Ships lost in WW2

[Beverley Kitching]

My great uncle Albert Edward Craig and his son Edward both went down with their ship in WW2. Albert was chief engineer. I am looking for the name of the vessel and any details on its loss.

[Doc Vernon]

Full-Plates-104.jpgHello Beverley
Hope this will help you.
Cheers
Doc

CRAIG, ALBERT EDWARD

Rank:Chief Engineer OfficerDate of Death:28/11/1944Age:55Regiment/Service:Merchant Navy S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen) Panel ReferencePanel 104.MemorialTOWER HILL MEMORIALAdditional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Craig; husband of Ethel Craig, of Barking, Essex. His son Edward perished with him.

Single Ship Report for "1144827"

IDNo:	1144827	Year:	1925
Name:	STRONSA FIRTH	Keel:
Type:	Cargo ship	Launch Date:	20.8.25
Flag:	GBR	Date of completion:	9.25

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Tons:	491	Link:	1627
DWT:		Yard No:	81
Length overall:		Ship Design:
LPP:	48.9	Country of build:	GBR
Beam:	7.7	Builder:	Lewis, John
Material of build:		Location of yard:	Aberdeen
Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn):	1T-

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Naval or paramilitary marking :
A:	*
End:

---

Subsequent History:

Disposal Data:

missing - last seen off Whitby 28.11.44, for Leith


http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower Hill... to Surat.html


With censorship still being maintained there is nothing in the "Scotsman"
archive of the time
In January 1945 a local newspaper carried a piece to the effect that "SS
STRONSA FIRTH which left Kings Lynn 26th November for Leith with a cargo of
Barley must now be considered lost as nothing has been seen or heard of the
vessel since 28th November when off Whitby. It can only be assumed she was
sunk by E boat , submarine or mine

Stronsa%20Firth.jpg

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Beverly and Vernon.
I have been right through my book on British vessels lost 39 to 45 including naval vessels, and every single one is listed. I can't find a vessel by the name Stronso Firth that was lost. the only one close to that date was a Motor launch mined on the 19th and sunk on the 28th Sept 1944 in the North Sea. Puzzling? There could be a reason of course that she wasn't considered a war caualty
Cheers Desredc.gif

[DeepSea]

Cargo ship Stronsa Firth, 491grt, (Firth Shipping Co.) loaded with a cargo of barley at Kings Lynn for Leith, sailed independently on the 26th November 1944. The ship was last seen at 4am on the 28th November off Whitby. After failing to arrive at Leith on the 29th November the ship was officially recorded with Lloyd's as missing/untraced on the 29th December 1944 and a Joint Arbitration Committee considered her lost by "marine causes" A Missing Ship Committee considered he lost the same day of her last sighting. Eleven crewmembers and two DEMS gunners lost.

Tower Hill Memorial. Panel 104.

AUSTIN, Master, HENRY JOHN, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 58. Son of J. Henry Austin and Rosanna Austin; husband of Elsie Austin, of Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, North-umberland. His son Claude Leslie also fell.

BRACK, Cook Steward, NORMAN, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 32. Son of Norman and Mabel Brack; husband of Jane Brack, of Roker, Sunderland, Co. Durham.

CRAIG, Chief Engineer Officer, ALBERT EDWARD, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 55. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Craig; husband of Ethel Craig, of Barking, Essex. His son Edward perished with him.

CRAIG, Second Engineer Officer, EDWARD, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 23. Son of Albert Edward Craig, and of Ethel Craig, of Barking, Essex. His father perished with him.

HARVEY, Boatswain, RASMUS NELSON, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 30.

KENNEDY, Fireman and Trimmer, CHARLES, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 42. Son of Charles and Isabell A. Kennedy; husband of Margaret Kennedy, of North Shields, Northumberland.

LAWS, Fireman and Trimmer, THOMAS CAMPBELL, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 29. Son of Arthur and Ella Laws; husband of Annie Stott Laws, of South Shields, Co. Durham.

MILNE, Mate, JOHN OGILVIE, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 35. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Milne; husband of Charlotte Milne, of Bridge of Dun, Angus.

RIGGS, Able Seaman, STANLEY, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 27. Son of James William and Mary Elizabeth Riggs, of South Shields, Co. Durham.

SHELDON, Fireman and Trimmer, JOSEPH LOWES, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 37. Son of Sidney and Elizabeth Sheldon; husband of Jane Irvin Sheldon, of Tynemouth, North Shields, Northumberland.

WOOD, Able Seaman, STEPHEN, S.S. Stronsa Firth (Aberdeen). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 27.

DEMS gunners

HASTIE, Able Seaman, THOMAS THOMSON LAWSON, P/JX 394632. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. (lost in S.S. Stronsa Firth). 28th November 1944. Age 20. Son of David and Elizabeth Hastie, of Windygates, Fife.

TAYLOR, Able Seaman, DUNCAN LEITCH, D/JX 289537. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. 28th November 1944. Age 24.