Courtesy Billy McGee
| SS WARLABY | |
Courtesy Billy McGee |
The unescorted convoy SLS.64 departed Freetown at 09.00 hours on January 30, 1941 with the captain of SS Warlaby as Commodore. At 08.15 hours on February 12, 1941, in position 37.12N, 21.20W, an unidentified naval vessel approached from the west. This vessel was the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper which opened fire without warning and continued to shell the convoy. SS Warlaby hoisted the signal to disperse but this was shot away and was not seen by the rest of the convoy. SS Warlaby sank at 08.30 hours and only the Chief Officer (J. D. Evans), who was rescued by HMS Camito the next day, and two crew members survived. The master (Septimus Howard Murray), thirty-six crew members and one naval signalman are commemorated on Tower hill, Panel 116.
ABDUL MOHAMED , Fireman and Trimmer, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 44.
ANDERSON , Fireman and Trimmer, JAMES GERALD, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 24.
BAMBRO , Third Officer, GEORGE, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 25. Husband of Catherine M. Bambro, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland.
BLACK , Able Seaman, ARTHUR, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 25.
BLACKBOURN , Second Officer, FREDERICK, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 28. Son of Fredrick and Jennie Blackbourn, of Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
BOLAND , Steward, JOSEPH PATRICK, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 27.
BRANNAN , Fireman and Trimmer, THOMAS, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 26. Son of James and Charlotte Brannan.
BRAY , Fireman and Trimmer, GEORGE FREDERICK, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 36. Son of Thomas Jackson Bray and Gavilla Bray, of Halling, Yorkshire.
BROOKS , Donkeyman, J, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 38.
COPLAND , Third Engineer Officer, GEORGE, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 28. Son of George and Hellen Copland, of Northfield, Aberdeen.
DAVISON , Second Radio Officer, RONALD, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 18. Son of Robert Davison, and of Catherine E. Davison, of Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham.
FEARN , Able Seaman, CHARLES, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 36. Son of Charles and Elizabeth Fearn.
FITZMAURICE , Fireman and Trimmer, STANLEY ALAN ROBIN, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 34. Husband of Sanchia Fitzmaurice, of Sloane Square, London.
GILLEN , Fourth Engineer Officer, JAMES, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 41. Son of James and Mary Gillen; husband of Amy Gillen, of Swinefleet, Yorkshire.
GILMOUR , Galley Boy, JOHN, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 17. Son of Thomas and Annie Reid Gilmour, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.
GRAY , Sailor, VIVIAN, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 25.
HAYES , Deck Hand, JOSEPH, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 48.
HEDDITCH , Mess Room Boy, FRANCIS TOM, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Hedditch, of Port Mulgrave, Yorkshire.
HOLBOROW , Able Seaman, ULRICK RATCLIFFE, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 36.
HUNTER , Carpenter, ARTHUR, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 23.
JACKSON , Donkeyman, SYDNEY, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 26.
MITCHELSON , Cabin Boy, STOREY, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 18. Son of Storey and Hannah Lizzie Mitchelson, of North Shields, Northumberland
MURRAY , Master, SEPTIMUS HOWARD, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 35. Son of John William and Frances Annie Murray; husband of Lily Osborne Murray, of Carrshields, Northumberland.
NEVILLE , Deck Boy, GEORGE ARTHUR, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 18. Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Neville, of Hornchurch, Essex.
NICHOLSON , First Radio Officer, STANLEY GEORGE, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 21. Son of George William and Florence May Nicholson.
OBAD MOSSELEH , Fireman and Trimmer, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 47.
RAWES , Deck Boy, GEORGE JAMES, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 17. Son of Reginald and Jessie Rawes, of King's Cross, London.
ROBERTS , Fireman and Trimmer, JOHN WILLIAM COWELL, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 29.
ROCHA , Able Seaman, JOHN, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 53.
SAHLMAN , Boatswain, ARTHUR, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 47. Son of Henry Bernard Sahlman and Mary Sahlman; husband of Eleanor Carlisle Sahlman, of Wallsend, Northumberland.
SANDERSON , Chief Engineer Officer, PERCY GEORGE, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 55. Son of John and Sarah Sanderson; husband of Annie Sanderson, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Formerly Lieut.-Comdr., R.N. His son George Charles Peter also fell.
SMITH , Donkeyman, WILLIAM, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 47.
THOMPSON , Fireman and Trimmer, FREDERICK, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 32. Son of Ellen Thompson; husband of L. Thompson, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
WHEATLEY , Deck Boy, JAMES SMITH, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 20. Son of James Smith Wheatley and May Elizabeth Wheatley, of North Shields. Northumberland.
YEARDSLEY , Fireman and Trimmer, ROBERT WILLIAM, S.S. Warlaby (West Hartlepool). Merchant Navy. 12th February 1941. Age 31.
GRACE , Signalman, GEORGE SAMUEL, D/MD/X 529. H.M.S. President III. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. lost in S.S. Warlaby. 12th February 1941. Age 30. Son of Peter and Frances E. Grace, of Liverpool.
Commemorative data kindly provided by Billy McGee: http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/.