When war broke out Ray Cameron was living on a farm in Lindsay, Ontario. As a 16 year old he was already working on the Great Lakes as a seaman. When Norway was pulled into the war their merchant marine suffered staggering losses. To replace these losses recruitment was done in other Allied countries.
Eager to do his part Ray Cameron answered the call. Signing up in November 1943 he came to sail the world on Norwegian ships for the rest of the war.
NOTRASHIP
When Germany invaded Norway on April 9-1940, more than 1000 Norwegian registered ships sailed in foreign waters. After the invasion the Germans took control of the Norwegian radio in Oslo. In broadcasts all Norwegian ships abroad were ordered to proceed to neutral ports, preferably Italian or Spanish, or to try to get home to Norway, but under no circumstances should they go to British ports.
House flag of the Norwegian merchant fleet during World War II. This flag was flown ashore from Nortraship offices, ships flew the regular Norwegian merchant flag.[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nortraship
At that time the British were interested in taking control of the Norwegian fleet. Fearing it would end up in the hands of the Germans a counter-message was immediately broadcasted by BBC on April 10. For a week thereafter it urged Norwegian ships to ignore any and all orders from Oslo Radio, adding they could safely go to an allied port, where the British Navy would give them all possible protection and where they would “receive welcome and compensation for their services”.[2]http://www.warsailors.com/freefleet/nortraship.html
The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission (Nortraship) was established in London in April 1940 to administer the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German-controlled areas and provided a critical contribution to the Allied war effort.
By the end of April 1940 some 1028 ships were under control: 242 tankers and 646 dry cargo ships. While many were lost, new builds came and contributed hugely to the defense and supply of Britain.[3]https://www.naval-review.com/book-reviews/the-norwegian-merchant-fleet-in-the-second-world-war/
Replacing losses
In 1942 British sources estimated that 40 percent of the oil and 20 percent of food and other necessities were carried to England in Norwegian ships. But the cost was high: 200 ships had been sunk and 1300 men had lost their lives.[4]https://www.wwiinorge.com/notes/nortraship/
As losses mounted in the North Atlantic the issue of crewing the ships became significant. An increasing number of Norwegian seamen were taking land-based work in the US or changing to other countries’ ships running in less dangerous areas.[5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nortraship
To resolve the crewing issues, seamen were recruited from other countries such as Canada. It is here that Mr Cameron comes into picture.
Great lake seaman
At the tender age of 17 Cameron signed up in November of 1943 with nineteen other men. The occasion at the Canadian Seamen’s Union Hall in Toronto is captured and published in a local newspaper.
LAKESMEN SIGN UP FOR DEEP SEA SERVICE
Unknown newspaper publication[6]Ray Cameron personal collection
Another group of 20 Great Lakes seamen mustered at Canadian Seamen’s Unin Hall, Wellington st. east, on their way to New York to man Allied Nations ships. These are the “heroes of no renown,” who slip off quietly to sea in the ships of the merchant marine; who take big chances and receive no acclaim; and whose casualty averages have been tremendously high.
Ray Cameron seen front row far left and Lewis Laurie in the middle.
Arriving in New York they were assigned their ships – both Cameron and Laurie signed on to M/S TALISMAN.
M/S TALISMAN – March, 1944
M/S TALISMAN was a 6701 gt dry cargo ship built by Swedish shipbuilder Kockums Mekaniska Verkstads A/B, Malmö. The ship was completed in 1937 and during the war she sailed about 300k miles. [7]http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/talisman.html
Records show Cameron and Laurie signing on to MS TALISMAN 3 March 1944[9]https://www.sjohistorie.no/no/sjofolk/724135/monstringer. Both initially served as Cabin boys/Mess boys on their first voyage. Cameron quickly decided to pursue advancement to seaman in order to be more on deck.
Lewis Laurie would later sail on M/T Solør when hit by torpedo or mine on 27 January 1945 in St Georges Channel between Ireland and Wales. The ship could be beached before it sank. Luckily Laurie was among the forty survivors, but four of the crew would perish in the event.[10]https://www.krigsseilerregisteret.no/forlis/221468
Cameron’s first voyage departed New York on 19 March 1944 and took him to Takoradi, Gold Coast (today Ghana). This was an important staging point to supply and support the war effort in northern Africa.
On this first journey with Talisman Cameron voyaged to places like Matadi – Congo River – Lobito before returning to New York on 13 May 1944.
The below photo is taken in Brooklyn 21 May 1944 and shows the TALISMAN crew with some of their girlfriends. The occasion is commemorating a football victory achieved by the ship’s crew: Cameron can be seen in the back row by the stripes of the American flag.
His second journey departed 6 June 1944 with destination Dakar – Matadi – Congo River – Lobito arriving back to New York 2 August 1944.
At this time the 19 year old Cameron is discharged from TALISMAN and signs on the D/T NORHEIM.
D/T NORHEIM – August, 1944
The 9881-GRT tanker NORHEIM was built in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport as EMPIRE PEARL but allocated to Notraship in 1942 and renamed NORHEIM.[12]http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/norheim.html
No images of the ship as NORHEIM have been found to-date; below images are of her as M/S WALTON in 1955. The ship would continue to sail under various names until scrapped in 1969.[13]http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/norheim.html
The 19-year old Cameron singed on to the ship as an ordinary seaman on 8 August 1944; only 3 days later the ship set sail for Hampton Roads and then onward to the Mediterranean port of Augusta, Sicily.
The ship was a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) which was an Admiralty Trade Division programme established in June 1939, to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft. The acronym DEMS was used to describe the ships carrying the guns, the guns aboard the ships, the military personnel manning the guns, and the shore establishment supporting the system
Cameron recalls having to pick up additional gun crews in Gibraltar when entering the Mediterranean due to the increased threat of attack.
