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The SS 'Alchiba'
By John Dann, a Freelance writer states:-
I found your website interesting whilst researching for a book. However there are some factual mistakes in your entry for the SS Alchiba as follows:
"The first-hand account of a survivor from SS Alchiba (Edward Ford) -I have already given to you see below. For another first-hand account see the diary by Alan Gould of HMS Lightning is featured http://freespace.virgin.net/e.gilroy/letter.html -within HMS Lightning story http://freespace.virgin.net/e.gilroy/. I trust this is what you need".
The ship was not Norwegian, but the Netherlands Shipping S.S. Alchiba 4,427 tons, a cargo ship, torpedoed on 8th July, en-route from Durban, to Bombay. She was attacked and sunk by Japanese submarine I-10 as you say. Most of her crew were picked from two boats 4 days later by another Dutch merchantman (name unknown) bound for Beira in Portuguese East Africa. The only other survivor ( a Dutch boy) was picked up from a raft on 8th July 1942 by HMS Lightning, and put ashore in Durban. ( A survivors first hand account of this incident is featured in www.pwsts.org.uk/edwardford.htm written by an English cadet Edward Ford.)
Article Dated 27th January 2012
John Dann / johndann@ntlworld.com
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