The Majority of this page has been removed as it was incorrect. The reason for which was due to the events being confused with another event: The salvaging of SS Halo.

A full and accurate description has been obtained and will be posted shortly.


The Lunula: William Hamilton & Co., Port Glasgow
Built ByWilliam Hamilton & Co, Port Glasgow
Built:1926
Registration No:149640
International Code Signal:K.W.R.L
Wireless Call Sign:G.N.F.M
Port of Registration:Liverpool
Year of Registration:1927
Length:420 feet
Beam: 54 feet
Weight:6,363 gross tons
Horse Power:544 ihp
Ship Type:Tanker

The "Persia"
Built ByCochrane and Sons, Selby.
Built:1932
Registration No:162684
Wireless Call Sign:M.L.N.F
Length:92 feet
Beam: 21 feet
Weight:165 gross tons
Horse Power:750 ihp
Ship Type:Tug
Built as the "Dongara" for Gravesend United Tug Co., was acquired by Watkins of Gravesend and renamed "Persia"

The "Westbourne"
Built By:Cammel Laird & Co. Ltd., Birkenhead
Built:1911
Registration No:132656
Port of Registration:London
Length:106 Feet
Beam: 25 Feet
Weight:185 gross ton
Horse Power:63 bhp
Ship Type:Towing Dredger


Letter from the Chairman of the PLA (wrongly addressed to Mr R. Black)



The Lunula, as part of Convoy HX 114 (station 21), departed Halifax on the 11th March 1941, destined for the Thames Haven refinery with a cargo of gasoline. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 30th, from where the vessels dispersed to their final destinations. The Lunula arrived at Thames Haven on the 9th April 1941 and commenced to berth at No. 4 Jetty with the assistance of the tug Persia when it hit a mine dropped in an air raid the previous night.

The Lunula on fire, a member of the westbourne's crew can be seen standing on the bow of the tanker. The tug Persia can be seen burning to the rear.


The Lunula continued to burn for 97 hours, eventually settling its bow as well as its stern. Some reports intimate that unburned gasoline was recovered from the wreck after the fires were extinguished.
The Persia returned to service after a rebuild at Ramsgate. In 1946 it was renamed Muria. In February 1950, ownership was transferred to Ship Towage (London) Ltd, and it was finally scrapped in April 1967.
The Lunula was left in situ until 1948, when it was cut into two sections, floated using 'salvage balloons', and removed to Ward's salvage yard at Grays where it was cut up.
Horace Black received a citation for bravery, which was presented the following year by Mrs Churchill in a ceremony (possibly at Hyde Park), alongside over two hundred other PLA Staff who had displayed conspicuous gallantry in the face of enemy attack since the beginning of the war.


Casualties

Buried Ashore SS Lunula

BLOWES, Third Officer, ALFRED ALLEN, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 37. Buried Hoo (St Werburgh) Churchyard.

Tower Hill Panel 66

BEWICK, Second Officer, JOHN CECIL, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 32. Son of Thomas and Edith Bewick; husband of Irene Bewick, of Benton, Northumberland. 

BOOTH, Greaser, JOHN T., S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 35. Husband of Elizabeth H. Booth, of Southport, Lancashire. 

BROWN, Fireman, DAVID, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 40.

BRUCE, Second Radio Officer, ANDREW DALGATY, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 18. Son of Andrew Easton Bruce and Elizabeth Adam Bruce, of Forfar, Angus. 

BURGON, Cook, JOSEPH, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 24. Son of Joseph and Jane Burgon, of North Shields, Northumberland. 

EMBLETON, Fourth Engineer Officer, THOMAS WALTER, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 26. Son of Thomas Richard and Lizzie Ann Embleton, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

FINKLE, Chief Engineer Officer, NORMAN, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 54. Husband of Ethel Finkle, of Roker, Sunderland, Co. Durham. 

GALLAGHER, Greaser, JOSEPH EDWARD, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 65. Husband of Emma Jane Gallagher, of North Shields, Northumberland. 

GREEN, Chief Officer, HUBERT WARNER, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 66. Son of George Middleton Green and Julia Green; husband of Annie Maude Green, of Liverpool. 

GREEN, Assistant Steward, JOE, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 19. Son of Walter James Green and Sarah Jane Green, of Walton, Liverpool. 

HAINES, Able Seaman, REGINALD JAMES, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 38.

JONES, Ordinary Seaman, CHARLES, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 18. Son of Charles and Hannah Jones, of Higher Washford, Somerset. 

MARTIN, Second Engineer Officer, BERTRAM ERIC STUART, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 49. Son of Joseph Henderson Martin and Kathleen Martin. 

MOONEY, Fireman, JAMES, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 65. Son of Daniel and Sarah Ann Mooney; husband of Elizabeth Mooney, of Percy Main, North Shields, Northumberland. 

MOORE, Boatswain, ALBERT VICTOR, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 42.

McCULLOCH, Cabin Boy, DONALD, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 22. Son of David and Mary Elizabeth McCulloch, of Lower Tranmere, Birkenhead. 

McKEOWN, Fireman, JOHN, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 51.

OCCULSTONE, Greaser, EDWARD, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 50. Husband of Lilian Occulstone, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland. 

PHILLIPS, Fireman, ALFRED, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 30. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles William Phillips; stepson of Annie Phillips, of Rochester, Kent. 

PORTER, Galley Boy, THOMAS, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 17.

STONEBANKS, Donkeyman, ROBERT GRAY, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 61. Son of Robert and Margare Stonebanks; husband of Florence Stonebanks. 

SYKES, Able Seaman, MICHAEL, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 27.

TALLING, Able Seaman, WILLIAM JOHN, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 42.

WALE, Chief Steward, JAMES, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 46. Husband of Christina Wale, of Douglas, Isle of Man. 

WYLLIE, Third Engineer Officer, GEORGE BOWIE, S.S. Lunula (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 25. Son of John and Annie Douglas Wyllie.

DEMS Gunner (Chatham Naval Memorial)

WALTON, Able Seaman, SAMUEL, C/JX 177925. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy. lost in S.S. Lunula. 9th April 1941. Age 30. Son of William and Mary Walton; husband of Ethel Marjorie Walton, of Tetton, Cheshire. 

Buried Ashore Tug Persia

ALDRICH, Master, HARRY, Tug Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 60. Husband of Ethel May Aldrich, of Gravesend. Buried Gravesend Cemetery

Tower Hill Panel 80

BODY, Fireman, JAMES, Tug Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 18.

CASELTON, Leading Hand, ERNEST, S.S. Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 35.

CONNELLY, Engineer Officer, CHARLES, S.S. Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 59. Son of Simon and Anne Connelly; husband of Eleanor Mary Connelly, of Gravesend, Kent. 

LYNDS, Cook, KENNETH, Tug Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 15. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Lynds, of Gravesend, Kent. 

MAY, Deck Hand, LEONARD JOHN, S.S. Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 29.

WATERS, Mate, HARRY, S.S. Persia (London). Merchant Navy. 9th April 1941. Age 57. Son of William and Emily Waters; husband of Celia M. Waters, of Gravesend, Kent. 


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