(Copyright Round UK Cruise.)
There is some real dross on the Internet, but sometimes one encounters a throat-catchingly poignant glimpse into another’s private grief.
In one of my first snaps for Thurso Daily Photo, I displayed the graves, in Thurso Cemetery, of two of the 40 merchant seaman and one Royal Navy seaman who perished in the largest single non-hostile loss of life of the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. The tramp steamer, the SS Ashbury had gone down with all hands on the night of 7/8 January 1945 at Tamine Bay in northern Sutherland (see wreck report).
One of the dead was the 26 year old Chief Officer, William Paul Getty: son of William Frederick and Josephine Getty; husband of Erena Marjorie Getty. An annotation has just been made by his widow’s great-niece. I have moved this to this missive. Billy’s crewmates who lie beside him are:
ANDERSON, Chief Engineer Officer, ROBERT, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 59. Son of Robert Robertson Anderson, and of Mary Ann Robertson (nee Mathews); husband of Laura Anderson, of Liverpool. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
BUCKLE, Assistant Cook, STANLEY HILTON, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 18. Son of Florence Buckle, of Stockton-on-Tees. Sec. E. Joint grave 20.
CAUCHI, Fireman and Trimmer, CARLO, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 42, of Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
FALZON, Fireman and Trimmer, CHARLES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 43. Sister of Rafael Camilleri, of Paula, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
FLETCHER, Able Seaman, JOHN, D/JX 443735. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). 8th January 1945. Age 20. Son of John and Sarah Fletcher, of St. Helens, Lancashire. Sec. E. Grave 26.
JAMES, Second Officer, IVOR MORGAN, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 51. Son of William Ingli James and Ellen Augusta James; husband of Alma Glencoe James, of Barry, Glamorgan. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
KELLY, Sailor, JOSEPH STANLEY, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 24. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
MERCIECA, Greaser, EMMANUELE, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 41, of Sliema, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
MacARTHUR, Fourth Engineer Officer, ROBERT DAWSON, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 23. Son of Robert Dawson MacArthur and Dora MacArthur; husband of Margaret MacArthur, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
PORTELLI, Donkeyman, C, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 47, of Quendri, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
ROBINSON, Sailor, JOHN BERTRAM, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 22; husband of Phyllis Robinson of Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Joint grave 20. (According to the ships Crew Agreements, John Robinson left the ship at Middlesbrough on 2nd October 1944)
SKILLEN, Sailor, CHARLES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 20. Son of David and Mary Skillen, of Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
ZAHRA, Fireman and Trimmer, PAUL, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 52. Sister of Mary Zahra, of Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
My camera is out-of-action for the moment, so I cannot return to take a photograph of his actual grave, but I will do so if she wishes and would be happy to relay any information which may be in the local records.
I often joke that I dress like someone from an episode of Foyle’s War (one of the older characters), but nothing I have experienced comes close to the determination and sacrifice offered by the real individuals they are based upon. Billy, although he was younger than I am now, was in a position of considerable authority and responsibility. Tens of thousands more young men and women like him saw similar.
Furthermore, I am relatively unusual in that I have no close male relatives who fought in either of the cataclysmic conflicts of the first half of the 20th Century. Both my grandfathers were just too young for the Great War, and just too old for the Second World War; and they had only sisters.
Billy would have been born in the year the Great War ended, to a woman who may have seen male relatives killed. Her sense of relief would, just two decades later, been tempered by the opening of the second act and, as the end was in sight, the death of her son.
An early episode of Foyle’s War featured a UXB team, lead by an affirmed pacifist who had reasoned he could serve and assist his countryfolk without compromising his principles. I do not know what Billy’s views on armed-conflict were, but the Merchant Navy arguably provided a similar service; and was, proportionately, more dangerous than the armed-forces.
What a crushingly sad story.
21/09/2009 at 22:12 |
Billy Getty (William Paul) was my great Aunts husband. He died at only 26, I have the most beautiful love letters to her from him, and the saddest thing, I have a water sodden log book, I have telegraphs to her, and then a tragic one informing her of his death.
Poor Billy, RIP xx
06/11/2009 at 14:25 |
I was most interested in this article.One of the crew that lost his life when the SS.Ashbury sank was my Uncle Ivor Morgan James.I am named after his fatherWilliam Ingli James who died in March 1933 and I was born in the July of that year.Uncle Ivor was my father’s brother and although I was only about 11 when he died I have fond memories of him.His widow,Alam, died a few years ago and more recently his only child Jean died in Canada where she had resided for a number of years.
My father was in the Merchant Navy as a young man and he had three brothers,Ivor,Cyril and Hector who were also merchant seamen.They came from Barry in Glamorgan a well known coal exporting port, their father having been the minister of Bethel Baptist Chapel in the town.
I would like to hear from the realtives of any members of the crew of the illfated “Ashbury”
William Ingli James of Cardiff South Glamorgan
04/07/2011 at 18:20 |
Hi William
Alma Glencoe James was my grandmother’s sister and my favourite great aunt when I was growing up in Barry.
She was quite a character and never felt sorry for herself even though she had suffered this great loss at the age of 45. Of course Jean then emigrated to Canada in the same year.
My grandmother was always called Doll and my grandfather’s name was Will O’Donovan. Did you know them?
I remember meeting Richard James and also Hilary James from your family but no one else.
Now that I have retired I am doing some family research and have traced your dad’s family to Wyndham St Barry in 1901 which is the same street where Alma was living.
Hope to hear back from you as I would love to know more about Ivor and your memories of him.
Angela Bloomer
06/11/2009 at 14:45 |
Hi, William, I didn’t expect to get this response when I first wrote about the Ashbury.
I see you gave your e-mail address. If you like, I could pass it on to Vicky Thompson (who also left hers).
08/11/2009 at 14:30 |
Yes, I would be grateful if you would pass my message and e mail address to Vicky Thompson.
I notice in my message I gave my Uncle’s wife’s name as “Alam”- iy should ,of course, have been “Alma”Aplogies.
Yours sincerely
W.Ingli James
08/11/2009 at 22:34 |
Okie, done so – only I can see your e-mail addresses, and there are no worries about a typing error.
It was crystal clear early winter day today, and I walked out to Billy and your Uncle Ivor’s graves in the Mount Vernon Cemetry. As per usual, the local British Legion had placed crosses and poppies at their and their crewmate’s graves.
Thinking about what I said about my grandfathers, they were younger than your Uncle Ivor, but for various reasons didn’t join a service like the Merchant Navy.
For obvious reasons, the British Legion was pre-occupied today, but I will call in to see if they have an archivist who could give more details about the SS Ashbury.
09/11/2009 at 12:37 |
Good afternoon,
Thank you very much for your email
I am most grateful to you and if you have or do have any further info I would be pleased to hear from you.Incidentally,I have down loaded the report of the Board of Trade enquiry held in July 1947 into the sinking of the SS Ashbury
At the present time I am thinking about visiting Thurso next April and if I do make the trip I will contact you if I may.
Cheers.
W.Ingli James
09/11/2009 at 16:08 |
You’d be highly welcome here.
I’m begining to realize just how significant the Ashbury’s loss was. Barry’s MP, Cyril Lakin raised it in Parliament the next month.
I had an idea the family were chapel people, as your Uncle Ivor’s grave is one of the few with an epitaph: Deuteronomy 33:27, “underneath are the everlasting arms”.
09/11/2009 at 16:11 |
[...] the interest shown in my missive about the SS Ashbury, I returned to Mount Vernon cemetery to looking into the other [...]
