S.S. Ocean Crusader - Henry Charles Yates
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| S.S. Ocean Crusader |
As part of Convey HX-216, the vessel departed from Portland,
Maine, transited Panama and New York, en route to Avonmouth with 8,891 tons of
general merchandise.
The S.S. Ocean
Crusader was a straggler vessel. At 16:57 hours on the 26th of November
1942, during its maiden voyage, the unescorted S.S. Ocean Crusader (Master Ellis Wynne Parry) was struck on the port
side fore and amidships by two of three G7e torpedoes fired by U-262,
approximately 330 miles northeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The ship had
fallen behind from station #114 in convoy HX-216 due to the stress of heavy
weather at coordinates 50°N/47°W during the night of the 25th of November and
was en route to St. John’s when it was spotted and attacked by the U-boat in
dense fog.
Following the attack, the Germans observed the ship stopping
after being hit, firing two flares, and gradually settling by the bow. The
severe sea conditions with high swells rendered the use of the deck gun
infeasible. Consequently, they attempted to sink the vessel by launching their
last torpedo, which ultimately missed its target. U-262 left the vicinity after
half an hour, at which point the S.S. Ocean
Crusader was observed to be sinking by the head with the rudder and
propeller visible above the waterline.
Despite the radio operator's successful transmission of a
distress signal, no survivors were recovered. The incident resulted in the loss
of the master, 44 crew members, and five gunners.
At the time this blog was authored, it was initially
believed that there were three crew members from Swansea: James Alexander
Dadds, Alfred James Daley, and Sidney George Tovey.
Additionally, Henry Charles Yates also came from Swansea.
Henry, born in 1899, was the youngest son of William Charles
Yates and Mary Ann Williams.
According to the 1901 Census, the Yates family resided at
100 Mermaid Row, St. Thomas.
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| 1901 Census |
Mary, aged 41 and born in Burry Port, is a widow. Her
husband Charles passed away the previous year.
Her children resided at the address were.
William J., 19, and Luther C., 15, were both employed as
General Labourers. Sidney, 9, and Henry C., 2 years old.
Also in attendance was Henry Need, a 66-year-old boarder
born in Bristol, who is employed as a General Labourer.
Two years before the sinking of the S.S. Ocean Crusader, Henry married Annie J. Jones.
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| Merchant Seamen Deaths 1939 – 1953 |
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| UK, World War I, and World War II Shipping and Seamen Rolls of Honour |
Henry's name appears in the UK, World War I, and World War II Shipping and Seamen Rolls of Honour
records as well as the Merchant Seamen
Deaths 1939 – 1953. At the time of the sinking, Henry's home address was recorded as 5 Harbour View
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| S.S. Ocean Crusader Tower Hill Memorial credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources. The Merchant Navy Memorial |
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