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Letters
Crew members from Athenia, who died when she was sunk, to become the first Merchant Ship casuality of WW2 Hello: Hope you can help. I am an official City of London Guide and often take groups to the Merchant Navy memorial at Trinity Square, near the Tower of London. There are 25,000 names on this memorial and I would like to give some very brief details about the ships and men who are commemorated there. I plan to have a close look at the memorial in a few days and want to find out if the Athenia is listed. If not, then I shall research some of the names that are listed but if you know of any that are particularly poignant then I would be grateful for the information. Look forward to hearing from you. Regards, David Williams HYPERLINK "www.londonfootsteps.co.uk"www.londonfootsteps.co.uk HYPERLINK "www.ancientblue.blogspot.com"www.ancientblue.blogspot.com
Here is a list of the crew members from Athenia, was died when she was sunk, to become the first Merchant Ship casuality of WW2. Please note the first line, of the 19 who died, 18 are on panel 12 at the Tower Hill Memorial, the last one listed was a Canadian lady, and is remembered on the Halifax Memorial in Nova Scotia. Ian and John Donnelly both from Glasgow look like brothers, and James Marshall was only 15, very young to die. Thus 4 who died were women, all stewardesses, the fact that so many who died were serving in the capacity of steward, or stewardess, seems to point to the fact that they were caught below decks, and did not have time to reach the upper deck and escape. I guess you have plenty of details about the Tower Hill Memorial, if not, perhaps I could help in that regard. Best wishes with your Guide duties, I trust this of some assistance to you David. Regards,
Mac. I am very grateful to get such a prompt response and it's a great tribute to the power of technology. How else could I have found out so much in such a short time. I only started researching a few hours ago and now the jigsaw is complete. Here's a picture I took recently of the PLA building when in Trinity Square. The memorial is on the left and I shall be there on Monday and, if the weather is better, can take some more photographs. I also give lectures on London and now have a very good story to work into my presentation. My River Thames walk starts in Trinity Square and your information helps me to make an excellent opening to the story of the Thames and the maritime influence on the development of London. Best wishes and again, many thanks.
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