] She had twin [screws](/source/Propeller) driven by twin [quadruple expansion engines](/source/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion). Between them the two engines developed a total of 823 [NHP](/source/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower)[2] and gave *Leicestershire* a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h)[3] or 15 knots (28 km/h).[4]

As built, *Leicestershire* had capacity for 230 passengers,[4] 1,629 cubic feet (46.1 m3) of her hold space were [refrigerated](/source/Reefer_ship),[5] and her [tonnages](/source/Tonnage) were and .[1]

*Leicestershire* had four masts.[4] This was a distinctive feature of all Bibby Brothers ships built up until 1939.[6]

A year later Harland and Wolff built a [sister ship](/source/Sister_ship), *Gloucestershire*. She was launched on 7 July 1910 and completed on 22 October.[7]

## UK service

Bibby Brothers ran passenger and [cargo liner](/source/Cargo_liner) services between [Liverpool](/source/Port_of_Liverpool), [India](/source/British_Raj) and [Burma](/source/British_rule_in_Burma).[8][9][10] *Leicestershire'*s maiden voyage was from [Birkenhead](/source/Birkenhead) to [Rangoon](/source/Yangon).[11]

By 1913 *Leicestershire* was equipped for [wireless telegraphy](/source/Wireless_telegraphy).[12] The [Marconi Company](/source/Marconi_Company) operated her equipment on the standard 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her [call sign](/source/Maritime_call_sign) was MYL.[13]

In August 1914 *Leicestershire* was requisitioned as a troop ship. She brought the [17th Lancers](/source/17th_Lancers) from [Bombay](/source/Mumbai_Harbour) to [Marseille](/source/Marseille), and then took part of [Indian Expeditionary Force D](/source/Indian_Army_during_World_War_I#Indian_Expeditionary_Force_D), including Burmese troops, to the [Persian Gulf](/source/Mesopotamian_campaign). She was then returned to her owners.[11]

On 11 October 1917 she accidentally rammed [HMY *Kethailes*](/source/HMY_Kethailes) in the [Irish Sea](/source/Irish_Sea) off the east coast of [County Wexford](/source/County_Wexford), sinking the yacht and killing 17 of her crew.

In November 1917 *Leicestershire* was again requisitioned as a troop ship. She took 2,000 troops from [Plymouth](/source/Plymouth) to Bombay. Between April and August 1918 she took 2,000 [UK troops](/source/British_Armed_Forces) to [Archangelsk](/source/Port_of_Arkhangelsk) as part of the [North Russia intervention](/source/North_Russia_intervention) in the [Russian Civil War](/source/Russian_Civil_War) and was one of several ships that brought [US troops](/source/United_States_Armed_Forces) to Britain. In December 1918 she repatriated 3,000 [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army) troops to [Fremantle](/source/Fremantle_Harbour), [Melbourne](/source/Port_of_Melbourne) and [Sydney](/source/Port_Jackson).[11]

After the First World War *Leicestershire* was returned to Bibby Brothers, who had her refitted to return to civilian service. She was converted from coal-burning to oil, which freed her [coal bunker](/source/Fuel_bunker) to be turned into more cargo space.[11] In the 1920s she continued her service between Liverpool and Rangoon.[4]

By 1930 *Leicestershire'*s tonnages were and .[2] That year the British National Exhibition Ship Company bought her, had her converted into an exhibition ship and renamed her *British Exhibitor*. Her new owners intended her to tour the [British Empire](/source/British_Empire) promoting UK goods. In 1931 the exhibition opened on the [River Thames](/source/River_Thames) but in 1932 the company went bankrupt.[4]

## Egyptian service

The Egyptian Company for Travel and Navigation bought *British Exhibitor* on 28 September 1933.[11] It renamed her *Zamzam* after the [Zamzam Well](/source/Zamzam_Well) at [Mecca](/source/Mecca). She was converted to carry 600 [Muslim pilgrims](/source/Hajj), and one of her holds was converted into a [mosque](/source/Mosque).[4][14] She carried pilgrims for at least two months each year.[11]

In 1934 *Zamzam* passed to the Société Misr de Navigation, who registered her in [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria_Port). *Zamzam* spent the remainder of the 1930s carrying pilgrims between [Suez](/source/Suez) and [Jeddah](/source/Jeddah).[4] Her UK [code letters](/source/Code_letters) HPRD[2] and original call sign were superseded by the Egyptian call sign SUBZ.[15]

