Name: |
BROWN |
Given Name: |
FREDDY |
Initials: |
F |
Rank: |
Fireman and TrimmerOther Casualties of this Rank |
Regiment: |
Merchant Navy |
Unit: |
S.S. Fort Concord (London)Other Casualties from this Unit |
Date of Death: |
1943-05-12Other Casualties on this
Date |
Age: |
30 |
Cause of Death: |
Killed in action, at 04.41 hours on 12 May 1943 the unescorted Fort Concord (Master Francis Prideaux Ryan) was hit on the port side by one torpedo from U-456 while steaming on a non-evasive course at 10.25 knots about 440 miles north of the Azores. The ship had been in station #13 of convoy HX-237, but became a straggler in thick fog off Newfoundland on 6 May and eventually proceeded independently at full speed after reaching the rendezvous points for stragglers on 10 and 11 May in order to rejoin convoy without encountering it. The U-boat had spotted two stragglers in the evening of 11 May and chased the Fort Concord for about 11 hours before getting into a favorable attack position. The torpedo struck the after part of the engine room with a very heavy explosion that collapsed the accommodation on both sides, opened a split in the boat deck on port side and blew away the motor lifeboat. The master gave order to abandon ship as she settled rapidly on an even keel, so the 48 crew members and eight gunners (the ship was armed with one 4in, four 20mm and two machine guns) tried to lower the three remaining lifeboats in moderate sea and swell while the radio operator attempted to send distress signals. Some men were apparently trapped in the collapsed accommodations or the A.N.D. nets that were blown inboard by the explosion. However, only the starboard aft boat could be lowered before the back of the ship suddenly broke. The Fort Concord sagged amidships and sank with her bow and stern in the air about four minutes after being hit. The master, 27 crew members and all eight gunners were lost |
Additional
Information: |
Born in 1913 in South Africa. ref. South African Roll of Honour 1939-1945 |
This information was last verified for accuracy: 2020-08-29
