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28th October 2020, 09:41 PM
#11
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
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28th October 2020, 10:15 PM
#12
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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28th October 2020, 10:22 PM
#13
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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28th October 2020, 10:34 PM
#14
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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28th October 2020, 11:00 PM
#15
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 |
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29th October 2020, 10:17 AM
#16
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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29th October 2020, 11:43 AM
#17
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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30th October 2020, 01:08 AM
#18
Re: British merchant navy casualties during ww2
Interesting and appreciated.
Keith.
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