Suez Canal, 1941

The Suez voyage of April to September of 1941 from Liverpool to Suez and return.

When re-fitting was completed at Liverpool in April of 1941, the EMPRESS OF ASIA embarked approximately 2,000 soldiers of a Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army known as the Green Howards.

The EMPRESS OF ASIA sailed from Liverpool on April 24th, 1941 bound for Suez via the Cape of Good Hope.  Suez was reached in early July after stops at Freetown, Capetown, Durban, and Aden.  The Green Howards were disembarked at Suez and joined the African campaign of the British Army.

The EMPRESS OF ASIA sailed from Suez bound for Durban with approximately 1,000 Italian Prisoners of War.  Also on board were approximately 300 civilian and military evacuees.  Included were British Naval, Air Force, and Army personnel assigned to redeployment as well as about seventy Norwegian Volunteers and a small number of servicemen from the Free French, Belgian and Dutch military. Some civilian evacuees, including women and children, from the Greece and Crete campaigns were also on board.

Prince Phillip of Greece, then a member of the Royal Navy, served as a midshipman on the EMPRESS OF ASIA as he traveled to Durban.

Other notable passengers were two British Brigadier-Generals, G.S. Brunskill and E.A. Miness.  Two American businessmen were also on board, Alexander Jacobs of Chicago and Victor Hughs of Queens.

At Durban the Prisoners of War were disembarked and the ship continued to New York by way of Trinidad.  After completion of some repairs the ship sailed from New York bound for Halifax. 

The Empress of Asia called at Halifax after completing the voyage to Suez.  At Halifax, approximately 2,000 Canadian troops were embarked for transport to Britain for service in Europe.  The Empress of Asia sailed from Halifax on the 16th September 1941 bound for Liverpool as part of convoy HX150.

Among the troops being transported was Willard G. (Dusty) Perrin of the The Corps of the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME).  Willard Perrin later would participate in the invasion of Normandy.  While on aboard the ship he managed to save two menus that describe meals being provided to the troops.  Thanks to the Perrin family for providing these images.                                                             

After the troops were disembarked at Liverpool, further repairs and refitting were undertaken in preparation for the Empress of Asia's next voyage. 

The following table contains the names of the crew members that served aboard the EMPRESS OF ASIA during the voyage of April to September of 1941 from Liverpool to Suez and return.

NAME

RATING

Abbott,  P. J.

Able Seaman

Addison, E.

Sailor

Allen, C. J.

Cook

Allen, J.

Baker

Allen, L.

Able Seaman

Anderson, A.

Boy Seaman

Anderson, A.

Trimmer

Atkins, D. M.

Cadet

Baines, T.

Fireman

Banks, R. S.

Laundryman

Barry, R.

Boy Seaman

Beedon, H.

Steward

Bell, D.

Baker

Bennett, H. J.

Trimmer

Bennett, T.

Fireman

Berry, J. E.

Plate Sculleryman

Betts, W. R.

Cook

Bilsborough, J. J.

Trimmer

Bishop, J.

Fireman

Blakeman, C.

Butcher

Bonfil, P. J.

Kitchen Porter

Bonitto, O.

Fireman

Boyle, E. E.

Able Seaman

Bree, B.

Barkeeper

Brew, T.

Fireman

Briercliffe, A. M.

Laundryman

Brierley, W.

Chief Butcher

Brierley, W.

Waiter

Brooking, S.

Able Seaman

Brown, E.

Barkeeper

Brown, J.

Able Seaman

Brown, J.

Engineers' Boy

Brown, J. P.

Fireman

Brown, P.

Fireman

Brownsmith, A.

Barkeeper

Bulley, T. E.

Linenkeeper

Burns, J.

Fireman

Burrows, T.

Steward

Bush, H.

Fireman

Butler, W. D.

Waiter

Byrne, A.

Cook

Campbell, C. S.

Pants

Campbell, J.

Fireman

Cannell, J. H.

Printer

Caren, T.

Fireman

Carter, C.

Dispenser

Carter, J. W.

Sculleryman

Cashman, E.