In September 1939, the [Kingdom of Egypt](/source/Kingdom_of_Egypt) severed diplomatic relations with the Axis powers but did not declare war. While Egypt was neutral, [British military forces were based there](/source/History_of_Egypt_under_the_British) and the country had limited autonomy. The UK ran military operations in the [Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II](/source/Mediterranean_and_Middle_East_theatre_of_World_War_II) from Egypt, and held authority over Egyptian merchant ships. In both World Wars it requisitioned them at will.[16]

In October 1939, a month after the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II) began, *Zamzam* was laid up. A year later, on 28 October 1940, she was in [Alexandria Port](/source/Alexandria_Port) during a [Regia Aeronautica](/source/Regia_Aeronautica) air raid. Fragments from one Italian bomb damaged her [forecastle](/source/Forecastle).[14] She was repaired and returned to service.[11] She had an Egyptian crew commanded by UK officers.[17]

In December 1940 *Zamzam* took 99 passengers and a cargo of cotton from Alexandria to the [USA](/source/United_States) via the [Suez Canal](/source/Suez_Canal), [Indian Ocean](/source/Indian_Ocean), [Cape Town](/source/Port_of_Cape_Town), South Atlantic and North Atlantic.[14] On 24 February 1941 she landed her passengers at [Jersey City](/source/Jersey_City,_New_Jersey). She then continued to [Boston](/source/Port_of_Boston).[11]

### Final voyage

In March 1941 *Zamzam'*s return voyage to Egypt was delayed when a [stevedore](/source/Stevedore) claimed he had suffered a [skull fracture](/source/Skull_fracture) while working aboard her. She was held at [Hoboken](/source/Hoboken,_New_Jersey) for several days, until her owners deposited a $50,000 bond.[11]

On 20 March *Zamzam* left Jersey City to return to Alexandria. She carried about 140 crew and about 200 passengers, but sources differ as to the exact number of each. Most of her crew were Egyptian, but they included also Sudanese, Greeks, Yugoslavs, Britons, one French national and a Czechoslovak.[18] 137 of the passengers were [Christian missionaries](/source/Christian_mission) of various denominations and boards: Lutheran, Assemblies of God, African Inland Mission, Brethren, Congo Inland Mission, Disciples of Christ, Baptists)[19] or their wives and children.[11] Another 24 were volunteer ambulance drivers of the British American Ambulance Corps on their way to serve in North Africa[14] with the [Free French](/source/Free_France) forces.[20]

One missionary wife, Lillian Danielson, found that the lifejackets in her cabin were in poor condition and were too large to fit her six children, whose ages at the time ranged from one to 10. She repaired them and altered them to fit.[21]

*Zamzam* called at [Baltimore](/source/Port_of_Baltimore) on 22–23 March[22] and [Trinidad](/source/Trinidad) on 30 March. Her [Master](/source/Master_mariner), William Gray Smith, sought permission for her to sail fully lit as a neutral ship. The UK [Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) refused, ordered him to sail blacked out and told him to follow a pre-arranged course.[11][23]

*Zamzam* called at [Recife](/source/Recife), where passengers joined the ship including *[Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine))* reporter Charles Murphy and *[Life](/source/Life_(magazine))* photographer [David Scherman](/source/David_Scherman).[17] By the time she left Recife, *Zamzam* had 202 passengers. According to Murphy they included 73 women, 35 children and 138 of the total were US nationals.[18] Six were tobacco buyers from [Wilson, North Carolina](/source/Wilson,_North_Carolina) travelling on business to [Southern Rhodesia](/source/Southern_Rhodesia).[17] There were also 26 Canadians, 25 UK nationals, five South Africans, four Belgians, two Greek nurses, an Italian and a Norwegian.[18][24]

*Zamzam* carried 5,344 tons of cargo.[25] It included 20 ambulances for the Free French forces in North Africa,[26] an [x-ray](/source/Radiography) trailer, a [field kitchen](/source/Field_kitchen),[27] 2,322 tons of lubricating and other oils, 1,000 tons of fertilizer, plus foods, tobacco products and manufactured goods. The ambulance corps' vehicles and other equipment aboard were worth nearly $100,000.[25] Murphy wrote that the cargo's total value was $3 million.[28]

