Merchant Ship Lost in Halifax Convoys WWII
Information Project Researched by Keith Greenway
Updated 11th November 2010
For relatives we may have never known or cannot know no, more:
TREGENNA 17/9/40 - HX71 - TORPEDOED BY U-65, 33 DEAD - 4 SURVIVORS
War Bulldog Completed as TREGENNA, Hain SS Co, St. Ives |
Built by Wm. Gray and Company Limited, West Hartlepool, under yard no 915, for the Hain of St. Ives line 01-05-1919 Launched under the name of WAR BULLDOG for The Shipping Controller. she was purchased by Hain in July 1919 and completed as TREGENNA. Tonnage 5.242 gross, 3.201 net., dimensions 400.1 ft. x 52.3 ft. x 28.4ft. Fitted with a triple expansion 3 cylinder steam engine, manufactured by Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool. 517 n.h.p., speed 11 knots. Further details:- Yard 915 Tregenna 17-09-1940 Under the command of Captain William Thomas Care she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-65 off the Rockall in a position 58 22N 15 42W. She was on a return voyage from Philadelphia to Newport, Monmouthshire with Convoy HX71, with a cargo of 8000 tons of steel at the time of her sinking. Captain William Thomas Care and 32 men were lost, four survivors were picked up. |
Source: Hain of St. Ives by K.J.O'Donoghue and H.S. Appelyard. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the age of steam 1824-1963. |
Names supplied by Billy McGee
William Thomas Care 45 009089 Master Barry, South Wales Thomas David Newberry 38 1031967 Able Seaman Cardiff, South Wales John Africa 45 990639 Donkeyman Sierra Leone Joseph Fullam Campbell 20 R194420 Third Engineer Officer Edinburgh John Cole 47 894680 Fireman West Africa Lincoln Redvers Cooper 40 994329 First Radio Officer West Kirby, Cheshire Antoni John Da Cruz 57 518965 Fireman St Vincent Tom Dixon 56 939715 Fireman Sierra Leone Robert Buchanan Duff 20 Apprentice Alerton, Liverpool Wilfred Edwards 49 796504 Fireman Jamaica Stanley Benjamin Fisher 24 R156975 Third Officer Newport, Monmouthshire John George Gibson 28 R113939 Second Engineer Officer North Shields, Northumberland T Goddard 19 Mess Room Boy Redcar Emanuel Grech 42 1034980 Carpenter Malta James Greenway 62 255656 Boatswain Kinsale, Co Cork, Irish Republic Edward Hopkins 21 Ordinary Seaman Cardiff, South Wales Hugo Karlsson 53 703486 Able Seaman Nalmo, Sweden Joseph Laurent 34 R20585 Fireman St Lucia, West Indies William Francis Joseph Mercia 20 R135761 Assistant Cook Cardiff, South Wales Charles Nicholls 33 R24632 Chief Officer Plymouth James Bruce Nicholson 50 923739 Steward Middlesbough Michael O'Brian 26 R181980 Ordinary Seaman Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Irish Republic Anton Olin 47 825369 Able Seaman Russia Godfrey Charles Reynolds 30 1134836 Able Seaman Merhyr Tydfil Trevor Roberts 19 Fourth Engineer Officer Aintree, Liverpool Kenneth Rouncefield 16 Apprentice St. Ives James Smith 45 899688 Fireman Jamaica Dennis Swalwell 15 Cabin Boy Middlesbrough, Yorkshire Arthur Edward Thomas 26 R83931 Ships Cook Trecynon, Aberdare John Trybest 56 504721 Fireman Grangetown, Cardiff William Cox Veal 45 993369 Chief Engineer Officer St Ives, Cornwall Samuel Walker 61 220064 Fireman West Africa Ross Charles Cole 24 B1597 Able Seaman Kalinga, Brisbane, Australia Those who survived
Harry Pearson 44 670233 Second Mate Aston under Lyne F Murray 18 Second Radio Officer Buckie William John Thomas 22 R109084 Sailor Bargoed, Mid Glamorgan Phillip Ramsey 56 353049 Able Seaman East Haven Not on board at time of sinking
George Williams 44 R100159 Hospital Philadelphia (31/8/40) Sierra Leone You will find a copy of the ships last crew list at The National Archives at Kew held under the ships Off. No. 142570.
Digital copy of ship No 147520
Survivors were picked up by HMS Fleetwood
If you are related to, or knew any of the above we would be very happy to hear from you.
