Merchant Navy Memorials To The Missing - Graves Found

Following my success in finding a number of the graves of Great War victims named on Tower Hill I have decided to follow this through with looking at the WW2 Names. Subject to confirmation by the CWGC I will list them here

Name:FOSSETT, ERNEST JOHNInitials:E JNationality:United KingdomRank:Chief Engineer OfficerRegiment/Service:Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. A.D.C. 527 (United Kingdom)Date of Death:08/01/1946Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Panel 1.Memorial:TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Grave found at Sutton Road Cemetery Southend Plot O 9487

 

Hi chrisharley9

When I was looking at Royal Artillery recorded on the Brookwood Memorial, I found 3 headstones in other cemeteries. Am also doing the same and advising CWGC. Well done and good luck.

Regards - Rob

 

Rob

when I start on the Brookwood Memorial I will be in touch so as not to duplicate effort. Thanks for letting me know & congratulations on finding them

Chris

 

For what it's worth, Fossetts Farm is on the Southend/Rochford borders so I assume when they recovered him from the sea, they took him "home". Obviously, message never got to CWGC at the time.

Have at look at this RootsWeb: Mariners-L [MAR] Fw: Ships Prefix A.D.C. from 2008 discussing the use of LCT's as Ammunition Dumping Craft after the end of WW2 (Date of Loss 8th January 1946). ADC 527 may be the one referred to as being lost off the Isle of Man (presumably from Cairnryan).
Hope it's of help!

 

Kevin

I was wondering what ADC meant. Thanks very much for the info

Chris

 

A.D.C. 527 (Armaments Disposal Craft) had been en route from Silloth to Cairnryan carrying surplus ammunition to the Beaufort Dyke dumping grounds, a chasm midway between County Down and the South-West coast of Scotland. This trench was about seven miles long, two miles wide and 144 fathoms at its deepest point and was considered to be an ideal dumping ground for nearly two million tons of surplus ammunition and explosives. On the 8th January 1946 A.D.C. 527 blew up and disappeared after her cargo accidentally detonated, killing twelve crew. Nine bodies were eventually washed ashore.

Thanks to your research it looks like ten bodies were recovered.

 

Six men were killed from the North Devon on the attacks on the 5th & 6th February and although Tower Hill Commemorates three of the names, the bodies of all the dead were landed ashore. Douglas Crichton was cremated so his name was placed on Tower Hill. Reggie Earnshaw was found to buried in Comely Bank Cemetery and Reginald Mitchell was found to buried in Piershill Cemetery, Edingburgh

CRICHTON, Boy, DOUGLAS STEWART, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy. 7th July 1941. Age 16. (Recorded as 17 years old by CWGC. Family member states true age as 16.)

EARNSHAW, Boy, REGINALD, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy. 6th July 1941. Age 14. Son of Dorothy Earnshaw. Buried Comely Bank Cemetery, Section P. Grave Space 440.

MITCHELL, Fireman, REGINALD, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy. 6th July 1941. Age 23. Buried Edinburgh (Piershill) Cemetery. Sec. M. Grave 595.

 

Name:ROACHE, MATHEWInitials:MNationality:United KingdomRank:Senior Ordinary SeamanRegiment/Service:Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Age:25Date of Death:23/08/1946Additional information:Son of William and Bridget Roache, of Salford.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:St. Teresa Sec. Grave 1094.Cemetery:MOSTON (ST. JOSEPH'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Did you know about this North Devon casualty

Chris

 

A.D.C. 527 (Armaments Disposal Craft) had been en route from Silloth to Cairnryan carrying surplus ammunition to the Beaufort Dyke dumping grounds, a chasm midway between County Down and the South-West coast of Scotland. This trench was about seven miles long, two miles wide and 144 fathoms at its deepest point and was considered to be an ideal dumping ground for nearly two million tons of surplus ammunition and explosives. On the 8th January 1946 A.D.C. 527 blew up and disappeared after her cargo accidentally detonated, killing twelve crew. Nine bodies were eventually washed ashore.

Thanks to your research it looks like ten bodies were recovered.

Billy

am going to check for the rest of the casualties as well

Chris

 

Name:ROACHE, MATHEWInitials:MNationality:United KingdomRank:Senior Ordinary SeamanRegiment/Service:Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Age:25Date of Death:23/08/1946Additional information:Son of William and Bridget Roache, of Salford.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:St. Teresa Sec. Grave 1094.Cemetery:MOSTON (ST. JOSEPH'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Did you know about this North Devon casualty

Chris

McCONNELL, Third Engineer Officer, NORMAN BLAKEY, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy. 6th July 1941. Age 41. Commemorated Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (West Road) Crematorium.