On 9 April *Zamzam* left Recife[11] to cross the South Atlantic to [South Africa](/source/Union_of_South_Africa). She was due to reach Cape Town on 21 April.[26] On 14 April she changed course. Captain Gray stated that this was because her wireless operator received a distress message from a Norwegian merchant ship, the *Tai-Yin*, that was under attack by a German raider.[29]

### Attack

At about 0555 hrs on 17 April the [German auxiliary cruiser *Atlantis*](/source/German_auxiliary_cruiser_Atlantis) opened fire on *Zamzam* from a range of about 3.5 nautical miles (6 km).[30] Nine [150 mm shells](/source/15_cm_SK_L/45) hit *Zamzam**port side, injuring several passengers and crew, including the ship's doctor.[31]*****Zamzam**s engine room was holed below the waterline,[30] causing her to list to [port](/source/Port_and_starboard).[28] Her wireless aerials were destroyed,[30] and there was damage to her passenger accommodation, Master's quarters, and funnel. *Atlantis* ceased firing after about 10 minutes.[31]

Nearly all of *Zamzam'*s passengers and crew abandoned ship, but shellfire had destroyed one lifeboat[31] and damaged two others.[32] The damaged boats were swamped shortly after being launched,[32] including that carrying Mrs Danielson and her children, all of whom ended up in the water.[21] Some passengers jumped from *Zamzam* into the sea.[17] The ambulance drivers looked after women and children, treated the wounded, and pulled people out of the sea into the boats and liferafts.[33]

When all the boats and rafts had been launched, Captain Smith was left on his ship with his [Chief Officer](/source/Chief_mate), his [Chief Engineer](/source/Chief_engineer), six ambulance drivers, and a four-year-old girl who had become separated from her parents.[32]

### Rescue

*Atlantis* rescued all survivors from the boats, from the water, and the group left on *Zamzam*. *Atlantis'* Captain, [Bernhard Rogge](/source/Bernhard_Rogge_(Naval_officer)), sent a [boarding party](/source/Naval_boarding) aboard *Zamzam* that searched her chartroom and Master's quarters,[34] removed supplies and personal possessions. At about 1400 hrs the boarding party scuttled *Zamzam* with three explosive charges.[28]

Scherman was in lifeboat number one. He photographed *Zamzam* being abandoned, and after he reached *Atlantis*, a German officer encouraged him to photograph *Zamzam* being scuttled. *Atlantis'* crew confiscated some of his films, but he managed to keep four rolls hidden.[17]

The next day *Atlantis* met her supply ship, [Dresden](/source/MV_Dresden_(1937)), to whom all *Zamzam'*s survivors and their luggage were transferred except three who were too seriously wounded.[35] *Atlantis* and *Dresden* parted, but they met again on 28 April. A delegation of survivors met Rogge on *Atlantis* and asked for more food to be transferred to *Dresden*, and for the US and other neutral survivors to be put ashore in South America to avoid the danger *Dresden* would face when running the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) blockade to reach Europe.[36]

After conferring with his officers, Rogge said *Dresden* would look for a neutral ship to which to transfer survivors. Failing that, *Dresden* would approach the Brazilian coast and try to find a Brazilian [coaster](/source/Coastal_trading_vessel) to take them. Only as a last resort would *Dresden* enter a neutral port to put survivors ashore. With that, *Atlantis* and *Dresden* parted again.[36]

The next day one of the wounded, tobacco merchant Ned Laughinghouse, died aboard *Atlantis*.[11] He had suffered a shrapnel wound to the skull during the shelling.[31]

### *Dresden'*s voyage to France

*Dresden* carried the survivors in her cargo holds, separated into three groups. Women and children formed one group, and were put up in the Dresdens small passenger cabins, while the officers and male passengers formed another and had to sleep in the ships holds, and the mostly Egyptian crew formed the third. Food remained short, and only slightly improved.[36] [Dysentery](/source/Dysentery) was rife. *Dresden* did not try to find a neutral ship, but headed straight for Europe.[23] As she sailed into more northern latitudes, [influenza](/source/Influenza) broke out.[37] Scherman photographed conditions aboard.[38]

The survivors would spend the next month at sea. They complained constantly about the food, which included a thin breakfast gruel they called "billboard paste" and a bad tasting soup for dinner they dubbed "glop". Dubbing themselves "The Wandering and Wondering Society", to pass the time they formed a small band and swam in the ships small swimming pool until they reached the chilly north Atlantic. After reaching colder latitudes, they played chess, backgammon and other board games and endlessly debated where their final destination would be.

