William Barton
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: Herbert J and Ada Barton
Home address: 21 Chandos Road, Stockport, Cheshire
Pre-war occupation: Lorry driver for a pharmacy
Date of birth: 09/12/1912
Date of death: 11/05/1944
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial Devon and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury
Age: 31
Further information:
William was the eldest child of a jeweller and in 1939 was living in Stockport with his parents and 4 siblings, including twins.
On the day of his death, William was serving aboard the unescorted British Steam Merchant the Empire Heath on route from Victoria in Brazil to Loch Ewe in Scotland, carrying a cargo of iron ore. At 23.06 hours, the vessel was hit by a torpedo from U-boat U129 East, North East of Rio de Janeiro and sank within seconds. 57 of the 58 people on board, including William, perished, with the Germans rescuing just one survivor for questioning. He was the Chief Steward and he became a POW.
(Memorial incorrectly states his DOD as 20.5.44)
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/3248.html