Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Presse Release:

GALLANT MERCHANTMEN"
The appointment by His Majesty of Captain Hugh Roberts,
Master of the steamship "Mopan", to be an Officer of the Order of the
British Empire, and the official commendation of Mr. Richard H. Smith, Chief Engineer of the same ship, commemorate a gallant incident which occurred soon after the outbreak of hostilities.
The "Mopan" is a steamer of 5389 tons, registered at Liverpool
and belonging to Messrs. Elders and Fyffes. She has special
refrigerating machinery and on September 6th -was on her way home from Jamaica with a cargo of bananas.
At about 1.0 p.m. that day the "Mopan" was in a position about
400 miles west of the entrance to the English Channel, when the Chief Officer and Chief Engineer, who were on deck, saw a submarine coming to the surface about two miles away just abaft the starboard bow.
Captain Roberts, who had been on deck since 4 a. rn.. , had gone
to his cabin for a pipe. He had only been there two minutes when the
third officer, who was on watch, came to the door and shouted --
"Submarine on the starboard side:"
"A second shot was fired and l anded about 100 yards on the
beam", Captain Roberts said. "Then I ported the helm op bring the
submarine on the port quarter. The shells were now straddling us, and bursting close alongside, with fragments coning on board. For the next shot we starboarded the helm again, and for the next round
ported it --- continuing to do so and trying to dodge the shells".
The "Mopan" was entirely unarmed. Ordering his men to
take cover, Captain Roberts continued to zig-zag into the wind,
which was from the north-north-west. The submarine was compelled
to follow, which meant she could not use her after gun. But with
her other gun she continued to fire intermittently for 37 minutes,
by which time the "Mopan" had increased her lead to 6,000 or 7,000
yards. The "Mopan' s nominal speed was 13,5 knots but emergency
signals had been arranged with the engine-room, so that within
a few minutes she was steariing at 15.
The U-boat was still following, and until 3 p.m. seemed to be slowly gaining. She was apparently having difficulty with her foremost gun because of the water washing over her low bows.
The "Mopan" now increased speed to the utmost to shake off her pursuer. Very soon she was travelling at an estimated speed of about 16 knots, and soon began to draw ahead. At ten minutes past four the U-boat, then about 4 miles astern, gave up the chase and disappeared.
If ever a vessel was saved by the stout courage, skill and presence of mind of her captain, officers and crew, no less than by the energy and efficiency of her Chief Engineer and his men in the engine-room and stokehold, it was the "Mopan". While Captain Roberts said that the officers and men behaved "most admirably" during their trying ordeal, Mr. Smith expressed his great admiration for the "enthusiasm and energy of the firemen".
Apart from the Empire Gallantry Medal awarded to Mr. J M.M. Turner, wireless operator of the steamship "Manaar", for his gallantry when that vessel was shelled and torpedoed by a submarine, also on September 6th, Captain Roberts' O.B.E. and Mr. Smith's official commendation are the first distinctions earned by the Merchant Navy during the present war.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

s.s. Mopan, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

November 3rd, 1939

Citation:
"For great courage, resolution and skill in saving his unarmed ship, when under continuous fire from. an enemy submarine for over four hours.
The U-boat opened fire at about 4,000 yards, her speed being, approximately 16 knots. S.S. "Mopan's" normal speed is about 13.5 knots. Captain Roberts at once brought the U-boat astern and on his instructions the Chief Engineer worked the ship up to about 16.5 knots.
The enemy fell slowly astern and ceased firing at about 8,000 yards. All the officers and men behaved most admirably."

Civil Division.

• - The London Gazette of 3rd November 1939, Issue 34724
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