Herbert John Blake – Merchant Navy, S.S. Penolver
Chief Officer Herbert John Blake – Merchant Navy, S.S. Penolver
Early Life and Family Background
Herbert John Blake was born in 1913 in Oystermouth, the son of Aaron John Blake
and Eliza Rosina Luckwill, who married in 1912 at St. Mary’s
Church, Swansea.Aaron John Blake and Eliza Rosina Luckwill
marriage certificate
St. Mary's Church, Swansea
1921 Census
By the time
of the 1921 Census, the Blake family were living at 179 Foxhole Road,
Swansea. Aaron John, aged 32, was employed as a Mason by Swansea
Corporation, while his wife Eliza Rosina, aged 29, managed
the home. Their children were Albert James (7), Herbert John (7),
Winifred Rosina (6), Audrey (1), and Terence Rees, then
just five months old. Also present was Rosamond Ellen Rees, aged 49,
described as an aunt‑in‑law. The census reflects a young and growing family
supported by extended relatives.
Marriage and Later Life
Herbert
married Audrey D. E. Summons in 1940 at Bristol,
establishing his home there while continuing his career at sea.
Service in the Merchant Navy
Herbert
served with the Merchant Navy, rising to the rank of Chief Officer,
a senior and highly responsible position aboard ship. His home address at the
time of his death was recorded as 81 West Town Lane, Bristol.
Sinking of S.S. Penolver – 19th October 1943
The S.S.
Penolver was a 5,305‑ton British steam merchant ship, built
in 1922 by John Readhead & Sons Ltd., South Shields, and operated by
R. Ropner & Co. Ltd. During the Second World War she was employed in
carrying essential cargoes across the Atlantic, a route made perilous by
persistent U‑boat activity.
On 19th
October 1943, while sailing independently from Loch Ewe to Montreal,
the Penolver was attacked in the North Atlantic by the German submarine U‑952,
the submarine fired a torpedo that struck the vessel with devastating force.
The explosion caused catastrophic damage, and the ship sank rapidly, giving the
crew little chance to escape.
All 44
men on board were lost, including Chief Officer Herbert John Blake.
No survivors were ever recovered. The sinking of the Penolver occurred
during a period when U‑boat operations were still inflicting heavy losses on
Allied merchant shipping, despite improving convoy protection. The loss of the
ship and her entire crew stands as a stark reminder of the dangers faced daily
by Merchant Navy personnel during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Death and Commemoration
Merchant Seamen Deaths
According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths
register, Chief Officer Herbert John Blake lost his life on 19th
October 1943 when the Penolver was sunk. As he has no known grave,
his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which
honours Merchant Navy personnel who died at sea during both world warsHerbert John Blake
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - findagrave
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