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Roll of honour - the Merchant Navy

Roll of honour

The following roll lists the names of seafarers who died while serving on New Zealand merchant ships and New Zealanders known to have been lost while sailing under the flags of other countries (mainly Britain). It currently contains 143 names. The exact number of Merchant Navy war deaths will probably never be known with certainty; the recording of service and casualties in the Merchant Navy was not as comprehensive as it was for the armed forces, and it is likely that some New Zealanders were counted among general British and Allied losses. The roll does not include DEMS gunners serving aboard merchant ships or former merchant seamen in naval service. If readers have additional names, corrections or comments please email: neill.atkinson@mch.govt.nz

Abbreviations: AB = able seaman; asst = assistant; jnr = junior; OS = ordinary seaman; ref = refrigerating; RO = radio officer; USAT = United States Army Transport Service

Name Age Rank/Rating Date of Death/ Loss of Ship Ship (UK-flagged unless stated) Place of Death/ Loss of Ship Cause of Loss (German forces unless stated)
Aherne, William Robert Michael (Beau)* 38 asst steward 12/09/1944 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Singapore died in Japanese captivity
Allen, Walter Baden 40 chief steward 02/12/1940 Kavak North Atlantic U-101
Annetts, Gilbert Charles 40 5th engineer 13/08/1942 Waimarama Mediterranean air attack
Baines, William Peter 44 steward 13/08/1942 Waimarama Mediterranean air attack
Balfour, Eric 17 trimmer 20/03/1943 Fort Mumford Indian Ocean I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Batt, S.O.            
Beattie, Andrew Bernard 19 OS 20/03/1943 Fort Mumford Indian Ocean I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Beckett, Albert John 37 5th engineer 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Bernard, Paul E. 59 fireman/trimmer 19/10/1940 Sulaco North Atlantic U-124
Bick, C. 40 fireman 29/03/1942 Hertford North Atlantic U-571
Blithe, Jack Vernon 23 greaser 15/02/1942 Empire Spring North Atlantic U-576
Boraman, Edward Albert 29 fireman 07/12/1942 Ceramic North Atlantic U-515
Bradley, William Dixon 17 mess boy 09/12/1940 Ashcrest North Atlantic U-140
Bradnee, Philip Rowland 31 2nd mate 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Bradshaw, Ronald 18 asst cook 16/04/1942 Empire Howard Arctic Sea U-403
Brew, John 35 AB 16/02/1942 Somme North Atlantic U-108
Brodie, William Henry 30 5th engineer 10/08/1945 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Japan died in Japanese captivity
Brown, John Lilian 31 seaman 04/03/1943 Marietta E Indian Ocean U-160
Budge, Lionel Gerald 30 4th engineer 06/02/1942 Opawa North Atlantic U-106
Burke, Thomas Dennis 15 deck boy 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Butler, Alexander Braid 29 steward 17/05/1942 Fort Qu'Appelle Central Atlantic U-135
Byrne, Norman 49 AB 20/02/1945 USAT buried in New Guinea  
Caird, Leslie 46 3rd engineer 06/04/1942 Sinkiang Indian Ocean Japanese air attack
Campbell, John Robert 26 donkeyman 12/02/1941 Derrynane Central Atlantic Admiral Hipper (cruiser)
Carlyle, Evan Cameron 21 greaser 15/07/1942 Gloucester Castle South Atlantic Michel (raider)
Chadwick, Thurston 66 chief engineer 24/12/1944 USAT Small Ships Section buried in New Guinea  
Chitham, Lawrence Alfred 25 AB 17/03/1943 King Gruffydd North Atlantic U-338
