SS Empire Elgar

SS Empire Elgar was a heavy lift ship on Arctic Convoy Convoy PQ-16. She was especially useful as she was equipped with derricks enabling her to unload the heavy war stores (trains, tanks, aircraft) from other ships that arrived with convoy PQ-16 as well as the survivors of the ill-fated Convoy PQ-17 and the Convoy PQ-18. The dockside installations were damaged by German bombing, and the Empire Elgar came under almost daily attack for almost 18 months as she worked in Archangelsk, Bakaritsa, Molotovosk and Murmansk.

Various members of the crew were decorated for their defence of PQ-16 as she approached Russia and for her duties in port. Her Master Captain Gordon L Clark OBE (Mily) was awarded a Kings Commendation, the Citation from The London Gazette 3 August 1943 reads:-

'The ship sailed in a convoy which, for six days, was attacked almost continuously by submarines and from the air, but the vessel survived and arrived safely.
During the passage of the convoy an excellent defence was put up by the ship.
Many hits were registered on enemy aircraft and on one occasion three of the planes were set on fire, one being seen to crash into the sea.
An attempt was made to ram an enemy submarine, and although this was unsuccessful, the ship's accurate fire kept the enemy submerged. The second officer was the gunnery officer of the ship and his courage skill and leadership were mainly responsible for the excellent defence of the vessel which resulted in the probable destruction of at least one enemy aircraft and severe damage to others.
Able Seamen Patterson and Smith did splendid work at the guns and by their courage, coolness and accuracy of fire succeeded in beating off the many attacks to which the ship was subjected.'

SS Empire Elgar unloaded ships from many subsequent convoys arriving at Bakaritsa, Molotovosk and Murmansk and did not return from Russia until she joined Returning Convoy RA59A in August 1944.