Kenneth Herbert Smith
Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial
Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Lance Bombardier
Parents: Willie and Annie Hill Smith
Home address: Wakefield
Date of birth: 1920
Place of birth: Wakefield, Yorkshire
Date of death: 29/06/1942
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 22
Further information:
On the day of his death Kenneth was serving aboard the unescorted British Steam Tanker 'Empire Mica' which was on route from Houston Texas to New Orleans carrying a cargo of 12,000 tons of vaporising oil. At 07.50 hours on 29 June 1942 the vessel was hit by two torpedoes from U-boat U-67 in the Gulf of Mexico southwest of Cape St. George, Florida. The tanker immediately caught fire, exploded and sank after breaking apart. Two of the three launched lifeboats were caught in the flaming oil on the surface and its occupants died. 27 crew members and six gunners including Kenneth were lost. 14 survivors were picked up and landed at Panama City, Florida.
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://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1872.html