BAAG records of shipping in HK during 1944-45 – the Shinshu Maru
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.
The Shinshu Maru, a cargo ship, was seen on 26 Aug 1944 alongside main Taikoo Dock
Admitted to Taikoo Docks for repairs, expected to be completed by 15 Sep 1944
On the Formosa – HK – Hainan Island run
An image of this ship would be helpful.
Is this the same Shinshu Maru listed in this ship biography:
http://www.combinedfleet.com/Shinshu_t.htm
This suggests the ship an “IJA Landing Craft Depot Ship was between 4 Aug and 23 Sept 1944 was at Ujina, Hiroshima undergoing repairs to her rudder and steering gear and therefore was not in HK on 26 Aug 1944.
This article was first posted on 19th November 2016
Further information:
- 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
- The BAAG papers are kept at the Hong Kong Heritage Project – Elizabeth M Ride Collection
This report correctly identifies the 1933 built 4182 gross ton Shinshu Maru. The ship was built as a cargo ship but converted to an oil tanker in 1943 (because of a shortage of tankers) and was sunk as such 13 October 1944 after being torpedoed by USS Bergall in 11.53N 109.17E.