Given all the interest in the sinking of the Passenger Liner Athenia on the day WW2 declared, and the fact that we have recently found some of the lists for her survivors, and those who died, we have decided to consolidate all our references to her on this site, The Athenia Page.
- TSS Letitia, sister ship to ill fated Athenia, had a checkered career
Published 03 March 2008; Updated 09 March 2008
- A report about HMS Electra and the sinking and rescue of some of her passengers, by Able Seaman Jack Taylor
Published 24 October 2007; Updated 24 October 2007
- Margaret and Elizabeth Orr both survived the sinking of RMS Athenia on Sunday the 3rd. of September 1939. Margo Farnworth's artifacts from her Mother and Grand Mother
Published 02 October 2007; Updated 03 October 2007
Margo Farnsworth of Calgary Canada has written to me to indicate that her Mother and Grand Mother, Margaret and Elizabeth Orr had both survived the Athenia sinking. In December 1939, her Grand Father made up a special scrap book for his wife Elizabeth, it is now in Margo's possession, and holds some press reports from both sides of the Atlantic, the plan of the ship's accommodation, three telegrams sent to her family by Elizabeth, a survivor list of passengers and crew members, and a list of those survivors who needed hospitalisation in Glasgow.
- Survivors from Athenia rescued by Royal Navy destroyers, Escort, Electra and Fame, and landed at Gourock on the Clyde, Scotland
Published 16 June 2007; Updated 09 June 2008
Over the years that AHOY has been trying to locate lists of survivors from the Athenia, torpedoed on Sunday the 3rd. of September 1939, the very first day of WW2, we have not found a consolidated list of those survivors rescued by Royal Navy destroyers Escort, Electra and Fame, and landed at Gourock on the Clyde at Scotland.
- Athenia Manuscript authored by Judith Evelyn
Published 05 December 2006; Updated 14 February 2007
Judith's Manuscript ( tied up with ribbon ) covered her sailing, being sunk, and rescued from the liner Athenia, in the first casualty of the WW2 U-Boat war in the Atlantic. The ship was sunk by U-30 on Sunday the 3rd.of September 1939 the very first day that WW2 had been declared.
93 passengers and 19 crew members died.
- Family of seven, only three survive sinking of Athenia
Published 24 November 2006; Updated 01 April 2008
Work in progress
- The Athenia Remembered: September 3, 1939-September 3, 2004 by Michael Poirier
Published 29 September 2006; Updated 19 January 2007
Thanks to Michael Poirier who graciously allowed Ahoy to publish interview excerpts from his article, "The Athenia Remembered: September 3, 1939-September 3, 2004 in Voyage magazine, Titanic International Society, www.titanicinternationalsociety.org
- First newspaper report about Bernice Jansen being aboard Athenia when it was sunk by German U-Boat U-30, on the 3rd. of September 1939
Published 24 July 2006; Updated 19 January 2007
At this stage it was unknown if Bernice had survived. Its quite wonderful to get these reports from newspapers of that time. I acknowledge with thanks the generosity of Christy Velasco of California in sharing her records with AHOY.
- Survivors from Athenia picked up by the City of Flint, to be transported to Halifax
Published 09 July 2006; Updated 09 July 2006
This list from the Times of London archives indicates that the majority of these survivors rescued from the Athenia which was torpedoed by German U-Boat U-30, on Sunday the 3rd. of September 1939, were Americans.
- List of 93 Passengers killed when Athenia was torpedoed by German U-30, on Sunday the 3rd. of September 1939
Published 23 June 2006; Updated 06 July 2006
Athenia was torpedoed by German U-Boat U-30, on the day World War 2 was declared. No doubt the sterile black print of this list of passengers who died when Athenia was torpedoed, masks a number of poignant stories.
- The British Convoy System in Two World Wars, and winning the Battle of the Atlantic
Published 02 February 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
Hitler on 9 October, 1939, made this comment, "Used ruthlessly, the Submarine, can today, be an extraordinary threat to Britain."
Churchill said, " Battles might be won or lost, enterprises succeed or miscarry, Territories might be gained or quitted, but, dominating all our power to carry on the war, or even keep ourselves alive, was our mastery of the ocean routes, and free approach and entry to our ports. The only thing that ever frightened me during the war was the U-Boat peril."
