Harry Ogden

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: Robert and Martha Hannah Ogden

Marital status: Married

Home address: Castleton, 65 Church Street, Rochdale

Pre-war occupation: Labourer

Date of birth: 08/01/1901

Place of birth: Rochdale, Lancashire

Date of death: 16/04/1945

Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial Devon and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury

Age: 44

Further information:

On the day of his death it is likely that Harry was serving aboard the British Motor Tanker ‘Gold Shell’ which was part of convoy ATM-126 on route from England to Antwerp and carrying a cargo of 8,000 tons of kerosene. On April 16th 1945, around 12.10, the vessel was hit by a torpedo, fired from a German Seehunde one-man-submarine. After several explosions, the ship sank in 20 minutes, but the superstructure remained above the sea level, because of the shallow water. The ship continued to burn for 3 days. The Master, 31 crew members and 3 gunners including Harry were killed. There were no survivors. The Gold Shell was the last WWII casualty in the North Sea.

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.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?215