Position of the SS Tregenna when torpedoed by U-65
Map courtesy of Great Circle Mapper - © Karl L Swartz
This map should only be used as a rough guide
Operations information for U-65
Sunk 28th April 1941 in the North Atlantic
South-East of Iceland in position 59.51N, 15.30W
by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Douglas
50 dead - All hands lost
Seirbis onorac sa Muir-tractala 1939-46
[ Service with honour in the Irish Mercantile Marine 1939-46]
GREENWAY Boatswain, James, S.S. Tregenna (St. Ives) Merchant Navy 17th September 1940. Age 62. Son of the late James and Mary Greenway of Kinsale, Co Cork, Irish Republic O'BRIEN, Ordinary Seaman, MICHAEL, S.S. Tregenna (St. Ives) Merchant Navy 17th September 1940. Age 26. Son of Patrick and Mary O'Brien, of Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Irish RepublicQuote Kinsale Mayor, Tomas O Brien : "Many a young Kinsale man left to go to Barry, which to them was the gateway to the world. For some it was the first time they had left their native town, and their families survived on the money they sent home. "Some settled in Barry and have families there today. Many others died in the wars while serving in both the Royal and Merchant Navies." This is Barry. Thursday 1 September 2005
Remembered with honour
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Panel 110
In Memory of: JAMES AND THOMAS
GREENWAY Boatswain, James, S.S. Tregenna (St. Ives) Merchant Navy 17th September 1940. Age 62 Son of the late James and Mary Greenway of Kinsale, Co Cork, Irish RepublicNEWBERRY, Able Seaman, Thomas David, S.S. Tregenna (St. Ives) Merchant Navy
17th September 1940. Age 38
Son of Thomas David Newberry & Mary Jane Newberry of Cardiff, South Wales
Died before your time. Proud to be related.
Your grand-nephew - Paul
GREENWAY, Boatswain, Thomas, S.S. Daybreak (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine 24th December 1917. Age 47
Medal Entitlement
BT 395 records the medals claimed and issued, rather than the entitlement to medals, which is held at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS). Remember that these medals were not issued automatically, but had to be claimed. If you are enquiring about a seaman's entitlement you should begin by contacting the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen at:
The RSS holds the most up-to-date records relating to the award of medals to merchant seamen during the World War Two. If they cannot find an entitlement listed and you would like to check whether there is one, they can advise you about the evidence they need. Have a look at the research guide Merchant Seamen: Medals and Honours in the Catalogue for more details and how to gather evidence. Please note that the medal papers retained by the RSS are no longer complete.
Merchant Navy Association, Wales: News & Events
Barry Branch Latest National News Memorial Service 2006 We Will remember them The MN Day Commemorative Services And Re-union Viewpoints - South Wales Echo
Merchant Navy Day
On this day, 3rd September, every year from the year 2000 onward, hopefully,
the Red Ensign will be seen flying proudly from both public and private
buildings throughout the united Kingdom. This will remind the nation of our
maritime heritage.
'WE WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED THE BAR'
The first ever Merchant Navy Day, the 3rd of September 2000. The Recognition
of this Day will change the nations perspective of all merchant seafarers.
Let us use the momentum of this change to further develop the reputation of
the Merchant service. We are all proud to be part of an extraordinary
heritage.
Through war and conflict, exploration and trade, suffering and sacrifice the
Merchant Navy and its seafarers helped to develop a nation and secure
the freedoms we all now enjoy. Those Merchant Seafarers, who gave the ultimate
sacrifice, have never been properly acknowledged or recognised, and nor have
those who survived.
We welcome onboard Mr. David Simpson and look forward to posting the results of his research.
"I am indebted to Fred Hortop, for inspiring me to carry on in a very small way, his work." David Simpson. Fred Hortop, recently crossed the bar. He had done so much to ensure that the people of Barry could pay their respects to her heroes. David intends to carry on the work of Mr Hortop adding details to his research, via the internet. David went to sea himself at the age of 15 in 1940. We welcome onboard Mr. David Simpson and look forward to posting the results of his research. "There are no graves: no crosses: no where a loved one can shed a tear: We should remember them." David SimpsonDavid has a new web site and can be found at :
http://www.barrymerchantseamen.org.uk
Join Us
Merchant Navy Association, Wales | |
Contact | Alfred H K Thomas Membership Secretary |
ahkthomas@talktalk.net | |
Web | Home Page |
Merchant Navy Association, Wales, Barry Branch | |
Contact | Jim Greenway Chairman |
Telephone | 01446-746089 |
mnawalesbarrybranch@tiscali.co.uk |
Merchant Navy Association, Wales, Newport Branch | |
Contact | Bert Bale Chairman |
Web | Home Page |
Merchant Navy Memorial. |
The Strike Across the Empire
Link: Strike Across The Empire, 1925 - Baruch Hirson and Lorraine Vivian ...
An important report on what seems to be the hidden or lost International / Empire Seamen's Strike in 1925
A fascinating and detailed account of a little known international seamen's strike in 1925, lasting over 100 days and spreading from Britain to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The strikers confronted the shared hostility of governments, employers and union leaders alike. The text also deals with how the racism prevalent in the labour movement affected the conduct and outcome of the strike.
"THIS IS A STRIKE that has vanished from history. In August 1925, the seamen of Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand walked off their ships in protest against a ten per cent wage cut. It was one of the few genuinely international strikes, directed against a powerful international cartel.
One would have expected it to be widely debated. Yet, newspaper coverage apart, history has largely been silent.
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