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Arctic Warriors (ePub)

A Personal Account of Convoy PQ18

Maritime > Naval

By Alfred Grossmith Mason, Edited by Julie Grossmith Deltrice
Imprint: Pen & Sword Maritime
File Size: 8.1 MB (.epub)
Pages: 214
Illustrations: 8pp B & W plates
ISBN: 9781473830059
Published: 17th October 2013

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In mid-1942 Alfred Grossmith Mason became Navigation/Gunnery Officer on SS Empire Baffin, a 6,978 ton cargo ship assigned to carry essential war supplies to the hard pressed Soviet Union. Fortunately he compiled this remarkable diary of the dramas and disasters that befell the ill-fated Convoy PQ18. This inspiring story follows the movement of his ship and the other merchantmen together with their Royal Naval escorts from the mustering point at Loch Ewe to their destination Archangel.

Daily German attacks from the air and sea and long periods at action stations deprived crews of sleep. The loss of many ships and comrades and the ever-present prospect of death through drowning and hypothermia took their toll. Having to function while exhausted, ill-nourished and freezing cold demanded that every man gave of his utmost over a prolonged period. Yet remarkably, as this book shows, humour remained intact.

Once in Archangel his insight into the hardships faced by the Russian population is revealing. For the surviving sailors there remained the awesome challenge of the return journey without any escort. Unlike so many, the Author finally reached Britain in December 1942.

Arctic Warriors is a rare and graphic personal account that captures the atmosphere of this infamously costly convoy and others like it. If any doubts remain of the terrible conditions and dangers that merchant seamen aced in the hostile waters of the North Atlantic and Barents Sea, this superb record, published in the Year of the Convoy, will surely put them to rest.

I finished reading this book just after the screening of a programme on TV about Arctic Convoy PQ17. The description of PQ18 in this book emphasised to me the dreadful conditions everyone who sailed on these voyages suffered. A good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Ton Class Association

His personal account of that harrowing outward bound journey...Insightful and fascinating...Vivid snapshot of life in, what was then, a frozen hell on earth.
Poignant and heartfelt.

Mariner's Mirror

The description of PQ18 in this book emphasised to me the dreadful conditions everyone who sailed on these voyages suffered. A good read which i have no hesitation in recommending.

Bob Dean, Ton Class Association

“Julie, who wanted to pay homage to her father, a former Merchant Navy gunnery and navigation officer, said it's been a long time coming”
“It has photographs of my father, and myself and his ship in it. I think the publishers, Pen and Sword, have done a nice job with it”
“The factual tale, written in chronological order from Roker-born Alfred's diary, has been embellished by Julie slightly”

Sunderland Echo newspaper article – Monica Turnball
 Alfred Grossmith Mason

About Alfred Grossmith Mason

Alfred Grossmith Mason joined the Merchant Navy in 1927 qualifying in 1931. He served through the Second World War and continued in the Service until 1976. Author died in 1992


About Julie Grossmith Deltrice

His daughter Julie Grossmith Deltrice has edited this diary. She accompanied her Father on many foreign voyages. Now retired from her nursing career, she lives near Sunderland.

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