SS SWEDRU

On April 16, 1941 in position 55.21N, 12.50W, SS Swedru was bombed in convoy by a German FW200 Kondor aircraft. Two 250 lb bombs (with ~15 second delay fuses) were dropped from 250ft, struck the bridge and exploded. She was badly damaged and set on fire. On April 19, 1941 she was abandoned and sunk by escort torpedoes in position 54.44N, 11.02W. There were thirty-seven survivors but twenty-four crew members lost their lives of which only fourteen are known and commemorated on Tower Hill, Panel 105.

ASHILEY , Boy, E K, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 26.

BARBER , Chief Officer, CHARLES, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 46. Son of Thomas and Mary Barber; husband of Violet B. Barber, of Newent, Gloucestershire.

BLENKINSOP , Steward, WILLIAM, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 41.

BYRNE , Assistant Cook, JOHN HENRY, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 37. Son of Philip Byrne, and of Jane Agnes Byrne, of Crosby, Liverpool.

CANNON , Chief Engineer Officer, HARRY, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 52. Husband of Mary Catherine Cannon, of Liverpool.

HACKWOOD , Fifth Engineer Officer, ERIC FOSTER, M.V. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 20.

HUNTER , Second Radio Officer, RICHARD GERRARD, S.S. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 18. Son of William Gerrard Hunter and Annie Hunter, of St. Helens, Lancashire.

JORDAN , Baker, LEMUEL ASHTON, S.S. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 55.

KING , Steward's Boy, CHARLES DAVIDSON EKUNDYOR, S.S. Swedru (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 16th April 1941. Age 23. Son of Charles S. and Adeline L. King, of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

KIRK , Second Officer, JOHN MCCONNACHIE, S.S. Swedru. Merchant Navy. 17th April 1941. Age 34. Son of William Rowley Kirk and Matilda Gillespie Kirk; husband of Emma Elizabeth Kirk, of Eldwick, Yorkshire. Buried Londonderry City Cemetery.

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