Kenneth Fenton of Hull

[mike lewis]

Hello there,

My father in law was an ex Merchant seaman who first joined the MN just after WW2, he sailed in the Esso Saranac in 1947, I believe that two crew member's were killed on this trip. He also served on the United Towing Co tug Englishman in 1961 towing the Perseus from Canada to Italy for scrapping unfortunately they got as far as the Azores when they were hit by a hurricane and the tow parted leaving my father in law a 5 other men on Perseus, Ken was injured when the hurricane hit, all the running crew from the Perseus were rescued. Do any of our members have any memories of him.

[DeepSea]

The two crewmembers killed from the Esso Saranac, died on the 24th September 1947 and were Alexander Bodner, age 36 from Ontario and John William Drabble, age 34 from St. Helena.

[Gulliver]

It took me a while to find this,as most of us would think it was a Blue Funnel ship. ! None of their PERSEUS' disposal dates tallied with 1961.
Looked a bit harder and found it.
Ex Great Laker s.s. FRANK J.HECKER (4,978 grt) built St.Clair 10/1905 for Gilchrist Transportation Co,Cleveland,USA.
1913 Renamed PERSEUS by Interlake SS Co Inc;Fairport.
1946 Ownership now listed as Nicholson Transit Co,Detroit.

　
　
Fate: Broke tow 11.9.61 & sank 10days later on 21.9.61 in position 40N/29.30W (NW of Azores) [Quebec-Genoa, for scrapping]

Best Regards
Gulliver

PERSEUS 1913-1961 (Blt. 1905 as Frank J.Hecker.jpgESSO SARANAC (O.N. 164847) 1946-1959 blt. 1940 as Empire Sapphire.jpg

[mike lewis]

Gulliver,

Thanks for your help with the photos etc much appreciated

Mike