In the early hours of October 14, 1942 a torpedo from the German submarine U69 hit the passenger ship SS Caribou, on route to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland from Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Of the 237 people aboard the Caribou 136 had perished. Fifty-seven were military personnel and 49 were civilians.
The Channel-Port aux Basques area was the worst hit as many crew members of the Caribou were local men. Two of those men were from my family, my great-grandfather Elias aka Elijah Coffin and his son, my great-uncle James “Hubert” Coffin both members of the Merchant Navy.
Elias/Elijah Coffin, Boatswain, was 53 when left wife Hannah a widow at age 48. They still had many children at home with the youngest being six. James “Hubert” Coffin, Able Seamen was just 25 when he left wife Evelyn a widow and one child age one.
I have wondered about what that night was like for my great-grandfather and great-uncle. I have read many things over the years about the sinking of the SS. Caribou hoping to find a mention of my family. This fall I was told about a book written by Fraser M McKee, titled “Sink All The Shipping There – The War Time Loss Of Canada’s Merchant Ships and Schooners”. Published in 2004 by Vanwell Publishing. The following is recorded on page 291;
“ …Rafts were promptly released, but with the ship’s momentum causing her to still make way through the water , some of these were soon left astern. Aft, on the steerage deck , no. 5 and 6 boats were still swung in their chocks. they were quickly filled with terrified passengers and others, sitting in their boats hoping for rescue. The ship’s Bosun, Elias Coffin, tried to persuade these people to get out and allow the boats to be launched and probably save them. but his exhortations were to no avail, and the death toll was no doubt higher thereby when the ship sank shortly after.”
Every year a member of the Coffin family lays a wreath for our family on Remembrance Day in Port aux Basques.