Gunner Bernard Joseph McKernan (11418859) served in 3rd Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery during the Second World War. Born in 1916, he was the son of Edward McKernan and Mary Ann McKernan (née Ferris) of Belfast.
He died on 11th May 1944 aged 28 years old when SS Empire Heath when it came under attack from U-129 east-northeast of Rio de Janeiro. At 1445hrs, U-129 fired 3 torpedoes at the unescorted SS Empire Heath captained by Master William Thompson Brown DSC.
All missiles missed and despite Allied planes operating in the area, the submarine surfaced and overtook the ship. The U-Boat crew fired a single FAT torpedo at 2300hrs hitting the ship 6 minutes and 20 seconds later. It took only a matter of seconds for SS Empire Heath to go down.
The U-Boat crew picked up Chief Steward Frederick Wakeham for interrogation. The captain, 46 crew members, 1 passenger, and 9 gunners died as a result of the sinking.
Bernard Joseph McKernan has no known grave. His name is on Panel 80, Column 1 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.