At 00.00 hours on October 30, 1942, MV Brittany was sailing to Liverpool from Buenos Aires with a cargo of hides, rice and cotton in convoy SL.125 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-509. The position was 33.29N, 18.32W (off Madeira). The master (William White Dovell), thirty-two crew members, seven gunners and three passengers were picked up by HMS Kelantan and landed at Gourock on November 8. Twelve crew members and one gunner were lost and are commemorated at Tower Hill, Panel 21. One unknown passenger also lost his life.
COLLINS , Assistant Steward, DAVID JOHN, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 20.
CRIDLAND , Deck Boy, FRANCIS ROGER, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 16. Son of Francis Herbert and Alice Mary Cridland, of Portishead, Somerset.
FYFE , Electrical Engineer, WILLIAM, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 28. Son of James and Agnes Fyfe, of Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire.
GARTON , Able Seaman, JOHN JOSEPH, S.S. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 40. Son of Mr. and Mrs. David Garton; husband of Ethel Muriel Garton, of Swansea.
HOLGATE , Fourth Engineer Officer, JOHN EDWIN SIDNEY, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 21. Son of Edwin Sidney Holgate and Mary Ethel Holgate, of Ilford, Essex.
LEWIS , Steward's Boy, DENNIS GEORGE MAUNDER, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 19. Son of George and Ann Lewis.
MAY , Chief Steward, FRANCIS WILLIAM, B E M, S.S. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 52. Son of George and Katherine May, of West Ham, Essex; husband of Dorothy May May, of Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex. His son, Gnr. Francis George May, died in the United Kingdom.
MORRIS , Sailor, JOHN, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 20. Son of Ernest and Susan Annie Morris, of Redland, Bristol
MURPHY , Greaser, DANIEL, S.S. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 45
PATERSON , Third Radio Officer, WILLIAM, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 19. Son of David and Agnes Paterson, of Edinburgh.
ROONEY , Sailor, EDWARD, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 29th October 1942. Age 33. Son of Robert and Mary Ellen Rooney.
WINSOR , Assistant Steward, WILLIAM EDWARD, M.V. Brittany (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 32. Son of William Bennett Winsor and Mary Winsor; husband of Kezia Winsor. of Crosby, Liverpool.
DEMS Gunner
BURCHER , Able Seaman, CHARLES WILLIAM, D/JX 267138. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in M.V. Brittany. 29th October 1942. Age 33. Son of Arthur Allen Burcher and Elizabeth Ada Burcher, of Bedminster, Somerset.
Commemorative data kindly provided by Billy McGee: http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/.