In Memory Of

BIRTWHISTLE, JOHN

Service Details
Age:
 20
Date of Birth:
 1920-10-10
Rank:
 Fourth Officer
Unit:
 S.S. Designer (Liverpool)
Regiment:
 Merchant Navy
Date of Death:
 1941-07-09
Cause of Death:
 Whilst operating with Convoy OB-341 was torpedoed and sunk by U-98. En route Ellesmere Port for Table Bay. When serving as Third Officer on the SS Designer, which carried cargo of mines and torpedoes for the Persian Gulf, he lost his life when she was torpedoed and sunk off Freetown, West Africa, on 9 July 1941, the only survivors being six Lascars who were landed at Cape Town but later died, and a naval gunner, who was landed at Oporto.
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Panel 35.
Cemetery:
 TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Localitly:
 London
Country:
 United Kingdom
Additional Information
Son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Birtwhistle, of Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa. Born Middlesbrough, England. Educated Hamilton School, Pretoria; Cadet Draft 1936-7. After completing his course in General Botha John Birtwhistle joined the Harrison Line. He was a member of the Boys' Naval Brigade.