James Lawrence Hanson Oiler SS Vineland Canadian Merchant Navy November 10, 1923 Central Port Mouton, Queens Co., NS April 20, 1942 19 Halifax Memorial Panel 21 Commemorated on Page 150 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 27, August 24 and October 30 James Lawrence Hanson was the oldest son of Jacob Laurence Hanson (1904-1968) and Annie Lena (Demone) Hanson (1905-1966) of Port Mouton, Queens Co., NS. He was the brother of Mildred Eugenie (1926–2010), Muriel Lorraine (1930–1988), Earl David Sonny (1933–1999), and Carol M. Hanson (1939–1998). Rejected due to a physical disability when James enlisted in the armed forces, he entered the Merchant Marine at Portland, Maine on April 8, 1942. He joined the crew of the SS Vineland as an oiler. Twelve days later he would be the only member of the thirty-five man crew to lose his life when his ship was torpedoed. The SS Vineland was owned by the Markland Shipping Co Ltd, Liverpool, NS. The home port was Liverpool, NS. On April 20, 1942 the Vineland was steaming at eleven knots north of Cap Haitien, Haiti. At approximately 9:00 pm the ship was hit aft by one a torpedo from U-boat 154. No distress signals could be sent as the aerials had been brought down and the crew immediately abandoned ship in the lifeboats. James Hanson, oil soaked in his attempt to abandon the ship was crushed by debris. The stern broke off and sank after the ship was struck in the engine room at 9:20 pm. The master and thirty- three survivors reached the Turks Island after four days and returned to Halifax on a Dutch ammunition ship. James Lawrence Hanson is listed on the Halifax Memorial. His date of death is officially listed as April 30, 1942; however, he lost his life in the loss of the SS Vineland on April 20, 1942.

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Source: uboat.net Canadian Virtual War Memorial