BAAG records of shipping in HK during 1944-45 – unknown name, 5 on funnel

Elizabeth Ride has British Army Aid Group (BAAG) records of shipping movements for 1944-45 in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two.

These provide information not only about the ships themselves but what cargo was being brought into and out of Hong Kong during the latter stages of WW2, passengers carried, and of godowns, docks etc that were being utilised.

This transport ship was seen on 19 August 1944. Unknown name but with the number “5” on its funnel.

Arrived on 19 Aug

Inward cargo: 50 AAMGs, 50 cases of ammunition, 5 MT, 70 cases of other equipment & stores

Departed on: Not given

Inward passengers: 200 mechanised tps, 200 naval landing tps, 150 cavalry

Remarks: on 19 Aug ship anchoring off Tsim Sha Tsui. One of a convoy of four ships.

An image of this ship would be helpful.

This article was first posted on 27th August 2016.

BAAG KWIZ #70.6 Unknown name, 5 on funnel

Further information:

  1. For general information about the Elizabeth Ride collection, her father Sir Lindsay Ride, and the British Army Aid group during WW2 a very useful introduction is through http://gwulo.com/node/13968
  2. The BAAG papers are kept at the Hong Kong Heritage Project – Elizabeth M Ride Collection

One comment

  • Peter Cundall

    The identity of this ship remains unknown. Of the two ships tentatively identified in the Comment section as possibilities:

    Fukukai Maru (correctly rendered Fukkai Maru built 1919, 3829 grss tons, had been sunk 13 Dec 1943 near Palau..
    Keian Maru 1923 2091 is a slight possibility although recoreds show the ship anchored off Cebu working cargo for most of the month.

    The numbers on the funnels signalled convoy position and it is much more probable that it was a different ship to Keian Maru.

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