S.S. British Gunner (London), Merchant Navy (British Civilian)
Died:
24/02/1941 (Died at Sea)
Age:
22
Summary
Hugh Laverty was the son of Bernard and Margaret Laverty. He was born about 1919. He was with the Merchant Navy in World War Two. By June 1941, he was serving as a fireman on the merchant ship S.S. British Gunner. On 24th February 1941 the British Gunner, in convoy OB-289, was hit by a single torpedo from a U-boat off the north coast of Scotland. Three crew members were lost in the attack. Fireman Hugh Laverty was one of those killed.
Further Information
Hugh Laverty was the son of Bernard and Margaret Laverty. Hugh Laverty was born about 1919.
There was a Hugh Laverty born on 10th December 1917 in the Benburb area, whose mother’s maiden name was Carlin. However, no marriage record can be found on GRONI from that time regarding a Laverty and Carlin, so it can be confirmed that it is the same Hugh Laverty.
Hugh Laverty was with the Merchant Navy in World War Two.
By June 1941, he was serving as a fireman on the merchant ship S.S. British Gunner. A fireman was a stoker in the engine room.
At 06.24 hours on 24th February 1941 the British Gunner, in convoy OB-289 travelling from Swansea to Aruba in Venezuela, was hit by a single torpedo from a U-boat 273 miles north-west of Cape Wrath, off the north coast of Scotland.
Four hours later, the captain of HMS Petunia, Lieutenant Commander G V Legassisk, ordered the crew to abandon ship, even though the captain of the British Gunner reported that his ship could be towed to port.
Three crew members were lost in the attack. Fireman Hugh Laverty was one of those killed.
Fireman Hugh Laverty has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 20 of the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
The CWGC record Fireman Hugh A Laverty as the son of Bernard and Margaret Laverty of Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
