Looking for information on torpedoed ship

[Rickfugg]

Hi there I am looking for information on two things. My wife's Grandfather was a carpenter on a Merchant vessel and died in the Thames/Medway estuary when it was hit by a torpedo. She thinks the vessel was the Merril?? not sure on spelling. He was Leonard Percival Whitehead aged about 35. Not to be confused with his father also Leonard Whitehead who was on the same vessel and survived the attack.
Can anyone give me some information on this vessel and what happened.
We believe it was on the return to port.

[Keith at Tregenna]

LEONARD PERCY ERNEST WHITEHEAD

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...T%20WHITEHEAD/

https://www.merseamuseum.org.uk/mmre...=dtadd&hit=220

https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?73615SS

.

[Doc Vernon]

Will await more info, as of now no Ship i can see called Merril. Possibly Merrick ?? which was a US Attack Cargo Ship. But will see later
Cheers

[Keith at Tregenna]

She was a 1,088 GRT steam refrigerated cargo ship that sank on 8 December 1939 after hitting a mine off Ramsgate.

https://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20H...%20Merope.html

[Doc Vernon]

Good find Keith at least we now also have the Ship
Cheers

Merel.JPG

Merel 2.JPG

image_2021-05-11_075621.jpg

Above Ship Merel Built 1925 of the GSNC


https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?73615SS

A better Pic here

Merel 3.JPG

World War II: The cargo ship (1,088 GRT, 1925) struck a mine and sank in The Downs, Kent west of the Gull Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of 16 of her 18 crew.^[5][5

The cargo ship S.S. MEREL during a voyage from Le Havre for London. The MEREL ran into a minefield and struck a mine near the Gull Light Vessel and sank off Ramsgate and broke in two. She was built by Ayrshire Dockyard Irvine: and was 1088 tons built in 1925 for General Steam Navigation Company.

[Rickfugg]

hi thanks for responding, he was born 1906 in Hackney, Holloway or possibly the East End. but certainly London. His father, also Leonard, was born the same area and served on the same ship, but he survived.

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thank you very much. made the wife's day as she knows very little about her grandfather and no one is alive to give us all the info. We know soon after this her father and 2 brothers were evacuated to Cornwall to protect them from the London blitz.
This is definitely him as she remembers her nan (his wife) saying they lived in Kingsdown Road; now she has seen it.

[Rickfugg]

Wow, thanks to all of you for the information. We never knew some of this. We have seen his name on the War memorial, but then things get a bit hazy relying on peoples memories who themselves are now long gone.
In my case I have found information about the ship my mother came to Britain on in 1946, I managed to get photos and a history of the ship The RMS Arundel Castle. My mother was a war bride marrying my father (Kentish Buffs) in Athens in 1946 and being shipped to England, pregnant, with many others. So I don't need any more info on that.

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that would be helpful Marian, thanks a lot. I have managed to trace my tree back some years ago. luckily having an unusual surname (Fuggle) makes it quite easy. However the wife being Whitehead is quite common, even more so when none of her family are around to ask, she is now the oldest. Her mother has dementia so getting anything there is nigh on impossible.