Outward bound in convoy, she detonated a magnetic mine which went off right beneath her bridge, causing her to founder in 30 minutes. The convoy was passing through a swept channel at the time, HM minesweeper CALVI, working off the N Foreland, went to her rescue. They picked up two lifeboats of survivors, 73 in total, including four women, two of whom were nuns, children, and members of the crew. Captain Causton was seriously injured in the explosion and was found dead in one of the lifeboats, another man was in such a severe state of shock that he refused to leave the lifeboat, continuing to sit in a stupor until he died. The crew of the CALVI handed out tots of rum until they ran out, when a coastal motor barge arrived on the scene and took off the survivors and landed them at Ramsgate. HMS CALVI brought in both lifeboats which were sold at Dover for 14. Her cargo consisted of 4,400 tons of automatic scales, spoons, gin, herrings etc. Year Built: 1930 Builder: Harland and Wolff Engine HP: 977 Propulsion: 2 x screw driven, oil engines Owner: Union-Castle Mail SS Co Ltd Master: HA Causton Crew: 150 Crew Lost: 9 Passengers: 48 Passengers Lost: 0 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index. LCWLR 1939-45 p33; DOD 1990 Ed p197; BVLS 1939-45 p3; Sub Aqua Magazine March 1967, p27 (1)

Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: VS 20-APR-1950 Oropesa sweep after dispersal clear at 45ft, foul at 46ft. 22-JUN-1959 A small but well defined spike 6ft high which gave a fairly clear Asdic sonar echo and a shallow scour 8ft. General depth 54ft, least depth by echosounder 52ft, sea bed sand and small stones. 14-SEP-1978 Examined in 51 22 38.0N, 001 36 18.0E. Least echosounder depth 15.6m in general depth 18m. No scour. Side scan sonar height 2.97m, length 18m, lying 155/335 degrees. (2)

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-01-1993 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.