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THE SINKING OF THE "GLOUCESTER CASTLE"

"The "Gloucester Castle", 8,000 tons was the smallest and oldest of the Union-Castle passenger liners.   Already in retirement at Netley, she had been pressed into service once again owing to the exigencies of war.   From September, 1939, she voyaged for three years, more or less with regularity, between Great Britain and South Africa, being, in fact, the only Union-Castle liner thus to be continuously employed.

On June 21, 1942, at noon, the "Gloucester Castle" (Captain H.H. Rose) sailed from Birkenhead direct for Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London.   In addition to her cargo she carried parcel mails and twelve passengers.   The passengers were all women and children going out to Simonstown to join relatives at the Naval Dockyard there.   The ship sailed in convoy for some days and the proceeded, unescourted, on her way to Cape Town.   She never reached her destination.   Two months passed, and on August 31, 1942, the Shipping Casualty Department of the Admiralty informed the Union-Castle Company that their vessel "Gloucester Castle", 'gravely overdue', must be presumed lost.   For those who had relatives on board the ship, months of anxiety and suspense were now to follow.   The full story of the vessel's fate was not known until the war was over.

On Wednesday, July 15, the "Gloucester Castle" was some 1,300 miles south-east of Freetown and was approaching the point almost midway between Ascension Island and the African coast.   In those equatorial latitudes it had been hot and sticky; all through the day there had been tropical showers.   Night came, as it does in those parts, quickly.   It was quiet and still and overcast.   The vessel had been blacked-out, and to the look-out at the masthead nothing now was visible but the bow-wave of the "Gloucester Castle".   It was seven o'clock, and complete darkness reigned.

Suddenly there came a bright flash close by on the starboard bow, a loud report, and a sickening crash as a shell burst on the "Gloucester Castle", hitting the vessel just below the starboard wing of the bridge.   In rapid succession more shells followed, accompanied by pom-pom and machine-gun fire.   The wireless room was wrecked immediately; the aerials came toppling down; the radio operators were killed.   No message could be sent telling that the raider had attacked the "Gloucester Castle".   How many were killed by gunfire will never be known; everything happened very quickly.   In less than ten minutes all was over.

The second shell demolished the dining saloon, at the forward end of the deckhouse.   A lady passenger and one of the engineers had just come in to dinner.   Petrol stored on the foredeck outside the saloon went up in flames.   The ship was listing heavily to starboard.   All the lifeboats on the starboard side had been shot away or rendered useless.   Mr. R.G. Pargiter, senior second officer, who had been on the bridge, rushed along the port side, and, with some of the deck hands, tried to get one of the boats away.   As he was passing a woman and child into No 3 boat, the "Gloucester Castle" suddenly righted herself and then, almost at once, took a heavy list to port.   The frapping ropes holding the boat carried away; the boat swung out into space; the woman and child were thrown into the sea and were never seen again.   The ship was settling so fast that the lifeboat was waterborne almost at once, level with the deck rail where some women and children were standing.   The officer shouted to them to jump.   Four jumped, but just before the fifth was to make the attempt, The "Gloucester Castle" suddenly sank.   As the painter was still attached the lifeboat went down with the ship.   Where once had been the "Gloucester Castle", there was only swirling flotsam and a mass of struggling people."

(from 'The Union-Castle Chronicle 1853-1953' by Marischal Murray.)

SS Gloucester Castle was part of a section of twenty-four vessels from OS.32 sailing on to the Cape and beyond. On July 15, 1942, she was shelled and sunk by the auxiliary cruiser, Michel, in position 08S 01E (about 840 miles west of Luanda, Angola). There were sixty-one survivors but ninety-three crew members were killed and are commemorated on Tower Hill, Panel 52.

AKEHURST, Boatswain (Bosun), ERNEST HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 41. Son of William Henry and Ellen Maud Akehurst; husband of Ethel May Akehurst, of Great Totham, Essex.

BEDFORD, Steward, MAURICE JOHN RAGLAN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 38.

BISHOP, Second Officer, ERIC CHRISTOPHER HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of Henry and Mary Annie Bishop, of Worthing, Sussex; husband of Hilda Frances Bishop, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

BURKE, Fireman, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 32.

CADLE, Deck Boy, REGINALD SYDNEY ALFRED, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Sidney Albert and Ethel May Cadle, of Caterham, Surrey.

