US WWII GI's Pocket Handybook, HMT Rohna Disaster
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $65.00

Original era publication.Commercially produced pocket size Handybook of around 100 pages. The first 30 pages or so are filled with information about army life for the new soldier, the remaining pages are left open for a diary or notes. This book was once the property of Pvt D. Wentworth 31st Signal Battalion. His entries begin in November of 1942 at Fort Dix NJ, and end on April 6 1944 at Assam India. His entry for November 23-December 31 1943 is quite interesting. He and his unit were enroute for the CBI traveling in a convoy off of the North African coast, his company were aboard HMT Rajula, while other companies of the 31st were on the HMT Rohna. On the 27th of November this convoy was attacked by German aircraft, resulting in the sinking of the Rohna and loss of nearly 1200 men, including the company commander and 130 men ofCompany B, 31st Signal Battalion.The Rohna was struck by a Henschel 293 radio controlled bomb which blew a gaping hole in her side. The US Government suppressed the details ofher sinking to keep the news of the success of the German state of the art weapon quiet. The Rohna's sinking was the greatest troopship loss for the American army during WWII. An excellent account of the Rohna's sinking and general history of the 31st Signal Bn can be found on the website CBI Unit Histories. There are 96 pages of printed material Plus 30 pages of original handwritten diary.