Details, where known, of all British and Commonwealth Radio Officers who lost their lives in the course of duty in both World Wars.
The details in the following list are due to the outstanding work carried out by former Radio Officers Peter J Barber and George V Monk with the able assistance of the Hon. Archivist of the ROA, Willie Williamson. This work is the copyright © of The Radio Officers’ Association and cannot be reproduced in any form without ROA permission. This permission will never be withheld for any reasonable request.
MEMORIAL REGISTER: RADIO OFFICERS KILLED AT SEA – 1939 TO 1945 (U-Z)
1137 UNSWORTH, 2nd R.O. ANDREW (30), SS GOGRA
2nd April 1943
Off Portugal, the U-124 sank the cargo liner Gogra, 5190 tons (British India S.N. Co.), U.K, to India, with the loss of ten of her crew.
1138 URE, 2nd R.O. JOHN GEORGE (28), MV MUNCASTER CASTLE
30th March 1942
Southwest of Cape Palmas the passenger/cargo ship Muncaster Castle, 5853 tons (Lancashire Shipping Co.), Glasgow to India was sunk by U-68, with the loss of two crewmembers.
1139 USHERS, 2nd R.O. JOHN R. (20), MV BRITISH SECURITY
20th May 1941
South of Cape Farewell, U-boats attacked a homeward-bound convoy; the tanker British Security, 8470 tons (British Tanker Co.), Curacao to the Clyde was sunk by U-556 with the loss of fifty-three of her crew.
1140 VALE, 1ST R.O. ALFRED THOMAS (61), MV QUEEN MAUD
5th May 1941
Near Freetown the cargo ship Queen Maud, 4976 tons (T. Dunlop and Sons), Cardiff to Alexandria with military stores was sunk by U-38. The above officer was the only European to lose his life,
1141 VARUGHESE, 1st R.O. MATTHEW (no age given) SS LEANA
7th July 1943
Near Lourenco Marques the cargo ship Leana, 4742 tons (Williamson and Co.) bound for the port from Mombasa was sunk by U-198.
1142 VAUGHAN, 1st R.O. KENNETH RAYMOND (29),
SS GLOUCESTER CASTLE 15th July 1942
About 600 miles northeast of St Helena the passenger/cargo ship Gloucester Castle, 8006 tons (Union Castle Line), the U.K. to South Africa was sunk by the commerce raider Michel (German) with the loss of ninety-one crew and passengers; there were sixty-one survivors.
1143 VICKERS, 2nd R.O. JAMES FREDERICK (47), SS PIKEPOOL
22nd November 1940
Of the Smalls Light the cargo ship Pikepool, 3683 tons (Sir R. Ropner and Co.), Glasgow to Barry was sunk by a mine with the loss of sixteen on board.
1144 VICKERS, 1st R.O. PAUL LESTER (29), SS KIRNWOOD
10th December 1941
In the Northwest Approaches U-130 sank the cargo ship Kirnwood, 3829 tons (Constantine S.S. Co.), New York to the U.K. Fifteen of the crew died.
1145 VILLA, 1st R.O. CARLO (22), SS MILOS
11th March 1943
The cargo-ship KILOS 3058 tons (Swedish Register) left New York on 23 February 1943 bound for the U.K. but was never seen again and reported missing on 17th March 1943. She was probably sunk by U-530 on 9 March 1943.
1146 VINCE, 2nd R.O. WALTER REDVERS (42), MV ABOSSO
29th October 1942
About 700 miles north of the Azores the passenger cargo liner Abosso, 11330 tons (Elder Dempster Lines), Cape Town to Liverpool was sunk by U-575. There were thirty-one survivors; two hundred and fifty-one passengers and crew died.
1147 VINE, 2nd R.O. KENNETH WILLIAM HERBERT (19),
SS LULWORTH HILL 19th March 1943
West of Lobito the cargo ship Lulworth Hill, 7628 tons (Counties Ship Management Co.), Mauritius to the U.K. was sunk by the submarine Da Vinci (Italian), Forty-seven of her forty-nine crew perished.
1148 VOGEL, 2nd R.O. JOSEPH (32), SS CASAMANCE
17th February 1941
There is no record of the above ship having been destroyed or badly damaged. She was registered at Cardiff and the names of eight of her crew appear on the Tower Hill Memorial.
1149 VONSLOW, 1st R.O. ERNEST (51), SS AYMERIC
16th May 1943
Off Cape Farewell the cargo ship Aymeric, 5196 tons (A. Weir and Co.), the U.K. to New York was sunk by a U-657. Eight of her crew were lost.
1150 VYSE, 2nd R.O. JESSE (18). SS SEVERN LEIGH
23rd August 1940
South of Iceland, the U-37 torpedoed the steamer Severn Leigh, 5242 tons (Mark Whitwell Shipping), Hull to St. John N.B. Twenty-nine of the crew died.
1151 WADDELL, 2nd R.O. IAN ROBERT HENDREY (20),
MV NARRAGANSET 25th March 1942
Northwest of Bermuda the tanker Narragansett, 10389 tons (British- Mexican Pet. Co.), Port Arthur to the U.K. was sunk by U-1O5 with the loss of all forty-nine people on board.
1152 WAKELY, 2nd R.O. ALEX DINHAM (21), SS EMPIRE CITIZEN
2nd February 1941
South of Iceland the U-107 sank the cargo ship Empire Citizen, 4683 tons (MOWT), Liverpool to Rangoon with the loss of seventy-eight lives.
1153 WALKER, 2nd R.O. ALBERT JOSEPH (27), SS KANBE
8th May 1943
Off Liberia, the cargo ship Kanbe, 6244 tons, the Middle East to the U.K. was sunk by the U-123, with the loss of thirteen of the crew.
1154 WALKER, 1ST R.O. ARCHIBALD HALLIDAY SMITH (42),
SS STOCKPORT 25th February 1943
East of Cape Race the cargo ship Stockport, 1683 tons (London & North Eastern Railway), the U.K. to Canada was sunk by the U-604; she had been acting as rescue ship. All hands were lost, fifty-one crew, nine gunners, four naval ratings and ninety-one survivors she had on board from other ships lost in the convoy (ONS 166).
1155 WALKER, 1ST R.O. JAMES ALEXANDER (43), SS SLAVOL
26th March 1942
Off Sollum, U-652 sank the destroyer Jaguar and the oiler Slavol, Alexandria to Tobruk with fuel oil. Five of her crew died.
1156 WALKER, 1st R.O. THOMAS ARNOLD (39), SS HORN SHELL
26th July 1941
West of Madeira the tanker Horn Shell, 8272 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petrol Co.) bound for Curacao was sunk by the Italian submarine Barbarigo. Five members of the crew died.
1157 WALL, 1st R.O. RICHARD (43), SS EMPIRE BUFFALO 6th May 1942
West of the Cayman Islands the cargo ship Empire Buffalo, 6404 tons (MOWT, Lyle Shipping Co. Managers) bound for New Orleans was sunk by U-125 with the loss of thirteen on board.
1158 WARD, 1st R.O. ARTHUR CHARLES (43), SS MURIA
8th November 1940
The naval tug Muria was sunk by a mine off North Foreland. Eight crewmembers were lost.
1159 WARD, 3rd R.O. GEORGE WILLIAM (19), SS SAN FLORENTINO
2nd October1941
In mid-Atlantic, the tanker San Florentino, 12843 tons (Eagle Oil and Shipping Co. Ltd.), bound for Curacao on Admiralty service was sunk by the U-94. Twenty-two of her crew were lost after a two-hour fight with U-94, on whom she inflicted some damage before sinking.
1160 WARNER, 2nd R.O. LOUIS MERRICK (21), SS TEMPLE MEAD
21st January 1941
About 300 miles west of Ireland the cargo ship Temple Mead, 4427 tons (Lambert Bros), was sunk by Focke-Wulf Condor aircraft with the loss of fourteen of the crew. She was on passage from Rosario to the U.K. with grain.
1161 WATSON, 1st R.O. CHARLES (28), SS EMPIRE COMET
19th February 1942
In the Northwest Approaches the cargo ship Empire Comet, 6914. tons (MOWT, Dodd Thompson and Co. Managers) was sunk by U-136. Thirty-seven of the crew perished.
1162 WATSON, 1st R.O. DENNIS (32), SS GLENLEA
7th November 1942
In mid-Atlantic U-boats attacked an outward bound convoy; U-566 sank the cargo ship Glenlea, 4252 tons (J. Morrison and Son), the U.K. to the Middle East with the loss of thirty-nine crew.
1163 WATSON, 1st R.O. ERIC (29), SS EMPIRE DABCHICK
3rd December 1942
South of Sable Island, the cargo ship Empire Dabchick, 6089 tons (MOWT,
J. Morrison & Son, Managers), Liverpool to St Johns N.B., was sunk by U-183 with the loss of all forty-seven people on board.
1164 WATSON, 3rd R.O. FRANCIS ALEXANDER (26), SS CITY OF VENICE
4th July 1943
Ten miles north of Cape Tenez (Algeria) U-375 attacked assault convoy KMS18B sinking, amongst others, the passenger/cargo liner City of Venice, 8762 tons (Ellerman Lines). She was carrying 302 military personnel and 180 crew, who abandoned ship in orderly fashion without casualties. However in failing light the frigate Teviot, coming to the rescue, upset No. 8 boat and the 22 occupants, including Captain Wyper, were never seen again. The 460 survivors were picked up by the corvettes Honeysuckle and Rhododendron and the naval tug Restive.
1165 WATSON, 1st R.O. GEORGE WILFRED (36), MV SAN ARCADIO
31st January 1942
Off Cape Sable the tanker San Arcadio, 7419 tons (Eagle Oil & Shipping Co.), Houston to the U.K. was sunk by U-107. Forty-two of the crew were killed.
