Bertram Percy Alner
Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial
Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Gunner
Parents: Harry and Elizabeth Alner
Home address: 39 West Street, Bridport, Dorset
Pre-war occupation: Camouflage net maker
Date of birth: 25/12/1913
Date of death: 04/03/1943
Buried/Commemorated at: No known burial site but commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent and Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 29
Further information:
6/3 Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery.
Bert was born in Dorset the son of a factory gate keeper and had an older sister Jessie.
On the day of his death Bertram was serving aboard the unescorted steam merchant The City of Pretoria, on route from New York to Holyhead carrying 7032 tons of general cargo and explosives. At 06.09 hours on 4 March 1943, about 320 miles northwest of the Azores, the ship was hit by 2 torpedoes fired from U-boat U-172. The ship sank following a massive explosion and the master, 108 crew members, 24 gunners, including Bertram, 6 passengers and 6 apprentices were all lost. There were no survivors.
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.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2714.html