Fireman

Cassidy, R.

Trimmer

Catterall, J.

Fireman

Chan, Kam

Joiner

Chan, Lam

Joiner

Chang, Tin Yau

Rustyman

Charles, T.

Butcher

Clark, G.

Trimmer

Clark, W.

Pants

Clarke, A. R.

Fireman

Collins, H.

Barkeeper

Colville, W.

Quarter Master

Connell, H.A.

Radio Operator

Conway, V. H.

Pantryman

Cooper, W.

Trimmer

Corrigan, W.

Fireman

Costello, M. W.

Ordinary Seaman

Coulson, H.

Fireman

Coulson, H. T.

Trimmer

Cowell, R. V.

Steward

Cox, H.

Waiter

Cranny, J.

Fireman

Craven, J.

Trimmer

Critchley, A. S.

Kitchen Porter

Crofts, C. W.

2nd Officer

Cronin, R.

Waiter

Cropper, C.

Fireman

Crozier, T.

Fireman

Cruikshank, E.

Linenkeeper

Cuestra, C.

Able Seaman

Cundle, L. J.

Pantryman

Cunningham, P.

Fireman

Currin, F. H.

Trimmer

Davies, H.

Fireman

Day, R.

Laundryman

Dean, J.

Greaser

Deane, J.

Quarter Master

Dehert, L.

Butcher

Dias, H.

Fireman

Dignam, S. E.

Cook

Dixon, F.

Cook

Dolan, D.

Waiter

Dolan, J.

Trimmer

Donnelly, J. W.

3rd Officer

Dow, J.

Trimmer

Drummond, J.

Sanitation Engineer

Duff, P.

Fireman

Duffy, C.

Trimmer

Dumphy, J.

Fireman

Dunn, W.

Fireman

Dutton, S.

Fireman

Dutton, S.

Steward

Edmonds, D.

Waiter

Edwards, E. A.

Steward

Edwards, L.

Quarter Master

Elliot, C. W.

Butcher

Elworthy, D. R.

Pantryman

Evans, E. W.

Sailor

Ewart, J. N.

Steward

Feeney, L. J.

Waiter

Feeney, W. J.

Trimmer

Felton,  C.

Quarter Master

Fenlon, N.

Fireman

Ferguson, D.

Waiter

Ferguson, T.

Trimmer

Ferrie, J.

Waiter

Fitzpatrick, J.

Greaser

Flynn, F.

Cook

Forrest, E.

Fireman

Fowler, R.

Fireman

Fox, C. A.

Able Seaman

Fraser, G. W.

Storekeeper

Fulton, T. A.

Steward

Gardner, J. J.

Kitchen Porter

Garner, J. A.

Waiter

Gee, A. E.

Chef

Gibb, F.

Waiter

Gick, J.

Kitchen Sculleryman

Gillespie, F. T.

Chief Electrician

Gillett, C. J. O.

Boy Seaman

Ginley, M.

Greaser

Glover,  W. F.

Fireman

Gonsky, J.

Pants

Gorman, M.

Trimmer

Grant, J.

Barkeeper

Grant, N. H.

Fireman

Green, T.

Fireman

Greggs, E.

Fireman

Griffen, H. G.

Steward

Grimes, J.

Sailor

Gubbings, F. C.

Waiter

Gwynne, H.

Able Seaman

Hall, T. T.

Waiter

Halliwell, A.

Joiner

Hatcher, H.

Able Seaman

Hazard, W. P.

Waiter

Healey, T.

Fireman

Hesp, H.

Fire Patrol

Hickey, J.

Officers' Steward

Higgins, J.

Greaser

Higgins, W.

Steward

Higgs, E. E.

Ordinary Seaman

Hitchcock, T. W.

Plate Sculleryman

Hobdell, H. J.

Cook

Hockey, T.

Trimmer

Hodges, G.

Cook

Holling, G.

Boots

Holmes, A. W.

Engineer

Horan, E. T.

Waiter

Hornby, T.

Able Seaman

Hosken, G.

Able Seaman

Howard, A.

