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K T Roussell, Sinking of the SS "Otaki" by the German Raider "Moewe", c.1917

Ref: AAAC 898 NCWA Q200

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Oil, 780 x 1180mm

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My Grandfather William Seal

My Grandfather William Seal was sunk on this ship. He survived and was taken to a POW in Brandenburg Germany. When he was released he recieved an award from the company and a letter fron the King on his return to the UK. I have a picture of him in the camp and these documents. He died of old age in the 1950's. He'd been a merchant seaman all of his life as was his father before him.

Kind Regards

Mark Seal

I was fascinated to see this

I was fascinated to see this as my Grandfather Richard Hart was also on the "Otaki" when it went down & was also picked up & spent a couple of years in a POW camp in Germany. He was 19 years old when captured & had been a merchant seaman from the age of 16. He told me about the severe hardship of life as a POW, about the attack by the "Moewe" & floating round in the Atlantic for 4 hours. He was an amazing man, as i think most men of that era were, he never let anything get him down. He passed away in 1978. Lovely to see this.

Regards

Ken Hart.

There's a ruined kirk at

There's a ruined kirk at Auchindoir near Lumsden in NE Scotland. Inside, there's a memorial plaque to a Midshipman Martin who died on the Otaki. He was 15 years old.