The Carare left Avonmouth on what was to be her last voyage on the afternoon of May 28th 1940. Aboard were 97 crew and 29 passengers bound for Santa Marta, Columbia, South America; calling at Kingston Jamaica.

"It was a glorious afternoon and some of us came onto the upper deck to get the last look at the beautiful Devon coastline to port and Wales to starboard. Suddenly there was a tremendous BOOM which shook the ship and knocked us off our feet. As we picked ourselves up there was a second great explosion and we knew that we had struck a mine. Immediately the ship began to list to starboard and we were summoned to the lifeboats. Fortunately, the captain, being aware of German mines in the Bristol Channel, had instructed the wearing of life-jackets until we were well clear of land. It was only possible to launch three lifeboats because the ship was already going down fast and tipping at an angle of 45 degrees. Two boats got clear and I was in no.3. There were cries of 'Hurry up! Cut the ropes or she will pull us down with her'.

Just then the Carare plunged beneath the waves and the sea poured in to cover her. There was much confusion and turmoil of people, boats and boiling surf. I swallowed a lot of salt water and tasted hot oil but found myself to be still breathing, though in the dark and wedged tightly between planks of wood. Around me I could just make out a rim of daylight. I called for help and heard an answering call from my friend who was also in this place. The lifeboat had capsized and was upside-down and quite low in the water but we were in the middle, in an air pocket and trapped between the seats. We had no idea what was going on outside but we banged on the inside of the boat and shouted as loudly as we could. Fortunately for us, some of the survivors had swum to the upturned boat no.3 and were sitting on top of it. They heard us and alerted the rescuers.

I cannot remember much more but somehow the lifeboat was righted and we were picked up and taken to another vessel which was alongside. The crew on this gave us sailor's clothes and a tot of rum. Then we were taken to Barry Dock where we were issued with some sort of official papers in place of a passport and given coupons to buy clothes from a nearby draper's shop. I remember everybody being very kind. The worst thing, due to wartime secrecy was not being able to tell relatives anything. To my husband, in Jamaica, I sent a telegram worded SAILING DELAYED.ALL WELL"

Account given by Dora Herbert, one of the passengers who a few days later made a safe voyage to Jamaica.

The fascinating set of pictures of the sinking of the Carare is likely to have been taken by someone on board the ship which rescued the survivors. The survivors were taken to Barry dock, but not in the Barry lifeboat, which indicates a large ship because a smaller one would have made for Lynmouth or Ilfracombe. One record states that "The Minehead, Lynmouth, Ilfracombe and Barry lifeboats went in search of survivors but a naval patrol boat found the crew first and rescued them. - rewards: Barry, £3 14s 6d.; Ilfracombe, £8 1s 6d.; Lynmouth, £13 2s 6d.; Minehead, £5 13s 6d." It may be that the photographer was an official on the patrol vessel.

Do you have a connection with the Carare?
Do you know who took the photographs of the sinking?

... then please e-mail Keith Denby