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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Pitts

In memory of:

Able Seaman William Pitts

August 26, 1917
North Atlantic

Military Service

Age:

47

Force:

Merchant Navy

Unit:

Canadian Merchant Navy

Division:

S.V. Minas Queen a three-masted schooner (St. Johns, Newfoundland) (133897)

Additional Information

Born:

January 1, 1870
Cape Charles, Virginia

Husband of Ruth Pitts, of New York, New York, United States of America.

On 26 August 1917, the Minas Queen was en route from Tonnay, France, to New York when she was boarded and sunk by gunfire from U-93 350 miles (563 km) north-west of Cap Finistère, France, position 46°23'N/10°24'W. The attack caused the death of her captain and 5 sailors.

Commemorated on Page 58 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:

N/A

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.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– His name as it is inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial. The 480 fallen Canadians lost at sea, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – His name as it is inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial. The 480 fallen Canadians lost at sea, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
  • Memorial– The tower Hill Memorial is located in London, England at Tower Hill and across from the Tower of London. This Memorial is dedicated to the 50,700 Commonwealth merchant seamen, fishing fleet workers and other on-board crew lost during the First World War. Included on this list are the 480 Canadians that gave their lives in the cause of the Great War. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – The tower Hill Memorial is located in London, England at Tower Hill and across from the Tower of London. This Memorial is dedicated to the 50,700 Commonwealth merchant seamen, fishing fleet workers and other on-board crew lost during the First World War. Included on this list are the 480 Canadians that gave their lives in the cause of the Great War. (J. Stephens)

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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