The Merchant Navy Memorial

This page includes basic information about the ships and how they were lost, a photo of the relevant panel(s) of the Tower Hill Memorial and information about those that lost their lives extracted from the CWGC database. In the table I have included information about those who served on the ships but who had a normal burial as this seems appropriate to me. In some cases further family information about the individuals may be available on the CWGC website [7].

Bunty

Bunty was a 73 GRT steam tug completed in 1913 by Scott & Sons for the Premier Tug Co. Ltd. She sank on 21 October 1917 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-49 at position 54° 30' N, 00° 30' W - off the coast of Whitby. She was en route from Hull to Rosyth with a cargo of coal. A pilot was on board at the time she was blown up.

There were no survivors

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Batty	Robert Edward		21/10/1917	Master	Tower Hill Memorial
Clark	Herbert	29	21/10/1917	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mr. And Mrs. R. Clark; Husband Of Emma Clark, Of 17, Goodwin Terrace, Day St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Eales	William Charles		21/10/1917	Pilot	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Frances Ellis Eales, Of 511, Anlaby Rd., Kingston-Upon-Hull.
Lee	William	26	21/10/1917	Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Maud Lee, Of 4, Chester Avenue, Mauvers St., Hull. Born At Crowle.
Speck	Henry William	49	21/10/1917	Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of William Henry And Martha Speck; Husband Of Mary Elizabeth Speck (Nee Lewis), Of 33, Harrow St., Hull. Born At Hull.

Burcombe

Burcombe was a 3,516 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1913 by Richardson, Duck & Co. Ltd. for Burcombe Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by Burdick & Cook. She was sunk on 1 December 1916 by torpedo fired by German submarine UC-22 at position 35° 20' N, 16° 23' E - approximately 100 nautical miles South-East by South of Malta. She was en route from Karachi to Hull with a cargo of grain.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Lambris	J.D.	39	01/12/1916	Boatswain	Tower Hill Memorial	(May Have Been Known As Lamberis). Husband Of Xanthe Lambris, Of Vrontadis, Isle Of Syra, Greece. Born In Greece.
Merovsalis	A	24	01/12/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Greece.
Nicoli	P	30	01/12/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Greece.

Burma

Burma was a 724 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1891 by S/P.Austin & Son for Bennett Steamship Co. of Goole. She sank on 23 June 1916 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-6 at position 52° 09' N, 01° 46' E - approximately 15 nautical miles East of Harwich. She was en route from London to Goole in ballast.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Champion	Robert John	31	23/06/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of George And Sarah Jane Champion; Husband Of Blanch Champion (Nee Coward), Of 1, Johnson S Buildings, Bridge Foot, Goole. Born At Swinefleet.
Dudding	Robert	63	23/06/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late William And Hannah Dudding. Born At Goole.
Duffill	Thomas William	29	23/06/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of William Bellby Duffill, And Annie Duffill; Husband Of Ada Duffill (Nee Hemmingway), Of 23, Heber St., Old Goole, Yorks. Born At Goole.
Gillyon	James Walter	48	23/06/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Godfrey And Ann Gillyon; Husband Of Sarah Gillyon, Of 23, Richard Cooper St., Goole. Born At Beverley.
Jackson	Herbert	34	23/06/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late George And Martha Jackson; Husband Of Maria Jackson (Nee Sutcliff), Of 7, North St., Goole, Yorks. Born At Goole.
Shay	John	48	23/06/1916	Chief Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Eliza Hunter Shay And The Late James C. Shay; Husband Of Jane Shay (Nee Smith), Of 15, Broadway, Goole. Born At Goole.
Turner	Albert Levy	36	23/06/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At York.

Burnhope

Burnhope was a 1,941 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1907 by Wood, Skinner & Co. for Burnett Steamship Co. Ltd. She sank on 14 December 1916 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-32 approximately 0.25 nautical miles South by East of the Hartlepool Bay buoy. She was en route from Hartlepool to London with a cargo of coal.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	Honours/ Awards	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
Sadler	William C.			14/12/1916	Master	Tower Hill Memorial