On 18 May *Zamzam* was reported missing.[22][39] the UK [Ministry of Information](/source/Ministry_of_Information_(United_Kingdom)) said she must be "presumed lost", but naval authorities in Cape Town insisted she was merely "overdue".[40]

On 20 May *Dresden* landed survivors at [Saint-Jean-de-Luz](/source/Saint-Jean-de-Luz) in [German-occupied France](/source/German_military_administration_in_occupied_France_during_World_War_II). The USA was still neutral so its citizens were taken to [Biarritz](/source/Biarritz), where there was a US consul. Civilians of [Allied nations](/source/Allies_of_World_War_II) were interned, initially in Bordeaux[41][42] and then at various camps in [German-occupied Europe](/source/German-occupied_Europe).[11]

On 21 May the [Deutsches Nachrichtenbüro](/source/Deutsches_Nachrichtenb%C3%BCro) ("German News Office" or DNB) admitted the [Kriegsmarine](/source/Kriegsmarine) had sunk *Zamzam* and confirmed that its passengers and crew were in occupied France. The DNB said the sinking was justified because her cargo included materials for the UK war effort.[27] Her cargo included 64 different types of goods, 33 of which Germany listed as contraband. This included the vehicles, spare parts and lubricating oil.[25]

On 22 May, Egypt formally protested to Germany about *Zamzam'*s sinking, calling it a violation of international law. Egypt sought the repatriation of the Egyptian crew. As Egypt had severed diplomatic relations with Germany in 1939, the Swedish legation in Berlin presented the protest.[43]

On 26 May, Germany said it would release all US women and children, and those US men whom it called "genuine" missionaries.[44] On 28 May the US survivors in Biarritz were reported to be well-treated and free to move about the town.[42]

### Early repatriations

On 29 May, Germany was reported to have granted exit visas to the US survivors. However, the report did not specify whether the ambulance drivers were included.[45] On 31 May the Germans released 119 US passengers at [Hendaye](/source/Hendaye) on the French frontier with Spain to staff from the US Embassy in [Madrid](/source/Madrid).[11] On 1 June they entered Portugal from the Spanish border town of [Fuentes de Oñoro](/source/Fuentes_de_O%C3%B1oro),[46] and on 2 June they reached [Sintra](/source/Sintra) to await repatriation. Also on 2 June, *Life* published news about *Zamzam*.[11]

The ambulance drivers were not released.[47] They were young men of combat age, many US individuals had voluntarily joined the UK and [Canadian Armed Forces](/source/Canadian_Armed_Forces), the British American Ambulance Corps had strong sympathies to the UK,[48] and at least one of them had served as an ambulance driver in the [Battle of France](/source/Battle_of_France).[26] German authorities claimed they were concerned that the ambulance drivers could reveal German military secrets to the UK authorities.[26]

On 9 June Murphy, Scherman[41] and a representative of the Ambulance Corps flew home from Portugal on a [Pan American Clipper](/source/Pan_Am#Clipper_era) via [Horta](/source/Horta,_Azores) and [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda) to [LaGuardia Airport](/source/LaGuardia_Airport), New York.[29] The remainder of the US passengers returned by sea on various US and Portuguese ships, most of them reaching US ports between 21 and 30 June.[11] 26 women missionaries from *Zamzam* left [Lisbon](/source/Port_of_Lisbon) on 10 June aboard *[Mouzinho](/source/SS_Corcovado)*, which reached [Staten Island](/source/Staten_Island) on 21 June.[49] 29 survivors followed aboard *[Serpa Pinto](/source/RMS_Ebro)*, which reached Staten Island on 23 June.[50] The largest group was of 53 survivors who sailed from Lisbon on the [American Export Lines](/source/American_Export-Isbrandtsen_Lines) ship *Exeter*,[51] which reached New York on 24 June.[11]

On 23 June *Life* published an extensive article about *Atlantis* sinking *Zamzam* and *Dresden* taking survivors to France. Murphy wrote the article, and Scherman's smuggled photographs illustrated it.[11][52]

