how lucky can you get

[Lou Barron]

when i look back at time i was at sea during the war i think about those merchant seamen who was not so lucky people adrift in lifeboats for days weeks or even months suffering agonising deaths or permanent mental disorders those on the russian convoys who froze to death in the cold waters and those who had bad health caused through their time at sea after the war and died at a young age i am just ovar 85 years old and still reasonable fit bar for a earing aid //but it comes in handy when the wife gets on to me //so i consider myself very lucky having been married for 63 years and having a very loving family but i might not be the only ex seaman who is the same in boat

[Captain Kong]

Hi Lou.
Yes I guess you were very lucky to have survived the Gloucester Castle tragedy with around 95 killed, by the shelling, explosions and fires and then in the sea, picked up by the Germans and then battered , beaten and starved by the Japenese as slave labour. Any one of those could have killed you. An awful experience for a teenager.
I finally found Joe Farnworth`s family, his brother Dave, last week and gave him an account of the tragedy that I had written about it. I told him your story of Joe being injured before the shelling and due to his injuries he was unable to get out.
I last saw Joe around the 20th of June 1942 when Dave and I, we were 7 years old , helped to carry his sea bag to the bus stop on his way to join the Gloucester Castle. I said "Where are you going Joe ?" He said "To Africa", Me and Dave said "Wish we were going to Africa," with childish visions of Tarzan etc.
It was not until 1945 that they officially found out that Joe was dead.

Cheers
Brian.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Or in this case how unlucky can you get!

When his .38 calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in California, would be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel of the gun and tried the trigger again.................this time it worked

[DeepSea]

Lest We Forget !

Tower Hill

AKEHURST, Boatswain (Bosun), ERNEST HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 41. Son of William Henry and Ellen Maud Akehurst; husband of Ethel May Akehurst, of Great Totham, Essex.

BEDFORD, Steward, MAURICE JOHN RAGLAN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 38.

BISHOP, Second Officer, ERIC CHRISTOPHER HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of Henry and Mary Annie Bishop, of Worthing, Sussex; husband of Hilda Frances Bishop, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

BURKE, Fireman, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 32.

CADLE, Deck Boy, REGINALD SYDNEY ALFRED, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Sidney Albert and Ethel May Cadle, of Caterham, Surrey.

CARLYLE, Greaser, EVAN CAMERON, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of George and Ivy Elizabeth Carlyle; husband of Winifred Carlyle, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

CHAPMAN, Steward, MICHAEL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18.

CHRISTIAN, Hospital Attendant, JOHN THOMAS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Christian, of Kirkdale, Liverpool.

CLARK, Engineer Officer, JOHN ALEXANDER, Merchant Navy. Lost in S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). 15th July 1942. Age 30. Son of John J. and B. H. Clark. of Peterhead. Aberdeenshire.

CONNOR, Trimmer, PATRICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18.

CORRIGAN, Steward, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 19.

DANIELS, Steward, FRANK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 52. Son of Arthur T. and Margaret E Daniels.

DARBY, Trimmer, HAROLD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56.

DE FREVILLE, Third Radio Officer, BASIL DENIS HERBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Geoffrey Philip Herbert and May de Freville, of Sutton, Surrey.

DEVINE, Fireman, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of James Devine, and of Mary Devine, of Birkenhead.

DISLEY, Assistant Steward, WILLIAM JOSEPH ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of William and Ada Elizabeth Disley, of Dagenham, Essex.

DIXON, Trimmer, JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18. Son of James and Margaret Dixon, of Liverpool.

DUNK, Donkeyman, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 58.

EDWARDS, Sailor, JAMES HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18
.
FARNWORTH, Deck Boy, JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 17. Son of Joseph and Primrose Lily Farnworth, of Bolton, Lancashire.

FENN, Fireman, JOHN ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Fenn, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

GARTH, Lamp Trimmer, LANCELOT SILVEN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 53. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Garth; husband of Dorothy Garth, of Salisbury.

GREEFF, Quartermaster, PETER PHILIP, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of John and Eliza Greeff, of Cape Town, South Africa.

GRIFFITHS, Trimmer, FRANCIS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Martin and Mary Ellen Griffiths.

GUISE, Second Radio Officer, JAMES ALEXANDER DOUGAL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 26. Son of James Alexander Guise, and of Elizabeth Annie Guise, of Cromarty.

HAYES, Able Seaman, JOSEPH JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 26.

HAYTER, Chief Steward, ERNEST WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 52. Son of George and Mary Jane Hayter; husband of Lily Hayter, of Southampton.

