- Contributed by听
- samsue
- People in story:听
- Wilfred William Halliday
- Location of story:听
- North Atlantic and Mediterranean
- Background to story:听
- Merchant Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2280917
- Contributed on:听
- 09 February 2004
My Grandfather, Wilfred William Halliday, joined the Merchant Navy in 1912 (Elders and Fyffes) as a Junior Officer.
He rose through the ranks and became Chief Engineer in approximately 1927. He sailed on numerous ships during his Merchant Navy career throughout two World Wars.
His ship "SS Chagres" was torpedoed on the 10 March 1918 off Cape Drepano, Crete by UC74 and sank in 15 minutes. In 1941 his ship "SS Tetela" was torpedoed in the North Sea by an E-Boat. Despite a 45ft gash in the side, Granddad supervised temporary repairs which enabled the ship to be towed stern first into Hull. For this he received an OBE from King George VI.
In 1943 Granddad crossed the Atlantic to New York on the Queen Mary as a Passenger to take up his duties as Chief Engineer on the Liberty Ship "Samstrule" which was launched in February 1944 and he stayed on this ship until 11 June 1945, sailing all around the Med carrying supplies for troops.
He received the following medals for his WWII service:
1939-1945 Star
Atlantic Star
Italy Star
War Medal 1939-1945
Granddad retired in 1956 and died aged 90 in 1983.
Sue Halliday
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