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Lot Essay
The following is a description as it appeared in The Sphere: 'An Epic of the Mediterranean: The "Ohio" carries on alone to Malta. the tanker was torpedoed two or three times: A Stuka shot down by her guns crashed onto her deck in flames; bombs shot her on fire. her engines were damaged, and after that she could sail at only two knots. All the time the enemy, with orders to get her at any cost, concentrated the full weight of their attack on her. While she was hit the last time, with her engines so damaged that she could not move, the convoy had to leave her behind--Drawing by Montague Dawson.'
The story of the Malta Convoy is now generally known: and Mr. Churchill has paid tribute to its great significance, Supplies have been carried to the island "sufficient to ensure the life and resistance of that heroic island fortress for a good many months to come," he said in the House of Commons on September 8. The Convoy had to force its way through extraordinary dangers, which beset its passage from Sardinia onwards. "Three or four hundred bombers, torpedo planes and long range fighters were launched against our armada---an enormous concourse of ships---and in the Narrows, which were mined, it was attacked by E-boats and U-boats."'
'Included in the convoy was the "Ohio", a tanker owned by the Eagle Oil and Shippping Company, and commanded by Captain Dudley William Mason. During the passage the "Ohio" suffered a most violent onslaught. She was a focus of attack throughout, and was torpedoed early one night. Although gravely damaged, her engines were kept going, and the master made a magnificent passage by hand-steering and without a compass.
'The ship's gunners helped to bring down one of the attacking aircraft. the vessel was hot again before morning, but though she did not sink her...........was wrecked'
'The unwieldy condition of the vessel and persistent enemy attacks made progress slow, and it was uncertain whether she would remain afloat. All next day progress somehow continued and the ship reached Malta after a further night at sea.'
'The violenece of the enemy did not enter the captain from his purpose. "Throughout he showed skill and courage of the highest order" states the citation accompanying the award of George Cross." It was due to his determination that, in spite of the most persistent enemy opposition, the vessel, with............. and was.'
The story of the Malta Convoy is now generally known: and Mr. Churchill has paid tribute to its great significance, Supplies have been carried to the island "sufficient to ensure the life and resistance of that heroic island fortress for a good many months to come," he said in the House of Commons on September 8. The Convoy had to force its way through extraordinary dangers, which beset its passage from Sardinia onwards. "Three or four hundred bombers, torpedo planes and long range fighters were launched against our armada---an enormous concourse of ships---and in the Narrows, which were mined, it was attacked by E-boats and U-boats."'
'Included in the convoy was the "Ohio", a tanker owned by the Eagle Oil and Shippping Company, and commanded by Captain Dudley William Mason. During the passage the "Ohio" suffered a most violent onslaught. She was a focus of attack throughout, and was torpedoed early one night. Although gravely damaged, her engines were kept going, and the master made a magnificent passage by hand-steering and without a compass.
'The ship's gunners helped to bring down one of the attacking aircraft. the vessel was hot again before morning, but though she did not sink her...........was wrecked'
'The unwieldy condition of the vessel and persistent enemy attacks made progress slow, and it was uncertain whether she would remain afloat. All next day progress somehow continued and the ship reached Malta after a further night at sea.'
'The violenece of the enemy did not enter the captain from his purpose. "Throughout he showed skill and courage of the highest order" states the citation accompanying the award of George Cross." It was due to his determination that, in spite of the most persistent enemy opposition, the vessel, with............. and was.'