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Please could anyone help. My grans brother Albert Walker was a merchant seaman aboard the SS horseferry when it was bombed ne of the tyne on the 11th march 1942. but I cannot find the death certificate. I am also aware he sailed on the alt & the swynfleet. but cannot find any records at all
Any help wopuld be great.
Thanks in advance
lisa

From the Commonwealth War Graves site

Name: WALKER, ALBERT
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Fireman
Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
Unit Text: S.S. Horseferry (London)
Age: 21
Date of Death: 11/03/1942
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 57.
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Have you tried looking at deaths at sea records for his death certificate?

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2365006

Look here lisa

Beat me to it Alex :-)

http://www.mercantilemarine.org/

Try here lisa too, I had a lot of help from them regarding my maternal grandfather.

Quick Draw McGraw they call me!

If someone has a subscription to Findmypast they can probably look up deaths at sea for you Lisa if you dont already have a subscription.

ooooh thankyou I will have a look at these places

Wednesday, 11th March 1942 D921
'SS Horseferry' (951t) cargo ship, Tyne to London with coal, was sunk by an E Boat, NE of Great Yarmouth. Eleven of her crew were lost.

Try the Naval Historical Branch they are very helpful.

Juliet

Wednesday, 11th March 1942 D921
'SS Horseferry' (951t) cargo ship, Tyne to London with coal, was sunk by an E Boat, NE of Great Yarmouth. Eleven of her crew were lost.

Day 921. All times BST. Blackout ends: 07.03, begins: 19.31




Just found the above lisa, doesnt solve the death certificate issue i know

Hi alex
this may sound silly but would a fireman be also classed as a stoker ??

Hi

I have seen it suggested that this ship was sunk by an E-boat rather than bombed. I take it you have found his entry on on the CWGC site? If his body was never recovered then there is a good chance that there will not be a death certificate.

Denis

Hi Lisa

Yes fireman/stoker would be a similar role - rather than fireman like firefighter!

x

ok thanks
yes I did see the entry about the ss horse ferry I have it on the tree notes , There was an artical written about it in the goole times or post so I am not sure if a body was recovered

Give the mercantile marine website a visit lisa, they really are a great bunch just like here, they helped me with information about my mums dad whose ship sank during the war.
Best Wishes

If his body had been recovered then the CWGC would have recorded his place of burial etc. However, they have placed his name on their Tower Hill memorial to the merchant navy missing

Lisa

Have pm'd you.

Juliet

thanks everyone

One of the casualties appears to be a Royal Navy Able Seaman, possibly a gunner. His body was recovered and he is buried in Gillingham (William Blackwell).

Another RN casualty was Able Seaman Ernest Lambert but his body was not recovered and so he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.