Stretford WW2 

Ralph Bagshaw Blake

Rank:Apprentice (Cadet)
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:Merchant Navy
Name of Rgt or Ship:S.S. Manchester Merchant (Manchester)
Died:25/02/1943
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:Lost at Sea
Cemetery or Memorial:Tower Hill Memorial
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the June quartert 1925 in the North Manchester R.D. - ref:
8d/681, the son of Arthur & Hannah Blake (nee Bagshaw).  His birth was
registered in the name of Ralph Blake - no mention of his middle name of
Bagshaw, except that it was his mother's maiden name.

No record of year of construction of the Manchester Merchant, it's gross
register tonnage was 5,670, it was 446 feet long, 57 feet wide and could
make 13.8 knots.   A cargo liner, it was one of 13 ships operated by
Manchester Liners Ltd, St. Anne's Square, Manchester 2.   It could
accomodate 12 - 1st class passengers.

East of Cape Race, travelling from Manchester to St. John, New Brunswick,
on the 25/02/43 she was torpedoed by U-628, whilst in convoy ON166 and sank
in position - 45.10N 43.23W.   There were 29 survivors, but 36
crew/passengers were lost.
Memorials found on:
Stretford Grammar School
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