D/S Annavore

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Fremstod Leonard Trygve Karlsen ...

Vitnet fremholdt at skibet hadde lastet malm i Huelva og var bestemt til Oban for orders. Avgikk den 12 til Gibraltar for konvoi. Ble liggende der til den 14de da konvoien avgikk. Ulykken hendte 21. desember 1941. Vitnet var på vakt fra kl. 8 em. samme dag. Han hadde da overtatt utkiken på taket av styrethuset. Klokken omtr. 25 min over otte så han at det ble sendt opp lys fra de eskorterende krigsskib. Han så lys noen aktenom og noen på babord side av skibet. Han ropte straks ned til kapteinen og 3. styrmannen som begge var på broen at nu begynte det igjen. Med dette mente han at det var ubåter i nærheten. Straks etterpå så han en lysstripe om babord og ropte ned til kapteinen og 3. styrmann om dette. Han hadde neppe fått tid til å melde av om dette da der inntraff en eksplosjon. Det var torpedoen. Den traff ved Nr. 2 luken. Han så kapteinen gå ned leiderene på styrbord side, men det var det siste han så ham. Vitnet så 3. styrmann gå over og slå alarmen. Etter det så han heller ikke ham mere. Han så ingen andre av mannskapet. Vitnet kastet av seg jakken og prøvde å hoppe ned i motorbåten på nedre bro, men fant seg selv i vannet. Han hadde redningsvesten på. Da han kom opp til overflaten så han motorbåten med bunnen i været like ved. Han kravlet opp på hvelvet av båten, og mens han satt der kom en flåte drivende mot båten, og vitnet gikk over på flåten. Mens han var på flåten så vitnet tre røde lys med endel innbyrdes mellemrom og hørte rop om hjelp. Lysene satt på folkenes redningsvester. Hvis ikke vitnet hadde hatt en redningsvest med sådant lys på var han sikkert ikke blitt reddet. Etter en stunds forløp passerte først ett og siden ett annet krigsfartøi forbi, og fra disse ble det ropt at ett annet skib vilde komme og redde dem. Omtrent ett par timer senere ble vitnet reddet av en korvett, som også tok opp de andre som ble reddet. De fikk lite mat. Sammen med de andre reddete ble han sendt til Liverpool. Torpederingen fandt sted omtr. en dagsreise nordenfor Azorene

The lifesaving equipment on board was in the best of order. They had all been supplied with lifesaving jackets with light and whistle. The witness is of opinion that more would have been saved if the first warship had stopped and begun lifesaving work.

The withess is of opinion that in addition to himself, only A.B. Seaman Knut Johannesen, fireman Johan Malmin and fireman Thorleif Vaerøy were saved.

There were in all 34 belonging to the crew, 3 english gunners and 2 passengers, one Norwegian and one Scotsman.

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Appeared Knut Johannessen ... A.B. Seaman in the s/s "Annavore" ...

The witness stated that he was off duty and was sitting in the mess-room playing cards with mess-room boy Vedvik, gunner Wilhelmsen and A. B. Seaman Randolf Andersen on the 21st December when the casualty occured. A fireman, Kristian Korsbø, came in whilst they were sitting there and at the same moment the explosion took place. The witness, then, at once took his lifebelt from his cabin which was just outside the mess-room. He then saw A.B. Seaman Sundal and ordinary seaman Kristoffer Baldersheim, who were lying in their bunks in their cabins, turn out. That was the last he saw of them. The witness ran straight up on deck where he saw a man in front of him. He thinks it was ordinary seaman Myren. He threw the lifebelt over his shoulder and jumped over board. The vessel was then standing practically straight up and down in the sea. When he jumped over board his head struck against some hard object and was bruised. When he came to the surface he saw fireman Malmin in the vicinity. He heard cries for help round about. He also saw the two ships which passed by. From these ships there was called out that others would come and save them. He was lying in the water for about a couple of hours before a corvette came and saved him. They were well treated on board, but there was little food.

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Appeared Torleif Værøy ... trimmer in the s/s "Annavore" ...

The witness stated that he was lying asleep when the casualty occurred. He was awakened by a violent shaking which nearly threw him out of his bunk. The witness's cabin was under the poop. He quickly grabbed his lifesaving jacket and rushed up on deck. When he came up on deck the stern of the vessel was already standing high up in the air and there was nothing else for the withess to do than to jump into the sea at once. He did not even have time to put on the jacket. He fell into the water on his side and was badly stunned. When he came to the surface again the vessel had disappeared. He could see clearly because flares were sent up by a destroyer some distance away. Soon he was lucky enough to get hold of a piece of a hatch which was floating in the vicinity. He put his lifesaving jcaket on top of the piece of hatch and got the light on the jacket lit. He was lying in the water for about 1/2 hour and was then picked up by a destroyer. He was by then almost completely exhausted. Whilst he was lying in the water he saw lights from two other lifesaving jackets. In the opinion of the witnes these must have belonged to Leonard Trygve Karlsen and Knut Johannesen who were also saved.

The witness is of opinion that the vessel's lifesaving equipment was in the best of order. Boat drill had been carried out some time before the vessel was torpedoed.

He was transferred from the destroyer, which picked him up, to another destroyer which proceeded to Plymouth. There he was taken to the Royal Naval Hospital from where he was discharged on the 6th inst.

The witness shared a cabin with Johan Malmin who was also saved.

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