Daily Event for October 14


Engine trouble was the common denominator in the loss of two ships and several landing craft needed by the Allies. The Empire Tarpon and the Southern Empress both sank on Oct. 14, 1942. The Southern Empress had some help provided by a torpedo from the U-221 on the evening of Oct. 13/14. Her cargo, over 11,000 tons
and 21 landing crafts. The human price was also high with forty-eight of her crew killed.

The Empire Tarpon just seems to have been a ragged old ship. She sank under tow for unexplained reasons
after her engines failed ...again. After leaving Liverpool on Nov. 21, 1941 in convoy ON-39 her engines
failed and she returned, and as part of convoy ON-55 in Jan. 1942 engine failure again forced her return. This
time she was part of HX-209 and she was also carrying landing craft for the British which she had loaded at
New Orleans, Louisiana.

The common denominator is that the Southern Empress had fallen out of convoy HX-209 the day they sailed
from New York with engine trouble, she joined convoy SC-104 which departed New York on Oct. 3. If she
had stayed with HX-209 she might have made it to Liverpool unharmed.

© 2007 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com





Rol of Honour
In memory of those who lost their lives on the SS Southern Empress
"Heroes all of them"


Aadahl, Richard W. G.
Chief Steward
Adams, Francis
Fireman
Allison, Robert
3rd Engineer Officer
Aspinall, Thomas H.
Able Seaman (Royal Navy)
Ayre, E.
Able Seaman
Barks, Reginald
Able Seaman (Royal Navy)
Boots, Ernest
Mess Room Boy
Butler, David
Greaser
Conolly, Bartholomew
Fireman
Dunn, P. W.
Fireman
Eyre, John
Able Seaman
Gale, Arthur F. T.
Sergeant (Royal Marines)
Gibson, Daniel
Ordinary Seaman
Hall, Thomas
Boy
Hansen, Olaf Kr.
Master
Able Seaman (Royal Navy)
Harris, John S.
Boatswain
Hibberd, John
Ordinary Seaman
Hill, James
Greaser
Holgate, Frederick C.
Sailor
Horrigan, Patrick
Trimmer
Hutchison, Jeremiah
Sailor
Johnson, William G.
Steward
Kelly, John
Trimmer
Knighton, John
Greaser
Mackintosh, John
Carpenter
MacNeil, Donald
Able Seaman
Mahy, Charles F.
Steward
Main, William A. C.
Assistant Steward
Massey, Edward A. L.
Fireman Trimmer
Mathie, George M.
2nd Engineer Oficer
McGuigan, John
Assistant Steward
McKinnon, Andrew M.
Mess Room Boy
McLaughlin, Reginald
Deck Boy
McNally, John
Mess Room Boy
Rimmer, Richard
6th Engineer Officer
Robinson, George E.
Sailor
Rumsey, Edwin E.
Quartermaster
Ryrie, Donald B.
1st Radio Officer
Sisoff, Leonard
Mess Room Boy
Skinner, William
Chief Engineer Officer
Smith, John G.
Sailor
Stanford, George A.
Fireman Trimmer
Stratford, D.
Boy
Williams, William
Able Seaman
Worsley, Harold
3rd Radio Officer
Yearwood, Burnley G.
Able Seaman
Wylie, John B.
3rd Officer


To submit a photo or biographical information please email the webmaster.


2006 Daily Event