Ship History
The ship was built in 1907 at Rotterdam, Holland. Owned by the Dutch, K. P. M. with Malaysian crew. Commandeered by the US Army and pressed into service as a transport. Captain was J. J. R. H. Zomer.

Wartime Service
In February it departed Sydney, stopping briefly at Townsville, Cairns and arrived in Port Moresby in late February, then onto Milne Bay.

Sinking History
On March 8, 1943 the a'Jacob was part of an Allied convoy "Lilliput", bringing supplies from Milne Bay to Oro Bay.

At 13:00 hours, s'Jacob was attacked by Japanese aircraft. Major damage was caused when a bomb hit the number 3 hatch causing major structural damage and causing the vessel to sink. Five were killed in the sinking. Of the 158 crew, 153 were picked up by the RAN Corvette HMAS Bendigo.

Japanese Side of the Sinking
Two squadrons of medium bombers flew the mission. Possibly one from 705 Ku and one from 751 but not certain, most likely Betty Type 1 land attack bombers.. One squadron attacked s'Jacob and one attacked other ships (an AK and corvette) but scored only near misses. An American pilot claimed a Betty destroyed. However, they also misidentified the fighters as OSCARS so we can never be sure based on Allied reports. Thanks to Richard Dunn for this information.

Sgt. James E. Guilford, Jr writes in "The George Watson Saga":
"Their airplanes appeared suddenly on the scene in a 'V' formation. Several bombs were dropped on our freighter in that pattern. Without any warning the bombs hit their mark. One bomb went down front hatch and another bomb went down the smokestack and exploded everywhere. The Malaysian sailors were screaming and bleeding. There was panic and pandemonium. Watson and I were on topside at the stern relaxing in the sun. We both didn't know how badly the ship had been damaged. We saw the Dutch Captain standing up in a life boat. He was yelling orders, while lowering himself and part of his crew into the ocean. Watson did not put on a life jacket, but I hurriedly put one on. He was such a strong swimmer, he felt that he did not need one. Knowing that the ship was going to sink, the crew released all floatable materials, such as hatch covers, rafts and barrels for life saving aids...

...We were 14 miles from Oro Bay. Land was barely visible on the horizon. Watson knew that I could not swim... Watson and I jumped into the ocean towards the rope raft. As I jumped I held my breath. I went so far down in the water, I thought I would never come back to the surface. Watson was there to assist me to the raft... with his help and God's help, I did not take another breath until I reached the raft with my hands.

Later Watson was brining more soldiers in distress to the raft. I yelled at him to put some of the soldiers on some of the other floating material. That was the last time I saw George Watson alive. There was debris all over the ocean. The huge freighter had taken on a lot of water. Within minutes after the bombs hit the ship, it listed to starboard and rolled over. It pitched forward. Its bow dipped into the water. Then it took a vertical position and gradually disappeared into the ocean.

Within minutes everything was tranquil and peaceful again, as if nothing happened. All of us, including George Watson, were rescued by the Australian corvette, our escort. Watson had been pulled out of the ocean unconscious and exhausted. I knew nothing of his rescue or condition at this time. While the crew was trying to revive him, they kept what happened to me. When the found out he could not be revived, they finally told me. George Watson was buried at sea with full military honors. I was amazed at the number of soldiers he helped and saved, before he succumbed himself from exhaustion. Even the white Lieutenant, who was in charge of our detail related how George Watson rescued him.

Pvt. George Watson's Medal of Honor
African American Pvt George Watson was one of those who died. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997 for his efforts rescuing crew members that day. The medal was awarded decades later in an attempt to honor minorities who had never received proper recognition during the war.

Discovery
Discovered in 1986 by Shane Croley and Allan Jaminson, funded by Rod Peace, using his boat, Barbarian. The s'Jacob lies 9 nautical miles off Porlock Harbor in 160'. A year later, Peace returned to dive the wreck at night confirming it. Rod Pearce first dove it, and recovered the ship's bell, which is displayed at the Lae Yacht Club.

Shipwreck
Lying upright on the bottom, few divers go to this wreck. Many thousands of fish that inhabit the wreck including mantas, whale sharks, giant groper and sharks. The funnel is the most predominant feature towering above the rest of the vessel. Divers from this vantage point can look down on the rest of the ship and admire the fish life and soft corals. The Jacob's wheelhouse has been fortified against attack and her telegraphs and bridge machine guns are as they were when she sank. Its propeller is still intact.

The cargo holds are full of timber, ammunition weapons, food and fuel. Crockery is scattered throughout the wreck, several pieces showing the Dutch shipping company's emblem KPM. And below decks, Coca Cola bottles showing their place of manufacture and dating from 1938 to 1942.

Display
The ship's bell was donated to the Lae Yaght Club where it is displayed with a historical plaque.

Relatives
Oliver s'Jacob (great great grandson of s'Jacob)
"My great great grandfather was s'Jacob. The s'Jacob was named after my great great grandfather, F. B. s'Jacob, who was the burghermeester (mayor) of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and whose father F. s'Jacob had been governor-general of the Dutch East Indies, modern Indonesia."

References
Honor Deferred profiles George Watson and the s'Jacob.
"The George Watson Saga" by James E. Guilford
Thanks to Rodney Pearce and Don Fetterly for additional information.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009