Engineers' Boy

Howard, G. G. W.

Fireman

Howarth, J.

Trimmer

Howe, F. L.

Waiter

Hughes, R.

Cook

Hughs, E.

Cook

Humphrey, R. L.

Ordinary Seaman

Irving, W.

Chief Steward's Writer

Jackson, J.

Trimmer

James, A.

Fire Patrol

Jennison, J.

Fireman

Jensen, A.

Able Seaman

Johnston, G. E.

Baker

Johnston, L. H.

1st Officer

Jones E.

Able Seaman

Jones, E. A.

Steward

Jones, J.

Fireman

Jones, P.

Fireman

Jones, P.

Trimmer

Jones, V. C.

Boatswain

Joyce, E. R.

Engineer

Kearney, G.

Greaser

Kelly, J.

Waiter

Kelly, N.

Waiter

Kelly, W.

Fireman

Kenny, D. R.

Washhouseman

Kerr, T. J.

Trimmer

Kinsella, M.

Fireman

Kirby, A. H.

Able Seaman

Kirkham, W.

Fireman

Knott, J.

Engineer

Lafferty, C.

Trimmer

Lane, L.R.

Radio Operator

Lamb,

Trimmer

Lamb, P. J .

Trimmer

Lamont, R.

Engineer

Larkin, E.

Officers' Steward

Larkin, F.

Baker

Lasky, M.

Cook

Lavelle, P. J.

Fireman

Law, L. C.

Steward

Lawson, W.

Fireman

Ledwidge, F.

Greaser

Lee, R.

Cook

LePatourel, P. A.

Bridge Cadet

Little, J. G.

Trimmer

Lloyd, D.

Storekeeper

Lloyd, J.

Greaser

Long, D.

Waiter

Longfield, A. G.

Able Seaman

Lorrain, A.

Cook

Madden, T.

Trimmer

Maguire, D.

Waiter

Maguire, W.

Baker

Mann, L.

Storekeeper

Manning, J.

Greaser

Marlow, F.

Fireman

Marlow, W. J.

Waiter

Marshall, R.

Able Seaman

Masson, J.

Engineer

McArthur, W. H.

Engineer

McBide, P.

Greaser

McCabe, S.

Waiter

McCoy, W.

Fireman

McFeely, D.

Trimmer

McGinley, J. F.

Cook

McGinley, W. K.

Surgeon

McGorian, H. T.

Trimmer

McGowan, W.

Trimmer

McGuire, T.

Trimmer

McHugh, J.

Fireman

McIntosh, A. J.

Waiter

McKean, R. A.

Refrigeration Engineer

McKenna, D.

Trimmer

McKeown, W.

Boatswain

McKillop, E. D.

Butcher

McKinnon, W. R.

Boy Seaman

McLean, H.

5th Officer

McLeod, F. C.

Fireman

McLoughlin, A.

Fireman

McPherson, W.

Sailor

McVey, J.

Fireman

McVey, V.

Trimmer

Meikle, G. L.

Electrician

Merry, P.

Fireman

Milburn, J. W.

Engineer

Miller, W.

Trimmer

Milner, A.

Fireman

Minshull, W. R.

Waiter

Moran, B.

Purser

Morgan, A.

Steward

Morgan, E.

Donkeyman

Morgan, J.

Fireman

Morgan, P.

Trimmer

Morrey, F.

Cook

Morton, J. J.

Cook

Muldoon, F.

Steward

Mullen, J.

Trimmer

Murdoch, A.

Able Seaman

Murphy, J. D.

Waiter

Murphy, J. N.

Trimmer

Murphy, W.

Able Seaman

Newman, R. H.

Fireman

Nickels, K. A.

Barkeeper

Nimmo, W. R.

Trimmer

Noakes, H.

Fireman

Nolan, E. J.

Plate Sculleryman

Nyland, T.

Fireman

Oatham, R.

Steward

O'Hanlon, M.

Trimmer

O'Hara, H.

Fireman

Oliver, W.

4th Officer

O'Neill, O. M.

