Remembering World War II

Name: Thomas Gotobed McMullen Rank: Second Mate Service Number: Unknown Service: SS Vancouver Island, Merchant Navy Date of Birth: April 23, 1908 Place of Birth: Glace Bay, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia Date of Death: October 16, 1941 Age at Death: 33 Memorial: Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia Reference: Panel 18 Commemorated on Page 190 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 16, September 13, and November 19 Thomas Gotobed McMullen was the son of Edward Davidson 'Ned' McMullen (1883-1953), Margaret Elizabeth (Gretta) Urquhart (1884-1915), brother of Frederick Davidson McMullen (1911-1970), and Edward Melbourne McMullen (1914-1994), and husband of Anna D. McMullen, of Lacombe, Alberta. The unescorted SS Vancouver Island (Master Eric Lacey Roper) was spotted by U-558 at 21:54 hours on October 15, 1941. U-558 had been searching for convoy SC-48 west of Ireland. Due to Vancouver Island’s high speed of about 15 knots the U-boat immediately went on full speed to get into an attack position and fired a spread of three torpedoes from about 2000 meters at 22:49 hours, hitting the ship with two of them after 144 seconds. The vessel was hit in the fore part and amidships and stopped but did not sink. The U-boat wanted to continue the search for the convoy, and fired two more torpedoes from more than 1000 meters at 23:08 and 23:17 hours, hitting the ship fore and aft and causing her to sink fast by the stern. The enemy claimed to have observed how the crew abandoned ship in lifeboats after the first hits, but HMS Dianthus (K 95), commanded by LtCdr C.E. Bridgman, RNR, sent to her assistance from the dispersed convoy ON-24 did not find any survivors. On 31 October 31, 1941, a lifeboat with the bodies of two officers from the ship was found by a British warship in 56°08N/20°45W. The master, 64 crew members, eight gunners and 32 passengers were lost. Second Mate Thomas Gotobed McMullen is remembered on Panel 18 of the Halifax Memorial at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Thomas Gotobed McMullen

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial uboat.net