Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
MUSEUM COLLECTION

Acc. 2934

Ref: MUS/230/1/5

MUS/230/1/5: Material relating to Captain Roberts and the Oronsay’s employment in transporting French and Axis prisoners via the Cape to the Clyde
Capt. Roberts was awarded the DSO for his part in the Madagascar operation. The Oronsay departed Diego Suarez 20 May, called at Durban (25-27 May), Cape Town (30 May-5 June) and Freetown (13-19 June), arriving at the Clyde on 30 June. For a possibly related photograph see MUS230/2/2/10.

MUS/230/1/5/1
Five secret hand messages on Naval Message forms, concerned with the transfer of French officers to the Oronsay in Diego Suarez.
Includes messages dated 14-18 May 1942.

MUS/230/1/5/2
Handwritten letter in French in original envelope from French official at Diego Suarez, sent by duty boat to ‘Monsieur le Commandant du Navire ORONSAY’.
15 May 1942

MUS/230/1/5/3
Two page typescript, ‘121 Force. P.O.W. Instruction No. 2. Secret’, concerning the embarkation, treatment and disembarkation of prisoners of war and their families.
17 May 1942

MUS/230/1/5/4
Three page typescript, lists of crew members of the German steamer Wartenfels and the officers of the Italian steamers Duca Degli Abruzzi and Somalia.
17 May 1942

MUS/230/1/5/5
Two page typescript letter on Orient Line headed paper from the master of the Oronsay to the Rear Admiral, West Africa, complaining about the quality of the guard placed on board the ship whilst at Cape Town. Two copies.
13 June 1942

MUS/230/1/5/6
Illustrated cutting from unknown newspaper, ‘Madagascar Captives in S.A.’, reporting on the arrival of captured German and Italian sailors who were intended for a camp on the Cape.

MUS/230/1/5/7
Handwritten list, ‘Voyage Results’, written on lined paper with Oronsay stamp, giving statistics such as distance sailed (20,917 ?nautical miles), speed (14.45 ?average in knots), and finally, total revolutions (5969,000).
30 June 1942

MUS/230/1/5/8
Documents relating to Capt. Roberts’ receipt of the DSC and similar.
See also MUS/230/1/7/1.

MUS/230/1/5/8/1
Letter from the Managers of the Orient Steam Navigation Company to Captain N. Savage of the Oronsay desiring that he pass on to Mr Roberts and those who served under him as captain, the Board’s admiration for their fine service.
8 July 1942

MUS/230/1/5/8/2
Letter, on Trinity House headed paper, from Lancelot ?Hubbard to Roberts, thanking him for his ‘long and most interesting letter’ concerning his ‘recent adventurous voyage’.
6 July 1942
For later letter from the same correspondent: MUS/230/1/6/4.

MUS/230/1/5/8/3
Newspaper cuttings.
1. Undated cutting from unknown newspaper, ‘War Casualties of the Empire: 1,427,634 up to the End of May’.
2. Two copies of undated article from Daily Telegraph, Many Naval Awards: Madagascar and Russia’, including notice if the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Capt. Richard William Roberts, Master.
3. Undated cutting, probably from Aberystwyth paper, briefly relating Roberts’ exploits and subsequent decoration, as well as his Borth origins, as son of the late Capt. J.H. Roberts and Mrs Roberts, then of Childwall, Liverpool, and resident of Gordon Villa, and his marriage to the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs David Rees of Tynpark, Llandre.

MUS/230/1/5/8/4
Bundle of five Post Office Telegram forms. All are addressed to Roberts at Penard, Thorn Road, Bramhall, Stockport (Cheshire). The telegrams were probably sent to Mrs Roberts, as they refer to Dick’s honour. They were sent from Aberystwyth, Llandre, Broadgreen and Cheadington.
27 August 1942