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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Thomas McKeary

In memory of:

Fireman Thomas McKeary

April 9, 1945
Bari, Italy

Military Service


Age:

23

Force:

Merchant Navy

Unit:

Canadian Merchant Navy

Division:

S.S. Fort Erie (London, England) (168477)

Additional Information


Born:

July 1, 1921
Montréal, Quebec

Son of James J. McKeary and Annie Logue of Rock Ferry, Bickenhead, England. During the First World War, James served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers of the British Army, regimental number 28274.

On 9 April 1945, the SS Charles Henderson was unloading exploded ammunition at berth 14 in Bari, Italy. The detonation destroyed buildings on the seafront and damaged ships for more than 2,000 feet (640 m), including the SS Fort Erie, which suffered several casualties. The blast killed at least 31 sailors and 13 armed guards.

Commemorated on Page 189 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
London, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 50.

Location:

THE TOWER HILL MEMORIAL stands on the South side of the garden of Trinity Square, a hundred yards East of Mark Lane Station, and just within the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney and the Liberty of the Tower. It is at the hub of maritime England. Behind it are Trinity House and the offices of the Port of London Authority, and the Thames stretches before it; the wide space of Great Tower Hill, leading down from it to the river, is the traditional forum of merchant seamen and their fellow workers. Lloyd's is on the North, the Custom House and Billingsgate Market are near it on the West, and beyond the Tower, Eastwards, is the long line of the Docks the greatest dock system in the world.

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