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Thread: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

  1. #11
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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    You have undertaken a mammoth task and doing some excellent work to set the records straight. I have been doing my family history for a number of years on and off and it is amazing what you can discover when you know where to look.
    I was born in Barry, South Wales in 1942. My father and two uncles were in the merchant navy on tankers (BTC). The youngest uncle lost his life on the SS British General in 1940 in convoy OA222 off the coast of Ireland. In 1970 I emigrated to Australia and in 2010 my wife and I spent an extended time in Wales. We were introduced to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas near Lichfield. I organised a plaque to be erected next to the tree representing the SS British General. I was able to confirm the dates etc of the sinking from the records at the Arboretum. I then went on to search the German records of U37 commanded by Captain Victor Oehrm, a quite renowned U-boat commander. 20111029_129.jpg
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 28th October 2020 at 10:25 PM. Reason: Increase Size of Pic

  2. #12
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Just wondering we at MNA Cardiff / Barry have him recorded as:

    MASON, Henry. Third Officer, SS British General (London). Died 6/10/40 age 24. Born Barry. Ship sunk west of Valentia Island, Ireland. Tower Hill Memorial.

    CWGC also record his death 6/10/40 ?

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...HENRY%20MASON/

    BRITISH GENERAL SS was a British Steam Tanker built in 1922 and of 6,989 tons and owned by the British Tanker Co Ltd. On the 6th October 1940.

    In the evening of October 6th, 1940, the British tanker BRITISH GENERAL, built in 1922 by Palmer's Shipbuilding & Iron Co. and owned by British Tanker Co., on voyage from Tyna to Abadan in ballast, was torpedoed by German submarine U-37 (Victor Oehrn). (convoy OA-222) BRITISH GENERAL remained afloat and in the evening of the next day, she was torpedoed and this time she sank. There were no survivors. All on board, master Armstrong, 45 crew members and one gunner were lost. https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?...2047%20missing.

    WRECK site do record his loss on the 7th. https://www.wrecksite.eu/peopleView.aspx?84603

    Adding a quick hello from Keith from Barry.

    K.

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  4. #13
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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Various Keith ??

    MASON, Third Officer, HENRY, S.S. British General (London), Merchant Navy. 6th October 1940. Age 24. Panel 19.(Tower Hill).

    From Convoy Web
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 28th October 2020 at 10:25 PM.
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  6. #14
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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Pos Dave/Dai has more info and the death is attributed to the further torpedo action
    the following day ?

    Keith.

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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    First name(s)
    Henry
    Last name
    Mason
    Age
    24
    Birth year
    1916
    Birth date
    1916
    Birth place
    Barry
    Death year
    1940
    Death date
    6 Oct 1940
    Death place
    At Sea
    Place
    British General
    County
    At Sea
    Country
    At Sea
    Type
    At Sea
    Vessel name
    British General
    Departure port
    -
    War
    -
    Source
    Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972
    Archive reference
    BT 334
    Box
    0098
    Page
    29
    Archive
    The National Archives
    Record set
    British Armed Forces And Overseas Deaths And Burials
    Category
    Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
    Subcategory
    Civil Deaths & Burials
    Collections from
    Great Britain, UK None
    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Tanker British General, 6,989grt, (British Tanker Co. Ltd) sailed from the Tyne in ballast to Methil and joined up with the outward-bound 30 ship Convoy OA-222. Once out into the Atlantic the tanker left the convoy to proceed to Abadan sailing independently. On the 6th October 1940, 510 nautical miles West of Valentia Island off Co. Kerry the tanker was damaged by a torpedo fired from U-37 in position 51’ 42N 24’ 03W. The following day the tanker having remained afloat was struck by a further three torpedoes before she finally sank in position 51’ 42N 24’ 50W. It is not known if the crew abandoned ship during the night, but the Master and all forty-six crewmembers were never seen again.
    "Across the seas where the great waves grow, there are no fields for the poppies to grow, but its a place where Seamen sleep, died for their country, for you and for peace" (Billy McGee 2011)

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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Just to add to the confusion my father as one of the top four officers was transferred to the Canadian Mercantile Marine to stand-by the SS Yamaska Park being built at Sorel, Canada. They were not alone in doing this and did not become casualties but if they did they were British but the rest were Canadian on a Canadian ship and presumably all counted as such.

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  14. #18
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2

    Interesting and appreciated.

    Keith.

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