Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Laing
In memory of:
Ordinary Seaman William Laing
January 6, 1942
North Atlantic
Military Service
59
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
MV Continent (St. John’s, Newfoundland)(165768)
Additional Information
January 1, 1883
Newfoundland and Labrador
On 10 January 1942 Byron D. Benson was returning from Port Arthur, Texas, to Bayonne, France, when around 7:30 pm in foggy weather she rammed Canadian coastal freighter Continent four miles (6,5 km) south of Scotland Lightship, off New Jersey coast. The Continent, a 466 GRT vessel, quickly filled with water and sank, leaving her entire fourteen men crew in icy waters, except one, William Laing. The tanker stood by for two hours and was able to rescue all but one of the crew men before landing them at Staten Island. The ship received only slight damage and could continue her operations.
Commemorated on Page 169 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
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