Identity
Person No.
12848
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
First Name
Ernest Murray
Initials
E M
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
34
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Torpedoed, U-96 was chasing an unknown steamer that already evaded three G7e torpedoes when the unescorted Almeda Star (Master Harry Cecil Howard, Commodore of the Blue Star Line) was spotted about 35 miles northeast of Rockall. The U-boat then fired a fourth G7e torpedo at the first steamer at 07.10 hours, but it was also evaded and the boat forced to dive by gunfire. At 07.45 hours, U-96 fired one G7e torpedo at the Almeda Star, which stopped after a hit amidships. As the ship did not sink after being hit in the stern and amidships by two coups de grâce at 08.05 and 09.07 hours, the U-boat surfaced to shell the ship. The Germans observed four lifeboats and still saw people on deck before opening fire from 09.32 to 09.48 hours, hitting with about 15 of 28 incendiary shells. Only small fires were started which soon went out, so another torpedo was fired at 09.55 hours. The torpedo hit the forepart and caused her to sink by the bow within three minutes in 58 40N/13 38W
Grave Reference
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Coordinates
Additional Information
Notes
Son of Albert Ernest and Helen Lamb; husband of Hilda Lamb (nee Fraser). M.R.C.V.S. Educated at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown. Practised as a Veterinary Surgeon in Ross-shire, N.B.
Citation
Unknown
External Source
Unknown
South African War Graves Project