tim lewin
03-08-2007, 05:54
Returning from the successful delivery of PQ18 Ashanti and Somali were part of the close fighting escort of the convoy. Runnig very low on fuel Ashanti changed places in the screen with her sister Tribal Somali. Within 20 minutes Somali was hit in the engine and gearing spaces by a torpedo (you can see a picture taken shortly after this minute submitted by Ed Chatwin in the section on Tribals). Captain "Dickie" Onslow decided to take Somali in tow and try to make it back to Iceland. The resulting adventure which has been well documented and written up by Capt. Onslow as "The long Tow", (Copies to anyone interested if they contact by email) ended four days later when approaching Icelend a katabatic storm swept down from the landmass bringing gale-force winds, freezing temperatures and blinding snowstorms. Somali broke in two and quickly foundered. Her remaining crew of Somalis and a few Ashantis went into the water from which many were rescued by Lord Middleton and a few from Ashanti. Ashanti's captain was Lt. CDr Colin Maud, a big man with a huge black beard, later to act as beach master for British forces on D-day. Seeing Maud being swept passed the heavily rolling ship Leading Seaman Albert "Lofty" Goad (see comem envelope below) dived over the side with the line from the torpedo davit and gaffed the dead weight of Maud with its hook, he was hauled aboard frozen stiff and singing having drunk the entire contents of his brandy flask convinced he was going to die. (LS Goad was awarded the Albert Medal for this act of heroism). My father also went over the side as Somali's first Lieutenant was swept along the bilge, he saw my father and called out to him to help him. He grabbed him by his life-jacket but as he tried to pull him to the scrambling net the tapes parted and the poor man vanished into the snow-filled darkness.
Maud recovered within hours; when Ashanti reach Scotland he went to a gallery in Edinburgh where he ordered a print of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a gilt frame to which he added a silver engraved plaque, "Jolly good show tra-la tra-la, and many thanks to you all, September 26th 1942", to present to the ship.
The picture was fitted to the bulkhead above the electric fireplace in Ashanti's wardroom.
Records show that Ashanti finished the war in a completely worn-out condition, repairs were attempted but too much was needed and there were many newer ships in better condition, she was recorded a scrapped in 1949. In fact, she was not scrapped in 1949. In 1956 my father was given command in a pierhead jump of HMS Corunna when her existing Captain was obliged to take compassionate leave. Joining Corunna at Rosyth he saw, there on the opposite side of the baisin, folorn and gunless, the familiar shape of G51, Ashanti, going aboard for a nostalgic nose there was the Girl with the Pearl still on the wardroom bulkhead. Quickly liberated with a screwdriver she was rehomed in Corunna's captain's cabin. At the end of the commission she came home to chez Lewin where she has lived ever since, battered, plaster gilt chipped and with a rather green skin tone she is a daily reminder of those far-off days on the roof of the world.
Maud recovered within hours; when Ashanti reach Scotland he went to a gallery in Edinburgh where he ordered a print of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a gilt frame to which he added a silver engraved plaque, "Jolly good show tra-la tra-la, and many thanks to you all, September 26th 1942", to present to the ship.
The picture was fitted to the bulkhead above the electric fireplace in Ashanti's wardroom.
Records show that Ashanti finished the war in a completely worn-out condition, repairs were attempted but too much was needed and there were many newer ships in better condition, she was recorded a scrapped in 1949. In fact, she was not scrapped in 1949. In 1956 my father was given command in a pierhead jump of HMS Corunna when her existing Captain was obliged to take compassionate leave. Joining Corunna at Rosyth he saw, there on the opposite side of the baisin, folorn and gunless, the familiar shape of G51, Ashanti, going aboard for a nostalgic nose there was the Girl with the Pearl still on the wardroom bulkhead. Quickly liberated with a screwdriver she was rehomed in Corunna's captain's cabin. At the end of the commission she came home to chez Lewin where she has lived ever since, battered, plaster gilt chipped and with a rather green skin tone she is a daily reminder of those far-off days on the roof of the world.