As 1941 opened the Felix Roussel continued troop movements across the Indian Ocean, during the middle of March 1941 a trip was made to Penang & Singapore. By June 20th 1941 the ship was at Sydney, Australia, the next reported movement was from Bombay on September 19th 1941, was the intervening time used for repairs in Australia? The last quarter of 1941 continued with trips across the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, though the orderliness of these movements would be altered by the events of December 7th 1941. Christmas 1941 was spent en-route between Aden & Suez whilst the New Year was at Suez.
On January 8th 1942 the Felix Roussel departed from Massawa for Aden (January 11th) and arriving Bombay January 17th 1942, setting the stage for its dramatic voyage to Singapore.
Convoy BM12 and Convoy EMU, the fall of Singapore
On January 23rd 1942 convoy BM12 departed Bombay for Singapore with 3,800 men from the 9th & 11th Northumberland Fusiliers and their associated supplies. The convoy consisted of the Empress of Asia, Felix Roussel, the Dutch vessel Plancius, the Devonshire and later joined by the City of Canterbury (recently involved in the mutiny at Durban). The Felix Roussel appears to have been primarily carrying stores and supplies. The convoy was protected by a strong naval presence, including HMS Exeter, the makeup of the escort changed as the voyage progressed.
Convoy BM12 combined at Addu Atoll with convoy DM2 (from Durban, originally bound for Singapore, but diverted to Batavia) on January 28th 1942 and proceeded to Batavia (Djakarta), arriving February 3rd 1942. Here the original members of BM12, joined by the City of Canterbury set out for Singapore.
Passing through the Banka Straits on February 4th at a speed of about twelve knots the ships came under attack from a formation of about 18 Japanese planes. All the bombs missed their mark but many of the ships were showered with water and bomb splinters. In return all the ships had opened fire on the planes though without success.
Following this attack two of the faster ships, the Plancius and Devonshire left the convoy in order to arrive at Singapore first thing the next morning. The remaining three ships including the Felix Roussel continued on at twelve knots, at this speed Singapore would be reached in about twenty hours. On the approach to Singapore on the morning of the 5th under fair skies the convoy came under attack from about twenty four twin-engined Japanese planes. All the ships were attacked with the largest ship, the Empress of Asia receiving an undue amount of attention. Direct hits to this ship led to major damage and fires eventually left no choice but to abandon her, throwing out the anchors about noon near Sultan Shoal Lighthouse, some eleven miles from Singapore. By a variety of means the troops and crew were evacuated from the Empress of Asia, one of the escorts, the HMAS Yarra taking off well over 1,000 troops and crew.
The Felix Roussel sustained several bomb hits, one penetrated the decks close by the bridge, another near a funnel hit a gun position killing a number of army gunners. The rudder was also damaged, however the fires were quickly extinguished and the vessel would reach the port of Singapore to discharge the troops and other cargo. This would be the last convoy to reach Singapore, more remarkable than most as the convoy arrived in daylight, with only token air cover and under an increasingly deteriorating situation as the Japanese escalated their assualt on the area. Japanese bombers had been able to reach Singapore since early December 1941 and had intensified their attacks during January 1942. Allied air cover had been strongly challenged by the Japanese, so much so that by February 8th 1942 the Japanese had control of the skies over Singapore.
Having disgorged her troops the Felix Roussel did not linger long at Singapore, along with the Devonshire & City of Canterbury they sailed for Bombay on the evening of February 8th 1942. The Felix Roussel carried at least 1,100 evacuated women and children, RAF personnel and some survivors from the Prince of Wales & Repulse, passing through the Sunda Strait on February 8th/9th under escort. Once clear of the strait the escort dropped away for other duties. The north shore of Singapore island was reached by Japanese troops on the evening of February 8th. Many ships would still continue to evacuate military personnel and civilians from Singapore until about February 13th, many of these small vessels were damaged or sunk by Japanese air attacks, with some of the survivors enduring or succumbing to horrific atrocities by the Japanese when captured. Singapore island surrendered on February 15th. On May 27th 1942 the Felix Roussel was named to the order of the Free French Forces May, ten crew members would receive the Croix de Guerre and Captain Snowling added a bar to his Distinguished Service Order. The ship itself would receive the Croix de Guerre honour on September 11th 1950.
