S.S. California was part of Convoy Faith and lost after being attacked by Fw200's in the Atlantic. Lloyd's says 46 crew and 26 passengers (3 RN and 23 civilians) lost. CWGC lists 46 crew. It's not clear who the RN losses were, but CWGC does lists these three sailors on the Plymouth Memorial as being lost on the 11th, so they could be them. KENDRICK, Bernard C, Act/Leading Stoker, D/KX 100383 (HMS Drake IV), MPK POOLE, William C G, Act/Regulating Petty Officer, D/MX 103217 (HMS Drake IV), MPK SIM, Robert J, Ordinary Seaman, D/JX 346788 (HMS Drake IV), MPK Additionally despite the other passenger casualties being noted as civilians, the Brookwood Memorial records the loss of two soldiers associated with the sinking of California. PHILLIPS, Jacob, Lieutenant, 260690, Royal Army Medical Corps MORTON, Ernest, L, Private, 7521772, Royal Army Medical Corps Also on the same date, the memorial records the following soldiers with no details of where they were lost, so they may have been lost with the California. HOLLAND, Henry T, Private,14508032, Royal Army Medical Corps JONES, Robert H,Staff Serjeant, S/103299, Royal Army Service Corps SMART, Howard N, Warrant Officer Class I, 881453 Royal Armoured Corps NIGHTINGALE, Frederick W, Warrant Officer Class II, 311894 Royal Armoured Corps Any ideas? Regards, Steve
Ordinary Seaman Robert Johnstone Sim family headstone states lost at sea Ordinary Seaman Robert Johnstone Sim...
Frederick William Nightingale (1886–1943), Warrant Officer Class II (311894) in the Royal Armoured Corps, died at sea on 11 July 1943 aged 57, while on active service. He had served previously in India and subsequently throughout the First World War. His death is commemorated on Panel 1, column 2 of Brookwood Memorial, England as well as on this family grave. His younger brother Harry Nightingale was killed on active service in the First World War. Frederick William Nightingale - Mill Road Cemetery Elizabeth Nightingale; Ellen Louisa Nightingale; Frederick William Nightingale; George Nightingale; Harry Nightingale - Mill Road Cemetery
One crewmember died six days later in hospital at Casablanca from injuries received and was buried in the Ben M’Sik European Cemetery. FRENCH, Able Seaman, ALBERT HENRY, S.S. California (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 14th July 1943. Age 58. Son of Charles John and Ellen French; husband of Emily Rosena French, of Eastney, Hampshire.
Roy do you mean the below his body was found so has a grave. Smn Albert Henry French (1885-1943) - Find A Grave... ABLE SEAMAN ALBERT HENRY FRENCH Regiment & Unit/Ship Merchant Navy S.S. California (Glasgow). Date of Death Died 14 July 1943 Age 58 years old Buried or commemorated at BEN M'SIK EUROPEAN CEMETERY Plot 59A. Row 1. Grave 9.
Yes forty five crew were lost in the sinking on the 11th, most are recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial, but two are on the Halifax Memorial. Waiter William C. McMAHON Able Seaman Murdock NICOLSON As you say, the final casualty AB French died on the 14th. He's doesn't appear on the Tower Hill Memorial, because he has a burial plot in Morocco. Regards, Steve