The 'SS Denham'

[Paul McCabe]

I just happened to notice The SS DENHAM mentioned along with the MDHB & Port Authorities on one of the Commonwealth War graves at Allerton cemetery. (Able Seaman William Collins, aged 37yrs old.......further details below, taken from www.cwgc.org )

It spiked my interest & so I 'Googled' the SS Denham;

Both perished in the River Mersey when it hit a German mine on 18th July 1946.....over a year after WW2 .....(8) of the crew killed & only (1) survivor.

Here's a short (1) minute clip that shows its location off the coast at New Brighton.

https://youtu.be/sALuPXDfT20

However, if you are keen on photography & have (15) minutes to spare then make a coffee & watch this guy's respectful video of the SS Denham & the coast, his enthusiasm is infectious.


https://maliphotography.co.uk/1-mile-ou ... erch-rock/


RIP AB William Collins & his shipmates,

= = = = = = = = =

ABLE SEAMAN
WILLIAM COLLINS
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities

Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Pilotage Authority, S.S. Denham.

Date of Death
Died 18 July 1946

Age 37 years old

Buried or commemorated at
LIVERPOOL (ALLERTON) CEMETERY

Sec. 13. R.C. Grave 158.

United Kingdom


Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
Additional InfoSon of W. Collins and Mary Ellen Collins; husband of Margaret Mary Collins, of Speke, Liverpool.

= = = = = =

Cheers

P#

[BOBHAMO]

A story so sad with the war already ended
Paul here is another tug sung by mine 22/12/1940
The Poolgarth a Rea tug struck a mine trying to help
a ship of South Canada dock


DAWSON, Mate, HERBERT STANNEY, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 30. (Last place of abode 90 Cedardale Rd, Walton, Liverpool)

EDWARDS, Able Seaman, HARRY ISLEY, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 40. Son of Richard and Hannah Edwards; husband of Mary Ellen Edwards, of Wallasey, Cheshire. (Last place of abode 14 St Brides Rd, Wallasey)

FUGE, Engineer Officer, THOMAS, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 62. Son of James and Elizabeth Fuge; husband of Ada Fuge, of Wallasey, Cheshire. (Last place of abode 33 Limekiln Rd, Wallasey)

HITCHMOUGH, Deck Hand, JOHN HENRY, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 18. Son of Thomas Harold and Sarah Hitchmough, of Egremont, Wallasey, Cheshire. (Last place of abode 2 Rivington Rd, Wallasey)

LANGTON, Master, RALPH, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 52. Son of Ralph and Annie Langton; husband of Alice Langton, of Litherland, Liverpool. (Last place of abode 11 Cambridge Ave, Litherland, Liverpool)

STEVENSON, Trimmer, MICHAEL, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 16. Son of John and Mary Jane Stevenson, of Walthamstow, Essex. (Last place of abode 51 Owen Rd, Kirkdale, Liverpool)

Buried Ashore

SHACKLETON, Fireman, WILLIAM JOHN, S.S. Poolgarth (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 22nd December 1940. Age 34. Buried Liverpool (Allerton) Cemetery) Sec. 7. Gen. Grave 223. (Last place of abode 30 Fairfield Cresent, Roby, Liverpool)
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bobhamo

[Paul McCabe]

Hi Bob, That's so sad too & a great photo of the 'Poolgarth'......Thanks.

I notice only one of the crew was buried ashore (William Shackleton) also in Allerton cemetery.

RIP all of them.

= = =

I also came across this guy, Eric Booth, aged just 16yrs old, who perished on "Hopper Barge D" in January 1945 (also post WW2) on www.cwgc.org (details below).....the barge was crossing from Eastham to Widnes & also hit a German mine. He's buried in Widnes cemetery.

RIP all from 'The Hopper Barge D"

More details here;

http://www.militarian.com/threads/hoppe ... 1945.5786/


BOY
ERIC BOOTH
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Merchant Navy

Hopper Barge "D" (Liverpool)

Date of Death
Died Between 15 January 1945 and 16 January 1945

Age 16 years old

Buried or commemorated at
WIDNES CEMETERY

Sec. 8C. Grave 3378.

United Kingdom


Country of Service
United Kingdom
Additional Info
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Edgar Booth of Widnes, Lancashire.

= = = = =

Cheers

P ##

[BOBHAMO]

Such a young life lost
the germans used to drop mines all around merseyside
Merchant seaman are are forgotten heros
bobhamo

[Paul McCabe]

I also spotted a 'Namesake' in Anfield cemetery; James McCabe, another Merchant Seaman , (I don't think he's a relation) who was a Storeman on the MV DEMITRIO & died 25/7/44, aged 56yrs. (Details below from the cwgc webpage).

So I Googled the 'MV DEMITRIO'

It proved quite interesting as in November 1940 it was attacked in the Atlantic & all hands safely abandoned ship in (3) Lifeboats.....incredibly (1) lifeboat returned (with NO senior officers aboard) & the make-shift crew plugged shrapnel holes & steered the ship home using the stars for navigation (!!)...........Ealing Studios made a film about it in 1943 along with other morale boosting films.
More details on the Wikipedia page below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_San_Demetrio

= = = =

Plus as it's "Lockdown" you might as well make coffee & settle down for this little lot;


Here's a menagerie of Ealing War films ..... (10 mins total)..........skip to 6 mins 32 secs for the clip of MV San Demitrio.

https://youtu.be/Egc6U_0G-rY

= = = = = =

Then listen to this "Matter of Fact" / "Boys Own" account of the re-taking of 'MV Demitrio' by 2nd officer Hawkins (4 mins total).


https://youtu.be/nOJLczUrqLE

= = = = =

I'd like to "Our James" was involved in all the Heroics (!)......RIP James.

Cheers

P#

= = = = =

STOREKEEPER
JAMES McCABE (C/JX193644)
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Merchant Navy

M.V. San Demetrio (London)

Date of Death
Died 25 July 1944

Age 56 years old

Buried or commemorated at
LIVERPOOL (ANFIELD) CEMETERY

Sec. 7. R.C. Grave 1832.

United Kingdom


Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
Additional InfoSon of James and Susannah McCabe, of Liverpool; husband of Margaret Ann McCabe, of Liverpool.

[BOBHAMO]

Cant beat a Ealing film Paul
interesting info again
bobhamo

[Paul McCabe]

Here's another tale of tragedy concerning another scouser; Merchant Seaman John Simmons buried in Huyton cemetery;

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137 ... ry-simmons

He was a crew member on SS Empire Endurance when it was torpedoed & sank in the freezing North Atlantic on 19th April 1941.

Of the (95) on board, (66) were killed in the attack......& (24) were picked up (2) days later.

Incredibly after TWENTY days adrift at sea, another (5) were miraculously rescued on May 9th 1941 & taken to Liverpool & then to Broadgreen Hospital.

Sadly John perished there on May 15th 1941, just (6) days after being rescued..........he nearly made it.

RIP John Simmons.

= = = = =

His ship 'The Empire Endurance' has an interesting history too, she was originally 'The Alster' & was captured by the Royal Navy in April 1940 from the Germans during the Battle for Norway along with (80) POW's (despite their efforts to scuttle her) & 88 lorries, guns & uniforms which were duly given to Norwegian forces. (!).

As it's 'Lockdown'.........make a strong coffee & indulge in 'The SS Empire Endurance'


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Empire_Endurance

Cheers

P

[lynne99]

Thanks for that Paul. Loved the videos

[JWright95]

Thanks for the information on this Paul.

William Collins onboard SS Denham was my great grandad, so this information has been very interesting to see and read.