The commercial exploitation of wireless at sea about 1900 revolutionised ship-shore communications and much improved safety of life at sea. From then until the end of the twentieth century ship-shore communication in the merchant fleets of the world was in the hands of specialist Radio Officers. Over time the industry turned to the Radio Officer for the maintenance of navigation aids and engine room electronics as well as the management of the communications systems.

By the turn of that century the rank of Radio Officer had passed into history as technological developments removed the need for high specialisation. Some left the sea but many moved easily into the new rank of Electro-Technical Officer (ETO). The ETO has the important function of maintaining the complex electronics installations throughout the ship and a number of them are in membership of the Association.

Radio Officers also manned coast radio stations and had counterparts in civil aviation. They too have a worthy place in distinguished history of communications in the twentieth century.

The Merchant Navy was at the forefront in all the armed conflicts of the twentieth century and is sometimes referred to the fourth arm of the defence of the nation. In those conflicts many Radio Officers performed extraordinary acts of bravery and self-sacrifice. It is of no surprise that in World War II, of the 30,000 casualties suffered by the British Merchant Navy, no less than 10% were Radio Officers and Masters. By tradition the Master was the last to leave a sinking ship and he was immediately preceded by the Radio Officer, who had been sending out the last urgent calls for help. Many Radio Officers were killed at their posts as the Radio Room was regularly the first target of shelling. We salute them all.

