John Richard Owen

Rank:Engineer Officer
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:Merchant Navy
Name of Rgt or Ship:S.S. Avila Star (London)
Died:05/07/1942Age:20
Country of burial:Lost at SeaGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Tower Hill Memorial
Town Memorial:Hale
Extra Information:
The Avila Star was built in 1927 and had a gross register tonnage of
14,443, it was 598ft long, 68ft wide and could make 16.0 knots.
A passenger/refrigerated cargo vessel, she could accommodate 162 first
class passengers and was operated by the Blue Star Line Ltd., 40 St. Mary
Axe, London EC3.

On the 05/07/42, north east of the Azores, travelling from south America to
the U.K. she was torpedoed by U-201 and sank in position 38.04N  22.46W.  
There were 134 survivors, but 62 crew/passengers were lost.

The 5th July 1942 was a particularly bad day for the Merchant Navy, as
PQ-17, a Russian bound convoy was attacked by a powerful German force
headed by the battleship Tirpitz.   A total of 17 ships were lost from that
convoy.

Listed as J. Owen on St. Luke's Memorial.
Memorials found on:
St. Mary's (Bowdon)
Similar Names