SS OTAIO
	Courtesy Billy McGee

On August 28, 1941, SS Otaio (with a general cargo, including stores and mail) was travelling in convoy OS.4 routing from Liverpool to Curaçao - Sydney, NSW. At 1641hours, in position 52.16N, 17.50W (330 miles west by north of Fastnet Rock) the Otaio was torpedoed and sunk by U-558. The master (Gilbert Kinnell), fifty-three crew members and four gunners were picked up by the HMS Vanoc and landed at Liverpool. Twelve crew and one unknown gunner were lost. Only eleven are commemorated on Tower Hill Panel 77.

BORLASE, Greaser, THOMAS, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 27. Son of John Humphrey and Alice Borlase; husband of G. A. Borlase, of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

CRESSWELL, Ordinary Seaman, DOUGLAS F., M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 19. Son of Albert Charles and Elizabeth Amelia Genevieve Cresswell, of Wellington City, New Zealand.

DAVIDSON, Fifth Engineer Officer, JOHN, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 26. Son of James Arthur and Alice Davidson, of Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

DUNCAN, Second Refrigerator Engineer, JOHN, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 39. Son of George McKenzie Duncan and Ada Duncan; husband of Marjorie Duncan, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

FRANCIS, Greaser, WALTER, S.S.Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 37. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Francis, of Orrell, Lancashire.

GIBSON, Ordinary Seaman, KENNETH JOHN, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 16.

HOME, Third Radio Officer, REGINALD CLAUDE WALLACE, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 27.

KERSHAW, Galley Boy, WILLIAM, S.S. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 39. Son of Ferdinand and Mary Kershaw; husband of Elizabeth Kershaw, of Bramhall, Cheshire.

NICOLSON, Able Seaman, MURDO DAN, S.S. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1940. Age 25. Son of Murdo and Isabel Nicolson.

WATSON, Third Engineer Officer, DAVID CRAIG, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 32. Son of Mr. and Mrs. David Craig Watson, of Glasgow.

WYATT, Chief Steward, EDWIN, M.V. Otaio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 47. Son of Edwin and Alice Wyatt; husband of Martha Wyatt, of Hoylake, Cheshire.