Two of the ambulancemen escaped internment in France, travelled to Portugal, and on 28 July reached New York aboard the American Export Lines ship *Excalibur*.[11]

In July 1941 the US Government sent the troop ship [USS *West Point*](/source/SS_America_(1939)#US_Navy_service_(1941–1946)) to Lisbon carrying German and Italian consular personnel, to be exchanged for US consular personnel from German and Italian territories. The Germans released the remaining ambulance drivers whom *Dresden* had landed in France; they sailed home on *West Point'*s return voyage from Lisbon[53] and reached New York on 2 August.[11]

### *Atlantis* sunk

On 9 August Germany admitted that two of *Zamzam**s wounded survivors were still aboard the raider which sank her. The report used*****Atlantis**s false name *Tamesis* and did not disclose her true identity.[54]

UK reconnaissance aircraft used Scherman's photographs to identify *Atlantis*, and the cruiser [HMS *Devonshire*](/source/HMS_Devonshire_(39)) sank her on 21 November 1941.[11] The German censor had released the photographs Scherman took aboard *Dresden*, and on 15 December *Life* published them in an article.[11][38]

The two wounded survivors, Robert Starling from the UK and US ambulanceman Frank Vicovari, were still aboard *Atlantis* when *Devonshire* sank her.[11] At least 317 crew and prisoners abandoned ship in liferafts or boats (sources vary as to which). The surfaced, took aboard 107 of the survivors and started to tow the rafts or boats toward neutral Brazil.

Two days later *U-126* met the German supply ship [Python](/source/MV_Python_(1935)), transferred survivors to her and started to refuel from the supply ship, but the cruiser [HMS *Dorsetshire*](/source/HMS_Dorsetshire_(40)) appeared and opened fire. *U-126* submerged and *Python'*s crew scuttled their own ship. Two submarines, and , rescued 414 survivors. Between 3 and 18 December other German and Italian submarines relieved *U-68* and *UA* of many of the survivors, and they were all landed in [Saint-Nazaire](/source/Saint-Nazaire) between 23 and 29 December.[55]

In this way Vicovari,[11] and presumably Starling, reached German-occupied France, but only after the Japanese [attack on Pearl Harbor](/source/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor) on 7 December and US declaration of war on Germany four days later. Therefore Vicovari was interned as an enemy alien.

### Later repatriations

In June 1942 ten Canadian women passengers from *Zamzam* sailed from [Lisbon](/source/Port_of_Lisbon) to Jersey City on the Swedish liner [SS *Drottningholm*](/source/SS_Drottningholm), which the [US Department of State](/source/United_States_Department_of_State) and [US Maritime Commission](/source/United_States_Maritime_Commission) had chartered to exchange interned civilians from both sides.[56] The women had been interned in [Liebenau internment camp](/source/Ilag#Ilag_V_Liebenau) in [Württemberg](/source/W%C3%BCrttemberg).[11]

Vicovari was interned in a camp near [Bremen](/source/Bremen) with Royal Navy and UK [Merchant Navy](/source/Merchant_Navy_(United_Kingdom)) seafarers.[57] On 25 February 1944 the German authorities released him in an exchange of detainees.[11] He sailed home on the chartered Swedish liner [MS *Gripsholm*](/source/MS_Gripsholm_(1924)). Vicovari confirmed that the raider's true name was *Atlantis*.[57]

104 Egyptian crew were held in an internment camp in [Bulgaria](/source/Kingdom_of_Bulgaria), and were liberated after Bulgaria's Axis government was overthrown in September 1944 and Bulgaria signed an armistice with the Allies in October. In 1945 a reporter for *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* found many of the crew living in a small town in [Yugoslavia](/source/World_War_II_in_Yugoslavia).[11]

The last *Zamzam* survivor to be liberated was probably Walter Guilding, who was interned in a camp in [Westertimke](/source/Westertimke) in north Germany. He was freed on 27 April 1945 when a [British Army](/source/British_Army) unit occupied the area.[11]