HITCHINSON, Trimmer, ERNEST ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 24. Son of Joseph Henry and Marian Magdalene Hitchinson, of Red Hill, Natal, South Africa.

HODSON, Quartermaster, ROBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 45.

HOLDEN, Deck Boy, GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Arthur and Evelyn Holden, of Sale, Cheshire.

INGRAM, Steward, KENNETH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 30.

JACKSON, Greaser, ERNEST ALBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 47. Husband of Elizabeth Ann Jackson, of Liverpool.

JENKIN, Steward, SYDNEY PAYNE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56. Son of James and Annie Jenkin; husband of Cecilia Jenkin, of Durban, Natal, South Africa.

JENKINS, Trimmer, JOHN P., S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 17. Son of Edward Jenkins, and of Isabella Jenkins, of Liverpool.

KELLY, Assistant Cook, CHARLES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 43.

KENDALL, Trimmer, JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of Sarah Kendall, of Kirkdale, Liverpool.

KERR, Assistant Steward, CHARLES HENRY COLBROOK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of Alexander Kerr, and of Alice Kerr, of Glasgow.

LAMBERT, Fireman and Trimmer, LEONARD WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 20.

LEYLAND, Trimmer, GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22.

LLOYD, Assistant Steward, DOUGLAS R., S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of Albert Edward Cornelius and Elsie Sarah Lloyd, of Southampton.

LONERAGAN, Boots, WALTER FREDERICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 61. Son of Walter James Loneragan and Emma Louisa Loneragan; husband of R. A. Loneragan, of Brentwood, Essex.

LOVERING, Sailor, KENNETH OSCAR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of William Henry Lovering, and of Louise Lovering, of Fowey, Cornwall.

MACPHERSON, Chief Engineer Officer, ARCHIBALD CLUNY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 57.

MAGUIRE, Fireman, RICHARD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 38. Son of Thomas Andrew and Ellen Jane Maguire.

METCALF, Assistant Storekeeper, ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 31. Son of George and Henrietta Metcalf; husband of Elizabeth Gwendolene Metcalf, of Southampton.

MILLER, Fireman, PATRICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 33. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Miller, of Liverpool.

MINNS, Quartermaster, REGINALD RICHARD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 56.

MOORCROFT, Fireman, JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moorcroft; husband of Mary Moorcroft, of Huyton, Lancashire.

MORAN, Ordinary Seaman, THOMAS HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of Dominic and Elizabeth Moran, of Kirkdale, Liverpool

MORIN, Sailor, JOSEPH MICHEL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1941. Age 38.

MORRIS, Fourth Officer, THOMAS ALFRED, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Son of Ellis and Bertha Morris, of Porth, Glamorgan; husband of E. Marion Morris, of Pontypridd, Glamorgan.

MacASKILL, Carpenter, DONALD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 62. Husband of Isabella MacAskill, of Ilford, Essex.

McCAULEY, Sailor, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Thomas and Elisabeth McCauley; husband of Emily McCauley, of Canley, Coventry.

McGEAGH, Assistant Steward, JOHN BARRINGTON, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Thomas Alexander McGeagh, and of Mary Jane McGeagh, of Liverpool.

McLAREN, Surgeon, ARCHIBALD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 27.

O'DONNELL, Butcher, ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 48. Husband of E. O'Donnell, of Swanwick, Hampshire.

OPIE, Able Seaman, ARTHUR SEYMOUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 30. Son of William John and Edith Mary Opie.

PAINE, Storekeeper, JOHN ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 49. Son of John and Kate Paine; husband of A. R. Paine, of Millwall, London.

PARSONS, Steward Hairdresser, PERCIVAL GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 37.

PENFOLD, Fifth Engineer Officer, NORMAN GRAHAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 25. Son of Henry Oscar and Ethel Victoria Penfold, of Southampton.

QUICKE, Steward, EDWARD CECIL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 33. Son of Reginald Cecil and Ada Emily Quicke, of Southampton; husband of Hilda May Quicke, of Southampton.

ROBERTS, Assistant Cook, HARRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 36.

ROEBUCK, Assistant Steward, ERIC, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 25.

ROSE, Master, HERBERT HAROLD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 59. Husband of G. H. Rose, of Otterbourne, Hampshire.

SARTAIN, Steward, DENNIS ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 18.

SEWARD, Assistant Cook, ERNEST HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 54. Husband of Emily Seward, of Chapel, Southampton.

