Hello, I've just discovered that my grandfather was killed when the SS Cortes was sunk in 1941. I knew that he was serving in the MN even though he was theoretically past retirement age (family legend is that he was asked to go back because they were desperately short of experienced crew). My mother said no one really knew any details (she said they didn't know where he was sunk) and my Granny never wanted to talk about it, but now I'd like to find out more. I'd also like to know if he was entitled to any war medals as I'd like my Auntie to have them (the only survivor of that generation). I've found that his name is on a plaque on a memorial in London.
Hello Here is some further information on the SS Cortes. WRECK WRAK EPAVE WRACK PECIO Cortes (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net Crew list: Crewlist from Cortes (British steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net Cheers Mark
Geoff's Search Engine 001 AZIZ ABDUL - - SS CORTES LONDON 08/10/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 002 BISSON R - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 003 BLANCO A - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 004 BOWEN JJ - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 005 CALAUOD R - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 006 CASTLE SR - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 007 COOPER MG - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 008 DOYLE R - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 009 GIBSON J - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 010 GOODWIN DT - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 011 GREASE LT - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 012 HANIFFA ABDUL HAMID - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 013 HARESNAPE GA - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 014 HASAN G - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 015 HASSAN A - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 016 HASSAN S - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 017 HOPKINS L - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 018 KASSIM HASSAN ALI - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 019 MACRAE DR - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 020 MCHUGH J - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 021 MILLARD W - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 022 MOHAMED HASSIN - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 023 MUDA HAMID - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 024 MUSLEH HAMAD ABDULLA - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 025 NAGI AHMED - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 026 NEAL HA - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 027 NELSON JA - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 028 PIERCE NJ - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 029 PIMENTIL AC - SS CORTES LONDON 11/10/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 030 PRICE TW - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 031 SALEH ALI - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 032 SENIOR JA - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 033 SLAMAN HASSAN - - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 034 SMYTH F - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 035 TURNBULL JES - SS CORTES LONDON 26/09/1941 MERCHANT NAVY 036 VARCAS G - SS CORTES LONDON 09/10/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
Thank you very much for the responses and links. It's strange how much it affects you to see the details of how and where he was lost and through the links I've even seen a photo of the U Boat and captain that sank them... I believe he also served in the MN in WW1: can anyone suggest any good links to follow up that lead too?
Do you wish to give his name, date and place of birth and I can advise you about his medals and his records? Regards Hugh
Hi. I know this was shared quite some time ago, but I’ve just stumbled across this. My great granddad also died on this boat. His name is on the list shared by CL1. He was I believe a ship’s cook (or so historic records seem to state). I don’t suppose you found out any more regarding the circumstances of this did you per chance? I would be interested to hear if so. Thanks
Skins11, The opening post author has not been back aboard since April 2012, although you could try a 'Conversation' with them by clicking on their name and using 'Start a Conversation'. Assuming the email used in 2012 is still valid. Interesting to check the crew list, many were Yemenis from Aden, a couple from the Philippines and Singapore. Let alone how grim this episode was, eight ships sunk in the convoy and what happened to the survivors from this ship: Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15553 [/QUOTE]
Panel from Tower Hill Memorial from my collection I have sent the op a message telling them there is an update on their thread
Ahoy - Mac's Web Log - Donald Roy MacRae - who was the Master of the S.S. Cortes when she was sunk on the 26th September 1941 TD
If you need details of his MN records just let me know who it is and I will check it out. Regards Hugh
Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. It’s amazing quite how much information there seems to be available. Thanks also Hugh for offering to assist regarding the MN records. My great grandad was Frederick Fleury Smyth. If you were able to find anything on that front, that would be absolutely fantastic! Cheers - Aidan
Thanks! I’m going to go and visit the memorial on Wednesday. I work in London on occasion, but only found out about it recently, else would have gone sooner. Hoping it’s not closed due to C19 restrictions!
you should be ok its in Trinity Square Gardens along with the WW1 Memorial right next to Tower Hill tube
UK, Merchant Seamen Deaths, 1939 -1953 Name: Fred Smyth Age: 39 Birth Date: abt 1902 Birth Place: Liverpool, England Death Date: 26 Sep 1941 Death Place: At Sea Spouse: M. W. Medal listing of Smyth, Fred Discharge number: 992152 Date of Birth: 03... | The National Archives Reference: BT 395/1/91053 Description: Medal listing of Smyth, Fred Discharge number: 992152 Date of Birth: 03 August 1902 Date: [1946-2002] Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Open on Transfer Downloadable for £3.50 Just out of interest - did he learn to fly as well? UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940 Name: Frederick Smyth Gender: Male Age: 18 Birth Date: 3 Aug 1901 (This is not quite right its out by 1 year but the date and month are the same) Birth Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England Service Date: 9 Aug 1919 Service Number: 333025 Mother: E. Smyth Next of Kin: E. Smyth Relation to Airman: Mother This is from a family tree on Ancestry for: Fredrick Fleury Smyth Junior 1902–1941 BIRTH 3 AUG 1902 • Liverpool, Lancashire, England DEATH 26 SEP 1941 • At Sea TD
Wow, that’s really helpful and interesting. Thanks very much TD. It would be news to me if he was in the air force also, but it’s a possibility for sure. From that information, his service date would just be a few days after his 18th birthday. If it was him, and that was actually his 17th birthday, could he have lied about his DOB to make out he was 18? I thought you could enlist at 16 (but could be wrong), so not sure what the benefit in that would be. His mother’s name was Elizabeth, so that would all fit. Is there anywhere I could look to perhaps find out more about this possible air force enrolment (if that’s the right word)? I downloaded the medal listing as well that you linked to (thanks for that). Think I’ve attached the image (if I’ve done it right). So looks like he had a War Medal, a 1939-1945 Star, an Atlantic Star and an Africa Star. I’ll have to do a little more digging as to what they all mean. Once again, really appreciate your assistance and time spent helping with this. You’re a gent!
If you wish to understand his medals a little more then there is this link Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility which may help TD
I also see that he was DBS (Distressed British Seaman) which suggested that he had been discharged from another ship, either through illness or the ship being lost.
Have just re read the card and where it describes 'Cause of Death' its also written 'Passenger at the time' - so presumably he was not assigned to this ship as crew?? Naval guys to the rescue TD
I had heard that he was on another boat that was hit but survived, spent some time somewhere whilst he recovered, and was then heading back to the UK when he got hit again. So I guess that fits with both of those things. I’ve no idea what the name of the other boat he was on was.