Plate Sculleryman

O'Reilly, M.

Cook

O'Toole, L.

Trimmer

Owen, H. J.

Chief Engineer

Owens, G.

Steward

Partington, R. M.

Able Seaman

Pate, G.

Trimmer

Paterson, R. H.

Cook

Patten, T.

Trimmer

Penman, W.

Greaser

Piercy, D. B.

Steward

Pitt-Brooke, R.

Purser's Cadet

Powell, D.

Storekeeper

Price, L.

Steward

Pritchard, T.

Engineer

Pritchard, W.

Steward

Proctor, A.

Kitchen Porter

Punter, E.R.

Quarter Master

Quillan, J.

Fireman

Ramsbottom, J. R.

Cook

Raw, W. P.

Waiter

Read, G. C.

Storekeeper

Reekie, G.

Purser's Messenger

Reid, J.

Trimmer

Reynolds, H.

Able Seaman

Ridley, E. A.

Engineer

Rigby, N.

Chief Baker

Rigby, W. A.

Steward

Riley, A. J.

Waiter

Riley, J.

Fireman

Roberts, H.

Plateman

Roberts, H. W.

Baker

Roberts, W. J.

Pants

Robertson, H.

Engineer

Robertson, H.

Trimmer

Robinson, E. V.

Waiter

Robinson, M.

Fireman

Robinson, W. J.

Purser

Rose, A.

Trimmer

Russell, A.

Steward

Ruth, T.

Trimmer

Ryan, T. C.

Officers' Boy

Ryder, T. E.

Butcher

Salinas, P.

Quarter Master

Savage, A.

Greaser

Savage, C.

Boatswain

Sayers, R. G.

Cadet

Scotland, G.

Trimmer

Seddon, J.

Fireman

Semple, W.

Engineer

Shea, J.

Trimmer

Singleton, B. G.

Trimmer

Singleton, J.

Fireman

Smallwood, H.

Butcher

Smith, D.

Carpenter

Smith, D.

Chief Officer

Smith, F.

Plate Sculleryman

Smith, J. B.

Commander

Smith, T.

Fireman

Soley, J. A.

Laundryboy

Stack, J. E.

Waiter

Stainton, H.

Engineer

Stanton, M.

Fireman

Stanway, G. W.

Boy Seaman

Starkey, P.

Fireman

Steadman, S. J.

Ordinary Seaman

Stephens, W.

Steward

Sunter, P.

Waiter

Sweeney, E.

Barkeeper

Swift, D.

Greaser

Tempest, K. S.

Engineers' Steward

Terry, R.

Boots

Tetart, P.

Fireman

Third, J. W.

Baker

Thomas, R.D.

Radio Operator

Thompson, J.

Fireman

Thompson, L. D.

Waiter

Tillsley, W.

Confectioner

Tomlinson, J. A.

Steward

Tozer, G.

Boy Seaman

Traynor, J.

Greaser

Trust, T.

Officers' Boy

Tufnail, O. C.

Barkeeper

Tully, A.

Trimmer

Turnbull, W. E.

Engineer

Turnock, B. H.

Steward

Wafer, J.

Fireman

Watton, G. F.

Waiter

Watts, H. G.

Fireman

Weaver, W.

Barkeeper

West, H.

Able Seaman

White, E.

Trimmer

Whittaker, H. T.

Engineer

Williams, D. B.

Electrician

Williams, H.

Able Seaman

Williams, J.

Greaser

Williams, J. E.

Trimmer

Wilson, F. H.

Waiter

Wilson, W.

Waiter

Windsor, J.

Steward

Winslow, C.

Trimmer

Woods, J.

Fireman

Woods, T.

Butcher

Woodworth, J. C.

Waiter

Woolerton, W.

Cook

Wright, F. S.

Chief Steward

Wright, J.

Fireman

Wright, J. D.

Trimmer

Wright, T.

Trimmer

Wright, W. T.

Barkeeper

Wu Chiu (Win Chin)

Storekeeper

Yegliss, P.

Pantryman

Young, P.

Fireman

Young, W.

Steward

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