Unit History: HMT Empire Avocet
Owner: New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London
Homeport: London
Built as American Cotati for US Shipping Board, San Francisco; 1937 transferred to US Maritime Commission, New York and laid up as Reserve at 31 Dec, 1939.
1942 taken over by Britain and renamed Empire Avocet by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).
At 01.38 hours on 30 Sep, 1942, the unescorted Empire Avocet (Master Frederick Pover) was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-125 about 350 miles south of Freetown. The master and a machinist were taken prisoner by the U-boat. Two crew members were lost. 47 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the HMS Cowslip (K 196) (SubLt J.S.M. Swift) and landed at Freetown.
Homeport: London
Built as American Cotati for US Shipping Board, San Francisco; 1937 transferred to US Maritime Commission, New York and laid up as Reserve at 31 Dec, 1939.
1942 taken over by Britain and renamed Empire Avocet by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).
At 01.38 hours on 30 Sep, 1942, the unescorted Empire Avocet (Master Frederick Pover) was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-125 about 350 miles south of Freetown. The master and a machinist were taken prisoner by the U-boat. Two crew members were lost. 47 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the HMS Cowslip (K 196) (SubLt J.S.M. Swift) and landed at Freetown.