Description

Admin History:

The Wilson Line owned ss. Aaro was employed in the Scandinavian maritime routes, carrying emigrants from Kristiansand in Norway to Hull. Her maiden voyage was in 1909. She was torpedoed on 16 August 1916 by German submarine U-20 on passage from Hull, with the loss of 3 crew members. The remaining crew were picked up and taken to Rotterdam, where it was announced via telegram they were being held as prisoners of war by the Germans.

The ss. Aaro had a crew of twenty-nine. Able-seaman, Humphrey Watson was one of its crew, and along with the rest of the crew members, he resided in Hull. Humphrey Watson lived at 62 Devon Street, Gipseyville and can be identified in some of the images. It was Humphrey who sent these postcard images back to his wife, H. Watson. Unfortunatley no other crew members are identified, though in some of the images Wilson Line jumpers are been worn by other indivdiauls. Humphrey along with other crew members of the ss. Aaro were held at Brandenburg, which was a prisoner of war camp for Naval and Merchant Marine personnel.

Humphrey Watson returned to Hull after the war and continued as an Able-Seaman.

Description:

Postcard images of prisoners of war, including crew members of the ss. Aaro.