Canadian Virtual War Memorial
James Donnelly
In memory of:
Assistant Steward James Donnelly
February 19, 1942
Military Service
17
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
MV. Empire Comet (Greenock, Scotland) (166996)
Additional Information
On February 17, 1942, at around 10:17 p.m., she was moving away from convoy HX-174 on route to Manchester, England, when she was hit by two torpedoes launched from U-136 33 miles (53 km) north of Rockall, south-east Ireland, and sank rapidly in position 58°09'N/13°48'W. The captain, 37 crew members and 8 gunners lost their lives. The absence of the ship was reported on the 19th and this date was chosen by the authorities.
Commemorated on Page 127 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 21.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
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