Clare, William Thomas 23 fireman 28/10/1942 Lt Col Lawrence O. Matthews (USAT tug) North Atlantic marine casualty
Clayton, Kenneth Rowland 24 seaman 16/01/1941 Oropesa North Atlantic U-96
Clegg, Douglas H. 37 1st mate 11/12/1940 Rotorua North Atlantic U-96
Collins, John Armstrong 29 carpenter 04/03/1943 California Star North Atlantic U-515
Cooke, Kenneth 20 trimmer 20/03/1943 Fort Mumford Indian Ocean I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Corcoran, James Joseph 30 fireman 18/01/1943 Kalingo (NZ) Tasman Sea I-21 (Japanese submarine)
Creese, Albert William*   master 31/08/1947 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Australia former POW; death attributed to Japanese captivity
Cresswell, Douglas F. 19 OS 28/08/1941 Otaio North Atlantic U-558
Cumming, Peter Halcrow 29 3rd engineer 23/11/1942 Tilawa Indian Ocean I-29 (Japanese submarine)
Cundy, Clive Lawrence (served as Benson) 18 asst steward 03/05/1941 Elstree Grange Liverpool air raid
Darroch, Ralph Harvey 23 1st RO 19/12/1940 Amicus North Atlantic Bagnolini (Italian submarine)
Dawson, Alexander Neil 17 apprentice 21/11/1940 Port Brisbane Indian Ocean Pinguin (raider)
Digweed, John Digley 39 RO 14/05/1942   buried in Auckland, NZ  
Dromgoole, John     13/09/1943 Norlago (US)    
Dunn, Elliston Charles Grainger 19 apprentice 23/11/1940 Tymeric North Atlantic U-123
Excell, Ivan 24 7th engineer 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Finnerty, James 66 fireman 26/06/1948 ex-Holmwood (NZ) buried in  Lyttelton, NZ death attributed to war service
Fitness, Norman (served as William Beaver) 25 asst steward 08/08/1940 Upwey Grange North Atlantic U-37
Forbes, John Alexander 31 2nd ref. engineer 18/03/1943 Canadian Star North Atlantic U-221
Glenie, William 31 fireman 20/03/1943 Fort Mumford Indian Ocean I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Godfrey, John Lee 45 chief engineer 23/07/1942 Garmula Central Atlantic U-752
Goldsmith, W.E.            
Gorman, Edward Allan 19 seaman 06/10/1940 British General North Atlantic U-37
Hallett, Ernest Walter 60 wiper 05/12/1940 Nimbin (Australia) Tasman Sea mine laid by Pinguin (raider)
Hamerton, Claude Stanley 49 chief engineer 11/10/1940 Port Gisborne North Atlantic U-48
Hankin, David 50 seaman 17/08/1947   buried in  Auckland, NZ death attributed to war service
Hayward, Ian Cyril (served as Bell) 22 asst steward 20/03/1943 Fort Mumford Indian Ocean I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Henley, Morris William Bartlett 27 3rd engineer 18/11/1942 Tower Grange Central Atlantic U-154
Hicks, William John 25 fireman 02/12/1942 Wallsend Central Atlantic U-552
Holland, William 45 AB 12/07/1945 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Japan died in Japanese captivity
Holmes, Charles Edward 54 storekeeper 07/12/1942 Ceramic North Atlantic U-515
Hosford, Benjamin 22 3rd mate 28/12/1942 Empire Wagtail North Atlantic U-260
Hughes, John Lloyd 27 2nd mate 08/12/1940 Komata (NZ) Nauru, Pacific Komet (raider)
Hughes, Lewis 57 motorman 27/02/1943 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Japan died in Japanese captivity
Humphrey, Harold Edmond 37 steward 19/02/1942 Mununda (Australian hospital ship) Darwin, Australia Japanese air raid
James, Frederick John Martin 27 3rd mate 11/05/1944 Edward D. Baker (US) buried in New Guinea  
Jordan, Richard Henry 25 9th engineer 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Kennedy, Rankin 32 2nd engineer 08/06/1942 King Lud Indian Ocean I-10 (Japanese submarine)
