Oct 28th a body was washed ashore at Sheringham Norfolk and was duly buried with honours in the cemetery. At that time they had no real resources and time to determine who this man was or where he had come from. I think an Inquest and coroner’s report would have been made so there is a possibility that the mans description and age are recorded of which I hope to see at a later date. The erection of the headstone by CWGC, with the enormous task they had, it is understandable that they were unable to research, every individual of who they were and where they had originated from. So all they could put was “A Sailor of the second World War”. Today it is possible with DNA testing to actually find out who the person buried is. But again this would be too expensive and time consuming. So it is thanks to the many people who have websites and post comments etc, on the internet that I am able to narrow the list of men this man could be. As far as I can make out only two ships were lost in the North sea, between the start of the war and the 28th Oct 1939 SS Orsa 21/10 39 and SS Whitemantle 22/10/39, both in a mine field off Flamborough Head. Staring with SS Whitemantle on 22/10/1939 the crew lost were http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11728 ANDERSON, SAMUEL(48), Second Officer, S.S. Whitemantle, †02/10/1939, Husband of F. M. Anderson, of South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial BAKER, GILBERT(40), Chief Engineer Officer, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial COCALLIS, ANASTACIO(50), Fireman, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Husband of F. J. Cocallis, of North Shields, Northumberland, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial FARBROTHER, HAROLD EDMUND(42), Chief Officer, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial GIANNARIS, GEORGE(40), Fireman, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial HENRY, WILLIAM(19), Steward, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Son of William and Catherine Henry, of South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial HOY, STEPHEN(57), Fireman, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Husband of Esther T. L. Hoy, of South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial MCLACHLAN, WILLIAM(39), Able Seaman, M M, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Son of John and Jane McLachlan; husband of Clara Agnes McLachlan, of South Shields, Co. Durham. Also served in The Tyneside Scottish, 1914-1918, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial MCSTRAVICK, WILLIAM(29), Able Seaman, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Son of John and Ellen McStraviek; husband of Moniea McStraviek, of Jarrow, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial MURRAY, GEORGE SMITH(39), Radio Officer, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Son of John Alexander Murray and Helen Murray; husband of Agnes White Murray, of Tarrow. Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial RICHARDSON, EDWARD W.(50), Second Engineer Officer, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Husband of Annie Peters Richardson, of Whitburn, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial SOFTLEY, WILLIAM J.(53), Steward, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial THOMASON, JAMES A.(38), Able Seaman, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Husband of Joan Thomason, of South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial WHINCOP, CHARLES ALFRED(65), Master, S.S. Whitemantle, †22/10/1939, Husband of Louisa Maud Whincop, of Harton, South Shields, Co. Durham, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial Survivors Fireman. Lewis Calderon Able Seaman. Robert Williamson Able Seaman. E Rutter Lampman. L Wilkie Donkeyman. W.E. Matthews. I can find no record of any of this crew being washed ashore. However SS Orsa which sank the day before brings up a different story. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?68675 CREW SS ORSA 21/10/39 1. BUSHFIELD, JOHN (20), Fireman and Trimmer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Son of Andrew and Agnes Bushfield, of Glasgow, Tower Hill Memorial 2. CADWALLADER, PETER ALEXANDER (59), Chief Engineer Officer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Husband of Frances D. Cadwallader, of Knightswood, Glasgow, Tower Hill Memorial 3. DUTHIE, WILLIAM (39), Fireman and Trimmer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Son of William and Isabella Duthie, of Methil, Fife, Tower Hill Memorial 4. EVANS, JOHN ELIAS (42), Lamps and Able Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Son of Elias and Margaret Jane Evans, husband of Alice Evans, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, North Somercotes Cemetery There are 7 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-45 war, all Merchant seamen, although only 1 is identified. Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project 5. FORSTER, JOHN GABRIEL (48), Chief Officer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Tower Hill Memorial 6. JARDINE, H R (52), Second Engineer Officer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Tower Hill Memorial 7. KELLY, MICHAEL (19), Trimmer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Son of Michael and Joan Kelly, of Glasgow, Tower Hill Memorial 8. MACKAY, EWEN (19), Ordinary Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Son of Angus and Catherine Mackay, of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Tower Hill Memorial 9. MACKINNON, JOHN (45), Able Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Tower Hill Memorial 10. MCDONALD, RODERICK JOHN MCPHEE (18), Ordinary Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Skidbrooke (St. Botolph) Churchyard. There are 2 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war here. There are a further 6 of the 1939-45 war, all merchant seamen, although only 1 is identified. 2 are marked SS Orsa. Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project 11. MCGUIRE, JAMES (30), Junior Engineer Officer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Husband of A. McGuire, of Glasgow, Tower Hill Memorial 12. MOIR, WILLIAM (28), Able Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Saltfleetby St. Clement Churchyard 13. NUNES, FRANK (22), Ordinary Seaman, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Tower Hill Memorial 14. RYAN, WILLIAM PATRICK (51), Cook, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Husband of Janet Ryan, of Glasgow, Tower Hill Memorial 15. SIMPSON, ALEXANDER (38), Master, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Hartlepool (Stranton) Cemetery 16. STEEL, H (44), Junior Engineer Officer, S.S. Orsa, †21/10/1939, Tower Hill Memorial Flamborough head to N Somercoates 53 miles. To Sheringham 90 miles. Looks a distinct possibility that the man buried at Sheringham was one of that crew. Anyone know of any other unknown sailors buried along that coastline within that timespan?
