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].

Destro

Destro was a 859 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1914 by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. for T.Wilson, Sons & Co. Ltd. From 1917 the owner was Ellerman’s Wilson Line, Ltd. She was sunk on 25 March 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-96 at position 54° 34' N, 04° 45' W - approximately 5 nautical miles South-West of the Mull of Galloway. She was en route from Namsos to Manchester with a cargo of lumber, ferro-chrome etc.

Note: Destro had been damaged by gunfire from UB-39 on 3 August 1916 but had escaped. Captain Edward Borrowdale Johnson was awarded the DSC in recogition of the successful escape. He was also captain at the time of her loss.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Abdul Muhammad			25/03/1918	Seaman	Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Abdur Rahim			25/03/1918	Fireman	Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Harry	Ben	24	25/03/1918	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Singapore.
Hendrich	Zachariah	32	25/03/1918	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Mrs. Hendrich, Of 34, Garden Lane, Salford, Manchester. Born At Jamaica.
Muslin	D	24	25/03/1918	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Singapore.
Walker	John	20	25/03/1918	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son of George and Jemima Walker, of 105, Cranton Rd., Leith. Mr. Walker was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 31 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Devonian (Grimsby)

Devonian (Grimsby) was a 128 GRT steam trawler completed in 1896 by Edwards Bros. for Allen Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. of Grimsby. She foundered and is assumed to have struck a mine on 9 September 1915 approximately 30 nautical miles North-East by North of Spurn light vessel.

There were no survivors

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Banks	Walter Edward	37	08/09/1915	Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Mr. And Mrs. Banks; Husband Of Eunice Theodosia Banks (Nee Starfield), Of 87, New Market St., Grimsby. Born At Grimsby.
Campbell	Hamilton Blackwood	48	08/09/1915	First Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Mrs. Campbell, Of Juggits Lane, New Cleethorpes. Born At Seaham.
Deakin	Joseph	26	08/09/1915	Third Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Mrs. Deakin, Of 78, Strand St., Grimsby. Born At Sheffield.
Gales	Matthew	48	08/09/1915	Second Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Sunderland.
Hanneman	Frederick Charles	19	08/09/1915	Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. Hanneman, Of 55, Weelsby St., Grimsby. Born At Grimsby.
Lambert	Arthur	44	08/09/1915	Skipper	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Clara Lambert, Of 32, Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes. Born At Skegness.
Lott	John Henry	29	08/09/1915	Deck Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mary Lott, Of Row 50, No. 9, Great Yarmouth, And The Late John Lott.
Rowston	Arthur	25	08/09/1915	Deck Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Mrs. Rowston, Of 77, Tiverton St., Grimsby. Born At Grimsby.
Stanley	Walter	42	08/09/1915	Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Sheffield.

Devonian (Liverpool)

Devonian (Liverpool) was a 10,417 GRT steam passenger ship completed in 1900 by Harland & Wolff Ltd. for Frederick Leyland & Co. Ltd. She was sunk on 21 August 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-53 approximately 20 nautical miles North-East of Tory Island. She was en route from Liverpool to Boston with a general cargo.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Cain	George	35	21/08/1917	Carpenter s Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Samuel And Nancy Cain; Husband Of Annie Louisa Cain (Nee Welsh), Of 27, Goldsmith St., Liverpool. Born At Glasgow.
Egan	Frederick Daniel	31	21/08/1917	Carpenter	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Rose Egan And The Late Frederick Brodrick Egan; Husband Of Elizabeth Egan (Nee Mcdonough), Of 50, Leopold Rd., Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
Meaney	John		21/08/1917	Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son of John and Ellen Meaney, of 44 Back, Close St., Limerick. Mr. Meaney was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 23 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Dido

Dido was a 4,769 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1896 by Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. for T.Wilson, Sons & Co. Ltd. She sank on 26 February 1916 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-7 at position 53° 07' N, 00° 15' W - approximately 4 nautical miles North-North-East of Spurn light vessel. She was en route from Hull to Bombay with a general cargo.