Lane, Maurice Arthur 24 7th engineer 13/08/1942 Waimarama Mediterranean air attack
Larsen, Clifford Neil 23 jnr engineer 18/12/1940 Napier Star North Atlantic U-106
Lee, Henry 36 AB 16/10/1941 WC Teagle North Atlantic U-558
Lewer, Arthur Wilford   cook 30/01/1943 Samuel Gompers (US) near New Caledonia, Pacific I-10 (Japanese submarine)
Lewis, Roy 26 1st RO 16/10/1942 Newton Pine North Atlantic U-410
Lewis, Thomas Frederick David* 61 fireman 18/01/1943 Kalingo (NZ) Tasman Sea I-21 (Japanese submarine)
Limerick, James P.   seaman 21/11/1944 USAT Small Ships Section buried in New Guinea  
Lindsay, George Henry 24 6th engineer 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Lombard, G.A.            
Lynch, James 26 4th engineer 01/03/1942 Essex Malta air raid on port
McAlinden, William Desmond 35 greaser 10/01/1943 British Dominion Central Atlantic U-620
McAllen, William R. 26 steward 01/01/1943 Empire Shackleton North Atlantic U-435
McClure, Ernest 40 pumpman 22/10/1941 Darkdale South Atlantic U-68
McCullough, Walter J. 31 2nd engineer 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Macdonald, Ian 29 3rd mate 13/08/1942 Waimarama Mediterranean air attack
McDonald, Roderick Neil Robert 17 deck boy 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
McKenna, James 65 ref. greaser 06/09/1942 Tuscan Star Central Atlantic U-109
McLean, Vere Alexander 30 jnr engineer 01/02/1942 Tacoma Star North Atlantic U-109
McNamara, Denys 16 deck boy 30/04/1943 Port Victor North Atlantic U-107
Mack, Thomas Allan 38 1st mate 08/12/1940 Komata (NZ) Nauru, Pacific Komet (raider)
Marshall, Henry Hugh 21 fireman 21/12/1942 Oropos (Greece) North Atlantic U-621
Moller, Leslie John 32 1st mate 16/09/1941 Jedmoor North Atlantic U-98
Mowat, Alistair Richard 31 4th engineer 02/07/1940 Arandora Star North Atlantic U-47
Mugford, Francis Milton 18 seaman 16/12/1942 Observer Central Atlantic U-176
Neale, William G.   trimmer        
Norman, Geoffrey (served as Poole) 21 trimmer 28/01/1943 Neva (Sweden) North Atlantic U-358
O'Brien, Raymond Harold 20 AB 28/01/1941 Homeside North Atlantic marine casualty
Otterson, Charles Harry 53 1st mate 11/10/1943 Jalabala (India) Indian Ocean U-532
Panther, Cyril 20 OS 07/12/1942 Ceramic North Atlantic U-515
Patton, William 22 seaman 14/02/1942 Biela North Atlantic U-98
Paynter, Ernest Frederick 22 jnr engineer 09/10/1942 Oronsay Atlantic Archimede (Italian submarine)
Pendleton, William Mackey 21 7th engineer 07/11/1941 Nottingham North Atlantic U-74
Phillips, Eric James 25 greaser 20/05/1941 British Security North Atlantic U-556
Pugh, Henry James 20 seaman 03/02/1943 Cordelia North Atlantic U-632
Reeves, Victor Albert 23 seaman 26/11/1942 Barberrys North Atlantic U-663
Reid, John 25 AB 29/08/1940 Dalblair North Atlantic U-100
Rendle, John Mackay 26 purser 09/12/1941 Donerail (Panama) near Hawaii, Pacific I-10 (Japanese submarine)
Ribbands, Henry Huia Craven 29 fireman/ trimmer 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Rippon, Stanley 27 4th engineer 02/04/1943 Melbourne Star Central Atlantic U-129
Roberts, Jack Spencer 21 seaman 28/04/1941 Capulet North Atlantic U-201
Rose, Frederick William 50 1st RO 11/10/1940 Port Gisborne North Atlantic U-48
Rush, William Fenwick 30 4th engineer 26/04/1943 Limerick (UK/NZ) Tasman Sea I-177 (Japanese submarine)
Scollay, John Robert 48 AB 23/10/1945 Alchiba (Holland) buried in Hull, UK  
Scott, Thomas 64 steward 04/06/1942 Iron Crown (Australia) Tasman Sea I-27 (Japanese submarine)
