James Black

G.Prout & Sons. Ltd.

James Black. Jock

One of my work colleague while working for Prout’s at the Point Canvey 1960’s was James Black known as Jock. Like myself he was ex Merchant Navy so we had a lot in common. Recently have been in touch with his daughter and from her record her Father joined the M.N. in 1924. His first ship was the SS Athenia. In 1940   he was a crew member on the SS British Commander an oil tanker which was sunk off Madagascar, position 29.37S  45.50 N by the German raider Pinguin on the 27th August 1940 James was taken a prisoner of war and spent the rest of the war in various camps. In 1946 he was back at sea on the M.V.Niso

His last ship before coming ashore and working for Prout’s was the M.V Nascene   He died in 1987.

Pinguin (Ship 33)? Formerly the 7,766 ton “Kandelfels,” Pinguin” was rated at a speed of 18 knots, and was fitted with the usual Raider armament.( it had been removed from the old battleship “Schiesien.) In summary, she was second only to “Atlantis” as the most successful, captured or sank more ships than any other Raider, her tally 28 ships, to total 136,551 tons, all achieved in less than a year, from the 22nd. of June, 1940 to the 8th. of May, 1941.

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