I was contacted by Tony Emptage in December 2024 who let me know that graves for a number of those listed on the Tower Hill memorial have since been found and I have updated the records with information that has been added to the CWGC database.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
Altoft	John William	25	26/02/1916	Second Mate	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of James William And Ada Altoft, Of 3, Albert Avenue, Wellsted St., Hull.
Bosted	H	49	26/02/1916	Able Seaman	Hull Western Cemetary	Special Memorial (Grave 224).	Born In Norway.
Burkhalter	Ernest	29	26/02/1916	Steward	Tower Hill Memorial		Born In Switzerland.
Byrne	Michael	60	26/02/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial		Born At Dundalk.
Cobby	Harold	22	26/02/1916	Fourth Engineer Officer	Hull Western Cemetery	Compartment 191. Grave 18567	Son Of Albert And Annie Isabella Cobby, Of 17, Plane St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Dann	Dudley St. Aubyn	20	26/02/1916	Engineer s Steward	Bradford (Scholemoor) Cemetery	L. C. 487.	Son Of Alfred And Ellen Maria Dann, Of 4, Saplin St., Manningham, Bradford. Born At Lincoln.
Gold	Stephen	19	26/02/1916	Assistant Steward	Tower Hill Memorial		(Served As Gilbert), Son Of Jacob And Sarah Gold, Of 9, Philip St., Back Church Lane, Whitechapel, London. Born In London.
Habbershaw	Thomas Elton	23	26/02/1916	Seaman	Hull Northern Cemetery	82. 37.	Son Of Louise F. Habbershaw, Of 20, Chesnut Avenue, Queen S Rd., Hull.
Hardcastle	William John	29	26/02/1916	Third Engineer	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Cpt. 316. Grave 89	Son Of William John And Harriet Hardcastle (Nee Baxter), Of 11, Marlowe St., Hull. Born At Whitby.
Karlson	Gustav	36	26/02/1916	Fireman	Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery	42. D. 9.	Son Of Ulicktor Ulicklund, Of Soderby, Liljendal, Finland.
Larsen	Julius	52	26/02/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of The Late Jens And Margarita Larsen; Husband Of Johanne Larsen (Nee Johnsen), Of 15, Kimberley St., Hull. Born At Nyborg, Denmark.
Lees	James	24	26/02/1916	Able Seaman	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Special Memorial (Grave 246).	Born At Calcutta.
Martin	William Henry	58	26/02/1916	Ship s Cook	Hull Western Cemetery	Cpt. 507. Grave 48933	Son Of Sarah Jane And The Late Henry Martin; Husband Of Eliza Ann Martin (Nee Fowler), Of 139, Campbell St., Hull.
Moss	William Henry	20	26/02/1916	Assistant Cook	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Cpt.328. Grave 46	Son Of William Henry And Charlotte Moss, Of 5, Villa Terrace, Walker St., Hull.
Rands	Charles Edwin	32	26/02/1916	Donkeyman	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Cpt. 315. Grave 80	Son Of The Late Henry Rands; Husband Of Annie Elizabeth Rands (Nee Hazard), Of 5, Wellesley Avenue, Middleburg St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Robinson	Henry Robert	58	26/02/1916	Chief Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial		Husband Of Sarah Alice Robinson, Of 15, Washington St., Hull. Born At Caistor, Lincs.
Rosindale	Henry	19	26/02/1916	Carpenter	Hull Western Cemetery	Compartment 108. Grave 10658	Son Of Henry And Kate Rosindale; Husband Of Sarah Ann Rosindale (Nee Taylor), Of 64, Princes Rd., Hull. Born At Hull.
Skipworth	George	46	26/02/1916	Able Seaman	Hull Western Cemetery	Cpt. 529. Grave 51076	Son Of Jane And The Late Henry Skipworth; Husband Of Frances Elizabeth Skipworth (Nee Ainsworth), Of 6, Chatham Place, Adelaide St., Hull. Born At Wakefield.
Smith	John	30	26/02/1916	Fireman	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Cpt.3. Grave 59	Son Of Mary And The Late Henry Smith; Husband Of Gertrude Crowson Smith (Nee Lidster), Of 1, Ann S Place, Francis St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Taylor	J.R.	53	26/02/1916	Master	Hull Western Cemetery	134. 13079.	Son Of George Brent Taylor; Husband Of Amy Clara Taylor, Of 9, Heathcole St., Newland, Hull.
Thaxter	Walter Edward	32	26/02/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of Walter James And Dorcas Thaxter; Husband Of Norah Thaxter (Nee Clarke), Of 3, Watts Avenue, Rochester, Kent. Born At Reedham, Norfolk.
Thornley	John	62	26/02/1916	Boatswain	Hull Western Cemetery	499. 48171.	Son Of Jonas And Eliza Thornley; Husband Of Anna Thornley, Of 16, Harrow St., Hull.
Van Dyk	Bastian	34	26/02/1916	Fireman	Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery	Special Memorial (Grave 246).	Husband Of Annie Elizabeth Van Dyk (Nee Lidster), Of 73, Alicia St., Hull, Yorks. Born At Rotterdam, Holland.
Vinson	Edgar	22	26/02/1916	Third Mate	Hull Western Cemetery	Compartment 441. Grave 42587	Son Of Harry And Mary Vinson (Nee Vaughan), Of 5, Mareham Avenue, Ena St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Waites	William Arthur	47	26/02/1916	Second Engineer	Hull Western Cemetery	108. 10608.	Son Of The Late Mr. And Mrs. J.W. Waites, Of Leeds; Husband Of Jane Catherine Waites, Of 10, Ripon Villas, Brunswick Ave. Hull.
Westerlund	Alfred	37	26/02/1916	Fireman	Hull Western Cemetary	Special Memorial (Grave 224)	Born In Sweden.
Williams	George	22	26/02/1916	Able Seaman	Hull Western Cemetery	Cpt. 476. Grave 45918	Son Of Mr. And Mrs. Williams, Of 14, Beaumont St., Wellsted St., Hull. Born At Hull.