CARLYLE, Greaser, EVAN CAMERON, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of George and Ivy Elizabeth Carlyle; husband of Winifred Carlyle, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

CHAPMAN, Steward, MICHAEL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18.

CHRISTIAN, Hospital Attendant, JOHN THOMAS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Christian, of Kirkdale, Liverpool.

CLARK, Engineer Officer, JOHN ALEXANDER, Merchant Navy. Lost in S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). 15th July 1942. Age 30. Son of John J. and B. H. Clark. of Peterhead. Aberdeenshire.

CONNOR, Trimmer, PATRICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18.

CORRIGAN, Steward, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 19.

DANIELS, Steward, FRANK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 52. Son of Arthur T. and Margaret E Daniels.

DARBY, Trimmer, HAROLD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56.

DE FREVILLE, Third Radio Officer, BASIL DENIS HERBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Geoffrey Philip Herbert and May de Freville, of Sutton, Surrey.

DEVINE, Fireman, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of James Devine, and of Mary Devine, of Birkenhead.

DISLEY, Assistant Steward, WILLIAM JOSEPH ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of William and Ada Elizabeth Disley, of Dagenham, Essex.

DIXON, Trimmer, JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18. Son of James and Margaret Dixon, of Liverpool.

DUNK, Donkeyman, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 58.

EDWARDS, Sailor, JAMES HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 18
FARNWORTH, Deck Boy, JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 17. Son of Joseph and Primrose Lily Farnworth, of Bolton, Lancashire.

FENN, Fireman, JOHN ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Fenn, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

GARTH, Lamp Trimmer, LANCELOT SILVEN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 53. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Garth; husband of Dorothy Garth, of Salisbury.

GREEFF, Quartermaster, PETER PHILIP, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of John and Eliza Greeff, of Cape Town, South Africa.

GRIFFITHS, Trimmer, FRANCIS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Martin and Mary Ellen Griffiths.

GUISE, Second Radio Officer, JAMES ALEXANDER DOUGAL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 26. Son of James Alexander Guise, and of Elizabeth Annie Guise, of Cromarty.

HAYES, Able Seaman, JOSEPH JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 26.

HAYTER, Chief Steward, ERNEST WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 52. Son of George and Mary Jane Hayter; husband of Lily Hayter, of Southampton.

HITCHINSON, Trimmer, ERNEST ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 24. Son of Joseph Henry and Marian Magdalene Hitchinson, of Red Hill, Natal, South Africa.

HODSON, Quartermaster, ROBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 45.

HOLDEN, Deck Boy, GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Arthur and Evelyn Holden, of Sale, Cheshire.

INGRAM, Steward, KENNETH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 30.

JACKSON, Greaser, ERNEST ALBERT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 47. Husband of Elizabeth Ann Jackson, of Liverpool.

JENKIN, Steward, SYDNEY PAYNE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56. Son of James and Annie Jenkin; husband of Cecilia Jenkin, of Durban, Natal, South Africa.

JENKINS, Trimmer, JOHN P., S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 17. Son of Edward Jenkins, and of Isabella Jenkins, of Liverpool.

KELLY, Assistant Cook, CHARLES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 43.

KENDALL, Trimmer, JAMES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of Sarah Kendall, of Kirkdale, Liverpool.

KERR, Assistant Steward, CHARLES HENRY COLBROOK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of Alexander Kerr, and of Alice Kerr, of Glasgow.

LAMBERT, Fireman and Trimmer, LEONARD WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 20.
LEYLAND, Trimmer, GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22.

LLOYD, Assistant Steward, DOUGLAS R., S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 23. Son of Albert Edward Cornelius and Elsie Sarah Lloyd, of Southampton.

LONERAGAN, Boots, WALTER FREDERICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 61. Son of Walter James Loneragan and Emma Louisa Loneragan; husband of R. A. Loneragan, of Brentwood, Essex.

LOVERING, Sailor, KENNETH OSCAR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of William Henry Lovering, and of Louise Lovering, of Fowey, Cornwall.

MACPHERSON, Chief Engineer Officer, ARCHIBALD CLUNY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 57.

MAGUIRE, Fireman, RICHARD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 38. Son of Thomas Andrew and Ellen Jane Maguire.

METCALF, Assistant Storekeeper, ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 31. Son of George and Henrietta Metcalf; husband of Elizabeth Gwendolene Metcalf, of Southampton.

MILLER, Fireman, PATRICK, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 33. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Miller, of Liverpool.

MINNS, Quartermaster, REGINALD RICHARD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 56.

