Edgar John Colebrook – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Tiger

Sailor Edgar John Colebrook – Merchant Navy, S.S. Empire Tiger

Early Life

Edgar John Colebrook was born in 1914. 

1921 Census

By the time of the 1921 Census, he was living at the Cottage Homes, Cockett, Swansea, an institution that housed children who required care outside the family home. Little else is recorded about his early years, but like many young men of his generation, he later turned to the sea for work and opportunity.

Service in the Merchant Navy

Edgar joined the Merchant Navy, serving as a Sailor during the Second World War. His role placed him among the thousands of civilian seafarers who kept Britain supplied with food, fuel, and essential materials throughout the conflict—often at great personal risk.

S.S. Empire Tiger

He served aboard the S.S. Empire Tiger, a 4,954‑ton British steam cargo ship built in 1919 by Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. Originally a commercial vessel, she was later requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and became part of the extensive wartime Empire fleet. These ships formed the backbone of Britain’s merchant service, maintaining vital supply routes across the Atlantic.

Final Voyage and Disappearance of the S.S. Empire Tiger – 27^th February 1941

In 1940, the Empire Tiger underwent several inspections and surveys, confirming her readiness for wartime service. On 27^th February 1941, while bound for the Clyde, the ship transmitted urgent distress messages reporting severe difficulties, including the loss of all lifeboats—a clear sign of catastrophic damage.

Shortly afterwards, all communication ceased.

The S.S. Empire Tiger vanished without trace in the North Atlantic. No wreckage was ever recovered, and no survivors were found. The entire crew—including Sailor Edgar John Colebrook—was lost. Her disappearance remains one of the many tragic mysteries of the Battle of the Atlantic, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by the Merchant Navy as they kept Britain’s lifelines open.

Death and Commemoration

Edgar John Colebrook
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - findagrave

Edgar John Colebrook lost his life on 27^th February 1941 while serving aboard the S.S. Empire Tiger. As he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which honours the Merchant Navy personnel who died at sea during both world wars