大象传媒

Introduction

On 2 November 1942 the Merchant Navy vessel, the SS Empire Leopard (London), was torpedoed by the German U-Boat U.402 while attempting to bring supplies from North America to Britain. Most of the seamen on board the vessel were initially reported 'missing'.

Of those on board, four of the seamen were from the West Cumbrian sea-port of Whitehaven: Thomas Cradduck, William 'Biff' Truett, George Acton and William H. Acton (known as Billy). George and Billy Acton were brothers. I have previously written a separate article about this incident (A4268243). This article concentrates on the letter sent by Ministry of War Transport to Mrs Evelyn Acton informing her of George's presumed death.

For some months after hearing their loved ones were missing at sea, families and friends had at least a slight hope that they may have been saved from the sea by another vessel. Eventually however, even that slim hope was extinguished when the Minister of War Transport sent a letter to the next of kin saying their loved one was 'presumed drowned'.

In the case of George Acton, the unwanted letter from London was sent to his mother. Thanks to the assistance of one of George's nieces, Mrs Enid McConnell (n茅e Acton), I have been able to read this letter, which I have copied out below.

I have written this article so that others will know how families of Merchant Seamen during World War Two were informed of their presumed death. The letter about Billy Acton would have been sent to his wife Mary (n茅e Nulty) whom he had married only two weeks before going back to sea.

The unwanted letter from London

This is the letter sent by the Minister of War Transport to Mrs Evelyn Acton, George Acton's mother. The Ministry has spelt Mrs Acton's first name as Eveline, so I have used this spelling below to preserve more authenticity. The letter appears to have been personally signed by the Minister, Lord Frederick Leathers.

The unwanted letter:

Berkely Square House, W1
19th May 1943,

Dear Madam,

It is with the deepest regret that I have learned that your son, Mr George Acton, who was serving in the Merchant Navy as A.B. has been recorded as supposed drowned whilst on service with his ship.

By command of His Majesty the King the names of those members of the Merchant Navy who have given their lives in the service of their country are recorded in the Merchant Navy Roll of Honour. I am now adding Mr. Acton's name to the Roll of Honour, and, as I do so, wish to express my admiration for the services he rendered and to convey to you and your family my profound sympathy in your sad bereavement.

Your son worthily upheld the noble traditions of the Merchant Navy and I may perhaps hope that the realisation of this fact may help to soften the heavy blow which has fallen upon you.

Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
'Leathers'
Minister of War Transport

Mrs. Eveline Acton,
93, George Street,
Whitehaven.

Conclusion

Lord Leather's letter to Evelyn Acton was written just over six months after the ship carrying her two sons was sunk. It was not the letter that the family wanted to receive. Although I have not researched the wartime Merchant Navy to any great depth I understand Lord Leathers was in his ministerial post from some time in the spring of 1941.

The family and friends of George and Billy have honoured the memory of their loved ones and tried to ensure their lives and sacrifice will be remembered. Their names are commemorated on the World War Two Memorial inside the church tower of St Nicholas' Church, Lowther Street, Whitehaven. As mentioned by Lord Leathers in his letter to Evelyn, those Merchant Seamen who have lost their lives in the service of their country are also recorded in the Merchant Navy 'Roll of Honour'. Hence the names of George and William Acton are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.

I would like to dedicate this article to the memory of the members of the Merchant Navy who lost their lives during World War Two, and in particular to George and Billy Acton from the town of Whitehaven, in what is now Cumbria. The effort and sacrifice of the Merchant Navy to maintain essential supplies during the war years should not be forgotten.

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