At this time Captain Snowling and the senior 2nd Officer William Carruthers were the only British officers on the Felix Roussel, Mr Carruthers, along with several others received the Croix De Guerre, the citation reading:
Londres 27 May 1942
Le Generale de Gaulle
Commandant en chef des Forces Francaises Libres
cite a l'Order du jour des
Forces Francaises Libres
Le Paquebot 'Felix Roussel' pour l'admirable conduite de son Commandant, de son Etat-Major et de son Equipage lors de l'evacuation de Singapour. Lors d'une attaque par 27 avions japonais, deux de ceux-ci ont ete abattus et des incendies allumes par des bombes ont ete rapidement maitrises. A sauve et evacue au prix des plus grandes difficultes plus de mille femmes et enfants refugies sur les quais de Singapour.
Signe: De Gaulle
M. William Carruther, 2eme Officier faisait partie l'eqipage sous les ordres du Commandant Snowling lors du voyage de Singapore mentionne dans la citation ci-dessus.
The citation was signed by Capitaine Arnold, a second document indicated that Mr Carruthers had been assigned to the Felix Roussel from January 1st 1942 until his reassignment on April 1st 1943.
After arrival in Bombay the Felix Roussel was stopped for nineteen days to make good the damage sustained during its round trip to Singapore. After disembarking her 2,400 evacuees the Devonshire also remained in Bombay for repairs taking thirteen days. At some point the Felix Roussel would visit Australia to allow for repairs to the Sulzer engines.
Following completion of the repairs the Felix Roussel left Bombay on March 20th 1942 with convoy BA 18 bound for Aden, then spending the remainder of March and April criss-crossing the Indian Ocean. On May 1st 1942 the Felix Roussel departed Durban for Australia, calling in at Fremantle, Adelaide & Sydney. It appears the ship remained at Sydney for three months (June/July/August) undergoing repairs?
For the remainder of 1942 and into 1943 and through the middle of 1944 the Felix Roussel trooped between Suez - Bombay - Durban - Australia.
One highlight for comment was convoy WS22, Felix Roussel joined the convoy at Durban on October 3rd 1942, this convoy had sailed from the United Kingdom on August 29th 1942, in the convoy already were the Sulzer engined ships Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt, Rangitata & Sibajak. Also joining at Durban was the Sulzer engined Indrapoera! These five ships would not remain together long, the Felix Rouusel arrived at Aden (for Suez) on October 16th 1942, the others split between Bombay & Mombasa.
Citation March 23rd 1943 - Cyclone damage
On February 14th 1943 the Felix Roussel departed Durban for Bombay, arriving here on March 3rd 1943, which set up the ship for another perilous journey. On March 18th 1943 the ship left Bombay on a voyage which would eventually take her into the Mediterranean theatre of operations. Unfortunately whilst crossing the Indian Ocean a very strong cyclone developed. The HMAS Nepal sailing from Durban on March 19th 1943 and headed for Fremantle, Australia suffered slight damage from this cyclone between Mauritius and Diego Garcia. The Felix Roussel may have endured the full brunt of the cyclone in light of the citation shown below. It was necessary to spend about a week in Mauritius to carry out emergency repairs.
Special Order Of The Day
by Major A R de H Mallock, OC Troops, HMT Felix Roussel
We have all been through a very unpleasant and trying experience - an experience none of us is likely to forget in a hurry. This ship has sustained a great deal of superficial damage, but as you can see for yourselves we are still on the move and the engines have never failed us once.
The work that all of you have done since the storm hit us is beyond all praise. Men, women and children have more than done their share to help to restore a semblance of normality to the ship. You have not all had the opportunity , as I have , of seeing the work done on the bridge, in the engine room, the hospital and so on, but I needn't tell you that we are in safe hands and need not worry if we should run into similar trouble again.
Finally, I fully realise that many of you have been injured, and many others have lost treasured possessions, but we are alive and let us thank God for it.
Good luck to you and a happy landing!
Signed AR de H Mallock, OC Troops 27/3/43
I also want to congratulate you all for the calm you showed in those tragic hours and to thank you heartily for the help you gave to my staff.
But, as your OC says 'Let's thank God'
Signed Jean Arnold, Captain. 'Felix Roussel' 27/3/43.