1166 WATSON, 3RD R.O. GEORGE WILLIAM (20), SS MUNERIC
10th September 1941
South of Cape Farewell, U-boats attacked a homeward-bound convoy; U-432 sank the cargo ship Muneric, 5229 tons (Bright Navigation Co.), Rio de Janeiro to Middlesbrough with iron ore and sixty-three of her crew died.
1167 WATSON, 3RD R.O. JACK (18), SS WHITE CREST
24th February 1942
East of Newfoundland U-boats attacked an outward-bound convoy. The
U-558 sank the cargo ship White Crest, 4365 tons (Hall Brothers), bound for North America. Forty-one of her crew were lost.
1168 WATSON, 1ST R.0. JOSEPH VICTOR (42),
MV WILLIAM WILBERFORCE 9th January 1943
Southeast of the Canary Islands the cargo liner William Wilberforce, 5004 tons (Elder Dempster Lines), West Africa to Liverpool was sunk by U-511, with the loss of three European crew.
1169 WATSON, 3RD R.O. SAMUEL (17), MV PANAMA
11th April 1945
In mid Atlantic, the M.V.Panama, 6650 tons, Cardiff to Philadelphia, in heavy weather her engines broke down, the ballast shifted and she capsized and sank. Forty-five of her crew were lost, five survived.
1170 WATT, 1ST R.O. GEORGE (19), SS POLYKTOR
6th February 1943
The cargo ship POLYKTQR 4077 tons (Greek Registration) was torpedoed and sunk by U-266 in the North Atlantic. The Master and one crewman were taken prisoner. The casualties are not known.
1171 WATT, 2nd R.O. RICHARD (17), SS HATASU
2nd October 1941
About 600 miles east of Cape Race, the cargo liner Hatasu, 3198 tons (Moss Hutchinson Line), the U. K. to New York was sunk by U-431. Thirty-three of her crew were lost.
1172 WATTS, 2ne R.O. THOMAS JOHN ELLIOTT (19), SS MATINA
24th October 1940
In the Northwest Approaches the refrigerated cargo ship Matina, 5389 tons (Elders and Fyffes) was sunk by a U-boat, possibly U-31. Sixty-eight of her crew died.
1173 WEBB, 1st R.O. CHARLES BRYDGES NANFAN (48), SS KAVAK
2nd December 1940
Eleven merchant ships and an armed merchant cruiser were sunk by attacks on convoys by U-boats, the Kayak, 2782 tons (Moss Hutchinson Line), Demerara to Newport was sunk by U-1O1. Twenty-five of her crew were lost in mountainous seas.
1174 WEBSTER, 2nd R.O. JAMES HENRY (17), MV BRITISH MOTORIST
19th February 1942
Japanese carrier and shore-based aircraft attacked Darwin, Australia. Among the ships sunk was the tanker British Motorist, 6891 tons (British Tanker Co.) Two of her crew were lost.
1175 WEIGHTMAN, 2nd R.O. JOHN BINKS (25), SS EMPIRE WAVE
2nd October 1941
East of Cape Farewell, the cargo ship Empire Wave, 7643 tons (MOWT, Barr, Crombie and Co. Managers), the U.K. to Halifax was sunk by U-562. Thirty-two of her crew were lost and ten of the survivors had major amputations from frostbite.
1176 WELLBURN, 3rd R.O. WILLIAM (20), SS MARSLEW
23rd February 1941
Between the west coast of Ireland and the south of Iceland U-boats attacked ships that had dispersed from an outward bound convoy; U-95 sank the cargo ship Marslew, 4542 tons (Kaye Son & Co.) bound for the River Plate with the loss of thirteen crew.
1177 WERE, 3rd R.O. HILMER JOHN (21), SS SHREWSBURY
12th February 1941
Near the Azores the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, (German) encountered a Freetown to U.K. convoy and sank, amongst others, the cargo ship Shrewsbury, 4542 tons (Capper, Alexander and Co.), Rosario to the U.K. with the loss of twenty of her crew.
1178 WEST, 2nd R.O. MICHAEL JOHN WILLOUGHBY (23), SS CREEKIRK
19th October 1940
In the Northwest Approaches U-boats attacked a homeward bound convoy. The U-101 sank the cargo ship Creekirk, 3917 tons (Muir Young and Co.), Wabana to Workington with iron ore, with the loss of all thirty-nine crew.
1179 WHALE, 3rd R.O. RONALD GORDON (21), SS ARAKAKA
23rd June 1941
East of Newfoundland, the steamer Arakaka, 2379 tons (Booker Line) was sunk by U-77. She was serving as a weather ship with the Admiralty. She was lost with all hands, forty-six men including Admiralty weather personnel.
1180 WHEDDON, 3rd R.O. ARTHUR (29), MV LOCHKATRINE
3rd August 1942
East of Cape Race the passenger/cargo liner Lochkatrine 9419 tons (Royal Mail Lines), Liverpool to New York was sunk by U-553 with the loss of nine of her crew.