## Lawsuit

Several of *Zamzam'*s passengers were missionaries for the [Africa Inland Mission](/source/Africa_Inland_Mission). AIM sued the Alexandria Navigation Company, the travel agent [Thomas Cook & Son](/source/Thomas_Cook_%26_Son), and [Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits](/source/Compagnie_Internationale_des_Wagons-Lits), which until 1942 owned Thomas Cook. The suit alleged negligence and claimed $24,448.79 damages. On 20 March 1947 the [New York Supreme Court](/source/New_York_Supreme_Court) dismissed the suit.[11]

On 23 December 1947 the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division granted an appeal.[58] On about 27 May 1948 the parties agreed an out of court settlement for half of the claim.[11]

## See also

- [SS *Abukir*](/source/SS_Abukir) and [SS *Khedive Ismail*](/source/SS_Khedive_Ismail): Egyptian ships requisitioned by the UK government and sunk by enemy action

## References

1. ["Leicestershire"](http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=202540&vessel=LEICESTERSHIRE). *Shipping and Shipbuilding*. North East Maritime Forum. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Steamers & Motorships"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0700.pdf). *Lloyd's Register*. Vol. II. London: Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 20 November 2020. – via Plimsoll Ship Data.

1. Lettens, Jan; Allen, Tony; Miller, Jon. ["SS Zamzam (+1941)"](https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?156714). *Wrecksite.eu*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Anderson, Eleanor. ["Background"](https://sites.google.com/site/zamzamship/home/background). *The Zamzam Story*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["List of vessels fitted with refrigerating appliances"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30a0637.pdf). *Lloyd's Register*. Vol. I. London: Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 20 November 2020. – via Plimsoll Ship Data.

1. Wilson 1956, p. 123.

1. ["Gloucestershire"](http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=202587&vessel=GLOUCESTERSHIRE). *Shipping and Shipbuilding*. North East Maritime Forum. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Dowling 1909, p. 290.

1. Harnack 1930, p. 329.

1. ["Bibby Brothers & Co"](https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bibby_Brothers_and_Co). *Grace's Guide to British Industrial History*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Ephemera of the Zamzam Incident- Collection 624"](https://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/guides/624.htm). *[Billy Graham Center](/source/Billy_Graham_Center)*. [Wheaton College](/source/Wheaton_College_(Illinois)). Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1913, p. 255.

1. The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1914, p. 397.

1. ["The Zamzam lost in South Atlantic"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/19/85495009.html?pageNumber=9). *The New York Times*. 19 May 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Steamers & Motorships"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0933.pdf). *Lloyd's Register*. Vol. II. London: Lloyd's Register. 1934. Retrieved 20 November 2020. – via Plimsoll Ship Data.

1. Swiggum, Susan & Kohli, Marjorie (25 July 2013). ["Khedivial Mail Line"](http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/khedivial.shtml). *TheShipsList*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Anderson, Eleanor. ["Introduction"](https://sites.google.com/site/zamzamship/home/background). *The Zamzam Story*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 21.

1. Bullock, Karen O'Dell (2021). "Florence Almen and the Baptist missionary POWs of WWII". *Commoncall: The Baptist Standard Magazine*. **39** (4): 40–41.

1. ["Nazis study status of 140 off Zamzam"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/22/issue.html). *The New York Times*. 22 May 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Campbell, Matt (13 April 2016). ["Drama of ship sinking still vivid for survivors after 75 years"](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article71706202.html). *[The Kansas City Star](/source/The_Kansas_City_Star)*. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Ship with 120 Americans is lost in South Atlantic"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/19/85494816.html?pageNumber=1). *The New York Times*. 19 May 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Ship Routes and Timelines"](https://www.reveriezproductionz.com/ship-routes-and-timelines/). *The Zamzam Project*. Reveriez Productionz. 2018.

1. ["S.S. ZamZam Collection"](https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/special/ead/findingaids/0906). [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University). Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Contraband items in Zamzam's cargo"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/21/85496056.html?pageNumber=3). *The New York Times*. 21 May 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Capital mystified by loss"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/20/85495543.html?pageNumber=14). *The New York Times*. 20 May 1941. p. 14. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Egyptian ship sunk"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/21/85496033.html?pageNumber=1). *The New York Times*. 21 May 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 71.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 23.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 24.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 26.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 70.

1. Murphy 1941, pp. 26, 70.

1. Murphy 1941, pp. 70–71.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 72.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 77.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 78.

