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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Mary Elizabeth Oliphant

In memory of:

Stewardess Mary Elizabeth Oliphant

September 9, 1918
North Atlantic

Military Service

Age:

47

Force:

Merchant Navy

Unit:

Canadian Merchant Navy

Division:

RMS Missanabie (London, England) (136705)

Additional Information

Born:

January 1, 1871
Maryport, England

Daughter of John and Elizabeth Oliphant; wife of William John Oliphant.

Stewardess Oliphant is also commemorated on a memorial plaque affixed to a new eight sided old-fashioned bandstand in Veteran's Park in Langford, British Columbia. The plaque was unveiled by ex-merchant mariner Tom Osborne and Barbara Duncan on May 19, 2002 as a bugler sounded Reveille. It is believed to be the first war memorial anywhere in the world dedicated to women merchant mariners who died at their posts in the two world wars.

The Missanabie was en route from Liverpool, England, to Quebec City and Montreal, Quebec, when on 9 September 1918 she was torpedoed by UB-87 52 miles (84 km) off Daunt's Rock, Cork, Ireland. She sank with 45 of her crew, position 58°11'N/07°25'W.

Commemorated on Page 55 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– Her 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)

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Her 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)
  • Memorial Plaque

    Details

    Memorial Plaque
    Memorial Plaque
  • Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

    Details

    Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
    Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
  • Tower Hill Memorial

    Details

    Tower Hill Memorial
    Tower Hill Memorial

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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