Identity
Person No.
1837
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
First Name
John
Initials
J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
SEA 815
Lost at sea
Cause of Death
Whilst operating with Convoy OB-341 was torpedoed and sunk by U-98. En route Ellesmere Port for Table Bay. When serving as Third Officer on the SS Designer, which carried cargo of mines and torpedoes for the Persian Gulf, he lost his life when she was torpedoed and sunk off Freetown, West Africa, on 9 July 1941, the only survivors being six Lascars who were landed at Cape Town but later died, and a naval gunner, who was landed at Oporto
Military Service
Rank
Fourth Officer
Regiment
Corps
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
Unknown
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Notes
Son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Birtwhistle, of Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa. Born Middlesbrough, England. Educated Hamilton School, Pretoria; Cadet Draft 1936-7. After completing his course in General Botha John Birtwhistle joined the Harrison Line. He was a member of the Boys' Naval Brigade.
Citations
Unknown
External References
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Dedications
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