Name	Age	Rank	Vessel	Date	Circumstances
Gordon Thackeray Allison	22	1st Radio Officer	King Lud	8th June 1942	Off Madagascar, the cargo ship King Lud, 5224 tons (Dodd, Thomson & Co.), was sunk by the submarine I-10 (Japan). She was lost with all hands, a crew of thirty-nine including gunners
Kenneth Peter Berry	30	3rd Radio Officer	St Elwyn	28th November 1940	East of Bishop Rock the cargo ship St Elwyn, 4940 tons (South American Saint Line) Hull to Santos with coal was sunk by the U-1O3. Twenty-four of the crew were lost.
John M Campbell	45	1st Radio Officer	King Malcolm	31st October 1941	Off Newfoundland, the cargo ship King Malcolm, 5120 tons (Dodd Thomson & Co.) was sunk by the U-374. Her crew of thirty-four and four gunners were all lost in mountainous seas.
Douglas Graeme Carter	19	3rd Radio Officer	Clan MacFadyen	26th November 1942	Northwest of British Guiana, the cargo liner Clan MacFadyen, 6191 tons (Clan Line), Mauritius to the U.K. with sugar was sunk by U-508. Fifteen members of the crew died.
Thomas Reginald Cranston	18	3rd Radio Officer	Umvuma	7th August 1943	Near Mauritius, the cargo liner Umvuma, 4419 tons (Bullard, King and Co.), London to Mauritius was sunk by U-181 with the loss of seven of her crew.
Thomas Dalziel	20	2nd Radio Officer	Clan MacFarlane	17th June 1940	The SS Clan MacFarlane was sunk by collision off Socotra, half the crew and 20 Askari soldiers were lost. She was 6169 tons and owned by Clan Line Steamers Ltd.
Joseph Docherty	20	3rd Radio Officer	Walmer Castle	21st September 1941	In the North Atlantic, west of Brest, the convoy rescue ship Walmer Castle, 906 tons (Union Castle Line) carrying over eighty survivors from torpedoed ships was attacked by Focke-Wulf aircraft. Set on fire the ship had to be sunk by gunfire from a corvette. A plane from the escort carrier Audacity shot down the enemy aircraft. Thirty-two of the Walmer Castle’s crew perished along with twenty-nine survivors she had picked up.
David Feely	25	2nd Radio Officer	Charles L D	9th December 1942	Southeast of Cape Farewell, the cargo ship Charles L.D., 5267 tons (ex French Flag), India to the U.K. was sunk by U-553. Thirty-six of the crew died.
Colin Peter Freeman	19	2nd Radio Officer	Richmond Castle	10th August 1942	Southeast of Cape Farewell, the passenger/cargo ship Richmond Castle, 7798 tons (Union Castle Line), the River Plate to the U.K. was sunk by U-176 with the loss of fourteen of her crew.
John Fyfe	19	3rd Radio Officer	King Lud	8th June 1942	Off Madagascar, the cargo ship King Lud, 5224 tons (Dodd, Thomson & Co.), was sunk by the submarine I-10 (Japan). She was lost with all hands, a crew of thirty-nine including gunners.
David Gray	28	3rd Radio Officer	Clan Buchanan	8th May 1941	West of the Maldive Islands, the cargo liner Clan Buchanan, 7266 tons (Clan Line), U.K. to India was sunk by the German commerce raider Pinguin. The above officer was taken prisoner but died when the cruiser HMS Cornwall sank the Pinguin.
James Alexander Dougal Guise	26	2nd Radio Officer	Gloucester Castle	15th July 1942	About 600 miles northeast of St Helena the passenger/cargo ship Gloucester Castle, 8006 tons (Union Castle Line), the U.K. to South Africa was sunk by the commerce raider Michel (German) with the loss of ninety-one crew and passengers; there were sixty-one survivors.
Stanley Haldane	25	2nd Radio Officer	King Idwal	23rd November 1940	About 600 miles west of the Hebrides, the U-123 attacked an outward bound convoy sinking the cargo ship King Idwal, 5115 tons (Dodd Thompson Co.), Liverpool to Baltimore with the loss of twelve of her crew.
John E Hare	20	2nd Radio Officer	Umona	30th March 1941	Off Freetown, the cargo liner Umona, 3767 tons (Bullard, King & Co.), South Africa to London was sunk by U-124 with the loss of eighty-five crew and fifteen passengers.
Hywel Jones	29	3rd Radio Officer	St Lindsay	13th June 1941	In the North Atlantic, the cargo ship St. Lindsay, 5370 tons (South American Saint Line), the Clyde to Trinidad was sunk by U-751 with the loss of all forty-three of her crew.
Francis Victor Kinder	53	1st Radio Officer	Clan Buchanan	8th May 1941	West of the Maldive Islands, the cargo liner Clan Buchanan, 7266 tons (Clan Line), U.K. to India was sunk by the German commerce raider Pinguin. The above officer was taken prisoner but died when the cruiser HMS Cornwall sank the Pinguin.
Kenneth Neville Lane	30	1st Radio Officer	Clan Campbell	23rd March 1942	After the battle of Sirte Gulf, the cargo liner Clan Campbell, 7255 tons (Clan Line) was sunk by enemy aircraft near Malta. She was part of a four-ship convoy from Alexandria and seven crew members were lost in the attack.
John Lee	34	1st Radio Officer	Clan MacFadyen	26th November 1942	Northwest of British Guiana, the cargo liner Clan MacFadyen, 6191 tons (Clan Line), Mauritius to the U.K. with sugar was sunk by U-508. Fifteen members of the crew died.
