Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

S.S. IRON KNIGHT  (Melbourne) WW2

In early February 1943, a ten-ship merchant convoy under escort was en route Melbourne-Newcastle, the leading vessel being Iron Knight, fully laden with iron ore. Off Eden on the new South Wales coast, she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I.21, sinking immediately. Crew lost totaled thirty-six and included the Master. Fourteen survivors, recovered from a raft, were taken to Sydney.

L - Z

Radio Officer Joseph Thomas MAGUIRE
Born: Adelaide, Sth. Aust.
Date of Engagement 16-12-1940, Sydney, New South Wales
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 22years
Son of John George Owen Maguire and Gertrude Maguire, of Earlwood, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Sydney Morning Herald (N.S.W.)  20-2-1943
MAGUIRE -February 7 at sea Joe Maguire Radío operator son of Mr and Mrs Geo. Maguire and brother to Nell of 24 Hamel Crescent, Earlwood due to enemy action aged 22 years.

Able Seaman Cyril MALONE
Born: Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Date of Engagement 31-10-1941, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 8-2-1943 aged 20years
Son of Thomas Augustine and Edith Malone, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner's Advocate (N.S.W.)  18-2-1943
MALONE.-Cyril, died Monday, February 8, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs.T. A. Malone and brother of Lily and Edward, aged 20 years.

Fireman John McKENZIE
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 51years
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Boatswain (Bosun) August NICKER
Date of Engagement 22-8-1939, Newcastle, New South Wales
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 51years
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Third Officer John O'CONNOR
Born: Merewether, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Date of Engagement 18-7-1939, Sydney, New South Wales
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 25years
Son of William and Florence Mary O'Connor, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Second Officer Francis Thomas George PERRIN
Born: Cardiff, South Wales
Date of Engagement 12-5-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 39years
Son of George and Sarah Catherine Perrin
Husband of Florence Grace Perrin, of Bar Beach, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Cook Alfred PINNINGTON
Date of Engagement 8-8-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 42years
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate (N.S.W.) 17-2-1943
PINNINGTON.-Alfred, died February 8, 1943. loving husband of Molly and loving father of Jack, Peggy, Polly, Ann and Alfie, of Carrington.

Master Donald ROSS
Born: Shandwick, Scotland
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 59years
Son of Andrew and Ann Ross
Husband of Myra Elizabeth Ross, of Stockton, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Fireman Maurice William SLATTERY
Born: North Adelaide, Sth. Australia
Date of Engagement 20-1-1940, Adelaide, Sth Aust.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 20years
Son of Johanna Slattery, of Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)  18-2-1943
SLATTERY.—Memories of his happy ways we will remember all our days.
Lost at sea. result of enemy action. Feb.8.—lnserted by mother, brothers and sisters and brother-in-law. Eric.
SLATTERY.—The midnight stars are shining upon where Maurice lies, where sleeping without dreaming lies the one we couldn't save. Lost at sea. result of enemy action. Feb. 8.
—Ever remembered by Mona and Teddy.

Greaser Henry Leonard SOUTH
Born: Port Pirie, South Aust
Date of Engagement 23-1-1942, Sydney, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 26years
Son of Clara Dalaway South, of Port Adelaide, South Australia
Husband of Dorothy Joy South.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Chief Officer Reginald Bateman STEERE
Born: Croydon, England
Date of Engagement 8-8-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943 at sea aged 40years
Son of Reginald Morgan Steere and Mary Ann Steere
Husband of Dorothy Evelyn Steere, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate (N.S.W.) 17-2-1943
STEERE.-Reginald Bateman, dearly beloved husband of Dolly (nee Cairns-Cowan. and loving son of Mrs. Mary Anne Digby, died February 8.

Able Seaman Thomas Henry TARGETT
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943, aged 54years
Son of Henry James Targett and Annie Maria Targett, of London, England.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Newcastle Sun (N.S.W.)  27-2-1943
TARGETT — Thomas Henry Targett. A.B. Seaman passed away February 8th

Chief Engineer Officer Harry TATE
Born: Fiji
Date of Engagement 17-7-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 43years
Son of William Francis Tate and Mary Nickoll Tate
Husband of Helen B. Tate, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Sydney Morning Herald (N.S.W.)  17-2-1943
TATE -Lost at sea, February 8 Harry Nickoll, third son of the late W F Tate chemist Suva Fiji

Ordinary Seaman Alexander Douglas THOMAS
Born: Newcastle, N.S.W.
Date of Engagement 11-8-1941, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 17years
Son of James Henry and Maud Thomas, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Steward Byron Thomas VIVIAN
Born: Paddington, N.S.W.
Date of Engagement 13-3-1942, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 30years
Son of Thomas Henry and Bertha Evis Vivian
Husband of Jean Georgina Vivian, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Fireman Thomas John WELLER
Born: Islington, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Date of Engagement 9-11-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 35years
Son of Thomas and Annie Weller
Husband of Ellen May Weller, of Sandgate, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

2nd Engineer Officer Henry WILKINSON
Born: Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Date of Engagement 12-9-1939, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at sea 8-2-1943 aged 35years
Son of Wilson and Isobel Wilkinson, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Able Seaman John YOUNG
Born: Dandenong, Victoria
Date of Engagement 6-9-1939, Melbourne, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 8-2-1943, aged 52years
Son of George and Mary Jane Young, of Victoria.
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll