John Travis
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: James and Ellen Travis
Home address: 123 Hope Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester
Pre-war occupation: Butcher's Salesman
Date of birth: 13/01/1911
Place of birth: Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester
Date of death: 19/11/1942
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 31
Further information:
John was born in Ashton under Lyne. He was the son of a labourer and had an older sister and an older brother. In 1939 was still living in Ashton under Lyne and lodging with the Bowden family.
John was killed in action and died at sea. On the day of his death it is likely that John was serving aboard the former Danish cargo ship ‘Birgitte’ which was then owned by the Ministry of War Transport. The vessel had departed Southampton on the afternoon of November 17th 1942 in Convoy PW-250 bound for Swansea for orders. At about 03:10 on November 19th 1942 they were attacked by E-boat S-116 ´5 miles south of Eddystone Lighthouse. Ten of her 23 crew including John, were killed. John was originally reported as missing which was changed to killed in action 8 months later.
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://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?232881