S.S. Athenia

[Administrator]

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
3 September 2019.

On Merchant Navy Day we remember the crew of the S.S. Athenia, which on 3 September 1939 became the first UK ship to be sunk by Germany during the Second World War.

All 19 of the crew who died are commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Tower Hill Memorial – which is situated in central London.

In addition, the Commission also includes the names of the 64 civilian casualties in our Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour.

[Administrator]

VIA: Stair na hÉireann / History of Ireland.

OTD in 1939 – The horror of a war declared just days previously comes to Galway. German U-boat 30 torpedoed the SS Athenia 250 miles north-west of the Donegal coast resulting in the deaths of 112 of over 1,400 passengers and crew.

The Athenia was bound for Quebec carrying civilians fleeing the situation in Europe. It was the first ship to be sunk in the war. Survivors were picked up by the Norwegian freighter Knute Nelson and brought to Galway.

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