ANDREW ALBERT JOHN HUNTER

[Keith Greenway]

ANDREW ALBERT JOHN HUNTER

In Memory of
(Carpenter) ANDREW ALBERT JOHN HUNTER

S.S. Tyndall (London), Merchant Navy
who died
on 27 January 1945

Remembered with honour
BARRY (MERTHYR DYFAN) BURIAL GROUND

[INFO AT TREGENNA]

Shetland’s Roll of Honour

Hunter, Andrew
Carpenter, SS. Tordene

Son of Andrew and Agnes Hunter
Garth, South Nesting.

Husband of Emily Dunn.

Died at Barry Dock, Glamorganshire, South Wales.
As a result of illness caused by exposure following shipwreck.
1942. Aged: 26 Years.

They gave their today for our tomorrow
May they be allowed to rest in peace

[INFO AT TREGENNA]

Thank you for your most interesting e-mail and information about your work with the SS. Tregenna. It is wonderful that there are still people who care about the sacrifices that were made so long ago by ordinary men and women.

I believe I have found a close relative of Andrew Albert John Hunter and have sent your information to him, I think the family probably has some information about what happened to him although the dates we have on our data base and in the Shetland Roll of Honour differ slightly to the one you gave me and which I confirmed myself on the Find My Past death index. I shall let you know more as soon as I have a reply from Mr Hunter and can send you a copy of the entry in the Roll of Honour at that time.

There were many Shetlanders in the Merchant Navy during the first and second world wars, my own grandfather among them, many perished and others were in P.O.W. camps in Germany so we have a good deal of information here in our archives.

Shetland Family History Society

[Info At Tregenna]

You will note the ship and the date differ, however, Andrew's son has a story to tell about what happened to his father and it may be that the information given in the 1980s was a bit hazy as the Roll of Honour was only researched then and published in 1991 by the Shetland Council of Social Service. It was all done on a voluntary basis. The reference for the death registration I took from the Find My Past index would seem to tally with that held by you.

Shetland Family History Society

[INFO AT TREGENNA]

From a family member, RE: about things passed on and told many years ago. Andrew Albert John Hunter, was married to Emily Dunn in Barry. It is believed that the family stayed in Llantwit Major. Andrew died in 1945 as a result of exposure or injuries from shipwreck, the ship believed to be the SS Tordene on which he was a carpenter. It is said that the ship sunk but the mast was still above water and Andrew hung there for a long period before being rescued.

INFO AT TREGENNA.

[KG]

THE MERCHANT NAVY COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES at Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery, Bary are featured in a brochure produced by The Friends of Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery, a loosely bound collection of groups and individuals who care for the cemetery and wish to improve awareness of this priceless asset. Cyfeillion Mynwent Merthyr Dyan have produced three brochures thus far, the First Word War 1914 - 1918 was followed up by a (Merchant Navy) Second World War 1939 - 1945.

A remembrance of local Airmen is being discussed for a future tribute. The Second World War - MERCHANT NAVY, has been Revised and Updated (3) this following more information being found on Andrew Hunter and an opportunity to update other information.

We at Tregenna thank the Authors Cllrs Nic and Shirley Hodges, Cyfeillion Mynwent Merthyr Dyan and Barry Town Council for the tribute and remembrance and hope that as time goes on, with further research etc that the brochures will both continue and be updated to include more on the lives of those that rest at Merthyr Dyfan.

QUOTE: "This is our small tribute to the men buried in Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery, Barry. Not all from our town but who are forever part of it" Cyfeillion Mynwent Merthyr Dyan

Details available from:

Nic Hodges
Chairman Friends of Merthyr Dyfan Cemetrey
C/O Barrry Town Council
7 Gladstone Road
Barry
Glamorgan
CF62 8NA

There is no doubt that Andrew Albert John Hunter, Grave K409 was from Shetland, he has relatives in Lerwick and is honoured on the Shetland Roll of Honour. Although Andrew was severely injured as a Merchant Seaman, it is fortunate that he survived the war time incident and was able to make at least one trip to his home town and family (Lerwick, Shetland) prior to passing away, his death attributed to the enemy action and injuries recieved.

Mr. Hunter was living in the Barry area at this time, possibly Llantwit Major, in the Vale. His son was actually born in Barry and Andrew remains a citizen. We hope that in the future and with finding documentation to confirm his last known abode as that of the Barry locality, that Andrew will finally meet the criteria to ensure that his name be added to the local / Vale of Glamorgan Roll of Honour. Lest We Forget.