1181 WHEELER, 1st R.O. CYRIL CHARLES EYRE (39),
MV BRITSH LIBERTY 6th January 1940
Off the Dyck Light Vessel the tanker British Liberty, 8485 tons (British Tanker Co.) was sunk by a mine. Twenty-one of her crew died.
1182 WHEWELL, 1st R.O. WILLIAM WALSH (29), MV EMPIRE STEEL
24th March 1942
North of Bermuda the tanker Empire Steel, 8318 tons (MOWT, A Weir and Co. Managers) New Orleans to the U.K. was sunk by U-123. Thirty-five members of the crew lost their lives.
1183 WHITAKER, 1st R.O. GEORGE SYDNEY (25), SS LLANASHE
17th February 1943
Southeast of East London, the cargo ship Llariashe, 4836 tons (E. T. Radcliffe and Co.), Persian Gulf to South Africa was sunk by U-182. Twenty-three of her crew were lost.
1184 WHITE, 2nd R.O. ARTHUR (21), SS ANTONIO
28th March 1945
Five miles off St Anne’s Head the Antonio, 5225 tons (Maritime Shipping and Trading Co.) capsized and sank following a collision with the Fort Moose three days earlier. Five of her crew were lost.
1185 WHITE, 2nd R.O. JAMES (36), MV DORYSSA
25th April 1943
Off South Africa the tanker Doryssa, 8078 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.) bound for the Persian Gulf, was sunk by the Italian submarine Da Vinci and twelve of her crew were killed.
1186 WHITE, 1Sst R.O. JAMES A.LEXDANDER (24), SS OTINA
20th December 1942
In the mid Atlantic, the tanker Otina, 6217 tons (Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co.), the U.K. to New York for orders was sunk by U-621 with the loss of fifteen of her crew.
1187 WHITE, 2nd R.O. THOMAS ALFRED (30), SS PETERTON
17th September 1942
Northwest of the Cape Verde Islands the cargo ship Peterton, 5221 tons (R. Chapman and Son), the U. K. to Buenos Aires was sunk by U-1O9. Seven of her crew were killed.
1188 WHITELEY, 3rd R.O. JOHN TERRANCE (19), SS REGISTAN
28th September 1942
East of Barbados the cargo liner Registan, 5886 tons (F. C. Strick and Co.), the Persian Gulf to the U.S. was sunk by U-332. Eleven crewmembers lost their lives.
1189 WHITESIDE, 1st R.O. GERALD M (49), MV MELBOURNE STAR
2nd April 1943
Southeast of Bermuda, the passenger/cargo liner Melbourne Star, 12806 tons (Blue Star Line), the U.K. to Australia was sunk by U-129 with the loss of one hundred and thirteen people and crew; there were four survivors.
1190 WHITFIELD, 3rd R.O. RICHARD GEORGE (20), MV EMPIRE STANLEY
17th August 1943
Southeast of Madagascar, the cargo ship Empire Stanley, 6922 tons (MOWT), East Africa to the Middle East was sunk by the U-197. Twenty members of the crew were lost.
1191 WHITTAKER, 2nd R.O. JOHN DRACUP (19), MV SUTLEJ
26th February 1944
West of Diego Garcia the cargo ship Sutlej, 5189 tons (J. Nourse Ltd), Red Sea to Australia was sunk by the submarine I-37 (Japanese) with the loss of seven crew.
1192 WHYTE, 1st R.O. WILLIAM MacARTHUR CATHRO (22),
SS SCOTTISH TRADER 6th December 1941
South of Iceland, the cargo ship Scottish Trader, 4016 tons (Trader Nay. Co.), was sunk by U-131. Thirty-seven of her crew died.
1193 WILDT, 1st R.O. JOHANNES WILHELM (33), SS LARS KRUSE
2nd December 1943
German JU-88 bombers attacked Ban Harbour. Over 18 ships were lost, amongst which was the cargo ship Lars Kruse, 1807 tons (MOWT). See Reference No. 1372 for further details.
1194 WILKINSON, 1st R.O. EWART FRANCIS (31), MV JAMAICA
7th March 1943
A Norwegian registered ship. Torpedoed and sunk by U-221 in the North Atlantic with the loss of nineteen crew and two passengers.
1195 WILKINSON, 1st R.O. HUBERT (41), SS MEDJERDA
17th March 1941
The cargo ship Medjerda, 4380 tons (F. C. Strick and Co.), was sunk by U-105 north of Cape Verde Islands.
1196 WILL, 1st R.O. GEORGE (39), SS EUPHORBIA
14th December 1940
In the North Atlantic U-100 attacked an outward bound convoy sinking, amongst others, the cargo ship Euphorbia, 3380 tons (Joseph Robinson and Sons) Swansea to Lynn, Mass. with the loss of thirty-three crew.
1197 WILLETT, 1st R.O. FREDERICK WEEDEN (54), SS ROSE SCHIAFFINO
3rd November 1941
Off Newfoundland the cargo ship Rose Schiaffino, 3349 tons (MOWT, M. Whitwell and Son, Managers), Wabana to Cardiff with iron ore was sunk by U-569 with the loss of all forty-one crew.
