SS EMPIRE BOWMAN

On March 30, 1943, SS Empire Bowman was sailing to the Hull with a general cargo including manganese ore when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-404. The torpedo hit the starcboard side of the vessel just forward of the No. 4 hold. The position was 47.26N, 15.53W (425 miles NW of Cape Finisterre). The master (Charles Henry Cranch OBE), thirty-nine crew members and six DEMS gunners were rescued by HMS Wear and landed at Liverpool <Survivors report available>. The Second Engineer, Gordon Love Bastian M.B.E. was awarded the George Cross (Albert Medal). Four crew members were lost and are commemorated on Tower Hill Panel 38.

MATHESON, Able Seaman, ARCHIBALD, S.S. Empire Bowman (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 30th March 1943. Age 35. Son of Angus and Annie Matheson.

McCLURE, Carpenter, JAMES, S.S. Empire Bowman (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 30th March 1943. Age 28. Son of William and Mersany McClure; husband of B. L. McClure, of Rainham, Essex.

McHUGH, Trimmer, CARL, S.S. Empire Bowman (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 30th March 1943. Age 19. Son of Patrick and Margaret McHugh, of Greenock, Renfrewshire.

McMILLAN, Fireman and Trimmer, NATHANIEL, S.S. Empire Bowman (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 30th March 1943. Age 55.

Commemorative data kindly provided by Billy McGee: http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/.