Simmons, Hector Albert 22 AB 22/10/1942 Empire Turnstone North Atlantic U-621
Simpson, Keith 26 seaman 02/05/1947   buried in  Auckland, NZ death attributed to war service
Sinclair, John Rose Thornton 27 6th engineer 07/11/1941 Nottingham North Atlantic U-74
Skears, Will Chislett 33 2nd RO 25/03/1941 Britannia Central Atlantic Thor (raider)
Skitch, George William 58 chief engineer 10/01/1942 Baron Erskine North Atlantic U-701
Slade, Maxwell F.     09/02/1940 Rodney Star    
Slane, Edward 30 fireman/ trimmer 02/11/1941 Larpool North Atlantic U-208
Smith, John Kitchener 26 OS 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Smith, Leslie 26 donkeyman 28/05/1940 Abukir English Channel S-34 (E-boat)
Snow, William David 26 greaser 17/03/1943 Coracero North Atlantic U-384
Stafford, Sidney Francis 50 RO 03/01/1942 Iron Chieftain (Australia) Tasman Sea I-24 (Japanese submarine)
Talbot, P.D.            
Te Awa, Thomas 'Buster' 22 AB 29/02/1944 Palma Indian Ocean U-183
Thomas, Emrys Oliver 52 master 02/12/1940 Port Wellington Indian Ocean Pinguin (raider)
Thomas, T.            
Thompson, Dick Whinray 22 2nd ref. engineer 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Thomson, Albert 31 fireman/ trimmer 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Todd, William Angus 44 1st mate 19/04/1944 ex-Hauraki (NZ) Japan died in Japanese captivity
Townsend, Harold James   oiler 02/03/1943 Meriwether Lewis (US) North Atlantic U-634
Trillo, Verdun 27 4th mate 18/03/1943 Canadian Star North Atlantic U-221
Tye, Desmond Gladwyn 24 4th engineer 18/12/1940 Napier Star North Atlantic U-100
Walls, Edward Hugh 15 deck boy 11/07/1942 Port Hunter Central Atlantic U-582
Wass, Jack 29 4th engineer 07/12/1944 Samsip River Scheldt, Belgium mine
Watson, James George 58 carpenter 18/03/1943 Canadian Star North Atlantic U-221
Watt, Alfred Colin 27 3rd engineer 14/01/1942 Coimbra North Atlantic U-123
White, Selwyn 28 3rd engineer 02/04/1943 Melbourne Star Central Atlantic U-129
White-Parsons, Peter Nelson 19 apprentice 16/01/1941 Zealandic North Atlantic U-106
Williams, Hugh Hoskyn   master 01/01/1945 ex-Henry Keswick (Hong Kong) buried in Hong Kong died in Japanese captivity
Williams, Richard Stanley 28 6th engineer 07/12/1942 Ceramic North Atlantic U-515
Williamson, Ernest 49 chief steward 13/09/1942 Stone Street (Panama) North Atlantic U-594
Willmott, John Edgar*   3rd mate 26/04/1943 Limerick (UK/NZ) Tasman Sea I-177 (Japanese submarine)
Wilson, Robert 53 carpenter 19/01/1943   buried in  Wellington, NZ  
Wood, Henry William Carmichael 25 AB 17/08/1943 Empire Stanley Indian Ocean U-197
Yates, Leslie Francis 24 asst cook 14/12/1939 Inverlane North Atlantic mine

*Aherne, Creese, Lewis and Willmott were Australians, but a re included here because they were serving on New Zealand vessels at the time of their death or capture.

Sources: This list has been compiled from Marine Department records at Archives New Zealand, Wellington; the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database; the National War Memorial roll of honour; the Hall of Memories and Cenotaph database at the Auckland War Memorial Museum; and information kindly supplied by Billy McGee.

How to cite this page: 'Roll of honour - the Merchant Navy', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-merchant-navy/roll-of-honour, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 26-Aug-2008
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