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Hello,

Can you tell me any information about the Baltavia 1939-1941 as my grandfather served on her at this time his papers say he was discharged at sea oct 1941 what does this mean?

There is also a gap in his service after this date until jan 1942.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.
 
Sarah Dean

Sarah,
 
In response to your message, I am having great difficulty in finding much about the ship Baltavia.
 
The one reference I can turn up, is from The Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney, and it is but brief, namely: MV Baltavia was built in 1924, and was of 2,592 tons.
 
I have asked my friend, Billy McGee in UK, who runs a large site there, all about Merchant Shipping, mainly over WW2, if he can help at all.
 
I assume that your Grandfather was at sea in Baltavia in 1941, and some event, that I am not able to track down, happened to her at that time, and he is recorded as being discharged from that ship then, and he did not serve again in another vessel until January of 1942, but that is conjecture on my part Sarah. 
 
Sorry I can not be more helpful for you. If we unearth any more information, I promise to come back to you again.
 
Best wishes,
Mac Gregory.

MV Baltavia

I read with interest the letter from Sarah regarding her grandfather serving on the MV Baltavia.

I did my first trip to sea on the Baltavia in 1951 and served in all engineer ranks to the position of Second Engineer until she was sold to the Chinese in 1957. In the early part of the war she was a storeship for some time in Sierra Leonne and when I was on her in 1951 she still had traces of netting under the engine room skylights that was to stop grenades being thrown down the engine room by saboteurs.

Baltavia was built in 1924 in Gothenburg Sweden, 2592 gross tons, she was twin screw with two Burmeister and Wain single acting Diesel engines of 1300 HP each at 130 RPM and I think she must have been very advanced for her time in 1924 as she had all electric auxiliaries.and for many years she traded between Gdynia, Poland, to Hull and London carrying chilled bacon and conserves At the time I was on her she also carried 12 passengers, but in her early days before being owned by United Baltic Corporation I believe she carried as many as two hundred.

I have a good photograph of Baltavia and would willingly let Sarah have it to put something into her family history.

Regards
Bob Sherwood

Hello Sarah,

Here is a letter from Bob Sherwood who served in MV Baltavia in 1951.

As you can see he is offering you a photograph of her, and may I suggest you get in touch with Bob should you be interested.

Trusting all goes well well with you.

Kind regards.
Mackenzie Gregory.

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