Ships Number: 147203

The following is a short summery of an event that was to have a disastrous effect on the War in the Far East, especially Singapore.

September 24 1940, the ‘SS Automedon’ of the A & R Holt Shipping line prepared to leave Liverpool on a routine voyage to Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.  Its cargo consisted of crated aircraft, machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs and 120 mailbags, including the latest merchant navy code deciphering tables 7,8 and 9.

In addition to this was a slender green bag, placed aboard on the orders of Air Chief Marshall, Sir Cyril Newall of the Chiefs of Staff. Inside of which was a full copy of the August 1940 COS Far Eastern Appreciation. This was destined for the attention of the Chiefs in Charge in the Far East, Air Chief Marshall Sir Robert Brooke-Popham

The SS Automedon enjoyed an uneventful voyage until the evening of November 10, 1940, when her wireless operator picked up a distress call from the Norwegian tanker ‘Ole Jacob’ which read:  ”QQQ-QQQ-QQQ- Position 2-degrees 34’N…70 degrees 56’E Ole Jacob…unknown ship has turned now coming after us”. Followed by a further signal of…”QQQ – Stopped by unknown ship”