Departing Mauritius on April 5th 1943 the Felix Roussel reached Capetown on April 13th 1943, spending three weeks here before heading into the Atlantic to Takoradi (May 10th), Freetown (May 14th) and Gibraltar on May 23rd, 1943. By June 5th 1943 the ship was on the Clyde, then it was down to Liverpool, reached on June 27th 1943. The next recorded sailing of the ship is when she is noted on trials out of Liverpool on April 11th 1944.
From the summer of 1944 into 1945 the ship shifted its sphere of operations to the Mediterranean theatre, frequently shuttling between the Clyde, Liverpool and Port Said, Gibraltar & Algiers, with occasional trips to Freetown & Bombay. This changed on June 15th 1945 when the Felix Roussel left Gibraltar for Bombay, calling in at Algiers (Jun 16th), Malta (Jun 19th), Naples (Jun 20th), Taranto (Jun 23rd), Port Said (Jun 28th), Suez (Jun 29th) and Bombay (Jul 7th). After twelve days in Bombay the Felix Roussel made a round trip to Kilindini (Jul 26th) and Colombo (Aug 6th), returning to Bombay on August 11th 1945. With the war now over in the Pacific the ship set out from Bombay on August 25th 1945 for Cochin (Aug 27th) and Singapore, arriving on September 14th 1945 under conditions far more favourable than her last visit in February 1942. After a week in Singapore the Felix Roussel set sail on the long journey back to Liverpool via Suez, arriving in Liverpool on November 5th 1945, no doubt with a shipload of war weary troops glad to be home.
Return to the peacetime Far East services
With the war over the Felix Roussel began the movement of people in two directions, ironically in 1945 being part of the first convoy to return to Singapore. Returning troops made the long trek home from ports like Rangoon to Liverpool during 1945/46. On April 15th 1946 the Felix Roussel was returned to Messageries Maritimes whilst at Durban. This allowed it to sail on its pre-war route returning many displaced persons from Europe back to Indochina, the ship noted making sailings in Nov/Dec 1946, Aug/Sept 1947 & Mar/April 1948.
On June 25th 1948 the ship sailed to Chantiers de Dunkirk for a refit to restore her for commercial service. The refit was completed by September 1950, changes included the two square funnels being reduced to one oval one. She resumed service on the Marseilles - Saigon - Hong Kong - Japan service on 22nd September 1950. This service was worked for the next five years, the last sailing to the Far East commenced on February 22nd 1955 (returning April 25th 1955?).
A view of the Felix Roussel after her refit showing some of the modifications, most obvious are the single funnel and raked bow.
New ownership and a new name.
After the last Far East service had been completed the ship was retired from service on April 24th 1955 and sold for $3.5 million to the Arosa Line of Panama and renamed the Arosa Sun. A refit took place at Trieste for Atlantic service. Changes included an increase in weight to 20,126 gross tons, the promenade deck was glassed in, the number of lifeboats reduced and her passenger capacity changed to 60 1st Class and 890 Tourist Class.
On July 14th 1955 her first voyage commenced from Trieste to Palermo, Naples, Lisbon, New York, Quebec, Havre, Southampton and Bremen. On August 20th 1955 her regular route commenced from Bremen - Southampton - Havre - Quebec.
Sailings from July-December 1956 for the Arosa Sun included Hamburg, Southampton, Le Havre, Quebec with a crossing time of ten days. One westbound voyage substituted Montreal instead of Quebec. Eastbound voyages from Quebec (one from Montreal) called at Cuxhaven with debarkation for Hamburg; one voyage from Quebec to Bremerhaven instead of Cuxhaven. These services were used by many Hungarian refugees heading for Canada after the revolution in Hungary during 1956. When the first ship, the Arosa Sun, arrived in Quebec on December 10th 1956 carrying 257 Hungarian immigrants, it was greeted by a cheering flag-waving crowd of 3,000 people. Nearly 40,000 Hungarians responded to Canada's open door policy.
In 1957 the Arosa Line acquired the La Marseilles which would be renamed the Arosa Sky, this vessel was also powered by Sulzer engines.
On March 15th 1958 the Arosa Sun sustained an engine explosion off the Columbian coast with the loss of two lives. The ship was towed to Cristobal then on to Baltimore for repairs, resuming service on May 12th 1958 with a sailing from New York to Bremen.