Burnstone

Burnstone was a 2,412 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1903 by Craig, Taylor & Co. for Kilsyth Shipping Co. Ltd. as Kilsyth. From 1917 she was owned by Alexander Bros. She was sunk on 19 March 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-62 approximately 44 nautical miles North of the Farne Islands. She was en route from Immingham to an unknown destination with a cargo of coal.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Billett	Arthur Somers	36	19/03/1918	Gunner	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband of Laura Minnie Billett, of White Cross, Litton Cheney, Dorchester. Mr. Billett was a member of the Royal Marine Artillery and is also commemorated on panel 30 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Green	George	47	19/03/1918	Ship's Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Mr. And Mrs. Green; Husband Of Catherine Green (Nee Speck), Of 29, Pilgrim St., West Hartlepool. Born At West Hartlepool.
Hogarth	Joseph		19/03/1918	Boatswain	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Sunderland.
Todd	Alfonso	16	19/03/1918	Mess Room Steward	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Margaret Wadey (Formerly Todd, Nee Nolan), Of 25, Elsdon St., North Shields, And The Late Edward Todd.
Walters	Stephen Maitland	16	19/03/1918	Signal Boy	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Ernest Arthur And Esther Eleanor Walters, Of 18, Chaucer Rd., Acton, London. Born At Kensington.

Burrsfield

Burrsfield was a 4,037 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1902 by J.Priestman & Co. for Burrsfield Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by F.Woods. She was sunk on 5 October 1915 by gunfire from German submarine U-33 at position 35° 57' N, 21° 00' E - approximately 70 nautical miles West of Cape Matapan. She was en route from Barry via Malta to the Dardanelles beachhead with a cargo of general stores.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Anastasiadis	V	36	05/10/1915	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Greece.
Chionas	T	29	05/10/1915	Fourth Engineer Officer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Greece.
Evans	Evan David	14	05/10/1915	Mess Room Steward	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Catherine Evans, Of Lone Cnwcylili, New Quay, Cardiganshire, And The Late Thomas John Evans.
Hunt	Ambrose Langley	46	05/10/1915	Master	Tower Hill Memorial	Younger Son Of Ambrose Hunt, M.D., Of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford; Husband Of Catherine M. Hunt, Of 6, Pump Court, Temple, London, Late Of Old Hill House, Westerham, Kent. Lieut., R.N.R., Until 1908.

C.A.Jaques

C.A.Jaques was a 2,105 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1909 by A. McMillan & Son Ltd. for Jaques Transportation Co. Ltd. From 1914 she was owned by Canad Steamship Lines Ltd. She was sunk on 1 May 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-18 at position 50° 27' N, 01° 04' E - approximately 26 nautical miles West-South-West of Boulogne. She was en route from Rouen to the Tyne in ballast.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Collingham	Andrew	23	01/05/1917	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Sara Collingham And The Late James Collingham; Husband Of Margaret Collingham (Nee Little), Of 64, Morton St., South Shields. Born At South Shields.
Douglas	George Graham	24	01/05/1917	Third Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of James Douglas, Of The Rose And Crown, East Holborn, South Shields, And The Late Margaret Douglas (Nee Graham). Born At South Shields.
Pearson	Frank	20	01/05/1917	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Amelia And The Late Frank Pearson; Husband Of Catherine Pearson (Nee Taylor), Of 30, Peel St., South Shields. Born At York.

Cabotia

Cabotia was a 4,309 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1900 by R.Duncan & Co. for Donaldson Line Ltd. and managed by Donaldson Bros. Ltd. She was captured on 20 October 1916 and sunk by gunfire from German submarine U-69 at position 55° 16' N, 11° 16' W - approximately 120 nautical miles West-North-West of Tory Island. She was en route from Montreal to Manchester with a cargo of wood pulp and a consignment of horses.

The following is an extract from Archibald Hurd [34]:

She fought a gale across the Atlantic on her way to Liverpool, but she fought it with success, though she was continually swept by the angry seas. On October 20th, as she was labouring heavily, a fierce wind blowing from the south-west, a submarine was sighted on the starboard bow, and at once opened fire with her forward gun. The Cabotia was 120 miles from Tory Island, and she possessed no armament with which her crew could attempt to purchase, at however great a risk, immunity from the hardships which the taking to their small boats suggested. They were twelve hours' steaming from the nearest land, and whether they could reach it in such frail craft as they had at their command was the thought which must have passed through the minds of a good many of the little company on board, numbering seventy-four, as the first shot struck the steamer about midship on the starboard side.

There was no possibility of effective defence, but the master nevertheless turned the Cabotia's stern to the submarine and put on full speed. Every five minutes the submarine fired a shot, and she secured four hits. The captain then ordered all the boats to be swung out, though everyone realised that they could not live long in such a sea. In the meantime the Cabotia managed to keep the enemy astern, but gradually the distance between the two vessels was lessening. The position was seen to be hopeless. The engines were stopped and four boats were lowered, manned, and got clear of the steamer without mishap.

