Request for additional details on a WW2 Merchant Seaman Is there a forum user possibly specialising in WW2 Merchant Seaman casualties who could assist with a research query please? Able Seaman Ronald (Ronnie) Cradduck died of illness in India in November 1942. Details of his death and burial are not recorded by the CWGC (presumably this was because his death was not as the result of enemy action?). To keep supplementary questions to a minimum, I do not know which vessel Ronnie Cadduck had sailed to India. If Ronnie Cradduck had been serving in the Royal Navy rather than Merchant Navy and died of illness in a shore-based hospital he would most likely have been commemorated by the CWGC. Does anyone happen to know where Ronnie Cradduck died and where he is buried please? Is there a Merchant Seaman's memorial anywhere that commemorates Ronnie Cradduck's death? Around the same time as Ronnie died in India his father Thomas (Tom) Cradduck died as the result of his vessel being torpedoed by German U-Boat. The date was 2 November 1942 and the vessel was the 'SS Empire Leopard'. Tom Cradduck's death is listed by the CWGC. Tom Cradduck is also commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Thanks in advance to anyone who can assist.
Hello, I have an R. Cradduck listed on the Deaths at Sea index for 'EMPIRE MARCH'. Seems the ship was certainly in Madras on 29th Oct 1942 sailing on 1st November 1942. You are quite correct re the CWGC not commemorating deaths of merchant seamen in the same manner as members of the armed forces. Is there a Merchant Seaman's memorial anywhere that commemorates Ronnie Cradduck's death? I doubt it. Billy McGee has the full register and will be able to tell you the cause of death. Regards Hugh
Thanks very much Hugh. It will be interesting to see the additional information about the cause of death if you or your friend cn supply it. Does the index you have access to give the date of death by any chance please? My main reason for asking is in connection with the 'WW2 Book of Remembrance' of Mr Cradduck's home town (Whitehaven). Ronnie Cradduck's death was mentioned in the local newspaper but only gives the month (November). His father, Thomas (Tom) Cradduck, was lost at sea on 2 November 1942 when the SS Empire Leopard was sunk.
Ronald Cradduck from Whitehaven was an 18 year old Ordinary Seaman serving on the Empire March. He died on the 21st November 1942 in hospital at Madras from "Typhoid Fever"
His Seaman's Pouch held at Kew in piece BT 372/360/84 And his CRS 10 should be held in piece BT 382/397 Regards Hugh
Thanks very much, chaps. It is interesting to learn that Ronnie Cradduck was among the crew of SS 'Empire March'. There is another Cumbrian seaman I have recently been looking for details about who was lost on this same vessel not long after Ronnie Cradduck died. Would either of you have additional information about this fellow, or could suggest where else to look by any chance please? Is there a crew list available somewhere by any chance? Ordinary Seaman Robert Broatch McCartney, Service: Merchant Navy. Vessel: SS Empire March (Barrow) Parents: John and Jane McCartney, 8 Crummock Avenue, Woodhouse, Whitehaven Wife: Josephine McCartney, 9 Grasmere Avenue, Woodhouse, Whitehaven. Date of death: Dec. 1942 / Jan. 1943 (?) (The CWGC gives the date of death as 02.01.1943. According to a letter sent to the council by Mr McCartney's sister the date of death was December 1942). -------------------------------------------------- As was the case with Ronnie and Tom Cradduck, relatives of Mr McCartney submitted his name to be included in WW2 'Book of Remembrance' and memorial tablet for Whitehaven. Again as with the case of Ronnie and Tom Cradduck, sadly Robert McCartney's name never made it into the Remembrance Book of his home town. It would be nice to rectify the situation for these seamen. It may be the case we should 'never forget', but one can see instances where we never remembered the sacrifice of some people in the first place. (Incidentally, the Avatar I use for this site is a photograph of Whitehaven Cenotaph).
The last Crew Agreement for 'EMPIRE MARCH' should be held at Kew under the ship's official number 167743 in piece BT 381/2607. 'EMPIRE MARCH' was sunk by the raider 'MICHEL' on 2/1/1943 and I would say this was his date of death. Regards Hugh
The last Crew Agreement for 'EMPIRE MARCH' should be held at Kew under the ship's official number 167743 in piece BT 381/2607. 'EMPIRE MARCH' was sunk by the raider 'MICHEL' on 2/1/1943 and I would say this was his date of death. Regards Hugh Thanks once again. At least it is beginning to fall into place.
Cargo ship, Empire March, 7,040grt, (MOWT, Headlam & Son) had loaded a cargo including tea, peanuts and jute in India and was to sail to the U.K. independently via Durban and Trinidad. On the evening of the 2nd January 1943 in the South Atlantic, South-West of St Helena, the Empire March was intercepted by the German commerce raider Michel. The Merchant ship came under shellfire from the raider and was also hit by one of her torpedoes. The Michel then launched her motor vessel, Esau which fired another two torpedoes into the ship sinking her in position 22’ 35S 08’ 30W. Thirty-three of her fifty-seven crewmembers were lost. The survivors were picked up by the Michel, eventually being landed in Singapore and handed over to the Japanese as PoW’s. Some of the men ended up in Changi jail, others were sent to a prison camp in Japan.
Cargo ship, Empire March, 7,040grt, (MOWT, Headlam & Son) had loaded a cargo including tea, peanuts and jute in India and was to sail to the U.K. independently via Durban and Trinidad. On the evening of the 2nd January 1943 in the South Atlantic, South-West of St Helena, the Empire March was intercepted by the German commerce raider Michel. The Merchant ship came under shellfire from the raider and was also hit by one of her torpedoes. The Michel then launched her motor vessel, Esau which fired another two torpedoes into the ship sinking her in position 22’ 35S 08’ 30W. Thirty-three of her fifty-seven crewmembers were lost. The survivors were picked up by the Michel, eventually being landed in Singapore and handed over to the Japanese as PoW’s. Some of the men ended up in Changi jail, others were sent to a prison camp in Japan. I can see from this additional information all the SS Empire March crew, even the ones who survived the loss of the vessel, had a rough time of it. Comparatively little is known by the general public about the role of the Merchant Navy in the war and the experiences of the seamen who manned the vessels. Thanks for all your assistance.
You are welcome, ritsonvaljos. Excellent piece of work on your blog - thank you for putting it up. Regards Hugh
Hello I am Robert Broatch McCartney's great niece. My granddad John James McCartney also served in the navy. I am in touch with his family. My dad has some letters and photographs that Robert sent to his brother whilst at war.
Hi all - first time I have seen this thread, you may or may not have these details: UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Ronald Cradduck Age: 18 Birth Date: abt 1924 Birth Place: Seaham Harbard, England (Sealham Harbour) Death Date: 21 Nov 1942 Death Place: General Hospital Madras Typhoid fever England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005 Name: Ronald Cradduck Mother's Maiden Surname: Curtis Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1924 Registration district: Durham Eastern Inferred County: Durham Volume Number: 10a Page Number: S'38 (258) TD
From Ancestry: "Sent by Ronnie in Oct 1942. He was admitted to hospital 3 weeks later and died in Nov 1942, just a few weeks after his father's vessel was sunk by torpedo." 1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 7 Marlborough Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland NAME DOB OCCUPATION Thomas W W Cradduck 22 Aug 1901 Ships Boatman (Hobler) Rhoda Waughan (Cradduck) 24 Apr 1906 Unpaid Domestic Duties William Cradduck 03 Jul 1877 Ships Boatman (Hobler) William Cradduck 11 Jan 1926 At School Sorry, this record is officially closed. Sorry, this record is officially closed.
