Don't know what you chaps think : SS Alden Gifford wrecked 2-9-44 4 crew lost , the ONLY 4 MN killed this day : 1) Johannes K : known grave Newquay Fairpark 2) Stamp E A : Tower Hill memorial 3) Weekes A : known grave Edinburgh Saughton 4) McDonald C : known grave Edinburgh Comley Bank Now here is the rub, in light of the above there is an unknown MN dated 2-9-44 in grave 706 next to J Karin who is in grave 707 ! Thoughts ?
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Alexander Weekes Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1919 Birth Place: Edinburgh, Scotland Death Date: 2 Sep 1944 Death Place: At Sea Mother: Annie England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Alexander Weekes Death Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1919 Registration Date: Sep 1944 Registration district: St Austell Inferred County: Cornwall Volume: 5c Page: 99 TD
NEWQUAY (FAIRPARK) CEMETERY Seven unidentified men of the Merchant Navy are also buried in this cemetery. Able SeamanKARIN, JOHANNES Died 02/09/1944 Aged 52 S.S. Alden Gifford (London). Merchant Navy INSCRIPTION NO HERO: BUT HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Colin McDonald Age: 41 Birth Date: abt 1903 Birth Place: Edinburgh, Scotland Death Date: 2 Sep 1944 Death Place: At Sea TD edited to add: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Colin McDonald Death Age: 41 Birth Date: abt 1903 Registration Date: Sep 1944 Registration district: St Austell Inferred County: Cornwall Volume: 5c Page: 99
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Johannes Karin Age: 52 Birth Date: abt 1892 Birth Place: Nationalley Arthonian Death Date: 2 Sep 1944 Death Place: At Sea TD edited to add: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Johannes Karin Death Age: 52 Birth Date: abt 1892 Registration Date: Sep 1944 Registration district: Truro Inferred County: Cornwall Volume: 5c Page: 131
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Edward Stamp Birth Place: Johanchury, South Africa Death Date: 2 Sep 1944 Death Place: At Sea Mother: Annie TD
From the database as above there were 7 deaths on this particular day Johannes Karin abt 1892 2 Sep 1944 At Sea Colin McDonald abt 1903 2 Sep 1944 At Sea Hector Muirden abt 1910 2 Sep 1944 At Sea (SS Empire Heritage) Fazlur Emrath Ali Rahman abt 1902 2 Sep 1944 At Sea (SS Nirvana) Manjoos Bhelloo Sk Sk abt 1899 2 Sep 1944 Glasgow (SS Al Rawdah) Edward Stamp 2 Sep 1944 At Sea Alexander Weekes abt 1919 2 Sep 1944 At Sea TD
Is the nationality not 'Esthonian' - as an obsolete spelling of 'Estonian' ? The main difficulty I think with bodies recovered from the sea is that unless there is very clear evidence of the date of death, it is often impossible to be certain of the exact date.
I think it is unlikely to be Edward Stamp's grave. The authorities would have been on the lookout for his body and unless they were incompetent the unknown would not have matched his description even if it had been in the sea sometime. Also I see that he was a fireman and trimmer so he could have been in the engine room when the ship foundered and unable to escape. A possibility is that the unknown is just some other unfortunate who was pulled out of the sea at the same time. Newquay newspapers may have the answer. Would there not have to be a Coroner's Inquest? In which case a report will exist. What about a death certificate? You can't just bury a body without some paperwork. Tim
I have added the death certificate details to the men above except for Stamp whose details I cannot find, the other 3 have had theirs added to the relevant post above TD edited to add Sorry guys - getting tired Weekes & MacDonald are registered in St Austell for their deaths, whereas Karin is registered in Truro
