U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: Z 113669
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Lynn, Massachusetts
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew.
HAROLD BERTRAM STOWE signed on the James McKay as Boatswain (Bosun), and on Nov 19th he was on board as the ship sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board, and even though they were able to abandon ship before it sank, they were not seen or heard from again. None of the 62 men survived.
Service No: Z 113669
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Lynn, Massachusetts
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew.
HAROLD BERTRAM STOWE signed on the James McKay as Boatswain (Bosun), and on Nov 19th he was on board as the ship sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board, and even though they were able to abandon ship before it sank, they were not seen or heard from again. None of the 62 men survived.
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: Z 113669
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Lynn, Massachusetts
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew.
HAROLD BERTRAM STOWE signed on the James McKay as Boatswain (Bosun), and on Nov 19th he was on board as the ship sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board, and even though they were able to abandon ship before it sank, they were not seen or heard from again. None of the 62 men survived.
Service No: Z 113669
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Lynn, Massachusetts
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew.
HAROLD BERTRAM STOWE signed on the James McKay as Boatswain (Bosun), and on Nov 19th he was on board as the ship sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board, and even though they were able to abandon ship before it sank, they were not seen or heard from again. None of the 62 men survived.
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