Engineer Officer Sidney Alexander McIlroy served in the Merchant Navy during World War Two. At the time of his death, he served on board MV Empire Comet, built in Greenock, Scotland. Born in 1916, he lived at Clifton Drive, Belfast, Co. Antrim.
Sidney died between 17th February 1942 and 19th February 1942 aged 26 years old. MV Empire Comet was part of Convoy HX 174 travelling from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England when U136 torpedoed the ship.
Torpedoes struck the unescorted MV Empire Comet at 2217hrs on 17th February 1942. The ship was about 33 miles north of the islet of Rockall in the North Atlantic. U136 had chased the Empire Comet for 2 hours before striking and causing a large detonation on board.
Master Hector Rayment Willis, 37 crew members, and 8 gunners died as the ship went down quickly. Sidney Alexander McIlroy has no known grave. His name is on Panel 39 of the Tower Hill Memorial, London, United Kingdom.