CWGC Civilian deaths. I research the history Of Maidenhead, Berkshire, including WW1 and WW2. Ret. Captain Alfred Thom age 57 (late Gordon Highlanders and RFC WW1) and his wife Agnes age 58 of Maidenhead, Berkshire, boarded the SS Melbourne Star in 1943 to sail to Australia. On 2nd April 1943, the ship was sunk by a submarine and only 4 crew members survived. Agnes is on the civilan records of the CWGC, but Alfred is not. He is on the drowned list of the SS Melbourne, and the Royal Astronomical Society, of which Alfred was a Fellow, wrote a fulsome obiturary of him in the newspaper. The CWGC say that it needs more proof of his death before he can be added to the record; his death is not listed in England so there is no proof that I can send. Does anyone have any suggestions please?
Give Chrisharley9 a PM, Chris has a lot of experience getting the CWGC to accept this kind of situation
Was the ship the SS Melbourne Star? What list did the CWGC use to add names to their civilian deaths database? Is the passenger list available for the SS Melbourne Star. Cheers Geoff
Sorry, Spidge, I should have put the Melbourne Star, which I have amended. The list of casualties on 2 April 1943 is on Melbourne Star - The Memorial for some reason the website address will not register on here. Thankyou, Oldman, I will see if I can find Chrisharley9.
You have found me You will need to get his overseas death certificate or failing that the passenger list I will make a few enquiries to see if I can find the DC ref Chris
Thankyou, Chris. The CWGC do have the passenger (drowned) list of the SS Melbourne Star. I do not understand why they added Agnes Thom to the Civilian Dead list when she did not have a death certificate either.
Passenger list, all drowned, (possibly not complete) of SS.Melbourne Star which was sunk by a submarine 2 April 1943. Emma Adamson 58 (Australia), Winifred Cluff 19 (Australia), Rev. John Curran 36 (Ireland), Louise Faux 20 (Tasmania), Dorothea Goldsmith 28 (Cornwall, UK), Eileen King 54 (Australia), Marjorie Kyle 35 (UK), William Macfarlane 71 (Australia), Wing Comm. RAAF Donald Macpherson 28 (Australia), Pamela Macpherson 21 (Australia), Caroline McWhae 50 (Scotland), Kenneth Mcwhae 51 (Scotland), Ethne Mulcahy 23 (Ireland), Eva Owen 40 (Australia), Eva Partridge 72 (UK), Rev. Alexander Porter 34 (Scotland), Elizabeth Slidders 34, John Slidders, 8, Sandison Slidders 4, Alfred Thom 57 (Maidenhead, UK) Agnes Thom 58 (Maidenhead UK), Andre Thomas 45 (Isle of Wight), Nina Whyte 34 (Australia), Sheila Wilson 28 (Australia). It is a mystery to me why these civilians were out at sea in the middle of WW2.
Another mystery of the SS Melbourne: why was Wing Commander Donald James Macpherson, age 28, on board the SS Melbourne? He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
The list you have is it an offical document? If it is can I have a copy please as I may be able to get him recognised Cheers Chris
Another mystery of the SS Melbourne: why was Wing Commander Donald James Macpherson, age 28, on board the SS Melbourne? He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. This is what is noted about the death on the AWM site. Wing Cdr MacPherson was killed in a ground battle on 2 April 1943 in Bermuda, British West Indies while serving with RAAF Overseas Headquarters. I can't understand the ground battle wording. This wording was attached to a photo. SUK10329 | Australian War Memorial
Thankyou Oldman, Chris and Spidge for your feedback. How odd that Wing Commmander Macpherson 28 should have been recorded elsewhere as dying on land, when he is definitely listed as drowning as a passenger on the MV Melbourne Star off the coast of Bermuda. He was accompnied by his wife/sister?, Pamela aged 21. The dead, crew and passengers, of the Melbourne Star are remembered on a Memorial at Tower Hill, London. When I put the website of the Memorial on here, it disappears, so I guess I am not allowed to do that. I think the list must be official, Chris, or it wouldn't have been put on the Memorial in London. Many thanks for your interest, Bridget.
Thankyou Oldman, Chris and Spidge for your feedback. How odd that Wing Commmander Macpherson 28 should have been recorded elsewhere as dying on land, when he is definitely listed as drowning as a passenger on the MV Melbourne Star off the coast of Bermuda. He was accompnied by his wife/sister?, Pamela aged 21. The dead, crew and passengers, of the Melbourne Star are remembered on a Memorial at Tower Hill, London. When I put the website of the Memorial on here, it disappears, so I guess I am not allowed to do that. I think the list must be official, Chris, or it wouldn't have been put on the Memorial in London. Many thanks for your interest, Bridget. The link works perfectly for me.
Thankyou, Spidge. I didn't realise that I could click on MELBOURNE STAR-MEMORIAL to get to the website.
Unfortunately cannot use a transcribed list as evidence for CWGC; I will have see what else I can find Chris
Hello the Runnymede panel is 187 not 186 as stated (CWGC informed) Wing Commander DONALD JAMES MACPHERSON 110, Royal Australian Air Force who died age 28 on 02 April 1943 Son of Donald Alex and Isabel Mary MacPherson; of Kew, Victoria, Australia; husband of Pamela MacPherson. Remembered with honour RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Thankyou CLI. So Pamela (21), who drowned with him on the MV Melbourne Star, was his wife. It is still a mystery what they were doing on the ship; and it is still a mystery to me why the CWGC added Agnes Thom to the Civilian Casualty list, but not her husband Alfred who drowned with her.
THOM, ALFRED MARSHALL GRAEME Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 02/04/1943 Age: 56 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Awards: M C, D C M Reporting Authority: S.S. MELBOURNE STAR Additional Information: Husband of Agnes Wihelmine Mary Thom. We do get there in the end.
