Name: |
ROSS |
Given Name: |
ROBERT PRINGLE |
Initials: |
R P |
Service No: |
69119 |
Rank: |
Stoker 2nd ClassOther Casualties of this Rank |
Regiment: |
South African Naval Forces |
Unit: |
H.M.S. LaconiaOther Casualties from this Unit |
Date of Death: |
1942-10-01Other Casualties on this
Date |
Age: |
23 |
Cause of Death: |
Died of exposure, in lifeboat. U-156 sank the Allied liner Laconia west of Africa in what has become known as the Laconia incident. An American B-24 bomber from Ascension Island, piloted by James D. Harden, found the U-156 on the surface carrying out rescue operations of over thousand survivors from the sunken (by U-156) HMS Laconia. U-156, having radioed earlier that she would not attack any ship assisting, displayed a large Red Cross in hopes of making the Americans cancel an attack. Harden described the situation to base and was told "Sink sub" and then commenced an attack which damaged the boat. The boat radioed home about the attack and sailed west to repair damages. |
Additional
Information: |
Son of Laurie McLeod Ross and Agnes Ruth Ross (nee Pringle), of Bedford, Cape Province, South Africa. Educated at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown. B.Sc. On Bedford Town War Memorial, Eastern Cape |
This information was last verified for accuracy: 2018-07-23
