This 2003 painting by Joe Dwyer was donated by the Cambridge Newfoundland Club. The painting shows the explosion from a German torpedo that struck the side of the SS Saganaga on September 5, 1942. SS Lord Strathcona, is anchored in the background.
Four fully-loaded ships were anchored in Bell Island Tickle on the morning of 5 September 5 1942. Two more ships were loading iron ore at the Scotia and Dominion piers. At 11:46 am, an explosion on SS Saganaga sent two sailors, decking and ore high into the air. Another explosion occurred moments later, as a second torpedo struck the ship. Cut nearly in two, Saganaga sank in just 30 seconds. With no warning of the attack, many drowned inside the sinking ship. Twenty-nine sailors died in the attack, most of the crew was from the United Kingdom.
The survivors struggled to swim in the cold seawater. Crew of nearby Lord Strathcona abandoned ship to help Saganaga's survivors. In the confusion, Lord Strathcona swung about, hitting the submarine’s conning tower, but U-boat 518 recovered quickly and sank Lord Strathcona.