Her last voyage began on September 13th 1958 to Bremen - Quebec - Montreal - Quebec - Plymouth - Havre - Bremen. In December of that year the ship was seized at Bremen due to the Arosa Line's outstanding debts. Bankruptcy followed and the ship was auctioned off in 1960 to Koninglijke Nederlandsche Hoogoven & Stalfabrieken, with the ship converted at Ijmuiden to become a floating hostel for steel workers at Ymuiden, Holland. Sustained fire damage during April 1963. This function ended when on March 3rd 1974 the Arosa Sun left in tow for Bilbao for scrapping. On 28th March 1974 she arrived at Bilbao where she was broken up by Hierros Ardes.
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The Felix Roussel as shown in a rather battered photograph - no other details known about this view. |
Builder: Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Saint-Nazaire
Launched: December 17th 1929
Gross Weight: 16,774 tons, 17,084 after 1935.
Deadweight: 21,000 tons
Length: 533 feet, 171.25 metres
Beam: 68 feet, 20.8 metres
Draught: 28 feet
Engines: Two CCM Sulzer 2-stroke single acting 10 cylinder 10ST68 engines totalling 14,700hp, 16,000hp after 1935
Auxiliary engines: Two x 6DH38 and three x 5DH38 totalling 2,500hp at 250rpm.
Screws: 2
Service Speed: 15 knots
Passenger Capacity: 196 first, 110 second, 3rd 90 (after 1935).
Troop Capacity: 1,183 to 1,502
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A post card view of one of the ten cylinder engines used to power the Felix Roussel. |
As mentioned above in the text the 2nd officer on the Felix Roussel for fifteen months was Mr William Carruthers, a lifelong seaman, whose time on the ship occurred during several of its most dangerous voyages.
William had left school at age fourteen, went to sea on a trawler to Iceland by age fifteen and became an Able Seaman by seventeen. With the start of World War Two came further adventures including time as Chief on the Egyptian vessel Tiaf and the Bantria (Cunard). Then came the Felix Roussel acting as the Liaison Officer for the troops. After leaving the Felix Roussel in 1943 William obtained his Master Mariner's ticket at age 29, and joined the Queen Elizabeth as Senior Second Officer, and later as First Officer on the Ile de France and the Ascania. He came ashore in 1947 and taught at the Navigation School at Fleetwood, Lancashire and later became Principal and built the Fleetwood Nautical College.
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William was not afraid of heights, so the taking of this picture from the main mast looking aft was not a problem. Although fitted with two funnels only the nearer one actually served its intended purpose. The aft funnel was a dummy but after her sister ship the Georges Phillipar caught fire in the Red Sea and burnt out before the war, the funnel was filled with fire fighting equipment and sprinklers were installed between decks. No doubt these refinements prevented the ship from sustaining more fire damage whilst under attack en route to Singapore. The extra life boats were self launching and added when the ship became a troop carrier.
Photograph courtesy William Carruthers. |
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For six years the Felix Roussel ferried troops to a variety of locations. In this view a troop movement is taking place between Durban & Suez. Its meal time and its Christmas Day (1942?), hence the presence of the white tablecloths in celebration. The Christmas meal of sorts was of course cooked by a French chef!
Photograph courtesy William Carruthers. |
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After its fateful trip to and from Singapore during February 1942 the Felix Roussel required repairs to put right the damage sustained in the Japanese air attacks. After reaching Bombay the ship was placed in dry dock, where she is seen in this view. It took only nineteen days to make right the damage sustained. About a year later whilst in the Indian Ocean the Felix Roussel would cross the path of a severe cyclone which caused minor damage to the ship and injuries to many on board. The dining room windows broke with some flooding, tables were used as makeshift barriers to stop the ingress of water, sailing like that to reach port where repairs were made.
Photograph courtesy William Carruthers. |
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When the Felix Roussel returned to Liverpool, the opportunity occurred for a presentation of the Croix de Guerre medals to those crew honoured for their service during the February 1942 trip to Singapore. The ceremony took place on the bridge of the Felix Roussel. To the left is the leader of the Free French in Liverpool, William Carruthers is behind the Mayor and his wife, with his cap on. In the center is Captain Jean Arnold, who replaced Captain Snowling, the captain of the Felix Roussel at the time of the Singapore trip.
Free French Merchant Navy photograph. |
