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In memory of:

Seaman John McLean King

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Merchant Navy emblem

Military service

Age: 28
Rank: Seaman
Force: Merchant Navy
Unit/Regiment: Canadian Merchant Navy
Division: S.S. Oakcrest (London, England) (171313)
Birth: August 21, 1912 Bras d’Or, Nova Scotia
Death: November 22, 1940 North Atlantic

Burial/memorial information

Grave reference: Panel 17.
Additional information
Son of John Alfred King and Clara Jane Cockley of Little Bras d’Or, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

On 17 November 1940, the Oakcrest left New York harbour for England with convoy OB-244. Away from the group of ships on the 21st, she was torpedoed at 4:18 am on the 23rd by U-123 and sank in less than six minutes in position 56°39'N/18°36'W. The captain, first mate, chief engineer and 9 crew members perished, one in a lifeboat and four young sailors drifted away and were never seen again. 24 sailors and one gunner abandoned ship and drifted for 8 days. Two sailors drowned on landfall, six during the night on the island of Tangasdale, in the Hebrides, one from drinking seawater. Six survived, while a total of 35 died.

In the Books of Remembrance

Commemorated on:

Page 166 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance.
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