Lambrook Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2019

The Lambrookian - Issue 2
75
D-Day and the Lambrook Ship Remembered – John Kimbell, School Archivist
YEARS ON
As international events took place this year to mark the 75th anniversary
of D-Day, Operation Overlord and the start of the Battle of Normandy,
Lambrook joined the commemorations by recalling its eponymous ship,
which carried supplies across the Channel for the troops who landed in
France as part of the allied invasion on 6th June 1944.
The M.V. Lambrook, a steel Motor Vessel
of 10,200 tons, was built in 1942 by the
Burntisland Shipbuilding Company on the
Firth of Forth, Scotland, and named by Mr
J. Gibson Graham, a Director, whose son
Johnny Graham attended Lambrook at
the time.
Registered in London and first owned
by the Austin Friars Steamship Co. /
Galbraith, Pembroke & Co., the ship was
fully ready by the early autumn of 1942 to
carry cargo across the high seas, and was
immediately earmarked for Government
Service. She was deployed for the
offensive into North Africa,
and went out with one of the
first convoys carrying tanks and
ammunition in support of the
landing troops. For the greater
part of the first half of 1943, the
vessel continually plied between
the United Kingdom and North
Africa with these supplies.
When the invasion of Sicily
took place later that year, the
M.V. Lambrook was scheduled
to take part in that operation
and was again in the vanguard,
not only with supplies but with
considerable numbers of troops.
Despite many near misses from
aerial torpedoes and other
hostile action, she remained
unscathed and continued the good work,
being one of the first vessels to arrive
off the Salerno Beachhead in September
1943. On this occasion, a landing craft
alongside her was blown up and, as a
result of Captain McInnes’ bravery, he
was awarded the O.B.E. The citation read:
‘Captain H. F. McInnes. For good services
in M.V. Lambrook, when the ship was
attacked by the enemy on a number of
occasions.’
The vessel was subsequently detailed to
carry cargo for General Montgomery’s
forces, which were at that time advancing
along the east coast of Italy, but was
unfortunate enough to run into an
enemy mine which did considerable
damage. Nevertheless, she was quickly
repaired and returned to Britain for a
complete overhaul in time to head for
the Normandy beaches on D-Day as part
of Operation Overlord, continuing to
transport supplies to northern France for
a further six months during the ensuing
Battle of Normandy.
Several Old Lambrookians, including
Vice-Admiral P. W. B. Brooking, C.B.,
D.S.O., came into contact with the M.V.
Lambrook during the war and Lieutenant-
Commander D. R. G. Goldsmith’s
destroyer escorted her in convoy on a
number of occasions.
From the day of the M.V. Lambrook‘s
launch, the school was proud to share its
name with its adopted ship. Gifts were
despatched to the Captain, officers and
crew, including knitted garments kindly
made up by the Winkfield Section of the
Women’s British Legion, and supplies of
literature such as books or newspapers
were forwarded from Old Lambrookians
and other friends of the School.
Interesting letters, as well as souvenirs,
passed regularly to and fro between the
crew and the school.
Having survived the hostilities, and in
as good a condition as ever, the vessel
carried out more peaceful duties in the
service of commercial trade, but this in no
way lessened the school’s interest in her
activities.
In 1951, when Galbraith,
Pembroke & Company
withdrew from ship owning to
become ship brokers instead,
the M.V. Lambrook was sold
to the South American Saint
Line, re-registered in Newport,
and re-named the St Merriel. In
1963 the vessel was bought by
the Agelef Companía Naviera
in Panama, where she was
re-registered as the Proodos,
only to be sold on in 1965 to
a different Panamanian firm,
and to acquire yet another new
name - this time, the Elpis.
Tragedy finally struck the
following year on 26th June
1966 when she was abandoned ablaze at
sea following a diesel engine room fire.
The ship had been en route from India
(Mormugao) to Japan, carrying a cargo
of iron ore, and was eventually towed to
Sveti Kajo (Split, Croatia) on 10th January
1968 for breaking up by Brodospas.
Her framed portrait can now be found in
the Lambrook School Office.
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