John Idris Lewis	42	1st Radio Officer	Clan MacWhirter	26th August 1942	North of Madeira the cargo liner Clan MacWhirter 5941 tons (Clan Line) India to the U.K. was sunk by U-156 with the loss of ten of the crew.
Ian Lyle	20	3rd Radio Officer	Umona	30th March 1941	Off Freetown, the cargo liner Umona, 3767 tons (Bullard, King & Co.), South Africa to London was sunk by U-124 with the loss of eighty-five crew and fifteen passengers.
William James McCrory	40	1st Radio Officer	Clan Ferguson	12th August 1942	The Operation Pedestal convoy – Clyde to Malta – came under submarine and air attack north of Cape Ban. The cargo liner Clan Ferguson, 7374 tons (Clan Line), was torpedoed by Italian aircraft with the loss of eighteen of her crew.
Donald William MacLachlan	23	3rd Radio Officer	King Edward	27th December 1942	In mid-Atlantic the U-356 attacked an outward-bound convoy sinking the cargo ship King Edward, 5224 tons (Dodd Thomson & Co.) bound for New York. Nineteen of her crew perished.
George Matthew	25	2nd Radio Officer	St Lindsay	13th June 1941	In the North Atlantic, the cargo ship St. Lindsay, 5370 tons (South American Saint Line), the Clyde to Trinidad was sunk by U-751 with the loss of all forty-three of her crew.
Wilfred Mayall	37	2nd Radio Officer	King Gruffydd	17th March 1943	In mid-Atlantic U-boats attacked two convoys 120 miles apart. In one convoy U-338 sank the cargo ship King Gruffydd, 5072 tons (Dodd Thomson & Co.) the U.S. to U.K. with the loss of twenty-four of her crew.
Robert MacLennan Ollason	18	2nd Radio Officer	Clan Fraser	6th April 1941	In an attack on Piraeus the cargo liner Clan Fraser, 7529 tons (Clan Line) carrying ammunition was hit by German aircraft and caught fire; she blew up destroying other ships and seriously damaging the port. Seven of her crew died.
James O’Sullivan	32	1st Radio Officer	St Elwyn	28th November 1940	East of Bishop Rock the cargo ship St Elwyn, 4940 tons (South American Saint Line) Hull to Santos with coal was sunk by the U-1O3. Twenty-four of the crew were lost.
John Gordon Pennington	20	3rd Radio Officer	Clan MacTavish	8th October 1942	Off the Cape of Good Hope the cargo liner Clan MacTavish, 7631 tons (Clan Line), South Africa to the U.K. was sunk by U-159. Fifty-four people and seven survivors from the SS Boringia lost their lives.
John Quill	20	2nd Radio Officer	King Malcolm	31st October 1941	Off Newfoundland, the cargo ship King Malcolm, 5120 tons (Dodd Thomson & Co.) was sunk by the U-374. Her crew of thirty-four and four gunners were all lost in mountainous seas.
John James Ramsay	32	3rd Radio Officer	King Gruffydd	17th March 1943	In mid-Atlantic U-boats attacked two convoys 120 miles apart. In one convoy U-338 sank the cargo ship King Gruffydd, 5072 tons (Dodd Thomson & Co.) the U.S. to U.K. with the loss of twenty-four of her crew.
Hugh George Lawson	21	2nd Radio Officer	King Lud	8th June 1942	Off Madagascar, the cargo ship King Lud, 5224 tons (Dodd, Thomson & Co.), was sunk by the submarine I-10 (Japan). She was lost with all hands, a crew of thirty-nine including gunners.
John Iver Rees	26	2nd Radio Officer	Clan MacArthur	11th August 1943	Near Mauritius the cargo liner Clan MacArthur, 10528 tons (Clan Line), Glasgow to Mauritius was sunk by U-181. From a complement of 151 only 99 were picked up by a French Sloop.
Arnold Reeves	19	3rd Radio Officer	Charles L D	9th December 1942	Southeast of Cape Farewell, the cargo ship Charles L.D., 5267 tons (ex French Flag), India to the U.K. was sunk by U-553. Thirty-six of the crew died.
Jacques Romeuf	42	1st Radio Officer	Charles L D	9th December 1942	Southeast of Cape Farewell, the cargo ship Charles L.D., 5267 tons (ex French Flag), India to the U.K. was sunk by U-553. Thirty-six of the crew died.
William Edward Sandon	45	1st Radio Officer	Umona	30th March 1941	Off Freetown, the cargo liner Umona, 3767 tons (Bullard, King & Co.), South Africa to London was sunk by U-124 with the loss of eighty-five crew and fifteen passengers.
Douglas Grant Shepherd	22	2nd Radio Officer	Clan MacFadyen	26th November 1942	Northwest of British Guiana, the cargo liner Clan MacFadyen, 6191 tons (Clan Line), Mauritius to the U.K. with sugar was sunk by U-508. Fifteen members of the crew died.
William Spencer	31	2nd Radio Officer	Berwickshire	20th August 1944	East of Duran the cargo liner Berwickshire, 74.64 tons (Clan Line) the U.K. to Tamatave was sunk by U-861 with the loss of seven of her crew.
Walker Stephenson	32	3rd Radio Officer	Clan Forbes	16th August 1940	There is no record of this ship being destroyed by enemy action. It is assumed the above officer died when the ship was bombed in Tilbury Docks on the 16th August 1940.
Kenneth Raymond Vaughan	29	1st Radio Officer	Gloucester Castle	15th July 1942	About 600 miles northeast of St Helena the passenger/cargo ship Gloucester Castle, 8006 tons (Union Castle Line), the U.K. to South Africa was sunk by the commerce raider Michel (German) with the loss of ninety-one crew and passengers; there were sixty-one survivors.

