| The pictures show a view of the Old Engineer / Sailor Photograph With Papers in this lot. The ship photograph is NOT included. It is only shown here for reference. The photograph is not marked but was found with these two old letters of recommendation. It shows the man in uniform. The first letter is stamped and signed. It is from the ship m/t LINCOLN ELLSWORTH of Oslo, Norway. The letter is not in English. It is dated December 1st, 1941. Apparrently this letter was carried with him. This letter had separated at the creases and was earlier attached to a linen paper backing to keep it together. The sections are coming off the backing but it is complete. There are some old fingerprints on the back. Besides the ship picture below, here is a little information found on this ship: ************
M/T Lincoln Ellsworth NS
T. Dannevig & Co., Oslo
5580 gt
Built in Gothenburg 1927.
Captain Kristian Olsen. Torpedoed forward of amidships on the port side by U-94 (Kuppisch) on April 6-1941, position 62 37N 27 06W, while on a voyage alone from Reykjavik to Trinidad in ballast, having left Reykjavik on Apr. 5. All 29 survived and were rescued from their two lifeboats two days later by escort vessels. According to "Nortraships flŒte" the survivors in the boats had observed a 2nd torpedo hit forward of the engine room, whereupon she was shelled and on fire, before sinking about an hour and a half after the first torpedo had hit. (Rohwer mentions only one torpedo). There used to be a website entitled "Islandia" which no longer appears to be online. The text for Apr. 8 on that site mentioned that 16 seamen from Lincoln Ellsworth were rescued that day by several small fishing boats out of Hellissandur.
************The second letter is from the War Shipping Administration Recruitment and Manning Organization of Boston, Massachusetts. It is dated July 1st, 1946. It is a letter of recommendation. It is signed by a Howard D. Adams, Field Representative. It has fold creases and appears it had been carried on his person. The Photograph measures 3-1/2'' x 5-7/8''. It is in excellent condition. The papers are in the condition mentioned above and pictured. |