1198 WILLIAMS, 3rd R.O. BASIL (18), MV ANADARA
24th February 1942
See Reference No. 584 for details.
1199 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. EDWARD JOHN (37), SS CHINESE PRINCE
12th June 1941
In the Northwest Approaches the cargo line Chinese Prince, 8593 tons (Furness Withy), Middle East to the U.K. was sunk by U-552. Thirteen crew members died.
1200 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. GEORGE (21), MV CHILEAN REEFER
16th March 1941
The German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau contined to attack shipping east of Newfoundland. The Gneisenau sank, amongst others, the cargo ship Chilean Reefer, 1739 tons (MCWT, A. Holt and Co., Managers) from U.K. for St. John, N.B. She lost twelve officers and men after a running fight.
1201 WILLIAMS, 2nd R.O. GEORGE SELBY (22), SS SAMSIP
7th December 1944
In the River Scheldt the cargo ship Samsip 7219 tons, (MOWT, New Zealand Shipping Co. Managers) bound for the Thames was damaged by a mine and had to be sunk by the R.N. Six of her crew were lost.
1202 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. HAROLD GEORGE (39), SS NEWBURY
15th September 1941
In an attack on a North Atlantic convoy U-94 sank the cargo ship Newbury, 5102 tons (Capper Alexander and Co.), She was from Cardiff for Buenos Aires with coal and lost with all hands.
1203 WILLIAMS, 2nd R.O. HAROLD HUGHES (23), MV ADELLEN
22nd February 1942
South of Cape Farewell, the tanker Adellen, 7984 tons (Adellen, Shipping Co.), South Wales to Trinidad was sunk by U-155. Twenty-nine of her crew died.
1204 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. HENRY (38), SS HAVRE
10th June 1942
West of Alexandria the cargo ship Havre, 2073 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.) that sailed from the port bound for Tobruk was sunk by U431, with the loss of seven crewmembers.
1205 WILLIAMS, 2nd R.O. IVOR WYNN (24), MV EMPIRE STEEL
24th March 1942
North of Bermuda the tanker Empire Steel, 8318 tons (MOWT, A Weir and Co. Managers) New Orleans to the U.K. was sunk by U-123. Thirty-five members of the crew lost their lives.
1206 WILLIAMS, 3rd R.O. JOHN (20), SS EMPIRE HAWKSBILL
19th July 1942
North of the Azores, U-564 sank the cargo ship Empire Hawksbill, 5724 tons (MOWT), the U.K. to South Africa. Thirty-eight of her crew perished.
1207 WILLIAMS, 2nd R.O. JOHN HENRY (23), SS MUNERIC
10th September 1941
South of Cape Farewell, U-boats attacked a homeward-bound convoy; U-432 sank the cargo ship Muneric, 5229 tons (Bright Navigation Co.), Rio de Janeiro to Middlesbrough with iron ore and sixty-three of her crew died.
1208 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. PERCIVAL TROWER (31), SS CARSBRECK
24th October 1941
See Reference No. 178 for details.
1209 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. RALPH JAMES (47), MV OILFIELD
28th April 1941
Southwest of Cape St. Vincent, U-564 sank the cargo ship Carsbreck, 3670 tons (Carslogie SS Co.), Almeria to Barrow. Twenty of her crew lost their lives.
1210 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. RAYMOND WILLIAM CHARLES (21),
SS CORINALDO 29th October 1942
See Reference No. 1086 for details.
1211 WILLIAMS, 1st R.O. REGINALD (5O), SS KANBE
8th May 1943
Off Liberia, the cargo ship Kanbe, 6244 tons, the Middle East to the U.K. was sunk by the U-123, with the loss of thirteen of the crew.
1212 WILLIAMS, 2nd R.O. WILLIAM EDWARD (34), SS EMPIRE IMPALA
11th Mar. 1943
Southeast of Cape Farewell the cargo ship Empire Impala, 6116 tons (MOWT) the U.S. to the U.K. was sunk by the U-591 as she picked up survivors from the cargo/passenger liner Egyptian. There were only three survivors. Forty-one of her crew died.
1213 WILLIAMSON, 1st R.O. ADAM LETTS (27), SS GYPSUM QUEEN
10th Sept. 1941
South of Cape Farewell U-boats attacked a homeward bound convoy; U-82 sank the cargo ship Gypsum Queen, 3915 tons (Gypsum Packet Co.) from New York. Eight of her crew were killed.
1214 WILLIS, 3rd R.O. GEOFFREY HERBERT (17), SS FORT QUAPPELLE
17th May 1942
North of Bermuda the cargo ship Fort Qu’Appelle, 7121 tons (MOWT, Ben Line, Managers), Vancouver to the U.K. on her maiden voyage was sunk by U-135 with the loss of twelve of her crew.
