The sinking of S.S. Kenbane Head off the coast of Greenland

S.S. Kenbane Head went down after coming under attack near Greenland. Many of the Merchant Navy crew who died hailed from Northern Ireland.

Kenbane Head was a 5,225GRT cargo ship of the Ulster Steamship Co. Ltd. On its final voyage, it loaded with cargo in Montreal and Sydney, Nova Scotia before joining 37 other vessels in Convoy HX-84.

The convoy departed Nova Scotia, Canada on 28th October 1940 bound for Liverpool via S.S. Kenbane Head’s home port of Belfast. The cargo included steel, military trucks, and maize.

S.S. Kenbane Head

Merchant Navy ship S.S. Kenbane Head was sunk by The Admiral Scheer on 5th November 1940 while part of Convoy HX 84 crossing the Atlantic from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Liverpool, England. Photo from Pinterest. Copyright unknown.

At around 1630hrs on 5th November 1940, Convoy HX-84 scattered southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland. German Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer intercepted the convoy and Kenbane Head faced the full force of the German guns. Captain Theodor Krancke’s first 3 rounds punctured the ship’s cargo holds. A second salvo damaged the engine room, destroyed the funnel, and took out the stern gun platform.

Krancke had been on patrol in the North Atlantic since 14th October 1940 helped by a pair od Arado Seaplanes. One of these planes spotted Convoy HX-84, which included SS Kenbane Head. Other ships sank by Krancke on that day included Fresno City, S.S. Maidan, S.S. Beaverford, S.S. Mopan, S.S. Trewellard, and H.M.S. Jervis Bay. S.S. San Demetrio escaped damaged.

Kenbane Head went down after a blazing fire on board forced the crew to abandon the vessel. A total of 24 men died on board during the attack from Admiral Scheer. That evening, another British Merchant vessel, Gloucester City sailed through heavy seas and Force 10 winds. The Captain had picked up distress calls and raced to the scene. A little over 37 hours later, Gloucester City arrived to a scene of devastation. Wreckage and lifeboats covered a distance of 50 square miles. The Captain guided Gloucester City through the wreckage, picking up survivors from 4 of the sunken ships. This included 24 men from Kenbane Head who landed at St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada.

S.S. Kenbane Head took its name from a rocky outcrop, home to a historic castle near Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

Remembering the crew of S.S. Kenbane Head

David Allister

Sailor

Sailor David Allister of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when a German surface raider sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head off Greenland.

James McNeilly Belshaw

Carpenter

Carpenter James McNeilly Belshaw of Ballywalter, Co. Down died on 5th November 1940 when SS Kenbane Head came under attack in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Hugh Carson

Second Engineer

Second Engineer Hugh Carson of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head came under attack in the North Atlantic.

James Hodges Emerson

Fireman and Trimmer

Fireman and Trimmer James Hodges Emerson of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head went down in the Atlantic.

Robert Green

Apprentice

Apprentice Robert Green of Kilkeel, Co. Down died on 5th November 1940 when SS Kenbane Head came under attack to the southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland.

George Heatley

Cook

Cook George Heatley of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head came under attack in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Bernard Patrick Henry

Fireman and Trimmer

Fireman and Trimmer Bernard Patrick Henry of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when SS Kenbane Head went down off the coast of Greenland.

John James Laidlaw

Storekeeper

Storekeeper John James Laidlaw of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when Admiral Scheer sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head off Greenland.

George McClelland Leckey

Second Officer

Second Officer George McClelland Leckey of Holywood, Co. Down died on 5th November 1940 when SS Kenbane Head came under attack in the North Atlantic Ocean

Donald James MacKay

Able Seaman

Able Seaman Donald James MacKay of Co. Tyrone died on 5th November 1940 when a German surface raider sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head off Greenland.

Marriott McAughtry

Fireman and Trimmer

Fireman and Trimmer Marriott McAughtry of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when a raider sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head off Greenland.

Joseph McGuigan

Donkeyman

Donkeyman Joseph McGuigan of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when raider Admiral Scheer sank Merchant steamer Kenbane Head off Greenland.

Joseph Leo McGuigan

Fireman and Trimmer

Fireman and Trimmer Joseph Leo McGuigan of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when a raider sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head off Greenland.

Robert Irwin Moore

Cook

Cook Robert Irwin Moore of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when raider Admiral Scheer sank Merchant steamer Kenbane Head off Greenland.

Reginald John Primmer

Assistant Steward

Assistant Steward Reginald John Primmer of Portaferry, Co. Down died on 5th November 1940 when a German battleship sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head.

David John Pritchard

Sailor

Sailor David John Pritchard of Ballyhalbert, Co. Down died on 5th November 1940 when SS Kenbane Head came under attack south of Cape Farewell, Greenland.

Henry Shaw

Fireman and Trimmer

Fireman and Trimmer Henry Shaw of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when a raider sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head in the North Atlantic.

Douglas Wilson

Fourth Engineer Officer

Fourth Engineer Officer Douglas Wilson of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when the Admiral Scheer sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head.

William Wright

Boatswain

Boatswain William Wright (or Erdis) of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim died on 5th November 1940 when the Admiral Scheer sank the Belfast built SS Kenbane Head.

Recommended Reading

The Sinking of the Kenbane Head

The Sinking of the Kenbane Head

By

5th November 2019

S.S. Kenbane Head went down off Greenland on 5th November 1940. This book by Belfast-born Sam McAughtry is a tribute to his brother who perished on board.

References
  1. BBC Your Place And Mine
  2. Belfast Forum
  3. Benji Dog
  4. British Newspaper Archive
  5. London Remembers
  6. Merchant Navy
  7. Military Factory
  8. WW2 Talk Forums