SCOTTISH HEATHER

Gordon Mumford's second ship
with a brief summary of her history

(This voyage is included in The Black Pit . . . and Beyond

SS Scottish Heather*
The Ship: Tanker (7,087 gross tons), fitted as an escort oiler. Owned by Tankers Ltd., bought by United Molasses (owners of Athel line) in December 1941. Had been bombed in the North Sea in November 1940. M.O.W.T., from April 23, 1940 to March 19, 1946. The Scottish Heather was absorbed into the Athel fleet and in 1951 was renamed Athelcrest. On 29 July 1954 she arrived at Blythe for breaking up. (See also Scottish Heather).

Voyage: December 12, 1942 - January 11, 1943
     The tanker sailed into the Atlantic and into history in one of the worst-hit convoys of the Second World War. The convoy was attacked by nineteen U-boats in an unprotected area of the North Atlantic beyond air coverage known as the black pit. In a three-day running battle, fifteen ships were torpedoed and more than 500 lost their lives. The Scottish Heather, with a gaping hole in her side from a torpedo, made it back safely to the Clyde.

Thanks to: the Captain Waldron and the Athel Apprentices for their assistance