It was in Naples harbor that Cameron had his scariest experience of the war, a German air raid while still sitting on 16 thousand tons of gas still on the ship.
Haunting memories
A harrowing experience that haunted Cameron for a long time occurred while exiting the Mediterranean through Gibraltar straits. While forming up the convoy to cross the Atlantic off the coast of Spain, the ship ahead of his hits a mine in a massive explosion.
As his ship passes the stricken one, by Cameron’s estimation less than a hundred feet away, he sees fellow seamen abandoning ship over the sides escaping the burning inferno. Not only could he hear them holler and scream, he is also convinced that his ship drowned several men as they passed by unable to help under strict orders not to stop.
Cameron sails with NORHEIM on several voyages to ports in the Mediterranean delivering the essential fuel needed for the war effort. On 10 April 1945, having made Hampton Roads from Oran, he was discharged from the ship. Looking for a change of scenery he decided to to sign on with M/S HOEGH SILVERCLOUD that was sailing for India.
M/S Hoegh Silvercloud and VE-Day
Before signing on the ship Cameron spends two-three days in New York; he reckons he had no sleep at all touring the sites and taking in all the scenery.
I probably got sun burnt in the face from looking up at all the high-rises.
Ray Cameron on touring New York in April 1945.
The 5287 gt general cargo vessel M/S HOEGH SILVERCLOUD is a ship completed in Germany April 1939 by Flensburger Schiffsbau Gesellschaft, Flensburg.[16]http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/hoeghsilvercloud.html
Cameron’s first voyage with the ship left Hampton Roads on 17 April 1945 sailing for Bombay via Port Said, and Aden through the Suez Canal.
Crossing the Atlantic with convoy UGS 87 he passed Gibraltar on 3 May 1945; news of VE Day, as a result of Germany’s surrender, came through when the ship was somewhere in the Mediterranean en route to Port Said.
At the time Cameron was on the First Watch between 8pm to midnight and was at the helm as wild celebrations broke out onboard the ship. Sometime after midnight the skipper enters the bridge and sees Cameron, who should have been relieved by now, still at the helm.
In the Crestwood OHP interview Cameron recollects with a broad smile; “It was just one of those nights…no one would believe it went on”. He then immediately proceeded to explain the elation as the Norwegian guys have had no communication whatsoever with the folks back home since the German invasion April 1940.
Suez Canal and India
SILVERCLOUD makes Port Said on 11 May and proceeds on to Suez on the same day. Cameron recollects navigating the Suez Canal; “What a sensation. You are going through the desert…a ship right in the middle of a desert“.
While in Bombay Cameron and some friends go ashore to tour some parts of India. Making their way back to the ship they make it onto the wrong ferry and spend the next 6-7 hours going up and down the coast to various smaller ports. By the time they realize it is too late to get off, they have been invited to spend the journey on the ship bridge. Cameron reckons it may have been more for their safety than to give them a better view.
Voyaging further to Cochin and Colombo, Sri Lanka (former Ceylon) he eventually returns to New York 13 August 1945 where big news is about to be released.
VJ Day
As President Harry S. Truman at 7pm on 14 August 1945 from the White House announces V-J Day; the unconditional surrender of Japan, war weary citizens around the world erupt in celebration.
I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government in reply to the message forwarded to that Government by the Secretary of State on August 11. I deem this reply a full acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan. In the reply there is no qualification. Arrangements are now being made for the signing of the surrender terms at the earliest possible moment.
The President’s News Conference[19]https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/public-papers/100/presidents-news-conference
The images taken by LIFE Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaed of the V-J celebrations on Times Square in New York are iconic.
Somewhere in midst of the jubilant chaos is the 19 year old Ray Cameron having made port only a day earlier. With a broad smile in the Crestwood OHP interview he recollects the occasion; “Boy talk about what a chaotic night that was!“.
Cameron stays on the ship for a little while but then decides to leave and is discharged before the next voyage. The war was over and he wanted to come home.
Service, fortune and recognition
Through all the time sailing on Norwegian ships Cameron always felt accepted and suffered no discrimination despite sometimes being the only Canadian on board.
He also recognizes his fortune in entering his service late in the war – after what he considers to be the real heroes. Despite staggering casualty rates in the early stages of the war it was not uncommon for men to sign back on to new ships having already survived being torpedoed and sunk several times.
In recognition of Cameron’s service to Norway he was awarded the ‘Deltakermedaljen’, the Defense Medal 1940-1945, that was given to all who participated in the liberation of Norway. In 1979, determined by Royal decree, that the ‘Krigsmedaljen’, he War Medal, would be awarded Norwegian and foreign seamen who served on Notraship’s vessels during WWII.[20]http://www.warsailors.com/oddswar/warmedals.html
Other medals illuminating Cameron’s distinguished service are the 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with Overseas Service bar and War Medal 1939–1945.
On 28 May 2022 the project was honored by Mr Ray C Cameron’s signature under the facilitation of Scott Masters.
It was with a very heavy heart we learned of Mr Cameron’s passing May 1, 2024. His entry in the logbook bestow immense gravitas and illuminate the sacrifices made by merchant mariners.
We are very honored to have been given this peak into his service and will do our upmost to help carry his legacy for posterity. May he rest in perfect peace – we have the watch.
This profile is in large parts copied and developed from its original as published on the website of Crestwood Preparatory College, we are forever indebted to Mr Scott Masters and his students.
1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with Overseas Service bar and War Medal 1939–1945
Norwegian medals ‘Deltakermedaljen’, the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and ‘Krigsmedaljen’, he War Medal,
References
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