Incident 7 - 18/11/39 RNS Simon Bolivar

From this website:

http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?1865

"On November 18th, 1939, the Dutch liner Simon Bolivar (Capt. H. Voorspuiy), was on a voyage from Holland to Paramaribo [in Surinam], when she struck a mine, off Harwich. The liner carried 400 passengers and crew. The explosion was very violent and many people on the deck were killed, Capt. Voorspuiy was mortally wounded and died. The Simon Bolivar´s masts were blown down and she began to settle by the stern. The ship´s radio was damaged by the explosion and the S.O.S. could not be sent out. Nevertheless, other vessels were quickly on the spot. About 15 minutes after the first explosion, there was a second explosion that badly damaged some of the remaining lifeboats. According to the ship´s officers, the vessel had struck two mines, one on each side of the ship. S/S Simon Bolivar finally sank with the loss of 84 lives.”

CWGC records the death of one UK civilian, Mary Edith Grace, aged 58.