1215 WILLIS, 1st R.O. JOSEPH REGINALD (38), SS EMPIRE TIGER
27th February 1941
300 miles South of Iceland the Empire Tiger, Halifax to Clyde, reported shipping heavy seas and all boats washed away. Nothing further was heard. Thirty-three members of the crew were lost.
1216 WILLIS, 2nd R.O. PETER JAMES DILWYN (18), SS ROWANBANK
31st January 1941
West of Ireland, the cargo ship Rowanbank, 5159 tons (Andrew Weir and Co.) was sunk by Focke-Wulf Condor aircraft with the loss of all her sixty-eight crew.
1217 WILSON, 1st R.O. ALEXANDER GREG (34), SS CHELSEA
30th August 1940
West of the Hebrides U-32 attacked a homeward bound convoy, sinking the cargo ship Chelsea, 4804 tons (W. Brown Atkinson and Co.), Montreal to London with grain. Twenty-one of her crew perished.
1218 WILSON, 1st R.O. GEORGE JOY (42), SS EMPIRE ATTENDANT
15th July 1942
South of the Canary Islands, the cargo ship Empire Attendant, 7524 tons (MOWT, A. Weir and Co. Managers), the U.K. to South Africa was sunk by U-582 with the loss of all fifty-nine of her crew.
1219 WILSON, 3rd R.O. GORDON COWIE (17), SS CITY OF GUILDFORD
27th March 1943
Near Derna, the passenger/cargo liner City of Guildford, 5157 tons (Ellerman City Line), Alexandria to Tripoli was sunk by U-593 with the loss of all one hundred and twenty-seven people on board.
1220 WILSON, 1st R.O. JAMES FALCONER (25), SS OCEAN VAGABOND
10th January 1943
South of Iceland the cargo ship Ocean Vagabond, 7174 tons (MOWT), Botwood to Hull was sunk by U-186. The above officer was the only member of the crew to die.
1221 WILSON, 3rd R.O. JOHN LANCELOT (18), SS GOOLISTAN
23rd November 1942
West of Bear Island, the cargo ship Goolistan, 5851 tons (Common Bros.), Archangel to the U.K. was sunk by U-625 with the loss of all forty-two crew.
1222 WILSON, 1st R.O. LEONARD LLEWELLYN (28), SS MENIN RIDGE
24th October 1939
In an attack on a convoy about 60 miles southwest of Cadiz, U-37 sank the cargo ship Menin Ridge, 2474 tons (Ridge Steamship Co.), Djidjelli to Port Talbot with iron ore, with the loss of twenty of her crew.
1223 WILSON, 1st R.O. ROBERT PENHAM (29), MV EULIMA
23rd February 1943
Northwest of the Azores the tanker Eulima, 6207 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.), the U.K. to New York was sunk by U-186. She was a straggler, in heavy weather, from convoy ON166. Twelve of her crew were killed.
1224 WILTSHIRE, 1st R.O. L.F.E (20), SS TUNISIA
4th August 1941
West of Ireland the cargo ship Tunisia, 4337 tons (ex-Tunistan, F.C. Strick and Co. Managers), Pepel to Workington was sunk by German aircraft. Thirty-one members of the crew died.
1225 WINSOR, 1st R.O. PHILIP GEORGE (50), SS EMPIRE LAKELAND
11th March 1943
In the Northwest Approaches U-boats (unidentified) attacked a New York to U.K. convoy sinking the cargo ship Empire Lakeland, 7015 tons (MOWT, Blue Star Line, Managers) with the loss of fifty-six of her crew.
1226 WISEMAN, 2nd R.O. JOHN (17), SS GARLINGE
10th November 1942
Off Algiers German aircraft and U-boats attacked shipping. The cargo ship Garlinge, 2012 tons (H. Constants), Greenock to Algiers was sunk by U-81. Seventeen of her crew were lost.
1227 WITHAM, 1st R.O. SOREN ALBERT TERKELSEN (26),
MV MELBOURNE STAR 2nd April 1943
Southeast of Bermuda, the passenger/cargo liner Melbourne Star, 12806 tons (Blue Star Line), the U.K. to Australia was sunk by U-129 with the loss of one hundred and thirteen people and crew; there were four survivors.
1228 WOBY, 2nd R.O. BRUCE (18), SS CERAMIC
7th December 1942
West of the Azores, the passenger/cargo liner Ceramic, 18713 tons (Shaw Savill and Albion Line), Liverpool to Australia was sunk by U-515. There were 656 passengers and crew on board; there was only one survivor.
1229 WOLF, 1st R.O. CYRIL WILLIAM GEORGE (27), SS ST. SUNNIVA
22nd January 1943
Off Sable Island, the convoy rescue ship St. Sunniva, 1368 tons (General Steam Navigation Co.) with a convoy from the U.K. was lost with all sixty-four people on board.
1230 WOLLASTON, 3rd R.O. FRANK WRIGHT (20), SS ENGLISHMAN
22nd January 1941
West of Tory Island, the tug Englishman, 487 tons (United Towing Co.) was sunk by German aircraft with the loss of all eighteen of the crew.
1231 WOOD, 2nd R.O. ALFRED CLIFFORD (21), SS NEWTON PINE
16th October 1942
Southwest of Iceland, the cargo ship Newton Pine, 4212 tons (Craig Shipping Co.), the U.K. to Halifax was sunk by U-704 with the loss of all forty-seven crew.
1232 WOOD, 2nd R.O. ALLEN JAMES (27), SS CALEDONIAN MONARCH 14th January 1942
East of Newfoundland, the cargo ship Caledonian Monarch, 5851 tons (Monarch SS Co.), North America to the U.K. was sunk by U-333. Forty-one of the crew perished.
1233 WOOD, 1S R.O. JOHN STANFIELD (27), SS POLZELLA
17th January 1940
Off Muckle Flugga the steamer Polzella, 4751 tons (J. Thomas and Co.) was sunk by a torpedo from a U-boat with the loss of all thirty-six crew. She was steaming between Narvik and Middlesborough, and from German records the submarine was thought to be the U-25.
1234 WOOD, 2nd R.O. NORMAN (29), SS TREDINNICK
25th March 1942
Southeast of Bermuda, the cargo ship Tredinnick, 4589 tons (Ham SS Co.), was sunk by the submarine Calvi (Italian). Forty members of the crew were killed.
1235 WOOD, 1st R.O. STEPHEN E. (27), SS MIRAFLORES
19th February 1942.
The cargo-ship MIRAFLORES 2158 tons (Standard Fruit and Steamship Co.) was torpedoed and sunk by U-432 off the east coast of America whilst on passage from Haiti to New York. She was lost with all hands, 34 officers and men.
1236 WOOD, 3rd R.O. WILLIAM ARTHUR (18), MV ROSEWOOD
9th March 1943
South of Iceland, the tanker Rosewood, 5989 tons (J. I. Jacobs and Co.), New York to the Clyde was sunk by U-409 with the loss of all hands, thirty-two people.
1237 WOODING, 3rd R.O. REGINALD JAMES (17), SS TACOMA STAR
1st February 1942
East of Hampton Roads, the cargo liner Tacoma Star, 7924 tons (Blue Star Line), Buenos Aires to the U.K. was sunk by U-109. All eighty-five crew died.
1238 WOOLF, 2nd R.O. STANLEY KAY (19), SS STANGARTH
16th March 1942
In the West Indies, the cargo ship Stangarth, 5966 tons (J. and A. Billmeir and Co), was torpedoed by Italian submarine Morosino. Forty crewmembers lost their lives.
1239 WOOLLER, 2nd R.O. RONALD (17), SS LACKENBY
25th January 1943
South of Cape Farewell, the cargo ship Lackenby, 5112 tons (Ropner Shipping Co.), the U.S. gulf to the U.K. was sunk by U-624. Thirty-nine of her crew died.
1240 WOOLLEY, 2nd R.O. RICHARD FRANK (25), SS BEAVERFORD
5th November 1940
The German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer came across a 38 ship homeward-bound convoy. Because of the action of the armed merchant cruiser Jervis Bay, only five ships were lost including the cargo ship Beaverford, 10042 tons (Canadian Pacific SS Co.), Montreal to Liverpool. She exploded and sank with all hands, seventy-seven officers and men.
1241 WORSLEY, 3rd R.O. HAROLD, SS SOUTHERN EMPRESS
13th October 1942
Northeast of Newfoundland U-221 attacked a homeward bound convoy, sinking, amongst others, the ex factory whaling ship Southern Empress, 12398 tons (C. Salvesen) the U.S. Gulf to the Clyde on Admiralty service with the loss of twenty-eight crew and twenty passengers.
1242 WRIGHT, 2nd R.O. GEORGE THORBURN (20), SS AGNETE MAERSK
24th March 1941
In the North Atlantic, the ex Danish flagged cargo ship Agnete Maersk, 2104 tons, Clyde to Canada was sunk by the Italian submarine Veneiro. Twenty-seven of her crew perished.
1243 WRIGHT, 1st R.O. JOHN (30), MV LARCHBANK
9th September 1943
West of Cape Comorin the cargo ship Larchbank, 5151 tons (A. Weir and
Co.), the U.S. to India was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-27 with the loss of forty-three of her crew.
1244 WRIGHT, 2nd R.O. NORMAN JOHN (19), MV INDUS
20th July 1942
In the southern Indian Ocean the cargo ship Indus, 5187 tons (James Nourse) India to Australia was sunk by the German commerce raider Thor, with the loss of twenty-two of her crew.
1245 WRIGHT, 2nd R.O. WILLIAM HENRY (17), SS HOLYSTONE
15th February 1941
In the North Atlantic, the cargo ship Holystone, 5462 tons (Common Bros.), was sunk by U-101, with the loss of all thirty-six of her crew.
