John Ostrich

[Administrator]

Mess Room Boy, John Ostrich aged 14 who died 8th March 1941.
Son of Louis and Nancy Ostrich, of Canton, Cardiff.

Commemorated at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission Website
www.cwgc.org

[Administrator]

Hi All,
Does anyone have any information on the SS Margo. A web search does not bring up a lot.
Thanks
Paul

[Billy McGee]

There is no ship listed in Lloyds Vol. I by this name lost in WWII, nor anything listed in Lloyds Vol. II by this name as being damaged in WWII.

The only suggestion I have is he was killed either in a accident or air attack. Unfortunately I can find no trace of an Official No. for this ship to find her Log Book at Kew, which would of recorded the cause of his death.

[keithgreenway]

Thanks Billy :

Hope this helps, if she is the same Margo : suggests she escaped sinking during the war, would support Billy. Have found little else. I take it as SS. She was BRITISH ? This Lady Was Around Until At Least 1953.

History for USS Finch - DER 328

SS Margo had lost her propeller in Latitude 45-01N and Longitude 150-00W while en route from Japan to the Columbia River in North America.

USS FINCH

FINCH arrived at Adak, Alaska on 29 October and proceeded to moor at Pier 7, Sweeper Cove to refuel, then changed berths, remaining in Adak through 15 November. At 1432 hours, on 16 November, FINCH got underway to render assistance to SS Margo in position 42-15N, 152-09W. Force 8 winds of 34 to 40 knots (Fresh Gale) were causing heavy seas as FINCH set sail to the indicated position. At 1911 on 20 November, USCGC Koiner (WDE 431) was sighted, and then 40 minutes later the ship approached SS Margo and Tug Agnes Foss. The winds on scene continued to vary between Force 4 and 8. FINCH relieved Koiner at 2000 hours in position 47-35N, 145-25W, and commenced providing escort for the two vessels. SS Margo had lost her propeller in Latitude 45-01N and Longitude 150-00W while en route from Japan to the Columbia River in North America. FINCH was relieved during the next evening at 2200 by the USCGC Yocona in position 48-06N, 144-33W, and then set a course for San Francisco. The ship arrived in port on 25 November 1953 and moored in Berth 3, Government Island, Alameda, California. That date also marked the end of Ocean Station assignments and extended voyages for FINCH as a Coast Guard vessel.

[Keith Greenway]

The below regards an American ship, SS. Point Margo. A little more info only, still described as SS. Doubt if it is the same elusive Margo, But a casualty described as SS MARGO Ridgeway. Should be remembered. RIP, LEST WE FORGET.

On 10 June, a USN P-3 located a refugee boat in the South China Sea and directed the American merchant ship SS Point Margo to rescue the 28 refugees. ...

Ridgeway, Larry G., 26 Jul 1948 – SS Margo Ridgeway

Hope this helps, is certainly, I think of interest. K.

[SIF9HD8]

Have finally found the information on the loss of the boy below. A contact of mine recently visited Kew and I asked him to pull the Log Book for the SS Margo. Although I have yet been unable to find the ships cargo or destination, the details of his loss are as follows.

OSTRICH, Mess Room Boy, JOHN, S.S. Margo (Cardiff). Merchant Navy. 8th March 1941. Age 14. Son of Louis and Nancy Ostrich, of Canton, Cardiff. Buried Penzance Cemetery. Sec. F. New Extension. Block 14. Grave 16.

Cargo ship Margo, 1,412grt, (MOWT, P. MacCallum & Sons Ltd). On the afternoon of the 8th March 1941 sailing in the English Channel the Margo came under attack from three German aircraft who proceeded to rake the ship with machine gun, cannon fire and bombs. Although no bombs hit the Margo, the ship was violently shaken by the concussion of the near misses and her hull and superstructure were pierced by cannon and machine gun fire. With the Margo's own small defence, she returned fire and in the process hit one of the aircraft, which was subsequently seen to break off the attack and black smoke was observed coming from the starboard engine. The remaining aircraft continued their attacks for several more minutes, which was eventually broken off and the aircraft disappeared over the horizon. While assessing the ships damage, it was found four crew had suffered various injuries and the young Mess Room Boy lay dead. Course was then set for Penzance to land the wounded and dead.

Lest we forget

[Billy McGee]

Have finally found the information on the loss of the boy below. A contact of mine recently visited Kew and I asked him to pull the Log Book for the SS Margo. Although I have yet been unable to find the ships cargo or destination, the details of his loss are as follows.

OSTRICH, Mess Room Boy, JOHN, S.S. Margo (Cardiff). Merchant Navy. 8th March 1941. Age 14. Son of Louis and Nancy Ostrich, of Canton, Cardiff. Buried Penzance Cemetery. Sec. F. New Extension. Block 14. Grave 16.

Cargo ship Margo, 1,412grt, (MOWT, P. MacCallum & Sons Ltd). On the afternoon of the 8th March 1941 sailing in the English Channel the Margo came under attack from three German aircraft who proceeded to rake the ship with machine gun, cannon fire and bombs. Although no bombs hit the Margo, the ship was violently shaken by the concussion of the near misses and her hull and superstructure were pierced by cannon and machine gun fire. With the Margo's own small defence, she returned fire and in the process hit one of the aircraft, which was subsequently seen to break off the attack and black smoke was observed coming from the starboard engine. The remaining aircraft continued their attacks for several more minutes, which was eventually broken off and the aircraft disappeared over the horizon. While assessing the ships damage, it was found four crew had suffered various injuries and the young Mess Room Boy lay dead. Course was then set for Penzance to land the wounded and dead.

Lest we forget

[TV Watcher]

The SS Margo was also the name of a fictional "tramp steamer" which had been Captained by just as fictional character Quinton McCale (Earnest Borgnine/McCale's Navy) before he enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. The storyline goes that McCale recieved his commission in the US Navy because of his knowledge of the South Pacific area where the show was first staged.

[Administrator]

Thanks TV Watcher. K