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. KOWARRA (Melbourne) -  WW2

S.S. Kowarra was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine I-26 on 24 April 1943 off Fraser Island. There was the tragic loss of 21 lives, including the master of the vessel, Captain D. McPherson. 11 survivors were picked up by a subchaser from the 7th Fleet U.S. Navy

Fireman Julius ANKARING
Australian Merchant Navy
Died 24-4-1943, at Sea aged 55years
Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Cook Robert DAVIES
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943, aged 42years
Son of Hopkin and Mary Davies
Husband of Aimee Lillias Davies, of Black Rock, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Steward William Edward DOYNE
Born: New Zealand
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943, aged 23years
Son of William N. and Gertrude F. Doyne
Husband of Edna Norma Doyne, of Pascoe Vale, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Trimmer Eric Terrance Edward EELES
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 28years
Son of Arthur and Ellen Eeles
Husband of Elva May Eeles, of Elwood, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Chief Engineer Officer George Kelly GORDON
Born: Hobart, Tasmania
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 63years
Son of John Noble Gordon and Mary Gordon
Husband of Helen Gordon, of Glen Iris, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Able Seaman Benjamin Emlyn GRIFFITHS
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 41years
Son of John and Anne Griffiths, of Llandyssul, Cardiganshire, Wales.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Radio Officer Norman Eliot GUNTER
Born: East Malvern, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 30years
Son of Arthur and Cora Gunter, of Hawthorn, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic)  15-5-1943
GUNTER.-- On April 24 (result of enemy action), Norman Eliot, youngest son of Cora and Arthur Gunter, 7 Harrison crescent, Hawthorn, aged 30 years.

Chief Officer Herbert Nicoll HARLEY
Born: Suva, Fiji
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 50years
Son of Thomas Bennett Harley and Mary Harley
Husband of Victoria Christina Audrey Harley, of Heidelberg, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

 

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic)  29-5-1943
HARLEY.—On April 24, lost at sea, enemy action, Herbert Nicoll, beloved husband of Victoria, loving son of Mary, and brother of Fred, Tom, George, Ernest. -Deeply mourned by all.
HARLEY.—Lost at sea (result of enemy action), April 24, Herbert Nicol, third son of the late T. B, and Mrs. M. Harley, of Bena, loved brother of Fred, Tom, Ethel (deceased), George, and Victor.

Chief Steward Arthur William HIDE
Born: Surbiton, Surrey, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 60years
Son of James and Harriet Hide
Husband of Lily Florence Hide, of Brunswick, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Trimmer Maurice Leonard JOHNSON
Born: Darby, Tasmania
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Johnson
Husband of Alice Johnson, of Almaden, North Queensland.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Trimmer Bertie JOWERS
Born: Essex, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 57years
Son of William and Mary Ann Jowers
Husband of Henrietta Phillipa Jowers, of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Able Seaman Jacob H. LOWEY
Born: Rotterdam, Holland
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 58years
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Fireman Basil Henry LUNSON
Born: Sassafras, Tasmania
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 28years
Son of Henry and Caroline Lunson, of Latrobe, Tasmania.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Master Donald MacPHERSON
Born: South Uist, Scotland
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 59years
Son of Archibald and Henrietta MacPherson
Husband of Annabella MacPherson, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Fireman James NOBLE
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Chief Cook Herbert Thomas PAULL
Born: Liverpool, England
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 60years
Son of Stephen and Sarah Ann Paull
Husband of Lydia Paull, of Maribyrnong, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Honoured Family Grave, Footscray General Cemetery, Maribyrnong, Vic.

Fireman Frederick Reynold REIMAN
Born: Estonia
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 54years
Son of Mathew and Hessa Reiman
Husband of Ella Reiman, of Norwood, South Australia.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 9
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Second Officer John Grant ROUGVIE
Born: Edinburgh, Scotland
Australian Merchant Navy
Honours:  D.S.C.
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 57years
Son of Malcolm and Annie Rougvie
Husband of Lilian Rougvie, of Northbridge, New South Wales.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Also served as Sub. Net Patrol Officer, 1914-1918.

 

The Sydney Morning Herald (N.S.W.)  10-7-1943
ROUGVIE.-April 24 Lieut Grant Rougvie DSC lost at sea Merchant Navy dearly beloved husband of Lilian loving father of Moss, loving son in law of Mrs Reepe and late George Reepe. Sadly missed.

Donkeyman Harold Patrick WEST
Born: Foster, Victoria
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 33years
Son of Walter John and Marion Ann West
Husband of Ivy Donnes West, of Essendon, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 10
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Second Engineer Officer George John YOUNG
Born: Newcastle, New South Wales
Australian Merchant Navy
Died at Sea 24-4-1943 aged 50years
Son of James Alexander Young and Charlotte Young
Husband of Ellen Mary Young, of Camberwell, Victoria.
Honoured: Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - Panel 8
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll