The Skeleton Coast of Southwest Africa is a place of beauty and terror, where the power of the ocean meets the harshness of the desert. It was here in 1942 that the Dunedin Star ran aground, leaving its passengers stranded and fighting for survival.
Among those passengers was Alison Habib, a young Scottish woman traveling with her Egyptian husband and their young daughter. Through her diary and undelivered letters, we can see love’s impact in even harsh circumstances.

A Death Maze
The Skeleton Coast was known for its treacherous waters, where ships often met their end in shipwrecks or became lost in the maze of sandbars and rocky shores. The passengers of the Dunedin Star were no exception, facing harsh conditions and limited resources as they struggled to survive. On a sandbar near the sunken freighter young South African pilot attempts a rescue by landing his airplane. He becomes stranded himself and part of the love story.
Despite these challenges, Alison and her husband remained committed to each other until many years later, when her husband died, an exchange of letters was discovered by chance that tells the rest of the true story.
Importance of A Support System
The significance of a strong support system during difficult times cannot be overstated. Love can provide the foundation for resilience and inspiration. Whether it is the love of a romantic partner, family member, or close friend, the support of those we care about can make all the difference in overcoming adversity.
Takeaway
The author’s wife, Joanne, discovers one of the letters stuck in the back of an old book about the sinking of the Dunedin Star. Her own story of reconnecting the young pilot with Allison, now both in their eighties, is another part of this fascinating history. It is the story that movies are made of.
On this website, you can play a song about the sinking of the Dunedin Star by the Australian group Humbuckin’ Pickups … it tells the story in music … “in a tale that is truer than it is tall.”