LIFEBOAT No.
7
Capt. Wm MacVicar, MBE
Forty-two years ago about Easter time a Southend man, then Third Officer, William MacVicar, was in charge of a lifeboat of the Anchor Liner, BRITANNIA, which was sunk in mid Atlantic by a German raider. It is from the log book of the nightmare voyage of this lifeboat that our account is taken, and which was lent to the Magazine by Mr. MacVicar, the author along with Sub-Lt. McIntosh, R.N. of the offical report. Although there was always hope of Lifeboat No.7 being picked up by another ship and several were seen at various times, none saw this lifeboat, which made its own way to land. It is due to Mr. MacVicar and a group of highly disciplined naval and merchant seamen that this boat eventually reached land.
The BRITANNIA left Liverpool early in March, 1941, for India, via Cape Town, the only route then open. German submarines were attempting to blockade Britain, and five out of every hundred ships leaving British port in the spring of that year were sunk. Once clear of the submarine zone there was only a raider to fear,and there was about one chance in a hundred of this happening, and BRITANNIA was unlucky. Although there was a system of convoys in operation, merchant ships capable of moderate speeds went out alone and unescorted, and when a ship saw the rare sight of another on the horizon, there was always the fear that it night be a raider.
It was a raider, BRITANNIA changed course, so too did the raider which was a faster ship, and armed with four 6" guns, for which the 4" gun on BRITANNIA was no match. Soon the raider got the range and scored several hits. The Captain struck his colours and ordered "Abandon Ship." Lifeboats were lowered, rafts, etc. thrown into the water. People in the sea were picked up by the lifeboats which pulled away from the sinking ship. The raider drew nearer, and fired a shot into the liner, which sank immediately. Some of the lifeboats were eventually picked up by other ships, and the ship's doctor, a girl, climbed aboard a rescuing vessel to be greeted by her father, a ship's officer on it.
In the overcrowded Lifeboat No.7 were 39 Indian crew, 25 Indian passengers, 13 Naval and Naval Reserve officers, one European passenger, and the Seventh Engineer and Third Officer who was in charge of the boat. The different groups were sorted out: the Indian crev in the bow, the Indian passengers amidships, and the Europeans in the stern. The boat was leaking badly; three shrapnel holes were plugged with cloth and tin from a tobacco box; but continual baling was necessary. There were 16 gallons of water in sealed containers, two tins of ship's biscuits and 24 tins of condensed milk. From the beginning this meagre supply was rationed out; a third of a dipper of water (about an eggcupful) and a biscuit at sundown, and a tin of condensed milk at sunrise. There were two sails,a baling tin, a first aid tin, and little else.
At first it was decided to make for the African coast about 600 miles distant, but this meant sailing NE into the wind in a boat whioh was not easy to sail, and proved to be impossible, and so they had to make for the coast of North Brazil, which was twice as far away.
On the second day the crew were warned against drinking sea water. At first all were unwilling to take turns baling, but after two days some of the Indians began to help with baling, the log reports, but gives little about general conditions. The Europeans cleaned out their section of the boat, and washed themselves by leaning over the gunwale, and getting water poured over them by the others. It was extremely hot and by the 4th day several persons fainted, and on the 5th night many slept for the first time since taking to the boat. One of the officers fixed up a sea anchor, ready for immediate use, and when the weather seemed likely to change plans were made to take down the main sail, but little rain fell the first time. At night the crew became quarrelsome, and some cried continuously for water. The Chief Cook, who had been drinking sea water threw himself overboard. The heat was terrific and everyone was weak and exhausted. All were getting seawater boils and sores which "were making rest in any position difficult." The continual baling was an additional strain. When rain came their first endeavour was unsuccessful as "our efforts were spoiled. It is not difficult to imagine the efforts to get at the water of which about 2 gallons were collected, by men driven mad with thirst.
There was always hope. The empty biscuit tin was made ready to hold further rain water. On the 16th day it rained hard for several hours and some gallons of water were collected, but a severe storm broke which made frantic baling necessary. It was again possible to make a slight increase in the water ration, and deaths had diminished the number still needing it. All were now wet and cold after the storm, and further heavy storms enabled a little more rain water to be collected.
"Had short service of remembrance for Harman and Beck who had died and thanks-giving for rain. Expect to make land about Good Friday. Had a full cup of milk at sundown." Everyone was now in a sad state, and some of those still surviving had lost hope as had the man who threw the baling bucket overboard. The empty first aid tin and milk tins were now used for baling.
Three days after the estimate was made "Considerable excitement at dawn for when the breeze came up it brought an 'earthy' land smell and the water appeared a dirty shore green, and we saw driftwood. Land was sighted at 11.40. By 16.00 were running NW along the coast, but unable to land owing to surf. Stood well out during the night."
The next day, the 23rd day at sea, they landed on an island off the coast of North Brazil. "The boat grounded at 16.00 and we all waded ashore. Made a camp on the beach." It is sad that at this point the fifth European died in sight of land. They were all exhausted and one can imagine the state they were in through starvation, thirst and all the difficulties of living in that crowded boat. Some fishermen saw them and took them to their huts. "Stayed with them resting, eating and sleeping." After 23 days in that open boat they had, against all odds, finally reached land.
The following day the Police Commissioner arrived with an interpreter and they made a seven hour journey through the night by canoes to Mocajutuba and then transferred to oars and reached the Police Station in Sao Luiz in the early morning, where they were taken to the Portuguese Hospital.
In all 44 died, and of the survivors 13 were Europeans, and 25 Indians. The distance covered was approximately 1,400 miles. The man in charge of this amazing voyage, and to whom survival of any was due, afterwards became a captain in the Anchor Line, and is now retired. Residents of Southend will recall in postwar years the one passenger liner which passed through Sanda Sound and blew a greeting to Captain MacVicar's birthplace, and to his brother, who after a wartime spent abroad on land, now lives on the shores of the North Channel, which was the only route open to wartiue vessels bound for America, Africa, India, Australasia, and the Far East.
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