Name:BEKIN, ABBASInitials:ANationality:United KingdomRank:CivilianRegiment/Service:Civilian War DeadAge:25Date of Death:02/10/1940Additional information:Merchant Navy. Injured 17 September 1940, on S.S. City of Benares; died at 14 Inverkip Road.Casualty Type:Civilian War DeadReporting Authority:GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND Abbas was found to have died of his injuires received in the sinking of the City Of Benares so have submitted his name to the CWGC as a non commemorated merchant seaman; his grave has been found in Greenock Cemetery sadly unmarked
Hello Chris, I have an interest in the MN and in the "CITY OF BENARES". I have a copy of the death certificate and can confirm the above. The cause of death was prolonged exposure at sea. I would be grateful if you could post any further information that you get from the CWGC regarding this non-commemoration and if there is any further info I can provide please feel free to ask. Regards Hugh
Hi Hugh also got a copy of the DC; I have submitted him through the IFCP. I do not think there will be any problems getting him accepted All The Best Chris
Many thanks, Chris. These things take time but I look forward to a good result on this. Thanks for your time and effort in ensuring another one is rightly commemorated. Regards Hugh
He has been turned down for commemoration as I did not provide evidence that he was serving in the Merchant Navy; the DC was not enough
Have advised Chris of the next step, but have posted here as well in case anyone else maybe interested As they were both Lascars I doubt BT382 will have any documents on their CRS10 service files For Abbas Bekin you would need to consult the City of Benares last Crew Agreements at Kew held under the ships Official No. 164096 held in BT 381/1106 You can request a copy of this at the hyperlink. Make sure you only ask for her last crew list before sunk. Shows how common sense does not come in to effect. The CWGC have him down as injured on the City of Benares the day it was sunk, but can not put the connection together with his eventual death. Hosani may be a bit harder to trace as you dont have a date when he left the City of Marseilles injured. As Crew Agreements run from January to Decemeber of any given year I would check the 1939 latter end of the year Crew Agreements. Official Number 135436 in BT 381/79
Here lies our problem. As Billy has stated the CWGC really do insist on these documents for MN personnel before they will accept what everyone else knows: that he died as a result of his service on CITY OF BENARES. As a result of recent changes to obtaining these types of files using TNA's online catalogue, it is not so easy or as cheap to get them. To get that file now will cost £45. Previously it could be got for £8.50. It's shocking but thats the way it is - I am afraid. I don't know if you or anyone else lives near the TNA, as visiting is the only realistic way to make any headway with all of these outstanding non-commemorations. I have the document from TNA (Deaths on Board a Foreign-Going Ship) relating to CITY OF BENARES but unfortunately will not help us in this case as the file lists only those who were lost in the sinking. We do need the Crew Agreement and or the individuals CRS 10. Regards Hugh
finally got to the bottom of this Abbas Bekin is actually Name:BHICKOO, ABBASInitials:ANationality:IndianRank:LascarRegiment/Service:Indian Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. City of Benares (Glasgow)Age:22Date of Death:02/10/1940Additional information:Husband of Fatma Bibi, of Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, India.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Sec. B.B.B. Grave 14/530.Cemetery:GREENOCK CEMETERY However when I did the initial grave search thinking he was non commemorated the local council informed the grave was unmarked. Im making further inquiries into this Re Hosani he is actually Name:HUSAINNationality:IndianRank:TopassRegiment/Service:Indian Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. City of Marseilles (Glasgow)Age:49Date of Death:06/01/1940Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadMemorial:BOMBAY / CHITTAGONG 1939-1945 WAR MEMORIALS still making enquiries as to the whereabouts of his grave
Just had a picture from Terry Denham which shows that Bekin actually does have a headstone; the info from the council was wrong
Also found at Greenock was the grave of Name:IBRAHIM BALLANationality:IndianRank:SeamanRegiment/Service:Indian Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. City of Benares (Glasgow)Date of Death:17/09/1940Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadMemorial:BOMBAY / CHITTAGONG 1939-1945 WAR MEMORIALS
