The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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236040 Chf. Off'r Robert Lowson Chalmers Merchant Navy SS Criton from:South Shields Chief Officer Robert Chalmers (previous ship rank 'Benvenue'), was signed as crew onto the Criton (a French prize ship) with a cargo of 6000 tons of iron ore. The Criton with a crew of 52, was in a convoy aiming to return home. The Criton struggled to keep pace with the convoy - believed to have been sabotaged, and after several stops for repair the convoy went ahead and the Criton was left to return to Freetown. On 21st June 1941 the Criton was ordered to stop by two un-flagged war ships (Edith Germaine and Air France 4). The Criton (unarmed itself) was under attack and, after refusing to follow turn-around orders, after intense machine gun fire and shell attack the Criton was abandoned, the crew disembarking into life boats. Confidential records were thrown over board in weighted bags. Survivors were taken to Conakry. The crew and executive officers were singled out and interrogated. The crew were forced to sign statements stating the Criton had been scuttled as the Vichy French were embarrassed they had attacked and sunk their own ship and also charged with piracy and frank-tireurs. On 26th September 1941 Chief Officer Robert Chalmers alongside the crew of the Criton was moved to Timbuctoo (Kankan) by train from Conakry, arriving on 7th October 1941. Conditions in Timbuctoo were reported as worse than experiences in Conakry, poor sanitation with no sewage systems, heavy rain, high humidity, limited food consisting of grain sometimes soaked in goats milk, often one bowl a day and some days none. He remained here until 14th December 1942. It is reported the crew of the Criton received far worse treatment than any other British prisoners of the Vichy French. Add to this record.  Related Content: Merchant Navy SS Criton Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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