Dingle

Dingle was a 593 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1914 by J. Fullerton & Co. for West Lancashire Steamship Co. Ltd. She sank on 20 February 1916 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-5 approximately 10 nautical miles South by West of the Kentish Knock light vessel in the Thames estuary. She was en route from Sunderland to Caen with a cargo of coal.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Dullighan	Patrick	34	20/02/1916	Pantryman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Patrick And Catherine Dullighan; Husband Of Ellen Dullighan (Nee Leary), Of 22, Bridge St., Newry, Co. Down. Born At Carlingford.
Edgar	William		20/02/1916	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial
Kerr	Robert	19	20/02/1916	Ordinary Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Bridget Mcevoy (Formerly Kerr), Of 8, River St., Newry, Co. Down, And The Late Robert Kerr. Born At Carlingford, Co. Louth.
Leary	Michael	25	20/02/1916	Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of James And Mary Leary (Nee Mckevitt), Of 22, Bridge St., Newry. Born At Carlingford.
Leckie	John	40	20/02/1916	Master	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Adam Leckie; Husband Of The Late Martha Smith (Formerly Leckie).
O Hare	Stephen	33	20/02/1916	Second Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Dan And Catherine O Hare; Husband Of Mary Anne O Hare (Nee Keenan), Of Milltown, Newry. Born At Milltown, Co. Down.
Sloan	Charles	20	20/02/1916	Second Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mary Jane Edgar (Formerly Sloan, Nee Shields), Of Harbour Rd., Kilkeel, Co. Down, And The Late John Sloan. Born At Kilkeel, Co. Down.
Troland	Daniel	40	20/02/1916	Chief Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Hugh And Martha Donnely Troland; Husband Of Mary Jane Troland (Nee Rooney), Of 32, New Dock St., Belfast. Born At Belfast.
Troland	James	18	20/02/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mary Jane Troland, Of 32, New Dock St., Belfast, And The Late Daniel Troland.

Diomed

Diomed was a 4,672 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1895 by Scott & Co. for Ocean Steam Ship Co. Ltd. and managed by A.Holt & Co. She was sunk on 22 August 1915 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-38 at position 50° 21' N, 06° 40' W - approximately 57 nautical miles West-North-West of the Scilly Isles. She was en route from Liverpool to Shanghai with a general cargo.

According to Charles Hocking [35]:

The Diomed, Capt. J.Myles, was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine ... The explosion killed Capt.Myles who was on the bridge at the time as well as a quartermaster and a seaman. The first officer, Mr.T.W.Richardson, and two men were injured. In getting away the boats, two British and five Chinese seamen were drowned making a total loss of ten dead and three injured from a crew of 52.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Andresen	Victor	19	22/08/1915	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Copenhagen.
Chang Fook			22/08/1915	Fireman	Hong Kong Memorial
Cheung Chun			22/08/1915	Fireman	Hong Kong Memorial
Graham	Edward	39	21/08/1918	Boatswain	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Henry And Ann Graham; Husband Of Theresa Graham (Nee Bellis), Of 12, Dorrit St., Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
Hall	Joseph	16	22/08/1915	3rd Steward	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Chester.
Myles	J		22/08/1915	Master	Tower Hill Memorial
Ross	Harry	16	21/08/1918	Assistant Steward	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Walter And Elizabeth Ann Ross (Nee Disbury), Of 4, Picton Rd., Wavertree, Liverpool. Born At West Derby, Liverpool.
Sung Look			22/08/1915	Fireman	Hong Kong Memorial
Tobin	George M.	24	22/08/1915	Second Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Esther Tobin, Of 5, Grant St., Crown St., Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
White	James	25	22/08/1915	Able Seaman	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Wexford.
Wong Soo			22/08/1915	Fireman	Hong Kong Memorial
Wong Yung			22/08/1915	Fireman	Hong Kong Memorial

