Third Mate James Burke Willoughby

Son of Bruce Marlow Willoughby and Sybil Crawford Cass of Saanich, British Columbia. In the First World War, Bruce enlisted on 6 August 1914 in the East African Militia Rifles of the British Army, regimental number 165, and transferred to the East African Training Corps, regimental number 1595. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On 20 January 1944, Fort Buckingham was torpedoed at 8:39 pm by U-188 north-west of the Maldive Islands and sank in 10 minutes in position 08°19'N/66°40'E. Of the 89 crew and gunners, the captain, 30 sailors and 7 gunners lost their lives. Six survivors were rescued by the SS Moorby and landed at Fremantel, Australia, on the 29th. On 1 February, 8 survivors were picked up by the SS Kindsdai 400 miles (644 km) west of Kelai, Borneo, and brought back to Melbourne, Australia, on the 22nd. Five other sailors were spotted by a Catalina seaplane and rescued. On 5 February, 28 sailors and 9 gunners were rescued by the SS Ora, which transferred them to HMS Redoudt (H41). They were landed in Bombay, India, on the 9th.