1246 YEO, 1st R.O. MATTHEW BARNABAS (32), SS BULLMOUTH
29th October 1942
Near Madeira, U-boats attacked a homeward-bound convoy; U-659 sank the tanker Bullmouth, 7519 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.), on Admiralty service, which went down with the loss of forty-five of her crew.
1247 YEOMANS, 3rd R.O. GERALD HOWARD (42), SS NAILSEA COURT
10th March 1943
South of Iceland, the cargo ship Nailsea Court, 4946 tons (Evans and Reid), Beira to London was sunk by U-229. Forty-four of her crew died. There were only four survivors.
1248 YONGE, 1st R.O. ARTHUR GEORGE TWINING (27), SS STOCKPORT
25th February 1943
East of Cape Race the cargo ship Stockport, 1683 tons (London & North Eastern Railway), the U.K. to Canada was sunk by the U-604; she had been acting as rescue ship. All hands were lost, fifty-one crew, nine gunners, four naval ratings and ninety-one survivors she had on board from other ships lost in the convoy (ONS 166).
1249 YOUDS, 1st R.O. FRANCIS E. (23), SS WILLIMANTIC
24th June 1942
Off the West Indies, the cargo ship Willimantic, 4558 tons (MOWT, Lamport and Holt, Managers), South Africa to the U.K. was sunk by U-156. Six of the crew were lost.
1250 YOULL, 1st R.O. THOMAS (age not given) MV CHRISTIAN KNUDSEN
10th April 1942
The motor ship Christian Knudsen 4904 tons (Norwegian Registration) was torpedoed and sunk by U-85 off the east coast of the United States. The casualties are not known.
1251 YOUNG, 2nd R.O. ROBERT GALBRAITH (20), SS EMPIRE ENGINEER
2nd February 1941
In the Northwest Approaches the U-123 sank the cargo ship Empire Engineer, 5358 tons (MOWT) with the loss of all forty crew.
1252 YOUNG, 2nd R.O. STANLEY ALBERT (24), MV GOLD SHELL
16th April 1945
Near Ostend, the tanker Gold Shell, 8208 tons (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co.), bound for Antwerp was sunk by a mine with the loss of twelve of her crew.
1253 YOUNG, 2nd R.O. WALTER (19), SS PACIFIC
9th February 1943
Sailing in convoy along the East Coast, the Pacific (Williamstown Shipping Co.) 2816 tons, Sunderland to London, became a straggler in bad weather conditions and disappeared. All the crew of thirty-eight were lost.
1253A YVES, 1st R.O. RICHARD (25), SS GRAVELIIIES
31st May 1941
In the Northwest Approaches the cargo ship Gravelines, 2491 tons (MOWT, Frank S. Dawson, Managers), St John N.B. to the U.K., was torpedoed by U-147. The afterpart sank, but the forepart was taken in tow and arrived in the Clyde on 3 June 1941.
The following Radio Officers who served with the Australian Merchant Navy are
included on the Tower Hill Memorial
1254 CURRY, 2nd R.O. NOEL ROBERT (28), SS MAREEBA
31st January 1942
East of Ceylon, the cargo ship Mareeba, 3472 tons (United SS of Australia), Batavia to Ceylon, was sunk by the German commerce raider Kormoran on the 26 June 1941. This officer died when the German prison ship Spreewald was sunk in error by U-333 in the
North Atlantic on 31 January 1942.
1255 GREER, 1ST R.O. HARTLE ALONGA ALEXANDER (age not given)
5th July 1944 SS NELLORE
In the Indian Ocean, the cargo liner Nellore, 6942 tons (Eastern and Australia Steamship Co.), India to Australia was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-8 on 29 June 1944. This officer died in the lifeboats.
1256 HARTHILL-LAW, 2nd R.O. LLOYD VICTOR (age not given)
28th March 1944 MV TULAGI
Near Colombo, the motor ship Tulagi, 2281 tons (Burns, Philp and Co.), Australia to Colombo on Admiralty Service, was sunk by U-532 on 27th March 1944.
1257 HOLMES, 3rd R.O. RALPH MARSHMAN (18), SS MAREEBA
31st January 1942
East of Ceylon, the cargo ship Mareeba, 3472 tons (United SS of Australia), Batavia to Ceylon, was sunk by the German commerce raider Kormoran on the 26 June 1941. This officer died when the German prison ship Spreewald was sunk in error by U-333 in the
North Atlantic on 31 January 1942.
1258 REID, 1st R.O. GEORGE NEWTON (age not given) MV TULAGI
28th March 1944
Near Colombo, the motor ship Tulagi, 2281 tons (Burns, Philp and Co.), Australia to Colombo on Admiralty Service, was sunk by U-532 on 27th March 1944.
1259 WILLIAMS, 3rd R.O. ARTHUR WILLIAM JOHN (age not given)
MV TULAGI
28th March 1944
Near Colombo, the motor ship Tulagi, 2281 tons (Burns, Philp and Co.), Australia to Colombo on Admiralty Service, was sunk by U-532 on 27th March 1944.