[Stig Jarlevik]

Laurent

S/S Embla was built for the Svea Line 1908 by the Lindholmen Wharf in Gothenburg. She was built for the shipping line's traffic to Köln (Cologne). It is important to realise that in 1940 S/S Embla was outside the declared blockade. In the beginning of 1941 she was chartered by the British Red Cross to move Red Cross packages between Lisboa to Marseille and onforwarding to British POW in Germany. First trip May 27th 1941 and appx one trip per month. This was done with another Swedish vessel S/S Vega (later also transporting packages to the British Channel Islands, occupied by the Germans). When the fortunes of war changed and Germany capitulated in NA S/S Embla also made trips from Marseille to North Africa with relief packages, so to speak in reverse. The first trip Marseille to Casablanca was on Feb 29th,1944. S/S Embla's 40th trip became eventful and started on March 23rd, 1944 from Lisboa to Marseille with 704 ton relief goods (including mail) onboard and skipper Captain G.W.O Ericson. On April 5th she departed Marseille to Casablanca with a smaller load. Around noon on April 6th she was appx three nautical miles NE of Port Vendres (Spanish/French border) and about one hour later she was overflown by a number of British aircraft and one of them was observed to crash some distance away. No "enemy" action reported. Ca 15 minutes later (13.15H) S/S Embla by now some 10 nautical miles from shore was suddenly attacked by bombs and gunfire. Aircraft identified as B-26 Marauders (sic) and guessed as belonging to Coastal Command (roundels no doubt observed). The bombs created little damage (a leak), while the gunfire created a fire onboard. The vessel immediately asked to use Port Vendres as port of refuge but the need for the local fire brigade was not required since her crew had already managed to extinguish the fire. She stayed for 12 days and the decision was made to return to Marseille but a sharp protest had also been made to the Allies since the vessel was clearly marked with Red Cross markings. The reason for her return was that the insurance company insisted on her return to validate damaged cargo. On April 18th at 10.00H she left harbour and steamed towards Marseille. Night traffic was forbidden in Golfe de Dijon so she stayed in Sète during the night and continued on the 19th at 06.00H. At 09.30H she was suddenly again attacked by between 10-12 B-26 Marauders (sic) from 14 Sq (sic) of Coastal Command with very heavy gunfire and possibly also rockets during appx 12 minutes. The vessel was hit very hard and both fire and leakage broke out. The crew tried to extinguish the fire and seal the leakages but to no avail. Only one lifeboat remained intact, the starboard one, and all 21 crewmembers could crowd together inside before S/S Embla sank (only the logbook was saved). During the attack the British attackers were charged by German fighter aircraft and one the attackers was seen to be shot down. The ship wrecked crew was escorted by a German patrol boat to the small harbour Le Grau du Roi and were later repatriated onboard S/S Vega to Lisboa. Needless to say also this attack was sharply criticized to the British!

Source: Dödlig resa, svenska handelsflottans förluster 1939-1945 (Lethal trips. Swedish Merchant Fleet losses 1939-45)

Is it confirmed the aircraft were from 272 Sq?
Is there any combat report(s) from the British Side?

Cheers
Stig