Elizabeth May Owens GM & LWM

Discussion in 'The Women of WW2' started by Billy McGee, Jan 24, 2019.

  1. Billy McGee

    Billy McGee Senior Member

    Cross Channel steamer St. Patrick, 1,992grt, (Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Co.) loaded with a general cargo including boxes of fish the St Patrick sailed independently from Rosslare on the 13th June 1941. The same day of the Pembrokeshire coast the ship was attacked by a lone German Heinkel HE-111 bomber. On the first pass the aircraft began strafing the ship with machine gun fire and returning for a second attack dropped a stick of four bombs, with at least one bomb finding the target exploding between the bridge and funnel setting the ship ablaze. With fires raging, one Stewardess Elizabeth May Owens battled through the flames and forcing the buckled doors into the accommodation hoping to reach where she knew some of the female passengers were housed. After finding them and leading them on deck and securing life belts for them, returned to the accommodation to rescue a young girl. With no life vest they both jumped overboard and within seven minutes the ship broke in two and sank in position 52’ 04N 05’ 25W taking seventeen crewmembers, one DEMS gunner and twelve passengers with her. For the next two hours the ships Stewardess clung on to the young girl until rescue came. She was later awarded the George Medal and the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea. Tragically one of the crewmembers killed (BRENNAN, J.J.) age 17 years old had lost his father Moses Brennan from the same ship the previous year after the ship was strafed by German aircraft. He had gone to sea as the main bread winner for his family after his father’s death. Amongst the other casualties was the ships Master, James Faraday and his son, John Faraday, who whilst on leave from the Merchant Navy had joined his father on-board the St. Patrick on that fateful day. As John Faraday was on leave at the time, the circumstances of his death did not qualify him for war grave status and he is only recorded as civilian war dead.
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  2. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    From London Gazette 23 September 1941
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    Tim
    NB Name appears to be Owen rather than Owens.
     
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  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  4. Billy McGee

    Billy McGee Senior Member

    Is there anyway to obtain a copy of the civilian deaths of passengers from Merchant ships please.
     
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The page I posted is for civilians on a merchant ship, so yes, I guess is the answer to your question. If you have a Merchant ship and a date it was lost to 'enemy action' with civilians being killed I guess I can find it for you [I hope now I have said that]

    TD
     
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  6. Billy McGee

    Billy McGee Senior Member

    Thanks. I was hoping it was available to purchase from somewhere. I have a number of losses I am interested in finding the names of those civilians lost from Merchant ships.
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Send me a message or conversation OR stay on here if you wish and I will have a look for you - hope its not a massive long list

    TD
     
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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Panel from my photo collection

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    FARADAY Civilian JOHN MICHAEL Friday, June 13, 1941 Age 19 S.S. ST. PATRICK
    VIEW RECORDCivilian War Dead United Kingdom
    Civilian FARADAY, JOHN MICHAEL
    Died 13/06/1941

    Aged 19

    Civilian War Dead

    Son of Mrs. F. Faraday, of Cairniehill, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
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