10/11/2009 at 10:12 |
Cargo ship Ashbury, 3,901grt (Capper, Alexander Shipping Co.) had left Loch Ewe in ballast in Convoy WN-667 on the 6th January 1945 and was to proceed for much needed repairs on the ships condenser to a yard on the River Tyne. Carrying only 345ton of stone colliery refuse for ballast, with her prop part out of the water, along with the her troublesome condenser, and a severe force nine gale blowing, the ship was soon straggling behind the main Convoy. The Ashbury sent out a distress signal, which was answered by the Frigate HMCS Ste. Therese, who made several failed attempts to pass a line to hapless ship. After loosing contact with the Ashbury nothing, more was seen until a man on coastguard duty at Melness reported seeing a light from a raft or boat in the Kyle of Tongue. Soon after bodies were beginning to wash up on the shore. The Ashbury had run aground and foundered on the 8th January near Black Rocks, Talmine Skerries, with the loss of all 42 men onboard. 26 bodies were recovered from the shoreline, of which 25 were identified.
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL PANEL 10
CADOGAN, Boatswain (Bosun), KIERAN, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 58; husband of Julia Cadogan, of County Cork.
CASSAR, Fireman and Trimmer, CARMEL, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 26. Son of Carmel and Mary Cassar, of Gozo, Malta, G.C.; husband of Myra Cassar, of Canton, Cardiff.
CROSBY, First Radio Officer, DANE GEOFFREY, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 18. Son of Arthur Geoffrey and Gladys Elsie Crosby, of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees.
GIBBONS, Assistant Steward, FREDERICK, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 21. Son of Frederick Spencer Gibbons, and of Margaret Elizabeth Gibbons, of Staithes, Yorkshire.
GRIMA, Fireman and Trimmer, CORONATO, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 31. Son of Carmelo Grima and of Rosa Grima (nee Muscat), of Nadur, Gozo, Malta, G.C.; husband of Nelly Grima (nee Brian).
GROVE, Boy, ERNEST, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 16. Son of Ernest Grove, of Cardiff.
LOCKE, Senior Ordinary Seaman, WILLIAM ROBERT, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 17. Son of William and Florence Locke, of Barry, Glamorgan.
MORRIS, Master, DAVID, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 59. Son of John and Jane Morris, of Bargoed, Glamorgan; husband of Hilda Morris, of Grangetown, Cardiff.
MUSCAT, Fireman and Trimmer, FRANCIS, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 26. Son of Angelo Muscat, and of Mary Muscat (nee Portelli), of Nadur, Gozo, Malta, G.C.
McCARTHY, Sailor, DENNIS, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 20. Son of John and Elizabeth Ann McCarthy, of Middlesbrough.
McLAREN, Third Officer, STANLEY, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 36. Son of Stanley McLaren, M.N. Master, S.S.Westcliffe Hall (died on service 7th September, 1944) and of Harriet Emma McLaren, of Mannamead, Plymouth; husband of Doreen McLaren, of Bishop Auckland.
SAFFARESE, Fireman and Trimmer, ROMEO, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 35. Son of Romeo Saffarese and of Antonia Saffarese (nee Borg); husband of Antonia Saffarese, of Cospicua, Malta, G.C.
SCORFNA, Fireman and Trimmer, ANGELO, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 24. Son of Frank and Silvea Scorfna, of Malta, G.C.; husband of Mary Scorfna, of Cardiff.
SMYTH, Senior Ordinary Seaman, THOMAS, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 18. Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Smyth, of Stockton-on-Tees.
VASSALLO, Greaser, JOSEPH, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 27, of Paula, Malta, G.C.
VELLA, Fireman and Trimmer, GIUSEPPE, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 7th January 1945. Age 54. Son of Michael and Carmela Vella; husband of Katerina Vella, of Nadur, Gozo, Malta, G.C.
The body of one of the men named above was washed ashore at a later date, but was not able to be identified and was buried in a marked grave as an unknown sailor from SS Ashbury.
BISPHAM (ALL HALLOWS) CHURCHYARD – Lancashire
HENDERSON, Second Radio Officer, KENNETH WALTER FORBES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 19. Son of Walter Forbes Henderson and Bertha Henderson, of Bilsborrow. Sec. R. Row 1. Grave 2.
BLYTH (COWPEN) CEMETERY – Northumberland
BOULTER, Third Radio Officer, JOHN, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 18. Son of James and Elizabeth Boulter, of Blyth. Sec. M.M. Cons. Grave 3212.
CARDIFF WESTERN CEMETERY – Glamorganshire
CHIPLEN, Chief Steward, FREDERICK CHARLES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 35. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Charles Chiplen, of Cardiff; husband of Isabel Winifred Chiplen, of Canton, Cardiff. Sec. I. Grave 898.
FELINFOEL (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD – Carmarthenshire
PILE, Second Engineer Officer, HUBERT BERNEL, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 45. Son of Charles William and Annie Pile; husband of Elizabeth Catherine Pile, of Llanelly. Sec. 1. Row 15. Grave 1.
PRESTON-ON-TEES CEMETERY
DUNHAM, Sailor, DAVID VINCENT, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 21. Son of Thomas and Catherine E. Dunham, of Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees. Sec. A. Row L. Grave 5.
SKELTON AND BROTTON (BROTTON) CEMETERY – Yorkshire
WELHAM, Steward’s Boy, ERNEST, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 16. Son of N. Welham and Doris Welham, of Carlin How, Saltburn-by-Sea. Sec. E. Row O. Grave 5.
STOCKTON-ON-TEES (DURHAM ROAD) CEMETERY
CLARK, Ordinary Seaman, HAROLD, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Son of Joan Clarke, of Stockton-on-Tees. Sec. O.1. C. of E. Row E. Grave 18.
THURSO (MOUNT VERNON) CEMETERY – Caithnesshire
ANDERSON, Chief Engineer Officer, ROBERT, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 59. Son of Robert Robertson Anderson, and of Mary Ann Robertson (nee Mathews); husband of Laura Anderson, of Liverpool. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
BUCKLE, Assistant Cook, STANLEY HILTON, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 18. Son of Florence Buckle, of Stockton-on-Tees. Sec. E. Joint grave 20.
CAUCHI, Fireman and Trimmer, CARLO, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 42, of Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
FALZON, Fireman and Trimmer, CHARLES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 43. Sister of Rafael Camilleri, of Paula, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
FLETCHER, Able Seaman, JOHN, D/JX 443735. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). 8th January 1945. Age 20. Son of John and Sarah Fletcher, of St. Helens, Lancashire. Sec. E. Grave 26.
GETTY, Chief Officer, WILLIAM PAUL, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 26. Son of William Frederick and Josephine Getty; husband of Erena Marjorie Getty, of Thorne, Yorkshire. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
JAMES, Second Officer, IVOR MORGAN, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 51. Son of William Ingli James and Ellen Augusta James; husband of Alma Glencoe James, of Barry, Glamorgan. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
KELLY, Sailor, JOSEPH STANLEY, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 24. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 22.
MERCIECA, Greaser, EMMANUELE, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 41, of Sliema, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
MacARTHUR, Fourth Engineer Officer, ROBERT DAWSON, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 23. Son of Robert Dawson MacArthur and Dora MacArthur; husband of Margaret MacArthur, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
PORTELLI, Donkeyman, C, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 47, of Quendri, Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
ROBINSON, Sailor, JOHN BERTRAM, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 22; husband of Phyllis Robinson of Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Joint grave 20. (According to the ships Crew Agreements, John Robinson left the ship at Middlesbrough on 2nd October 1944)
SKILLEN, Sailor, CHARLES, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 20. Son of David and Mary Skillen, of Middlesbrough. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 24.
ZAHRA, Fireman and Trimmer, PAUL, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 52. Sister of Mary Zahra, of Malta, G.C. Sec. E. Coll. Grave 18.
TONGUE PARISH CHURCHYARD – Sutherland
ADDICOTT, Third Engineer Officer, JAMES THOMAS, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 37. Son of James Thomas Addicott and Maria Addicott; husband of Alice Minnie Addicott, of Roath, Cardiff. Sec. G. Grave 15. (James Addicott is also commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial as it was not known his body came ashore and was later identified)
WHITBY CEMETERY – Yorkshire
LOWTHER, Cook, ALEXANDER, S.S. Ashbury (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 23. Son of Arthur Ernest and Ada Cresswell Lowther, of Whitby. Grave 10346.
MANCHESTER (GORTON) CEMETERY – Lancashire
AYRES, Leading Seaman, ERNEST HAROLD, C/JX 239936. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. Lost in SS Ashbury 8th January 1945. Age 30. Son of Ernest and Matilda Maud Ayres, of Manchester; husband of Ena Ayres, of the Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees. Sec. G. Grave 491.
GRANGEMOUTH (GRANDSABLE) CEMETERY – Stirlingshire
KERR, Able Seaman, JOHN IAN, D/JX550497. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 19. Son of Alexander and Annie McPheat Kerr, of Grangemouth. Sec. 10. Grave 136.
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
HELLER, Able Seaman, JAMES DENNIS, P/JX 444297. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. 8th January 1945. Age 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Heller, of Bassett, Hampshire. Panel 89, Column 1.
22/11/2009 at 21:42 |
A number of the crew are buried in Tongue Parish Kirkyard, and some of the older people in Coldbackie and Scullomie still talk about the aftermath of the wreck. Many of the bodies were washed up on Coldbackie beach, and they were carried up to the road, a steep climb with a burden for those of you who know the area, by local crofters, inluding Howie Munro.
At very low tide, you can still see the last few iron ribs of an earlier wreck on Coldbackie Beach – the SS Onega.
The SS Onega was a Dundee based brig (a two masted square rigged sailing vessel) on passage from Montreal in Canada back to Dundee in December 1862. She was owned by George Armitstead & Co, bought by them in 1852, when she was two years old. Her tonnage was rated at 229, making her the largest brig in the companies fleet, although she would have been only about twice the size of a modern fishing vessel.
The SS Onega was sailing along the North Coast on the 20th December when it was hit by a violent storm. The ships master decided to try to sit out the storm in the quiet waters behind Eilean Roan. However he misjudged the waves that build up in the shallow waters of the Kyle when the wind is in the North East, and the vessel dragged her anchor.
She dragged right into the shallows off Coldbackie Beach, where the huge waves pounded her to a wreck. The shallow waters of the Kyle can raise significant waves in a very short time.
The vessels lifeboats were carried away and overturned, and despite attempts to launch boats from Coldbackie and Scullomie all the crew were drowned. The bodies were washed up on the coast from Coldbackie Beach around to Eilean Roan. Three were recovered in a small cove on the South East of the island, which was then known as Port na Coinnle – Bay of the Candles, from the phosphorescence in the water draining from the clothes and lifejackets of the dead crew.
All the crew were buried in Tongue, and a song, well known as The Stately Onega was composed locally at the time of the wreck. It tells of the vessels voyage, the shipwreck and the great efforts of the local people to rescue the drowning crew. It was popular at ceilidhs up to the 1970s.
All that remains of the Onega is buried on Coldbackie beach, and consists of wrought iron ribs, a few which can be seen at low tides hard against the tip of a rock on the east side of Coldbackie beach. The rock must have halted the vessels progress up the beach. Occasional metal ribs could be found on the beach, wedged between rocks, up to the 1980s. They fascinated me as a child in the 60s and 70s and indeed I pulled a muscle in my back recovering one around 1984!
The wreck was completely covered in sand from about 1970 (when the causeway was built and Coldbackie beach grew significantly) until the late 1990s, when the beach lost a lot of sand. For a time the complete outline of the wreck was visible, although now only one or two ribs can be seen.
24/12/2009 at 16:59 |
It has been extremely tardy of me not to approve this excellent message for so long.
13/06/2010 at 21:48 |
i am just trying to trace my dads family, i do know that he has died, he was james thomas, married my mother, Agnes carrigan in 1940 in BRIDGETON, GLASGOW, I am there youngest daughter of six, my mum also died this year, in MAY, I just dont have any information about my dads family, they had been divorced for a long time, since i was about 4 years old, i am now 60 and trying to trace things. can you help. I was told that he had been in the merchant navy when he was young, also had brothers and sisters i think. can you help.thankyou.
13/08/2011 at 01:38 |
My son has recently become interested in the wrecks around Scotland and is interested in finding the lyrics to the poem and song, The Stately Onega.