MOORCROFT, Fireman, JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moorcroft; husband of Mary Moorcroft, of Huyton, Lancashire.

MORAN, Ordinary Seaman, THOMAS HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 21. Son of Dominic and Elizabeth Moran, of Kirkdale, Liverpool

MORIN, Sailor, JOSEPH MICHEL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1941. Age 38.

MORRIS, Fourth Officer, THOMAS ALFRED, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Son of Ellis and Bertha Morris, of Porth, Glamorgan; husband of E. Marion Morris, of Pontypridd, Glamorgan.

MacASKILL, Carpenter, DONALD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 62. Husband of Isabella MacAskill, of Ilford, Essex.

McCAULEY, Sailor, JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Thomas and Elisabeth McCauley; husband of Emily McCauley, of Canley, Coventry.

McGEAGH, Assistant Steward, JOHN BARRINGTON, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Thomas Alexander McGeagh, and of Mary Jane McGeagh, of Liverpool.

McLAREN, Surgeon, ARCHIBALD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 27.

O'DONNELL, Butcher, ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 48. Husband of E. O'Donnell, of Swanwick, Hampshire.

OPIE, Able Seaman, ARTHUR SEYMOUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 30. Son of William John and Edith Mary Opie.
PAINE, Storekeeper, JOHN ERNEST, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 49. Son of John and Kate Paine; husband of A. R. Paine, of Millwall, London.

PARSONS, Steward Hairdresser, PERCIVAL GEORGE, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 37.

PENFOLD, Fifth Engineer Officer, NORMAN GRAHAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 25. Son of Henry Oscar and Ethel Victoria Penfold, of Southampton.

QUICKE, Steward, EDWARD CECIL, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 33. Son of Reginald Cecil and Ada Emily Quicke, of Southampton; husband of Hilda May Quicke, of Southampton.

ROBERTS, Assistant Cook, HARRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 36.

ROEBUCK, Assistant Steward, ERIC, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 25.

ROSE, Master, HERBERT HAROLD, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 59. Husband of G. H. Rose, of Otterbourne, Hampshire.

SARTAIN, Steward, DENNIS ARTHUR, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 18.

SEWARD, Assistant Cook, ERNEST HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 54. Husband of Emily Seward, of Chapel, Southampton.

SHANNON, Third Officer, WILLIAM GARDINER, M B E, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. Son of William and Mary Hamilton Shannon; husband of Moyna V. Shannon, of Wembley Park, Middlesex. Master Mariner, Merchant Navy.

SIMPSON, Trimmer, PETER, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Simpson, of Liverpool.

SMITH, Fireman, DAVID, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 31. Son of George and Florence Smith; husband of Hilda May Smith, of Birkenhead.

SMITH, Storekeeper, WILLIAM ALFRED JOHN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 34. Son of Edward William and Linda Victoria Smith; husband of Elsie Marion Smith, of Sholing, Southampton.

SOLOMON, Pantryman, JACOBUS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 58.

SOUTHART, Fireman, WILLIAM, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 38. Husband of C. Southart, of Liverpool.

STEVENSON, Boatswain's Mate, EDWARD EVELYN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28.

SWEENEY, Scullion, JOHN JOSEPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 16th July 1942. Age 19. Son of Patrick and Frances Sweeney, of Liverpool.

TAYLOR, Greaser, ALFRED HENRY, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 22. Son of Alfred and Evelyn Jessie Taylor, of Hornsey, London.

THOMAS, Stewardess, EDITHA, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 56. Wife of Rowley Thomas.
THOMSON, Steward, GEORGE FETTES, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Husband of Elizabeth Thomson, of Glasgow.

VAUGHAN, First Radio Officer, KENNETH RAYMOND, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Vaughan, of Greenhithe, Kent.

WALKER, Chief Officer, JOHN DENNIS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 32. Son of Julia Kate Walker, of Durban, Natal, South Africa.

WALTON, Purser, ARTHUR ALAN, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 28. Son of Arthur and Eveline Ethel Walton.

WATTS, Fireman, THOMAS, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 35.

WEIR, Ordinary Seaman, CLEMENT, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 16. Son of Alexander and Emily Weir, of Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. His brother John also fell.

WOLTERS, Watchman, HENRICK EDWARD ADOLPH, S.S. Gloucester Castle (London). Merchant Navy. 15th July 1942. Age 63.

Commemorative data kindly provided by Billy McGee: http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/.