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© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
You must seek permission prior to
publication of any of our images.
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Regimental History - 20th Century
Second World War
1939-1945
1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster
HMT Princess Marguerite torpedoed
1st King's Own, as part of the 10th Indian Division, was sent to
Cyprus on garrison duty. The battalion left Port Said on the morning of
17th August 1942. The convoy consisted of three destroyers, one armed
merchant man and HMT Princess Marguerite - containing divisional
headquarters, 1st King's Own and about 500 Indian troops. At 3.10pm on
the same day Princess Marguerite was torpedoed by an enemy submarine;
one of the oil tanks exploded and caught fire in a few seconds and the
ship rapidly started to sink. Five minutes after she was hit the order
was given to abandon ship, but owing to the flaming decks it was only
possible to lower five life boats. The destroyer HMS Hero was detailed
to pick up survivors - by 3.30pm most of the troops were in the water -
swimming towards Hero. Ten minutes later Princess Marguerite gently
rolled over and sank. The loss of life amounted to sixty - King's Own
casualties being one officer and 23 other ranks. The submarine was never
seen - although a search continued until midday on the 18th. Hero
deposited her unexpected passengers once more on the quays at Port Said.
Private William J Crellin
distinguished himself during the sinking of the ship and his story is
told in a Victor comic.
Roll of Honour of those drowned.
 | Sergeant George Henry Mayne Allan number 4339745, Drowned on the
way to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess
Marguerite.Commemorated on Alamein Memorial. Age 37. Husband of
Norah Allan of Leeds. Lived South Shields, place of birth not known. |
| Private Charles Blundred number 3710553, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Commemorated on
Alamein Memorial. Son of William and Alice Mary Blundred of Stoke on
Trent |
| Corporal Ernest Davies number 3657586, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Commemorated on
Alamein Memorial Age 26 Son of Edward and Mary Davies, of Heswall
Cheshire. |
| Private Morris Ellerker number 3392240, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 20. Buried
at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Probably picked up by HMS Hero and
landed in Israel. |
| Private John Walter Harrison number 3860666, Drowned on the way
to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 22.
Buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. |
| Private Thomas Hartley number 3715291, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 35.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial Son of Mic and Jane Hartley,
husband of Bertha Hartley of Blackburn. |
| Corporal John Vincent Haugh number 3777782, Drowned on the way
to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Commemorated
on Alamein Memorial. Husband of Teresa Haugh of Liverpool. |
| Private Richard Edward Hurst number 3711067, Drowned on the way
to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite., age 25.
Buried at Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Israel. Son of Henry and Sarah
Ann Hurst of Ulverston, Lancashire. |
| Private Alfred Lamb number 3713594, Drowned on the way to Cyprus
17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Commemorated on
Alamein Memorial Egypt |
| Private James Lomax number 3779892, Drowned on the way to Cyprus
17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 31. Buried at
Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Probably picked up by HMS Hero and
landed in Israel. |
| Private Peter Lovell number 3713406, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite.Age 23. Nephew
of Margaret Lovell of Blackpool, Lancashire. Buried at Ramleh War
Cemetery, Israel. |
| Private Joseph Walters Lowe number 3710770, Drowned on the way
to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 25.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial |
| Private Leonard Maidwell number 5826172, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite., age 25.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial |
| Private William McNeil number 3711182, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Commemorated on
Alamein Memorial, Egypt. |
| Private George Russell number 3715376, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite, age 26.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial. Son of John and Mary Russell,
Husband of Annie May Russell of Workington. |
| Private Edward Sweeney number 3241315, Drowned on the way to
Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite, age 39.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial |
| Lance Corporal William Torevell number 3777242, Drowned on the
way to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. age 28.
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial. Son of Harry and Mary Torevell,
husband of Millicent Torevell, Stockport. |
| Lance Corporal William Edward Turner number 3709285, Drowned on
the way to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942, age 28, on board HMT Princess
Marguerite. Commemorated on Alamein Memorial |
| Captain George Kenneth Warri Warri-Winram number 184847, Killed
at Sea when HMT Princess Marguerite was torpedoed, 17 Aug, 1942,
whilst en route to Cyprus. Son of Frank and Mary Winram of
Liverpool, husband of Winifred Grace Warri-Winram of Wavertree,
Liverpool. Buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Information from Mr Cliff Blood “he was my platoon commander (16
Platoon) in D Company. I understand that pre-war he had been
political/government officer, he was a very nice chap indeed. I was
very sad when I learnt of his death. |
| Lance Corporal Gordon Wattam number 3710749, Drowned on the way
to Cyprus 17 Aug 1942 on board HMT Princess Marguerite. Age 29. Son
of Mr and Mrs. C. Wattam of Carnforth, Lancashire. Buried at Ramleh
War Cemetery, Israel.
Regular with the 1st Battalion, King's Own and had served in India
before the war. He had a girl friend in Morecambe, and his younger
brother, Charlie, also served in the army. Charlie
Wattam senior had a family of seven, 1 girl, 3 boys and 3 girls, and
he was employed as head gardener at Leck Hall. He also served as a
sergeant in the local home guard. |
© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
You must seek permission prior to
publication of any of our images.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store. |
