Sapper Henry McGarry (2716372) served in 1010 Docks Operating Company, Royal Engineers during the Second World War. Known as Harry, and born in 1906, he was the son of William McGarry and Mary Ann McGarry of Belfast.
Harry had an older sister, Maggie, and a younger sister Isabella born in 1908. The Irish Census of 2nd April 1911 lists the children living with parents and siblings in Collinward, Carnmoney, Co. Antrim. Harry was the husband of Esther McGarry. The couple married in February 1934 and had a daughter named Eliza Jane on 2nd October 1935. Their son Phillip McGarry was born in March 1936. Phillip died the following year. Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Harry served in the Irish Guards.
He died on 17th June 1943 aged 37 years old on board SS Yoma. Two torpedos fired by U-81 at 0733hrs sunk the ship off the coast of Derna, Libya, North Africa. One struck the engine room and one struck the hold. The ship went down in five minutes.
The Yoma, captained by George Patterson, was part of Convoy GTX-2. On board were 134 officers and 994 ratings of the British Army and 22 officers and 643 ratings of the Free French Navy. They were on the way from Algeria to Alexandria in Egypt. Many of the British troops were Royal Engineers like Henry McGarry, there to assist with the planned invasion of Sicily. The captain, 29 crew members 3 gunners, and 451 military personnel died in the sinking. HMAS Lismore, HMAS Gawler, MMS-102, MMS-105, and the Fort Maurepas picked up 130 crew members, 5 gunners, and remaining military personnel.
Henry McGarry has no known grave. His name is on Panel 6, Column 3 of the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom.