Trafford

Born on the 20th October 1925, the birth being registered during the
December quarter 1925 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/261, the second son of
Christopher & Dora Ewbank (neé Cowin).

1939 National Registration - 16 Harboro' Road, Ashton upon Mersey. 
Christopher Ewbank (Snr)- Born on the 27th March 1882 - Married - occ:
Butcher - Shopkeeper.   Dora Ewbank - Born on the 21st February 1889 -
Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.  There is one redacted record at
this address.  Christopher (Jnr). would have been aged: 14, his elder
brother - Richard aged: 16, but his younger brother - Roger was aged just
8.  The redacted record is probably Roger???  Unable to trace Christopher
(Jnr) or Richard.

Attended Sale High School.    Spent 2 years training on the Conway Training
Ship in the Mersey before joining the Merchant Navy in 1942.

Served on the Atlantic Convoys for a period and qualified for his 2nd
Officer Ticket at Christmas then went home for leave.   Sailed for
Australia on the British 'Victory' Ship the S.S. "Samarkund" in April 1945.
 The ship was berthed at Geelong, Australia.

One of a party of five, he descended into the hold of the ship to clean out
the ballast tanks, which had not been opened for some time, when they were
all overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. Five others were injured and taken
to hospital and men who went to their rescue were also affected by the
fumes.

Geelong Advertiser - 21st August 1945 - GEELONG MONDAY - Overcome by gas
fumes from foul water in the ballast of the Liberty Ship "Samarkand" at
Corio Quay, four members of the crew were asphyxiated today.   Five others,
including an Australian stevedore were taken to hospital.   Three of the
dead men sacrificed their lives for their shipmates, while those admitted
to hospital comprised a rescue party which took real risks to recover those
lying helpless in the foul air of the hold.       The dead men were:-
William A. Jones (39) - Chief Mate from Bristol;   Christopher Ewbank (19)
- Third Officer from Manchester;   William Bolden (18) - Midshipman from
Dewsbury;   George P. Worsp (45) Chief Steward from London.

The Age, Melbourne - 21st August 1945 - Same detail as above report +
Shortly before 11 o'clock, Chief Officer Jone and three of his crew went
into No.1 hold on the vessel to make an examination of the balast tanks. 
It is believed that when the Chief Officer opened one of the tanks which
was empty, there was a rush of foul air and he collapsed.  He was found by
Midshipman Bolden who could not render aid as he was also overcome.  Third
Officer Ewbank was similarly stricken down.  The alarm was quickly raised
by Chief Steward Worsp, who was the first aid officer, but although he made
a gallant rescue attempt, he too succumbed to the gas.  The ballast tanks
were located beneath the floor of the No.1 hatch and entry to them was
gained through a small aperture about 14 inches wide, which made rescue
doubly difficult.  It was stated that the tanks had not been in use since
the vessel left the slips about two years ago.  Officers and members of the
crew, together with stevedores who had been engaged in discharging
phosphatic rock rendered what help they could, but it was realised that
they courted death to go below.  Despite this, a rescue attempt was made,
but the rescuers were forced to return to the deck, most of them being in a
state of collapse.