Ship 'The Christian Eugen'

[Wreford-Brown]

Has anyone heard of the ship 'The Christian Eugen'? It would have been sailing the Mediterranean (Suez to Algiers) during 1942/3.

I've managed to find info on 'RMS Viceroy of India' but 'Christian Eugen' has defeated me.

[Sailor Steve]

Possibly you have the spelling wrong.

Here is information under the name Christiaan Huygens.
http://www.derbysulzers.com/shipchuygens.html

[Wreford-Brown]

Steve, you're a genius!

My grandfather was a professional soldier before WW2 (Royal Tank Corps) then joined the Army Physical Training Corps in late 1940, becoming an instructor on troopships during WW2. He sailed to Suez and back on the RMS Viceroy of India in May 1942 and then moved to the MS Christiaan Huygens to sail UK to Algiers.

I knew he held the 1939/45 Defence Medal for his service in the UK with recuperating soldiers and knew about his Africa Star with 8th Army clasp, meaning he served in Africa between Oct 42 and May 43 but you've filled in the blank and told me what he was awarded it for and the ship he was serving on.

He also holds the QE2 Coronation Medal, which goes nicely with my father-in-law's Silver Jubilee Medal and my Gold and Diamond Jubilee ones.

Thanks Steve for helping fill in a piece of family history. :salute:

[Sailor Steve]

Steve, you're a genius!
Someone much wiser than me once said "An expert is the guy who knows where to look it up."

My first thought was to check my copy of The World's Merchant Fleets 1939, by Richard Jordan. It happened to be there, and jumped off the page at me.

Glad I could help.