The submarine, having given the Cabotia another shot, went alongside another steamer which was approaching. The boats proceeded in the same direction, hoping to be picked up; but the stranger, after communicating with the U-boat, blew two blasts on her whistle and continued on her course, without a thought for the mariners fighting for life in the heavy seas which were running.

Two of the boats of the Cabotia were never seen again, and small wonder in view of the storm which was raging. It was little short of a miracle that the other two boats survived. Throughout the night the second officer and his companions pulled steadily with faint hope, for they realised that the nearest land was 120 miles away; but as the dawn was breaking it became possible to set a sail, and a few hours later a patrol-boat appeared and the little group of seamen, drenched to the skin, cold to the marrow, and exhausted by their labours, found safety. A search for the other three boats was then begun, and twenty minutes later the chief officer's boat was sighted and its occupants were also rescued. Throughout that day and all the succeeding night, and on the following day, a patrol-vessel thrashed the waters, hoping against hope to find the master's and third officer's boats, but no trace of them could be discovered. In these circumstances thirty-two more men were murdered as a result of the ruthless policy pursued by the enemy's officers in face of the protestations which had been made in the ears of Americans and other neutrals.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	Honours/ Awards	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Bassoli	Carlo	46		23/10/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Andrew And Carolina Bassoli; Husband Of Caroline Bassoli (N E Williams), Of 47, Brooke Rd., Bootle, Lancs. Born In Italy.
Caswell	W.F.	32		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Worcester.
Copp	Arthur	33		20/10/1916	Able Seaman and Lamps	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Jane Copp And The Late William Copp. Born In Jersey.
Danielsen	Elinar	24		20/10/1916	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Norway.
Fraser	John William	40		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. Margaret Fraser, Of 726, Roger S Building, Vancouver, British Columbia. Born In Canada.
Garrity	Joseph	24		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. M. A. Garrity, Of 521, Lehigh St., East Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Born In U.S.A.
Hart	Henry William	48		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late John And Caroline Hart; Husband Of Mary Elizabeth Hart (Nee Leslie), Of 31, Avenue Rd., Toronto, Canada. Born At Colne Engaine.
Henry	John	18		20/10/1916	Wireless Operator	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mark Young Henry And Nellie Henry, Of 3, Moore Field Cottages, Millerhill, Dalkeith, Midlothian. Born At Liberton.
Hilditch	Christopher Joseph	17		20/10/1916	Ordinary Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of George And Mary Alice Hilditch, Of 19, Clay St., Lissadel St., Pendleton, Lancs.
Hubbard	J.C,	50		20/10/1916	Assistant Foreman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Canada.
Isaac	Manuel	31		20/10/1916	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	(May Have Been Named Caaer). Born In Greece.
James	William	40		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Canada.
Johnston	Edward Austin	21		20/10/1916	Third Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Ronald And Mary Johnston (Nee Macneil), Of Eriskay, South Uist.
Kohlmann	Carl	55		20/10/1916	Carpenter	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Norway.
Lang	John	43		20/10/1916	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Harriet Lang (Nee Henry), Of 34, Jennymount St., Belfast. Born At Belfast.
Lewis	C	49	Mentioned in Despatches	20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Wales.
Lyon	Robert Francis	24		20/10/1916	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of John Samuel And Gertrude Lyon, Of 26, Anslow St., Queen S Rd., Harpurhey, Manchester. Born At Birkenhead.
Maynard	John	31		20/10/1916	Assistant Foreman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Mr. And Mrs. Maynard. Born In Canada.
McArthur	James	37		20/10/1916	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Daniel And Mary Am Mcarthur. Born At Glasgow.
Mitchell	John			20/10/1916	Master	Tower Hill Memorial
Muckle	Hugh	39		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. Agnes Muckle, Of Killanghey, Donaghadee, Co. Down.
Nichol	R	55		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Edinburgh.
Nilsen	Einar	21		20/10/1916	Fireman and Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Norway.
Pacheco	Arthur	44		20/10/1916	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Portugal.
Roberts	Charles Lever	59		20/10/1916	2nd Steward	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Thomas And Ann Roberts; Husband Of Sarah Roberts (Nee Mcdonell), Of 34, Dudley Drive, Hyndland, Glasgow. Born In Cheshire.
Robertson	James Keith	23		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Elizabeth And The Late Mr. Robertson; Husband Of Jeanie L. Robertson (Nee Morgan), Of 55, Home St., Edinburgh. Born At Edinburgh.
Roy	H	22		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Canada.
Scott	David	33		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mary Ann And The Late John Scott; Husband Of Jane Scott (Nee Hannah), Of 65 Marquis Rd., Woodside, Aberdeen. Born At Aberdeen.
Stronach	Robert	19		20/10/1916	Fourth Engineer Officer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of John And Alice Stronach (Nee Walls), Of 66, Thistle St., Dunfermline. Born At Dunfermline.
Whitton	D	29		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Dundee.
Wise	F	45		20/10/1916	Horseman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born In Surrey.
Wright	Tom	21		20/10/1916	Assistant Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Henrietta Hillier (Formerly Wright, Nee Mayo), Of 8, Shirley Park Rd., Shirley, Southampton, And The Late Charles Wright. Born At Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Cairndhu

