Cargo ship, Empire March, 7,040grt, (MOWT, Headlam & Son) had loaded a cargo including tea, peanuts and jute in India and was to sail to the U.K. independently via Durban and Trinidad. On the evening of the 2nd January 1943 in the South Atlantic, South-West of St Helena, the Empire March was intercepted by the German commerce raider Michel. The Merchant ship came under shellfire from the raider and was also hit by one of her torpedoes. The Michel then launched her motor vessel, Esau which fired another two torpedoes into the ship sinking her in position 22’ 35S 08’ 30W. Conflicting reports have 29/33 of her 57 crewmembers were lost. The survivors were picked up by the Michel, eventually being landed in Singapore and handed over to the Japanese as PoW’s. Some of the men ended up in Changi jail, others were sent to a prison camp in Japan. 27 men are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial on Panel 43, 1 Canadian on the Halifax Memorial and 1 RN gunner on on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

AGAR, Cook, ARTHUR, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 42. Husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Agar, of Whitby, Yorkshire.

ALLERSTON, Third Officer, LESLIE, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 24. Son of Sidney and Jennie Allerston, of Scarborough, Yorkshire.

BAKER, Mess Room Boy, JAMES WILLIAM, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 18. Son of James and Norah Baker, of Tooting, Surrey.

BIRTLEY, Chief Officer, NORMAN NAISBY, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 27th December 1942. Age 36.

CANNON, Fireman, DENIS, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 23. Son of Auston Cannon, and of Edith Cannon, of Dingle, Liverpool.

CHAPMAN, Sailor, GEORGE AMBROSE, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 33. Son of Mace and Julia Chapman; husband of Nancy Isobel Chapman, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.

CRUICKSHANK, Fireman, ISAAC, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 51.

CUMMINS, Fireman, CHARLES, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 31. Son of Mrs. E. Cummins, of Whitby, Yorkshire.

DENSEM, First Radio Officer, FRANK, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 33. Son of John Carter Densem and Elizabeth Densem; husband of Maud Mary Wivell Densem, of Sheepwash, Devon.

DISLEY, Second Radio Officer, ALFRED, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 19.

HALL, Fireman and Trimmer, JAMES, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 30. Husband of Mary Hall, of Whitby, Yorkshire. Panel

HAYES, Third Radio Officer, NICHOLAS, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 19. Son of Nicholas and Faith Hayes, of Southport, Lancashire.

KNAGGS, Greaser, WILLIAM NOBLE, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 32. Son of William and Hannah Knaggs.

KROSNOYAROFF, Fireman, A, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 48.

MARKEY, Steward, PHILIP FRANCIS, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 19. Son of Patrick and Rose Markey, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.

McCARTNEY, Ordinary Seaman, ROBERT, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 29. Son of John and Jane McCartney; husband of Josephine McCartney, of Whitehaven, Cumberland.

McCREEDY, Fireman and Trimmer, DAVID, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 32.

McERLEAN, Boatswain, JOHN JOSEPH, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 35. Son of Patrick and Maria McErlean, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.

McMILLAN, Able Seaman, ROBERT BARNES, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 3rd January 1943. Age 29. Son of George and Mary Ann McMillan; husband of Jennie McMillan, of Netherton, Maryport, Cumberland.

McMINN, Cabin Boy, JOSEPH, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 21. Son of Albert and Mary McMinn, of Workington, Cumberland.

PARKIN, Cook, ALFRED HENRY, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 18. Son of Lancelot George and Mary Elizabeth Parkin, of Whitby, Yorkshire.

PELLING, Second Officer, GEORGE NORMAN SCOTT, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 25.

PENN, Fourth Engineer Officer, ERNEST MAYSON, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 21. Son of Robert Reed Penn and Eva Penn, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.

PERRETT, Second Engineer Officer, FRANK, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 32. Son of William and Emma Perrett, husband of Olwen Lilian Perrett, of Briton Ferry, Neath, Glamorgan.

SUTHERLAND, Carpenter, WILLIAM HENRY, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 49.

THEAKER, Third Engineer Officer, WILLIAM JAMES, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 22. Son of Thomas and Margaret Ellen Theaker, of Whitby, Yorkshire.

WILKINSON, Chief Engineer Officer, CHARLES EDGAR, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). Merchant Navy. 2nd January 1943. Age 41. Son of John William and Everilda Alice Wilkinson; husband of Dorothy Wilkinson, of Whitby, Yorkshire.

CLORAN, Seaman, ROBERT, S.S. Empire March (Barrow). 2nd January 1943. Age 23. Canadian Merchant Navy.

COPEMAN, Able Seaman, GEOFFREY GEORGE THOMAS, D/JX 336995. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in S.S. Empire March. 2nd January 1943. Age 26. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Copeman, of Raveningham, Norfolk.