SHANNON, Third Officer, WILLIAM GARDINER, M B E, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. Son of William and Mary Hamilton Shannon; husband of Moyna V. Shannon, of Wembley Park, Middlesex. Master Mariner, Merchant Navy.

SIMPSON, Trimmer, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Simpson, of Liverpool.

SMITH, Fireman, DAVID, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 31. Son of George and Florence Smith; husband of Hilda May Smith, of Birkenhead.

SMITH, Storekeeper, WILLIAM ALFRED JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 34. Son of Edward William and Linda Victoria Smith; husband of Elsie Marion Smith, of Sholing, Southampton.

SOLOMON, Pantryman, JACOBUS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 58.

SOUTHART, Fireman, WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 38. Husband of C. Southart, of Liverpool.

STEVENSON, Boatswain's Mate, EDWARD EVELYN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28.

SWEENEY, Scullion, JOHN JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 19. Son of Patrick and Frances Sweeney, of Liverpool.

TAYLOR, Greaser, ALFRED HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Alfred and Evelyn Jessie Taylor, of Hornsey, London.

THOMAS, Stewardess, EDITHA, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56. Wife of Rowley Thomas.

THOMSON, Steward, GEORGE FETTES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Husband of Elizabeth Thomson, of Glasgow.

VAUGHAN, First Radio Officer, KENNETH RAYMOND, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Vaughan, of Greenhithe, Kent.

WALKER, Chief Officer, JOHN DENNIS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. Son of Julia Kate Walker, of Durban, Natal, South Africa.

WALTON, Purser, ARTHUR ALAN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Arthur and Eveline Ethel Walton.

WATTS, Fireman, THOMAS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 35.

WEIR, Ordinary Seaman, CLEMENT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Alexander and Emily Weir, of Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. His brother John also fell.

WOLTERS, Watchman, HENRICK EDWARD ADOLPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 63.

Buried ashore

ANDREWS, Watchman, ARTHUR ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 19th August 1943. Age 59. Buried Yokohama War Cemetery. British. Sec. R. A. 1.

MacMAHON, Assistant Steward, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 3rd January 1944. Age 60. Husband of Evelyn Isa MacMahon. of Glasgow. Buried Yokohama War Cemetery. British. Sec. R. D. 14.

MACDONALD, Storekeeper, DONALD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th September 1945. Age 32. Son of Norman and Harriet Macdonald, of Lochmaddy, Isle of Uist. Buried Kranji War Cemetery. ll. B. 1.

Passengers.

CLIFFORD, MAY MURIEL (Nurse) Age 50. Daughter of the late George and Mary Jane Clifford, of Idbury, Kingham, Oxfordshire.

RADFORD, ELSIE MARY. Age 46. Daughter of the late John and Maria Preston, of 33 Regent Street, Exeter; wife of the late Reginald William Radford.

RAYNHAM, ADELAIDE MARY. Age 22. Daughter of Eustace Herbert and Gladys Louisa Raynham, of 26 Carrington Road, Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa.

SHILCOCK, ALAN ARTHUR. Age 2. Son of Arthur Ernest Shilcock, and of Joy Winifred Shilcock.

SHILCOCK, JOY WINIFRED. Age 31. Daughter of Henry Hindle, of New York; wife of Arthur Ernest Shilcock, of Zanzibar.

SIEVE, CLEMENT. Age 2. Son of Leonard Sieve, of Hallside, Knutsford, Cheshire, and of Joan Sieve.

SIEVE, JOAN. Age 21. Wife of Leonard Sieve, of Hallside, Knutsford, Cheshire.

WHITE, IRIS RUBY MARGUERITE. Age 49.

[Lou Barron]

hi deep sea would it be possible to give me a list of the survivors if it is no trouble as i have forgot a lot of the names i would be very grateful regards lou barron

[DeepSea]

Hello Lou,

Unfortunately I dont have those records in my data. Her 1942 last Crew Agreements are available from Kew held under her Official No. 132592. They are held in file BT 381/1798. There is an order and viewing option at the link below. If you can get someone to visit Kew for you, there is no charge apart from photocopying. If using the online alternative it can be quite expensive.

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There is also details at Kew in BT 373/134 MERCHANT SEAMEN PRISONER OF WAR RECORDS 1939 to 1952

These records contain the names of those men captured from merchant ships and where they were held in captivity. These records also include additional information supplied by the Red Cross and also information regarding the deaths of POW’s.

This will probably be a cheaper option than her Crew Agreements if ordering online as their research department can go straight to this file as they are held under the ships name.

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[Lou Barron]

thank you for your quick reply i will get my daughter who lives not very far from kew she lives in richmond regards lou barron