Roy Donald George Edwards

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Merchant Navy

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Fireman

Parents: George Cecil and Clara May Edwards

Home address: 9 Seawall, Pilning

Pre-war occupation: Engine driver/fireman with the Railway

Date of birth: 26/11/1922

Place of birth: Lydbrook, Gloucestershire

Date of death: 29/06/1942

Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea. Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial. Not commemorated on a local memorial

Age: 19

Further information:

Roy was born in Lydbrook, Gloucestershire and worked with the Great Western Railway from 1939 to 1940, based at Severn Tunnel Railway station.

On the day of his death, Roy 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 vapourising oil. At 07.50 hours on 29th 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 including Roy, and six gunners 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.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1872.html