Radio Officers Killed At Sea Whilst Serving on Company Ships - 1939 to 1945

Radio Officers Killed At Sea Whilst Serving on Company Ships - 1914 to 1918

Name	Age	Rank	Vessel	Date	Circumstances
David Edmund Beaty	19	Wireless Operator	Umgeni	9th November 1917	The ss Umgeni 2622 GT (Natal Line) was attacked on 3.9.17 by gunfire from two German submarines North of the Shetlands. She fought off the attack with her 4” gun. However, this WO received wounds from which he died on 9th November 1917.
Reginald C Bond	23	Wireless Operator	Leasowe Castle	27th May 1918	The ss Leasowe Castle 9737 GT (Union Castle SS Co. London) was torpedoed and sunk by UB-51 in the Mediterranean, 104 miles from Alexandria, whilst in passage from Alexandria to Marseilles. 92 of her crew were, lost including the Master.
Jabez George Bull	23	Wireless Operator	HMHS Glenart Castle	26th February 1918	The hospital ship Glenart Castle 6824 GT (Union Castle SS Co.) was torpedoed and sunk by UC-56 in the Bristol Channel, 10 miles West from Lundy Island, whilst in passage from Newport, Mons to Brest. 168 people were lost including the Master.
J M Carew	20	Wireless Operator	Clan Murray	29th May 1917	The ss Clan Murray 4835 GT (Clan Line, Glasgow) was torpedoed and sunk by UC-55 in the Atlantic, 40 miles southwest from Fastnet Rock, whilst in passage from Port Pine to Belfast with a cargo of wheat. 64 of her crew were lost including the Master. The 3rd.Officer and probably the 3rd. Engineer were made prisoners.
Percy Crowther	17	Wireless Operator	Clan Alpine	9th June 1917	The ss Clan Alpine 3587 GT (Clan Line, Glasgow) was torpedoed and sunk by U-60 in the North Sea, 40 miles northeast from Muckle Flugga, whilst in passage from the Tyne to Archangel with a general cargo. 8 of the crew lost their lives
Edgar Allen Davies	18	Wireless Operator	HMHS Llandovery Castle	27th June 1918	The hospital ship ss Llandovery Castle 11423 GT (Union Castle Line, London) was torpedoed and sunk by U-86 in the Atlantic, 116 miles west from Fastnet Rock, whilst in passage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Liverpool. 234 people were lost.
John Alexander Duff	27	Wireless Operator	Clan Farquhar	26th February 1917	The ss Clan Farquhar 5858 GT (Clan Line, Glasgow) was torpedoed and sunk by UB-43 in the Mediterranean, 80 miles east from Benghazi, whilst in passage from Calcutta and Bombay to London with a cargo of cotton, jute and tea. 49 of her crew were lost and the Second Engineer was taken prisoner.
John Edward Glaves	18	Wireless Operator	HMHS Salta	10 April 1917	The hospital ship Salta 7284 GT (Admiralty, London) struck a mine, laid by UC-26, in the English Channel, 1 mile North from Whistle Buoy, Le Havre, whilst in passage from Southampton to Le Havre with a cargo of hospital stores. 79 members of the crew lost their lives. Mr. Glaves body was landed in France and he is buried at Saint Marie’s Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine Maritime.
George Ernest Hawkes	21	Wireless Operator	HMHS Llandovery Castle	27th June 1918	The hospital ship ss Llandovery Castle 11423 GT (Union Castle Line, London) was torpedoed and sunk by U-86 in the Atlantic, 116 miles west from Fastnet Rock, whilst in passage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Liverpool. 234 people were lost.
Brinley Thomas Hughes	22	Wireless Operator	Leasowe Castle	27th May 1918	The ss Leasowe Castle 9737 GT (Union Castle SS Co. London) was torpedoed and sunk by UB-51 in the Mediterranean, 104 miles from Alexandria, whilst in passage from Alexandria to Marseilles. 92 of her crew were, lost including the Master.
Robert Hawker Nash	24	Wireless Operator	Clan MacNab	4th August 1918	The ss Clan Macnab 4675 GT (Clan Line Glasgow) was torpedoed and sunk by U-113 in the Atlantic, 14 miles NNW from Pendeen Lighthouse in position 50° 20’ N 05° 55’ W, whilst in voyage from Plymouth to the Clyde in ballast. 22 of her crew were lost including the Master.
Horace James Payne	17	Wireless Operator	HMHS Salta	10 April 1917	The hospital ship Salta 7284 GT (Admiralty, London) struck a mine, laid by UC-26, in the English Channel, 1 mile North from Whistle Buoy, Le Havre, whilst in passage from Southampton to Le Havre with a cargo of hospital stores. 79 members of the crew lost their lives. Mr. Glaves body was landed in France and he is buried at Saint Marie’s Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine Maritime.
Michael Peter Sinnott		Wireless Operator	HMHS Glenart Castle	26th February 1918	The hospital ship Glenart Castle 6824 GT (Union Castle SS Co.) was torpedoed and sunk by UC-56 in the Bristol Channel, 10 miles West from Lundy Island, whilst in passage from Newport, Mons to Brest. 168 people were lost including the Master.

Radio Officers

British & Commonwealth Shipping Company Memorials

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