Djerv

Djerv was a 1,527 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1906 by Chant. Navals Anversois for A/S D/S Djerv. At the time of her loss she was under the control of The Shipping Controller and managed by E.P.Atkinson & Sons. She was sunk on 20 February 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-86 at position 53° 41' N, 04° 32' W - 12 nautical miles North-North-West of The Skerries, Anglesey. She was en route from Heysham to Newport, Mon. in ballast.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	Honours/ Awards	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
Bonner	Ernest Edward	38		20/02/1918	Master	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of Emma Bonner, Of Halton, 122, Etherington Rd., Beverley High Rd., Hull, And The Late Henry Bonner.
Fitzjohn	Robert William	34		20/02/1918	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Son Of Francis And Margaret Fitzjohn (Nee Kirk), Of 30, Temple St., Middlesbrough.

Dolcoath

Dolcoath was a 1,706 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1882 by James Laing for Osborn & Wallis. By the time of her loss she was owned by Dolcoath of Dundee SS. Co., Ltd. and managed by J.Mitchell & Sons. She sank on 10 May 1916 after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC-7 at position 51° 26' N, 01° 28' E - approximately 3.25 nautical miles North-North-East of the North Foreland. She was en route from the Tyne and Hull to Cette with a cargo of coal.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	Honours/ Awards	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Grave Ref.	Additional Information
Hidalgo	Theodore	38		10/05/1916	Fireman	Tower Hill Memorial		Born In Spain.

Dominican

Dominican was a 134 GRT steam trawler completed in 1891 by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co. She was reported missing on 3 November 1915 and was not seen again.

There were no survivors

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Ayers	Joshua	55	08/11/1915	First Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Leeds.
Byrne	Charles	54	03/11/1915	Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Simon Byrne; Husband Of Margaret Morrison Byrne (Nee Cheyne), Of 128, Upperden Burn, Aberdeen. Born At Lanark.
Campbell	James	36	03/11/1915	Deck Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mr. And Mrs. Campbell, Of 5, Third Terrace, Thorpe St., Grimsby. Born At Liverpool.
Clatworthy	George	54	03/11/1915	Deck Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Brixham.
Ellis	Robert	60	03/11/1915	Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Romford.
Jacques	Joe Lucian	56	03/11/1915	Third Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Nottingham.
Owen	Cyril	16	03/11/1915	Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mr. Owen, Of 73, Castle St., Grimsby. Born At Cleethorpes.
Rogers	Ernest	56	03/11/1915	Deck Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Blandford.
Smith	Charles Alfred	32	03/11/1915	Second Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of James William Smith, Of 55, Sussex St., Grimsby, And The Late Mary Ann Smith.
Stevens	Henry Abraham		03/11/1915	Skipper	Tower Hill Memorial

Don

Don was a 151 GRT steam trawler completed in 1893 by Earle's Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. for H.Morris of Grimsby and registered as GY517. At the time of her loss she was owned by William Ellis of Grimsby. She sank on 6 May 1915 after striking a mine on the Swarte Bank approximately 100 nautical miles East by South of Spurn Head.

Casualties

Surname	Forename	Age	D.O.D	Rank	Cemetery/ Memorial	Additional Information
Coleman	Arthur James Alexander	19	06/05/1915	Trimmer	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. Coleman, Of 135, Tiverton St., Grimsby. Born At Lowestoft.
Cook	Harold	24	06/05/1915	Second Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Born At Grimsby.
Kemp	Walter John	29	06/05/1915	First Engineer	Tower Hill Memorial	Husband Of Mrs. Kemp, Of 43, Barcroft St., Grimsby. Born At Gorleston-On-Sea.
Shepherd	Harry	23	06/05/1915	Fourth Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mr. And Mrs. Shepherd, Of 222, Wellington St., Grimsby. Born At Aberdeen.
Sheriff	George Ernest	19	06/05/1915	Third Hand	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of Mrs. Sheriff, Of 62, Montague St., Grimsby. Born At Grimsby.
Thompson	Thomas Edward	49	06/05/1915	Cook	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of The Late Henry Bishop And Annie Thompson. Born At Holbeach.
Wright	William George	48	06/05/1915	Mate	Tower Hill Memorial	Son Of William And Esther Wright; Husband Of Emma Wright (Nee Purvis), Of 55, Victor St., Grimsby. Born At Gravesend.

Vessels Lost in WW1

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