We tell their stories: Casualties of the Merchant Navy

Our mission at the Foundation is to tell the stories of the Commonwealth’s war dead. In this edition of We Tell Their Stories, our focus turns on the Merchant Navy.

We tell their stories

The Merchant Navy

Hundreds of thousands of merchant naval personnel sailed hostile seas on thousands of vessels during the World Wars.

These men and women provided an incredibly vital service, ferrying supplies and equipment around the world, keeping armies and civilians fed, clothed, and armed.

The Merchant Navy was the lifeblood of the war effort. As such, merchant vessels and cargo ships were targeted by both sides the disrupt supplies and sow chaos.

Thousands of men and women lost their lives bravely serving with the Merchant Navy in both World Wars.

The Tower Hill Memorial in London today commemorates these brave souls. Nearly 12,000 casualties from the First World War are commemorated on its wall panels. A further 23,800 Second World War casualties are commemorated by the Tower Hill Memorial.

At the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, we believe in telling the stories of these men and women. Here is a selection of some of the incredible tales and actions of Merchant Navy personnel during the First and Second World Wars.

Stories from the Merchant Navy

Frederick Daniel Parslow VC

Image: Frederick Parslow VC

During World War One, two merchant seamen were awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military model for bravery. One of these was Islington-born Frederick Parslow.

Nominally, the Victoria Cross is not for civilians. It is a purely military medal. However, Parslow was posthumously commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve following his gallant actions on the 4^th of July 1915.

Frederick, a Merchant Naval Master, was captaining HM Horse Transport Anglo-Californian, some 90 miles southwest of Cobh, Ireland. The ship, carrying just shy of 1,000 horses destined for the Western Front, had been travelling from Montreal, Canada and was on the home stretch with its destination in Avonmouth, southwest England, not far away.

Unfortunately, the seas and oceans of the world were starting to become the hunting grounds of German submarines. These U-boats would prove a menace to merchant shipping in both wars, responsible for sinking millions of tons of shipping.

Anglo-Californian was being peppered by a U-boat during her journey towards Avonmouth. The ship and Captain Parslow decided to keep going, despite taking many hits, but eventually, Frederick took pause.

On the 4^th of July, Frederick was on the cusp of abandoning his stricken vessel to save his crew’s lives. His radio crackled with a message from a Royal Navy destroyer saying to hold out as long as possible and help was on the way.

Shortly after, the pursuing U-boat let fly with a brutal salvo from its heavy guns. Anglo-Californian­ took a pounding, taking heavy damage.

During the storm, Frederick remained at his captain’s post with little to no protection. He was able to keep his vessel afloat and keep order, despite heavy shelling. Captain Parslow was killed during the assault.

Two destroyers arrived soon after to relieve and escort Anglo-Californian into port. Frederick’s gallantry under fire meant his vessel survived the assault at the cost of his life.

Donald Owen Clarke GC

Image: Donald Clarke GC (Wikimedia Commons)

Frederick Parslow was 59 when he died. Donald Clarke, a Merchant Navy casualty from World War Two, was just 19, showing the huge disparity in ages of those who served and fell in the merchant wing.

Donald’s bravery was no less huge due to his young age.

Donald was serving as an Apprentice aboard the oil tanker SS San Emiliano on the day he lost his life.

The tanker was sailing alone and isolated – a bad idea for a merchant vessel in wartime – off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago on 8^th August 1942.

San Emiliano found itself in the sites of an underwater predator: the U-boat U-155. The submarine opened fire with its torpedoes, striking the lone merchant ship.

San Emiliano was engulfed in flames. Donald was terribly burned too, along with his fellow crewmembers.

Despite his horrific injuries, Donald managed to get several wounded crewmates aboard a lifeboat and rowed away from the burning tanker. Donald’s boat was the only lifeboat to survive the sinking.

Donald rowed for two hours to get clear of San Emiliano. His hands were so terribly burned they had to be cut away from the oars as his flesh had fused with the wood. Donald was laid on the bottom of the boat while they awaited rescue but continued to sing songs to keep his crewmate’s spirits up.

Donald eventually succumbed to his injuries on 9^th August 1942.

For his incredible bravery, Donald Clarke was posthumously awarded the George Cross. His award citation appeared in the 20^th July 1943 edition of the London Gazette.

It ends:

“By his supreme effort, undertaken without thought of self and in spite of terrible agony, Apprentice Clarke ensured the safety of his comrades in the boat. His great heroism and selfless devotion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Merchant Navy.”

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Thank you from everyone here at the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.