CONFIDENTIAL
31 August 1943.
From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject: Loss of vessel SS TIMOTHY PICKERING; Report on
- The subject vessel left Alexandria, Egypt in a convoy consisting of about 70 or 80 ships on 6 July 1943, bound for Avola, Sicily. The cargo consisted of munitions, T.N.T., high octane gasoline, trucks, 25 lb. howitzers and also 130 British soldiers. The weather was fair during the entire trip to Sicily.
- The subject vessel was anchored in the harbor of Avola, about ½ mile from shore, when on the morning of 12 July, a few enemy planes came over and bombed the town. At 1140 of the same day, two more planes came over and dropped two 500-lb. bombs. One dropped astern of us, but the other hit the vessel, just aft of the deck house by #4 hatch. The ship was split in two by the exploding bomb, ammunition was exploding in the holds and the water around the ship was a mess of burning gasoline.
- Immediately after the explosion, the writer crawled through the port passageway and jumped into the water. Some of the men went to the foredeck and put a doughnut raft over the side and swam to it. Both the port and starboard life rafts were jammed and could not be released.
- British invasion barges, which were unloading the ships came over and picked the men out of the water, including the writer, who was in the water about 12 minutes. Bombing planes came over again about a half hour later.
- After all the survivors had been taken off the ship, the vessel was shelled and sunk by one of the escorting ships to limit the danger to other ships in the area.
- The other three Cadet-Midshipman assigned to the subject vessel with the writer, were killed. Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. Marks was known to have been in the engine room when the ship was hit. Cadet-Midshipman William L. Lyman was in the Cadet-Midshipman’s foc’s’le and never came out. Cadet-Midshipman Lawrence D. McLaughlin jumped over the side and was seen b those on the foredeck drifting into the burning oil. He was never seen again.
- The writer returned to the United States on the SS JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY, another liberty ship.
FIRST ENDORSEMENT.
31 August 1943.
To: S-CC
- Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 6 relative to the loss of Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. Marks, William L. Lyman and Lawrence D. McLaughlin.
P. BRENNAN
G. F. FELTUS
By direction
C O N F I D E N T I A L 325 Cadet File No. 43-1004
USNR File No. 180742
31 August, 1943
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
Subject: SS TIMOTHY PPICKERING – loss of
- The subject vessel left Alexandria, Egypt, in a convoy consisting of about 70 or 80 ships, on 6 July, 1943, bound for Avola, Sicily. The cargo consisted of munitions, T.N.T., high octane gasoline, trucks, 25 lb. howitzers and also 130 British soldiers. The weather was fair during the entire trip to Sicily.
- The subject vessel was anchored in the harbor of Avola, about half a mile from shore, when on the morning of 13 July, 1943, a few enemy planes came over and bombed the town. At 1140 of the same day, two more planes came over and dropped two 500-lb. bombs. One dropped astern, but the other hit the vessel, just aft of the deck house by #4 hatch. The ship was split in two by the exploding bomb, ammunition exploded in the holds and the water around the ship was a mess of burning gasoline.
- Immediately after the explosion, the writer crawled through the port passageway and jumped into the water. Some of the men went to the foredeck, put a doughnut raft over the side and swam to it. Both the port and starboard life rafts jammed and could not be released.
- British invasion barges, which wers unloading the ships, came over and picked the men out of the water, including the writer, who was in the water about 12 minutes. Bombing planes came over again about a half hour later.
- After all the survivors had been taken off, the vessel was shelled and sunk by one of the escort, to limit the danger to other ships in the area.
- The other three Cadet-Midshipman assigned to the subject vessel with the writer, were killed. Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. MARKS was known to have been in the engine room when the ship was hit. Cadet-Midshipman William L. LYMAN was in the Cadet-Midshipman’s quarters and never came out. Cadet-Midshipman Lawrence D. McLAUGHLIN jumped over the side and was seen be those on the foredeck drifting into the burning oil. He was never seen again.
- The writer returned to the United States on the SS JAMES, WHITCOMB RILEY, a liberty ship.
Signed (Christopher J. Brennan)
Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
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FIRST ENDORESMENT
31 August, 1943
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet-corps
Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 6 relatives to this loss of Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. MARKS, William L. LYMAN, and Lawrence D McLAUGHLIN
P. BRENNAN
Signed (G. F. Feltus)
G. F. FELTUS, By direction
File No. 43-1004
USNR No. 130742
CONFIDENTIAL
8 December 1943
From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject: Combat Wound Ribbon; Request for
Preference: (a) Report of loss of vessel dated 31 August 1943
- Furthering reference (a), the writer was wounded by shrapnel in the left side of the back while in the water following the abandonment of the ship. Application is respectfully made for a subject ribbon in view of these circumstances.
CHRISTOPHER J. BRENNAN
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FIRST ENDORSEMENT.
8 December 1943
To: S-CC
- Forwarded. Approval recommended.
P. BRENNAN
G. S. FINDLAY
By direction
File No. 43-1004
USNR No. 180742
10 January 1944
From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To: Mr. Frank Rusk, Seaman’s Service Awards Committee
Washington, D. C.
Via: (1) District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
(2) Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Subject: Mariners’ Medal and Combat Bar with Star; Request for
- While serving aboard the SS TIMOTHY PICKERING, the ship was bombed and sunk on 13 July 1943 in the harbor of Avola, Sicily. While abandoning the ship. The writer received shrapnel wounds in the back.
- Application is respectfully made for the subject bars. The writer has received authorization to wear the Cadet Corps ribbons corresponding to the subject bars.
CHRISTOPHER J. BRENNAN
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FIRST ENDORSEMENT.
10 January 1944
To: Mr. Frank Rusk
Via: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
- Forwarded. The records in this office confirm service as stated above. Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN is entitled to the bars requested.
P. BRENNAN
G. S. FINDLAY
By direction