Gilbert James Clinton
Memorial: Wickwar - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Merchant Navy
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: 3rd Engineer Officer
Parents: Harry James and Eva Clinton
Marital status: Married
Home address: Charlton House High Street Wickwar
Pre-war occupation: Not known
Date of birth: 1891
Place of birth: South Africa
Date of death: 11/03/1943
Buried/Commemorated at: Listed as missing presumed drowned at sea. Commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial London and in Holy Trinity Church Wickwar
Age: 52
Further information:
Gilbert was born in South Africa and he and his younger brother Harry lived for some of their childhood with a Schoolmistress Aunt in the School House, Station Road Wickwar.
Gilbert’s ship was sailing on 10 March 1943 as part of a convoy of 60 ships (HX-228) transporting arms from Halifax Nova Scotia to Liverpool, when it was hit by a torpedo from U-221 and sank off Cape Farewell Greenland. Gilbert was the only soul lost and the Master along with 65 crew members, five gunners and ten RCAF officers were all rescued.
Gilbert was awarded an MBE and posthumously commended for bravery.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36151/supplement/3867/data.pdf
https://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx228page2.html
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2754.html
London Gazette supplement, 31st August 1943, page 3867