- My life on the Internet
Published 22 February 2004; Updated 01 July 2006
(Work in progress)
- SS Athenia, First Casualty of the U-Boat War on the 3rd. of September 1939
Published 29 September 2003; Updated 01 July 2006
Berlin found out about this attack from news reports, and knowing that U-30 was the only Boat in that area, were soon able to pin this error on her. Hitler now wanted a cover up. He did not wish to have another event like the Lusitania affair from WW1 coming back to haunt him, plus Donitz, and his U-Boat arm. Goebells spread the word that it was the British that had themselves torpedoed Athenia, in their attempt to bring the United States quickly into WW2 against Germany
The Battle of the Atlantic - The Battle of the Atlantic
Published 23 October 2002; Updated 16 June 2007
This battle ebbed and flowed from the opening day of W.W. 2 The German V-30. only twelve hours after war was declared. sank the" Athenia" off Ireland, with the subsequent loss of life of 120 of its passengers.
Letters and other correspondence
Survivors of the Athenia
Published 04 October 2008; Updated 04 October 2008
David Murray Captain's Steward on Athenia
Published 21 September 2008; Updated 21 September 2008
Willie Jenkins survived sinking of Athenia
Published 14 September 2008; Updated 14 September 2008
James Swan, 21 years old in September 1939, survived sinkings of Athenia and Gracia
Published 09 September 2008; Updated 09 September 2008
Story of the Athenia, its victims and survivors, could work well as a documentary
Published 30 August 2008; Updated 30 August 2008
Tommy McLaughlin served on Athenia
Published 29 August 2008; Updated 29 August 2008
David Murray from Glasgow was the Captains steward on Athenia on that eventful night in 1939
Published 29 August 2008; Updated 29 August 2008
Wooden hammer/mallet which was used at the launching of the Athenia
Published 14 June 2008; Updated 14 June 2008
Linda Dalton survived sinking of Athenia
Published 03 May 2008; Updated 09 June 2008
Jessie Lowe (Jessie Makay) a nurse/stewardess on the Athenia?
Published 29 April 2008; Updated 29 April 2008
Frank Watson served on H.M.S. Escort, picked up survivors from S.S. Athenia
Published 16 March 2008; Updated 17 March 2008
Arthur and Lily Moses, were aboard the Athenia when she was torpedoed
Published 02 March 2008; Updated 02 March 2008
Margaret Ray Hodge and Jocelyn M. Hodge survivied the sinking of Athenia
Published 02 March 2008; Updated 02 March 2008
Duncan MacKenzie Wood Sr., wife Ann Scott Wood, and their son Duncan MacKenzie Wood Jr., all survived the sinking of the ATHENIA
Published 24 January 2008; Updated 24 January 2008
SS Athenia Glasgow Museums update, pictures and keys which came from Athenia's silver room
Published 04 January 2008; Updated 04 January 2008
Athenia lifeboat survives on Stronsay, part of the Orkney Islands
Published 17 December 2007; Updated 17 December 2007
Gerald Hutchinson, oldest living survivor of SS Athenia?
Published 16 December 2007; Updated 16 December 2007
Rose Griffin survived sinking of Athenia
Published 03 December 2007; Updated 03 December 2007
James A. Goodson survived sinking of Athenia
Published 30 November 2007; Updated 30 November 2007
Florence Kelly Roseman & her mother, Mary Kelly, survived Athenia
Published 25 October 2007; Updated 29 October 2007
Athenia Research, Museum of Transport, Glasgow
Published 24 October 2007; Updated 24 October 2007
Nickolas Gash, Athenia survivor
Published 23 October 2007; Updated 23 October 2007
George Sneddon lost on Athenia?
Published 14 October 2007; Updated 14 October 2007
Leslie John Holder, Radio Operator on duty who received the SOS from the ATHENIA after being torpedoed
Published 04 October 2007; Updated 06 November 2007
Elizabeth and Margaret Orr, survivors of Athenia
Published 29 September 2007; Updated 29 September 2007
John Morrison from Detroit, Mich, Athenia passenger?
Published 23 September 2007; Updated 23 September 2007
My father is a survivor from the SS Athenia Sep. 3, 1939
Published 09 September 2007; Updated 06 January 2008
Berta Rapp, Osias Rapp were survivors of the sinking of the Athenia
Published 09 September 2007; Updated 09 September 2007
Letter dated 22 September 1939 from Ruth, a survivor of S.S. Athenia
Published 09 September 2007; Updated 09 September 2007
Two ships named Athenia
Published 26 August 2007; Updated 26 August 2007
Angus Macpherson lost in Athenia?
Published 18 June 2007; Updated 18 June 2007
Alice Apers, Florence Arthur and cousin Laura Apers survived the sinking of Athenia
Published 16 June 2007; Updated 16 June 2007
Athenia survivor (originally evacuated to Scotland) in NYC
Published 16 June 2007; Updated 19 June 2007
Glasgow Museum of Transport; exhibition of Athenia, contacting survivors
Published 19 May 2007; Updated 19 May 2007
Passenger aboard the Athenia when it was torpedoed
Published 25 March 2007; Updated 31 March 2007
Florrie Treharne, survive the sinking of the Athenia in 1939?
Published 15 March 2007; Updated 15 March 2007
Jessie Clark, aboard Athenia, and the "curse" of the Clarks
Published 13 March 2007; Updated 13 March 2007
Athenia survivor finds plaque memorializing Helen Burrows who died in the sinking of Athenia
Published 05 March 2007; Updated 10 March 2007
Surviving the Athenia
Published 20 January 2007; Updated 20 January 2007
Margaret Ellen Taylor survived sinking of Athenia - which ship picked her up?
Published 13 January 2007; Updated 12 March 2007
Reference to the recovery of any bodies from the loss of Athenia?
Published 30 November 2006; Updated 30 November 2006
Edward Belton survived the sinking of Athenia
Published 26 November 2006; Updated 26 November 2006
Interviews with Athenia survivors for an article honoring the 65th anniversary
Published 29 September 2006; Updated 29 September 2006
Elwood & Alma MacPherson, survived the sinking of the Athenia
Published 21 August 2006; Updated 21 August 2006
John Easton and mother, Lily Easton, aboard Athenia when sunk.
Published 24 July 2006; Updated 04 March 2007
Bernice Jansen, passenger on the Athenia
Published 09 July 2006; Updated 24 July 2006
Athenia survivor, Marianne Ostermann. Now she is Marian Kaye
Published 14 June 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
Think my granddad sailed the boat which saved survivors of the Athenia
Published 29 May 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
June 1927 outbound passenger list of the Athenia
Published 29 May 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
My father's aunts perished on Athenia
Published 16 April 2006; Updated 10 February 2007
Capt A.Quail fought in WW2 in the british merchant navy
Published 15 March 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
John & Nigel McKinnon were members of the crew of SS Athenia when it was sunk in 1939
Published 29 January 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
Crew members from Athenia, who died when she was sunk, to become the first Merchant Ship casuality of WW2
Published 21 January 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
Athenia passenger list 1927?
Published 19 January 2006; Updated 01 July 2006
Any living survivors of SS Athenia's sinking in 1939?
Published 13 December 2005; Updated 01 July 2006
Julia Wotten Scott, survivor on the Athenia at time of sinking
Published 02 December 2005; Updated 01 July 2006
David Morrison, steward on the Athenia died Sept 1939
Published 28 March 2005; Updated 01 July 2006
Martha Goddard died on the Athenia in Sept 1939
Published 24 February 2005; Updated 01 July 2006
Dinner bell from the RSM Athenia dated 1931
Published 26 November 2004; Updated 01 July 2006
Father sailed as 2nd Officer on SS Eastlea, sunk by U-48
Published 08 September 2004; Updated 01 July 2006
From passenger on the Volendam
Published 15 June 2004; Updated 18 June 2007
Find crew / staff lists for SS Athenia?
Published 22 February 2004; Updated 01 July 2006
Discussion Forum for Ahoy - Mac's Web Log
A short list of Australian survivors of the Athenia sinking (National Archives of Australia, Prime Minister's Dept. corresp.).
Athenia newspaper articles
Athenia First Casualty of WW2
Merchant Navy WWII--how to get backround info on casualty