Cairndhu was a 4,019 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1911 by W.Doxford & Sons for Cairn Line of Steamships Ltd. and managed by Cairnsm Noble & Co. She was sunk on 16 April 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-40 approximately 25 nautical miles West of Beachy Head. She was en route from the Tyne to Gibraltar with a cargo of coal.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
Caldwell	J		15/04/1917	Fireman	Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery	I. 9. 62.
Cutter	J	47	15/04/1917	Fireman	South Shields (Harton) Cemetery	B. 1608.	Son Of Eleanor Cutter, Of 13, Agnes St., South Shields, And The Late Joseph Cutter.
Dacey	John	46	15/04/1917	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Born At Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Davison	John Robert	17	15/04/1917	Apprentice	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of Benjamin Robson Davison, Of 22, Vespasian St., South Shields, And The Late Isabella Davison.
Dickson	Robert	49	15/04/1917	Fireman	South Leith Parish Churchyard	South-East of Church.
Hall	F		15/04/1917	Able Seaman	Highgate Cemetery	135. 40651.
Keefe	T	43	15/04/1917	Carpenter	Tower Hill Memorial		Born At Newport, Mon.
Macdonald	Norman	42	15/04/1917	Leading Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son of John and Annie Macdonald, of Eoropie, Ness; husband of Johanna Macdonald, of 22, Eoropie, Ness, Lewis, Ross-shire. Mr. Macdonald was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 26 of the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Mallaby	Joseph Harry	25	15/04/1917	Third Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of The Late Joseph Clough Mallaby And Mary Mallaby; Husband Of Clara Sinnock Mallaby (Nee Gardner), Of 66, St. Bernard S Rd., Stockton-On-Tees. Born At Thornaby-On-Tees.
Mulvain	David		15/04/1917	Fireman	Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery	M. 5. 24.
Toward	Louis Ormston	43	15/04/1917	First Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial		Husband Of Isabel Dixon Toward (Nee Rutherford), Of 5, Clovelly Gardens, Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Born At Belfast.

Cairnmona

Cairnmona was a 4,666 GRT steam cargo ship (ref) completed in 1918 by Sunderland Shipbuilding Co. for Cairn Line of Steamships Ltd. and managed Cairns, Noble & Co. She was damaged on 15 June 1918 approximately 4 nautical miles East of the Coquet Islands. She was en route from Leith to Newcastle in ballast.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
King	John	24	15/06/1918	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of John And Ann King; Husband Of Janet Fairbairn King (Nee Mcdougall), Of 120, Corporation Buildings, Leith. Born At Newhill.
Sneddon	F		15/06/1918	Fireman	Bo Ness Cemetery	B. 338.
Sniddon	Forbes	30	15/06/1918	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of Mendry And Janet Sniddon; Husband Of Catherine Sniddon (Nee Brown), Of 12, Bowling Green St., Leith. Born At Bo Ness.
Wynn	James	42	15/06/1918	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of The Late Michael And Mary Ann Healy Wynn; Husband Of Jeanie Anne Wynn (Nee Grieve), Of 21, Coalfield Lane, Leith. Born At Leith.

Losses in WW1

Bunty

Casualties

Burcombe

Casualties

Burma

Casualties

Burnhope

Casualties

Burnstone

Casualties

Burrsfield

Casualties

C.A.Jaques

Casualties

Cabotia

Casualties

Cairndhu

Casualties

Cairnmona

Casualties