1. ["Prison Ship"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Zk4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Dresden&pg=PA113). *Life*. 15 December 1941. pp. 111–117. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["The Zamzam"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/20/85495617.html?pageNumber=22). *The New York Times*. 20 May 1941. p. 22. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Capture best hope"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/20/85495414.html?pageNumber=1). *The New York Times*. 20 May 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Murphy 1941, p. 79.

1. ["Zamzam survivors held well treated"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/29/88101038.html?pageNumber=9). *The New York Times*. 29 May 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Egyptian protest made on Zamzam"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/23/85497767.html?pageNumber=9). *The New York Times*. 23 May 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Zamzam survivors may leave this week"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/27/85501081.html?pageNumber=4). *The New York Times*. 27 May 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Zamzam survivors get Nazi exit visas"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/05/30/85502731.html?pageNumber=6). *The New York Times*. 30 May 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Americans in Portugal"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/02/87615701.html?pageNumber=5). *The New York Times*. 2 June 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["21 on Zamzam shifted"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/07/09/87640230.html?pageNumber=13). *The New York Times*. 9 July 1941. p. 13. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["private letter"](http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/rbml/lehman/pdfs/0561/ldpd_leh_0561_0011.pdf). British American Ambulance Corps. 21 May 1941. Retrieved 20 November 2020. – via [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) [Rare Book & Manuscript Library](/source/Rare_Book_and_Manuscript_Library_(Columbia_University))

1. ["119 child refugees here from Lisbon"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/22/87630694.html?pageNumber=19). *The New York Times*. 22 June 1941. p. 19. Retrieved 1 March 2024. – via Times Machine.

1. ["Arriving refugees gay at war's turn"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/24/87633215.html?pageNumber=21). *The New York Times*. 24 June 1941. p. 21. Retrieved 18 February 2024. – via Times Machine.

1. ["53 Zamzam survivors on way"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/17/99312970.html?pageNumber=15). *The New York Times*. 17 June 1941. p. 15. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Murphy 1941, pp. 21–27, 70–74, 77–79.

1. ["Transport to bring ambulance drivers"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/07/12/109596467.html?pageNumber=4). *The New York Times*. 12 July 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Two from the Zamzam still on German raider"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/08/10/87653568.html?pageNumber=14). *The New York Times*. 10 August 1941. p. 14. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. Rohwer, Jürgen & Hümmelchen, Gerhard. ["1941 Dezember, 1.– 29.12.1941, Südatlantik"](https://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/41-12.htm#01-2912) (in German). *Chronik des Seekrieges 1939-1945*. [Württembergische Landesbibliothek](/source/W%C3%BCrttembergische_Landesbibliothek). Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Refugee ship in; U. S. detains 800"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/07/01/85038665.html?pageNumber=1). *The New York Times*. 13 July 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["Prisons improved as Nazis see defeat"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/03/16/96575202.html?pageNumber=2). *The New York Times*. 16 March 1944. p. 2. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. ["cite.case.law/ad/273/766/5372883/"](https://cite.case.law/ad/273/766/5372883/). Dec. 22, 1947.

## Bibliography

- Dowling, R (1909 [1903]). *All About Ships & Shipping*. 2nd ed. London: Alexander Moring Ltd.
- Harnack, Edwin P (1930 [1903]). *All About Ships & Shipping*. 3rd ed. London: [Faber and Faber](/source/Faber_and_Faber)
- The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1913). *The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony*. London: The St Katherine Press.
- The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1914). *The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony*. London: The Marconi Press Agency Ltd.
- Murphy, Charles JV (23 June 1941). ["The Sinking of the "Zamzam""](https://books.google.com/books?id=bU0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21). *[Life](/source/Life_(magazine))*. pp. 21–27, 70–74, 77–79. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- Wilson, RM (1956). *The Big Ships*. London: [Cassell & Co](/source/Cassell_(publisher))

## External links

- ["Main Page"](https://www.reveriezproductionz.com/zamzam-project/). *The Zamzam Project*. Reveriez Productionz. 2018.
- ["The Sinking of the Zamzam"](http://www.thestudio203.com/zamzamalbum/index.htm). The Studio 203. – many photographs
- ["Zam Zam: A Missionary Odyssey"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHFrX3nwF0U). [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America](/source/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America). 23 May 2011. – via [YouTube](/source/YouTube) – documentary video

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