The Admiralty and War Office regret to announce that the ss Mohamed Ali el Kebir, while acting as a troop transport, has been torpedoed and sunk.

Seven hundred and forty survivors have been landed out of a total number of 860 who were on board.

Graphic stories of the rescue of the troops and crew were told when over 700 survivors of the torpedoed Egyptian liner Mohamed Ali el Kebir were landed here.

Some of the survivors had been in the water for over seven hours before being picked up, and most of them were scantily clad. A considerable number were stretcher cases, having been wounded in the explosion that followed the striking of the vessel by the torpedo. The attack was made in the Atlantic at night, but it was not until 5 o’clock the next morning that the last of the survivors was picked up.

The torpedo struck the liner on the starboard side. The vessel did not sink for nearly two hours, but rescue work was made difficult by the heavy swell on the water. Several casualties were caused by the explosion, but heroic efforts were made by doctors and men to secure the safety of the wounded. Lifeboats and rafts were lowered, and the more seriously injured had their wounds dressed before being lowered to the boats in stretchers. This was a task of great difficulty and danger, but there was no lack of volunteers, and practically all the wounded were successfully taken off.

A vessel which was not far off took part in the rescue work, and picked up about 700 survivors. Unfortunately, because of the rough weather, some of the lifeboats filled with water, and several of the men were washed off the rafts and drowned. A number died from exposure after being picked from the water. One lifeboat, when picked up, contained only the dead body of a lascar, and was three-quarters filled with water.

The canteen manager in the liner (Mr W Olley) said that the canteen was wrecked by the explosion and wounded lay all around. The ship’s doctor and the medical officer with the troops were magnificent, and, knowing that the vessel might sink at any moment, did what they could to help the wounded.

Mr Olley left in the last lifeboat with the wounded. Before he left, the captain handed him the ship’s papers. Captain Thomson, a Scot, living in Alexandria, remained on board until all the men had got clear. Mr Olley last saw him on a raft, but feared greatly that he had been lost. He feared, too, that the ship’s doctor, the medical officer, and the chief wireless operator were missing. This is the third time that Mr Olley has met with disaster at sea. A seaman among the rescued said this was the third time he had been torpedoed during the last 10 months. Many of the troops lost all their belongings, and many were wearing only trousers and singlets when they were landed. The wounded were taken to neighbouring hospitals and the others to a sailors’ rest home.

They are Albert Gray, Allan Fowlie, John Murray, William Morris, William Scott, and Edward Wallace.

Mr Murray who lives in Main Street, New Deer, has little to say about his experiences except that the torpedoing somewhat dazed them all.

By the way, he was instrumental in saving the life of a pal, William Milne, Ellon, who had been badly hurt by the explosion and was quite unable to help himself. He managed to attract attention to Milne’s plight and got him into the comparative safety of a raft. Milne was later taken to hospital and is understood to be going on well.

Edward Wallace is married and lives at Brucklay. He is one of three brothers who were in the same company. The other two, Fred Wallace, New Deer, and John Wallace, Post Office Buildings, Maud are missing.

Fred’s wife and three children reside at Greenbank, New Deer. When news of the disaster arrived the young wife went to stay for a time with her parents at New Byth. John’s wife, along with her two children, is staying with his parents, Mr and Mrs Wallace in their attractive little cottage near Maud.

William Scott, Main Street, New Deer is also married and has one child. A brother of his, Adam Scott, Inverurie, was on the same boat and sustained injuries. On landing he was taken to hospital and is making a good recovery. Albert Gray resides with his mother at Main Street, New Deer. He sustained injuries to his feet and legs, but these were not serious. He is also getting on well.

William Morris, Fordyce Terrace, New Deer, is married and has several of a family. Allan Fowlie, too, is married. His home is in Aberdeen, and his parents are Mr and Mrs A. Fowlie, Mid Culsh Farm, New Deer. He has one child. Allan managed to escape with the help of a barrel (a case of ‘Roll out the Barrel’), to which he clung for a time.