STEWART, Fireman, JOHN, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle). Merchant Navy. 6th July 1941. Age 27. Son of Mr. and Mrs David Stewart, of Bo'ness; husband of Janet Stewart, of Bo'ness. Buried Bo'ness Cemetery Sec. C. Grave 591.

WOOD, Fourth Engineer Officer, DONALD CAMPBELL, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle). Merchant Navy. 6th July 1941. Age 51. Son of William and Catharine Wood; husband of Susan Wood, of Edinburgh. Buried Grimsby (Scartho Road) cemetery. Sec. 116. Row F. Grave 6.

It will be presumed he died later from injuries inflicted on the attacks in 1941, but can not be confirmed as this part of the Crew Agreements is missing.

ROACHE, Senior Ordinary Seaman, MATHEW, S.S. North Devon (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Merchant Navy. 23rd August 1946. Age 25. Son of William and Bridget Roache, of Salford. St. Teresa. Buried Moston (St. Joseph's) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Sec. Grave 1094.

Intresting piece from the Log Book shows that on the 2nd March 1941, two month before the attack on the North Devon three crew suffocated on the ship after a fire broke out in the ships Engine room at the Imperial Docks at Leith.

MacDONALD, Chief Engineer, NORMAN BRUCE age 63 from North Shields

JOHANSSON, Cook, RONALD age 20 of 89 Ayresome Park Road, Middlesbrough

ROWLEY, Cabin Boy, DESMOND age 19 of 48 Acklam Road, Middlesbrough

 

Re ADC 527 there 2 more to be checked so will crack on with it

Chris

 

Name: MARTIN, RANCIAMO FRANK
Initials: R F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: First Radio Officer
Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
Unit Text: S.S. Vancouver (Glasgow)
Age: 43
Date of Death: 21/09/1941
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 113.
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Riddrie Park Cemetery Lair 2577 Section E

Found him due to a duplicate entry on the civilian ROH (now removed) which gave his address

 

Any info on the SS Vancouver would be appreciated

 

Hello Chris,

Tanker VANCOUVER official number 160207 built in 1928. Vancouver SS Co (Gow, Harrison & Co managers).

The tanker VANCOUVER, Capt. H. Farquhar, on a voyage from Halifax to Shell Haven with 7,500 tons of gasoline, struck a mine, broke in two and caught fire two miles from the Sunk Lightship, Thames Estuary, on September 21st, 1941. The ship burned for several days and could not be approached because of the burning petrol on the water. Thirty-four of the crew of 36 and five of the six gunners were lost.

Regards
Hugh

 

Hugh

thanks very much for those details. It might be worthwhile checking for burial places for the entire crew

Chris

 

Name:TEFFRE, LAURITZ ANDREASInitials:L ANationality:United KingdomRank:MasterRegiment/Service:Merchant NavyUnit Text:S.S. Phenix (Aden)Age:52Date of Death:24/12/1941Additional information:Husband of Olga Augusta Teffre, of Bergen, Norway.N.B.:Recent research has shown that Master Teffre is buried here. Please note Master Teffre's name also appears on Panel 81 on the Tower Hill Memorial where he was commemorated but will be removed when the panel is next replaced.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Plot 5. Grave 15Cemetery:HAIFA (SHARON) BRITISH CIVIL CEMETERY

I know absolutely nothing behind the circumstances of this grave find, but nice to see it happen anyway

 

CAPPS, JOHN ALFRED
Rank:
Seaman
Date of Death:
08/01/1941
Age:
27
Regiment/Service:
Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities
Trinity House Service, M.V. Stratheam (London)
Panel Reference:
Panel 122.
Memorial:
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Grave Found Kirkley Cemetery, Lowestoft.

He has a duplicate civilian ROH under the name Cappe which showed that his body was recovered at Brightlingsea.

 

Well done again, Chris.

 

Amending the title of this one due to recent events - watch this space

 

STEPHENSON, WALKER
Rank:
Third Radio Officer
Date of Death:
16/08/1940
Age:
32
Regiment/Service:
Merchant Navy
S.S. Clan Forbes (Glasgow)
Panel Reference:
Panel 30.
Memorial:
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Grave Found Chadwell St Mary's Cemetery, Essex.