M.V. Accra
I decided to start a section on my website about the ships and shipping line that Henry Hedges travelled to Africa on. A couple of days ago, I bought a postcard on Ebay of M.V. (Motor Vessel) Accra, which he travelled to Nigeria on twice in the mid 1930′s. Well at least I thought I had!
The M.V. Accra that Henry travelled on was the second ship of that name, launched in 1926 and owned by the British & African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., later Elder Dempster Lines Ltd. She was 9337 gross tons, 450.8 feet in length and registered in Liverpool. She had accommodation for 243 first class and 76 second class passengers. She was later torpedoed and sunk on 26th July 1940.
After looking closer at the postcard, which I should have done before I bought it, it is of the third M.V. Accra, which entered service in 1947.
As I said earlier, Henry travelled to Nigeria twice on the M.V. Accra.
- 6th April 1932. Travelled on ship MV Accra of the Elder Dempster Lines under master J.C. Shooter from Liverpool to Lagos, Nigeria. He travelled 1st Class. His address in the United Kingdom was 243 Giston Lane, Aston W4. He was age 34 and his occupation was a printer.
- 4th April 1934. Travelled on ship MV Accra of the Elder Dempster Lines under master J.C. Shooter from Liverpool to Lagos, Nigeria. He travelled 1st Class. His address in the United Kingdom was Long Marston, Tring. He was age 37 and his occupation was a printer. He is travelling this time with Lillian age 26. This must be their honeymoon as they were married on the 1st April 1934.
So, its back to searching for the correct ship images as I work on the new page.
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December 19th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
My father was on board the Accra when she was torpedoed, I think on 26 July, 1940, not 29th, and coincidentally was returning from Nigeria where he too was a printer, stationed at Kaduna. You can find a picture of the ship at the website above.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Thank you John for contacting me with that correction. I think it must have been finger trouble, I have 26th in my notes.
Thanks also for the link to the website, I hadn’t found that one yet. I am putting together a page about the ships that Henry travelled on and that will be more detailed for each vessel.
Could you let me know what time frame your father was stationed in Kaduna? If the times overlap, it would seem likely that they may have known each other, both being printers. You may have seen from my other posts that Henry was in Nigeria from 1922 until early 1939. I know at the time of my father’s birth, in 1935, Henry was in Kaduna, but I do not know if he spent his entire service there.
Regards,
Ian
March 7th, 2009 at 12:44 am
Hi there, I travelled from Southampton to Lagos on the Accra in 1949 at that time my name was sullivan. I have been trying to find a picture of the Accra on the net but have been unsuccessful. Can you suggest a site that I can go to. I have very vivid memories of the trip especially having to climb down a very long thin ladder to get onto a boat to take us onto dry land!!
March 7th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Hi Michelle,
I’ve had a quick look and here’s a couple of pictures of the 1947 Accra. The first picture is the 1926 Accra, but the other two are correct.
If you travelled back from Lagos, arriving in Plymouth on 24th August 1949 on the Amstelkerk, then I have found you in the incoming passenger lists on Ancestry.co.uk.
Regards,
Ian