CWGC added the following casualties to the WW2 War Dead Roll today. The following merchant seamen died 15.01.45 when Hopper Barge ‘D’ was sunk by a mine in the River Mersey. All are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London BOOTH, Eric Boy Age 16 BRENNAN, Michael Fireman Age 40 LEE, Richard Master Age 48 MURRAY, Robert Chief Mate Age 54 ROWE, Albert Engineer Age 61 NOT FORGOTTEN Volunteer for all Chris Harley.
Chris, good to see this at long last - I remember Billy McGee putting in a hell of a lot of effort on this case and many others and being frustrated by the CWGC even with the evidence submitted to them. What has caused the change of mind? Regards Hugh
Hugh, When it first got started with IFCP there seemed to be at CWGC a misunderstanding that those of the MN who died in inshore waters were not eligible for commemoration. This has now been swept away & those that died in those circumstances are now to be put forward. If you know of any more please let me know. Chris
At times, and especially for new commemorations the CWGC can be most discouraging. In this instance, presumably this was a German mine and hence their deaths were due to enemy action?
I would imagine that they will go on the addenda panel. The addenda panel is currently being refurbished .
I fought this case with the CWGC for over two years started back in 2009 and was initially rejected on the "Home Waters" cause of loss, which has since been removed from the criteria. After arguing the case once more and even submitting an eye witness report and death certificates of two of the bodies recovered stating they had died from war related injuries had they were rejected due to the fact they were not supposedly covered by the Merchant Navy Pensions Act, another ridiculous criteria, though I was informed if I could trace any next of kin for just one of those named to prove the family had received any form of pension they would all be accepted. This proved unsuccessful. You can read the correspondence I had with the Commission all those years back at the link below. http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/...barge-sunk-1945-a.html?highlight=hopper+barge Finally glad they have the commemoration they deserve, but it is a sad affair that it has taken eight years. Lest We Forget!
Thanks for your reply Billy. Today I have had confirmation from Halton Council that Robert Murray & Eric Booth are buried in Widnes Cemetery. Eric Booth's grave is unmarked.
Cheers Chris, Any chance you can get an official document copy of his grave reference number from the Council, or pass on the details to me to look into obtaining an official MN war grave headstone for Eric Booth. Attached are copies of the original Death Certificates I obtained on both men back in 2009 stating they were killed by enemy action, which was ignored by the Commission due to them invoking the Merchant Navy Pension Act, which the crew were deemed not to be part of. Just another ridiculous part of the official commemoration act the CWGC are governed by, where common sense has now prevailed after all these years.
Found in my old correspondence the plot number for both of those buried ashore. Eric Booth - Plot No.- 3378 8C Robert Murray - Plot No. - 1320 3U
Probably was a German mine, but it would not matter as if they had struck an allied mine the increased war risk clause would have come in to play.
BOOTH, ERIC Rank: Boy Date of Death: 15/01/1945 Age: 16 Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy Hopper Barge "D" (Liverpool) Grave Reference: Sec. 8C. Grave 3378. Cemetery: WIDNES CEMETERY Commemoration Moved From Tower Hill Memorial.
MURRAY, ROBERT Rank: Chief Mate Date of Death: Between 15/01/1945 and 16/01/1945 Age: 54 Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy Hopper Barge "D" (Liverpool) Grave Reference: Sec. 3U. Grave 1320. Cemetery: WIDNES CEMETERY N.B. Recent research has shown that Chief Mate Murray is buried here. The Commission is in the process of producing a headstone to mark his grave. Commemoration Moved From UK BOR.
