Richard Barry – Merchant Navy, M.V. Cornish City

Second Radio Officer Richard Barry – Merchant Navy, M.V. Cornish City

Early Life

Richard Barry was born after the 1921 Census, and therefore does not appear in that record, nor is he listed in the 1939 Register. He was the son of Richard Barry and Anne O’Sullivan. By the time of the Second World War, he was serving at sea as a young Merchant Navy radio officer.

M.V. Cornish City

M.V. Cornish City

The M.V. Cornish City was a 4,952‑ton merchant vessel, part of the fleet operated by Eagle Oil and Shipping Co. Ltd., London. In July 1943, she was sailing as part of Convoy DN.53, travelling from Lourenço Marques (now Maputo, Mozambique) to Durban, and then onward to Aden and Suez. Her cargo consisted of 9,600 tons of coal, a vital wartime commodity.

The Attack and Sinking – 29^th July 1943

On 29^th July 1943, after being dispersed from Convoy DN.53, the Cornish City was sailing independently southeast of Madagascar. At 09:00 hours, the ship—under the command of Master Henry Thomas Isaac—was struck amidships by one of two torpedoes fired by the German submarine U‑177. The impact was devastating, and the vessel sank within one minute.

The loss of life was severe. The master, 31 crew members, and five gunners were killed. Only five crewmen and one gunner managed to survive on rafts. They were questioned by the German submarine crew before being rescued by HMAS Nizam (Commander C. H. Brooks, RAN) and taken to Port Louis, Mauritius.

Death of Second Radio Officer Richard Barry

Merchant Seamen Deaths

Among those who perished was Second Radio Officer Richard Barry, aged 20. His death is recorded in the Merchant Seamen Deaths register, confirming that he was lost when the Cornish City was torpedoed and sunk.

Richard Barry
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

Commemoration

As he has no known grave, Richard Barry is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which honours Merchant Navy personnel who died at sea during both world wars. His name appears alongside the other crew members of the Cornish City, ensuring their sacrifice is not forgotten