The Sinking of the Merchant Motor Tanker Barbro September 19, 1941 The Motor Transport Barbro departed New York on September 6, 1941, and arrived in Sydney, Nova Scotia on September 10. The ship joined convoy SC-44 enroute to the United Kingdom on September 11. The Barbro had a cargo of 9000 tons of petrol. The crew consisted of 21 Norwegians, 3 Swedes, 1 Dane, 5 British and 4 Canadians. Just before midnight on September 19, 1941, the convoy was attacked by U-boat 552 and the Barbro was hit with 2 torpedoes. The petrol exploded turning the ship into an inferno. Escape from the ship or rescue was impossible and all 34 members of the crew perished in the flames. Some records indicate that the ship was torpedoed on September 20, 1941, at 3:27 am and list dates of death as September 19, 1941. The four Canadians on the ship had ties to Nova Scotia and are remembered on Panel 19 of the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Andrew Parsons Michael J. McIsaac William Albert Melville Renford ‘Ranceford’ Bayfield Weatherbee Andrew Parsons Andrew Parsons was born October 10, 1916, in Fox Island River, Newfoundland, the son of Samuel Robert Parsons and Anna Young of Stephenville, Newfoundland, and was the brother of Harry Parson of Halifax, NS. He served as a Mess Room Boy on the Barbro and was 24 years of age. Commemorated on Page 208 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 26, September 23, and November 28 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Michael J. McIsaac Michael J. McIsaac was born on January 1, 1921, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John McIsaac, of Sydney, Cape Breton. He served as a Mess Room Boy and was 20 years of age. Commemorated on Page 189 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 15, September 12, and November 18 Canadian Virtual War Memorial William Albert Melville William Albert Melville was born July 11, 1911 in Sydney, Cape Breton, NS, the son of Hector Albert Melville and Ivy Roy Robertson of North Sydney, Cape Breton. He served as an Ordinary Seaman and was 30 years of age. Commemorated on Page 192 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 17, September 14, and November 20 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Ranceford Weatherbee Renford ‘Ranceford’ Bayfield Weatherbee was born April 13, 1919, in Sydney, Cape Breton, NS, and the son of James Ira Weatherbee and Mary Beatrice Day of Sydney, Cape Breton. . He served as an Oiler and was 22 years old. Commemorated on Page 245 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 14, October 11, and December 16 Canadian Virtual War Memorial