Joseph Alexander Bittles

Fireman Joseph Alexander Bittles of Belfast, Co. Antrim died on 21st March 1941 when SS Millisle came under Luftwaffe attack in the Bristol Channel.

Fireman

Joseph Alexander Bittles

Fireman Joseph Alexander Bittles of Belfast, Co. Antrim died alongside 7 other crew members from Northern Ireland when a Luftwaffe plane attacked the steamer SS Millisle.

Fireman Joseph Alexander Bittles served in the Merchant Navy during World War Two. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bittles of 8 Rotterdam Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim.

He died on 21st March 1941 aged 22 years old on board SS Millisle. The 617-ton cargo ship went down after an attack from a Luftwaffe plane 2 miles east of Helwick Light Buoy in the Bristol Channel. The vessel was en route from Cardiff, Wales to Cork, Éire laden with coal when bombed. A total of 8 crew members from Northern Ireland died as a result of the attack.

Joseph Alexander Bittles has no known grave. His name is on Panel 70 of the Tower Hill Memorial, London, England.