Ordinary Seaman Donald Frederick Spencer

On the evening of 11 November 1940, two vessels approached the body of water known as the Little Minch off the north west coast of Skye. From the south, the coaster The Duchess was heading north to then passage south down the North Sea coast for London with a general cargo including maize and sugar. From the north, the London registered steamship Trefusis was heading south for Oban with an unspecified cargo, both vessels were travelling at around 9 knots.

It was later found that only one of the vessels was displaying lights which turned out to be the main cause of what was about to unfold. As the two vessels neared they were on slightly crossing courses, the Trefusis seeing the Duchess off her port bow altered course to starboard, The Duchess only seeing the Trefusis at the last minute turned to port. By this stage a collision was inevitable, the Trefusis crashed into the small coaster, which sank quickly taking with her all her crew bar the steward who was picked up by the Trefusis.