I'm currently researching Oliver George Baker (1919-1941) remembered at the Castle Bromwich War Memorial, Birmingham. He was a Royal Engineer with 54th Field Coy and is recorded died 5th December 1941. He is also remembered at the Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya. It may be a coincidence, but on that same date the SS Chakdina, leaving Tobruk harbour was sunk. Does anyone have a casualty list for SS Chakdina? Alan
List here appears for crew only bar 1 CHAKDINA SS was a armed boarding vessel commandeered by the British in Tobruk to evacuate their wounded. It sailed from the harbour with 380 wounded soldiers on board including 97 New Zealanders. Some officers and medical personnel were also accompanying the wounded. The ship was heading for Baggush, the H/Q of the 2nd N.Z. Division. At 9 o´clock in the morning a Luftwaffe plane dropped a torpedo which struck the ship in the after hold. Read more at wrecksite: https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16046 https://wrecksite.eu/peopleView.aspx?UBHuPLUSKLCWtO8yZrnBxFgHw== https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16046
List of the New Zealanders NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES - THE SINKING OF THE SS CHAKDINA - 1941 List of Australians http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/chakindaaustralia.html
Threads here which mentions the sinking Remembering Today 5/12/41 Lance Corporal JOHN MCEWAN MACARTY 17710, New Zealand Infantry British Pow Losses On Italian Ship Remembering Today-Signalman NORMAN KIRKMAN 2349713, 7th Armd. Div. Sigs., Royal Corps of Signals
CL1, thank you for this information. Oliver George Baker was part of the Royal Engineers, 54 Field Coy. I'm wondering if War Diaries are available, if he was wounded prior to 5th Dec and therefore on SS Chakdina leaving Tobruk.
Alan quite possibly Maybe other forum members might have access to them or a newspaper clipping from the local paper Alan for forum members info your great website Lance Sergeant Oliver George Baker (1919-1941) | Castle Bromwich Graveyard regards Clive
A. By Sea | ANZAC POW Free Men in Europe TD Forgot to add - really need service records as he may have died on land but his body never recovered. War Diaries would be useful Royal Engineers: 54 Field Company (Fd Coy RE) | The National Archives Reference: WO 169/1870 Description: Royal Engineers: 54 Field Company (Fd Coy RE) Date: 1941 Jan.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Closed For 29 years
He is only mentioned once in the casualty lists as 'killed in action'. He was not previously listed as missing or wounded etc.
5 December 1941 is in the middle of Op CRUSADER. Do you have anything other than the date to tie him to the boat?
