Miscellaneous Ship Histories

Athenia (II)

 

Sinking - Newspaper and other accounts 18 November 1939 to 31 December 1945,

Tower Hill Memorial and Roll of Honour

In February 1940 The Times makes brief mention of one of the lifeboats from Athenia (II) being washed ashore in Lerwick in Shetland. After this date there are numerous press references to the sinking of Athenia (II) but they do not add any new information. In mentioning some new action by the Germans, they hark back to the Athenia (II) with remarks similar to “….like when the Athenia was torpedoed” so these have not been included here. The next press item of real interest does not appear until after the end of war in Europe and the setting up of trials of German War Criminals in Nuremburg.

Press Coverage 31 December 1945

Image 3

Image 3 is from page 4 of The Times on 31 December and reports on the preparations for the trial. The Athenia (II) sinking will form part of the case against Raeder.

Press Coverage 3 January 1940

Image 2

Image 2 is from page 8 of The Times on 3 January and reports on the award of an O.B.E. to Barnett Copeland, Chief Officer of Athenia (II) and a B.E.M to Boatswain William Harvey.

Press Coverage 18 November 1939

Image 1

Image 1 is from page 4 of The Times on 18 November and is a letter to the editor about the assistance given to survivors by the owner of Southern Cross.

Tower Hill War Memorial

Image 3

Images 4 & 5 show the plaques for Athenia (II) on the Merchant Navy memorial at Tower Hill.

Roll of Honour

 

The table below lists the members of the Merchant Navy who died as a result of the sinking of Athenia (II). Information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commision website Ext. Ref. #10.

Text Box:   They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
  Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
  At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
  We will remember them.

Images

 

1. Images #4 and #5 by the Webmaster

2. All other images are from The Times Archive - Ext Ref. #12

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Govan to Nuremberg - the History of Athenia (2)

Surname

Forenames

Description

Age and other Information

Carlin

James

Assistant Steward

Age 56

Donnelly

Ian

Assistant Steward

Age 26

Donnelly

John

Assistant Steward

Age 23

Elder

James

Donkeyman

Age 45, Husband of Mary Elder of Cambuslang, Lanarkshire

Fordyce

Charles

Watchman

Age 65, Son of George and Jessie Fordyce, husband of Mary Penelope Fordyce

Gallagher

Hugh

Greaser

Age 23, Son of Thomas Gallagher and of Isabel Gallagher of Glasgow

Harrower

Alison

Stewardess

Age 41, Daughter of William and Hannah Foster Denny Harrower

Hogg

John

Assistant Steward

Age 51, Husband of Sarah A. Hogg of Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Johnston

Margaret

Stewardess

Age 41, Daughter of James and Christina Johnson of Glasgow

Kent

John

Assistant Steward

Age 50, Husband of Jessie Darroch Kent of Bridgeton Glasgow

Lawler

Jessie

Stewardess

Age 60, Wife of Patrick Lawler of Sholing Southampton

McDermott

Michael J

Assistant Steward

Age 33

McJarrow

John

Printer

Age 39

McKeown

John

Steward

Age 47, Husband of M.E.McKeown of Dunoon Artyllshire

Marshall

James

Bellboy

Age 15

Morrison

David

Steward

Age 32

Provan

David

Barber

Age 65, Son of Alec and Margaret Provan, Husband of Martha Provan of Glasgow

Thomson

Samuel

Assistant Steward

Age 45, Husband of Julia McCafferty Thomson of Glasgow